Now he's looking at a 2003 Intrepid with the 2.7. This one has just a hair over 100000 miles and was a city fleet vehicle so hopefully it was maintained regularly. Suspension and steering are nice and tight and the body is good, it's been rust checked each year since new. The engine seems to run nice and the transmission shifts smoothly. The only possibly bad thing about the car is something that sounds like a bit of belt noise and the coolant reservoir seems to be leaking around the neck. Seems like a cracked coolant reservoir is a rather common problem on those cars. So, are these cars any good? I believe most of the engine sludging problems were fixed around 2002-2003 so he should be safe from that. I have heard that the early 2.7's had timing chain and water pump problems, were they fixed around the same time the sludging problem was fixed? Here's a short cellphone video I took of the car idling after it was warmed up.
So my dad decided not to go with that 2005 Malibu
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You should confirm the dates that the changes were made. 2003/2004 is right around the change, +/- months.
My daughter had a 2004 Sebring with the 2.7. It did not sludge. But, her water pump went sometime after 100,000 miles (vanes disintegrated/bad bearings). The new OEM water pump had a revised gear drive, which meant also replacing the entire timing chain/drive parts. While it was good to replace everything since we were in there, it does cost some $$ to do this.
The oil sender units tend to go bad on these engines also and leak oil profusely. An easy and cheap fix ($38).
Again, be very careful about this engine. Horror stories aboound on the internet.
And, the transmission comment is spot on. It's really hit or miss. They were supposed to be fixed, but my Caravan 41TE pooped out at 100K.
My daughter had a 2004 Sebring with the 2.7. It did not sludge. But, her water pump went sometime after 100,000 miles (vanes disintegrated/bad bearings). The new OEM water pump had a revised gear drive, which meant also replacing the entire timing chain/drive parts. While it was good to replace everything since we were in there, it does cost some $$ to do this.
The oil sender units tend to go bad on these engines also and leak oil profusely. An easy and cheap fix ($38).
Again, be very careful about this engine. Horror stories aboound on the internet.
And, the transmission comment is spot on. It's really hit or miss. They were supposed to be fixed, but my Caravan 41TE pooped out at 100K.
Originally Posted By: doitmyself
You should confirm the dates that the changes were made. 2003/2004 is right around the change, +/- months.
My daughter had a 2004 Sebring with the 2.7. It did not sludge. But, her water pump went sometime after 100,000 miles (vanes disintegrated/bad bearings). The new OEM water pump had a revised gear drive, which meant also replacing the entire timing chain/drive parts. While it was good to replace everything since we were in there, it does cost some $$ to do this.
The oil sender units tend to go bad on these engines also and leak oil profusely. An easy and cheap fix ($38).
Again, be very careful about this engine. Horror stories aboound on the internet.
And, the transmission comment is spot on. It's really hit or miss. They were supposed to be fixed, but my Caravan 41TE pooped out at 100K.
Sounds terrible, but Utub audio is difficult in comparison terms. What oil grade is in it, as it sounds light and see what comes out the drain plug before filling it again, just in case it's the main bearings.
You should confirm the dates that the changes were made. 2003/2004 is right around the change, +/- months.
My daughter had a 2004 Sebring with the 2.7. It did not sludge. But, her water pump went sometime after 100,000 miles (vanes disintegrated/bad bearings). The new OEM water pump had a revised gear drive, which meant also replacing the entire timing chain/drive parts. While it was good to replace everything since we were in there, it does cost some $$ to do this.
The oil sender units tend to go bad on these engines also and leak oil profusely. An easy and cheap fix ($38).
Again, be very careful about this engine. Horror stories aboound on the internet.
And, the transmission comment is spot on. It's really hit or miss. They were supposed to be fixed, but my Caravan 41TE pooped out at 100K.
Sounds terrible, but Utub audio is difficult in comparison terms. What oil grade is in it, as it sounds light and see what comes out the drain plug before filling it again, just in case it's the main bearings.
Not sure what grade of oil is in it. I assume it was changed regularly though, as it was probably maintained well since it was a city fleet vehicle all it's life (I assume).
I had one of these. I would buy another if it was cheap very cheap.
The 2.7 engine is junk.
The 2.7 engine is junk.
Originally Posted By: 55
Not sure what grade of oil is in it. I assume it was changed regularly though, as it was probably maintained well since it was a city fleet vehicle all it's life (I assume).
A real bad assumption.
I can assure you that not all fleet vehicles are well maintained, and they are often abused like rental cars.
I know this since part of my job involves oversight of a fleet.
I'd also run and hide from a 2.7.
You can only do so much to fix a fundamentally bad design.
Why would you put a guaranteed to eventually leak water pump inside the engine?
This engine was a one-off for Chrysler, with neither a shrink nor a stretch in displacement.
That tells you something.
Not sure what grade of oil is in it. I assume it was changed regularly though, as it was probably maintained well since it was a city fleet vehicle all it's life (I assume).
A real bad assumption.
I can assure you that not all fleet vehicles are well maintained, and they are often abused like rental cars.
I know this since part of my job involves oversight of a fleet.
I'd also run and hide from a 2.7.
You can only do so much to fix a fundamentally bad design.
Why would you put a guaranteed to eventually leak water pump inside the engine?
This engine was a one-off for Chrysler, with neither a shrink nor a stretch in displacement.
That tells you something.
He would be MUCH BETTER OFF with the Malibu!!!
The Malibu is a much better car than that old Intrepid. Way too many problems that are widely known.
Big mistake. I work in a parts store and we get MANY more people in looking for parts for Chrysler vehicles than Malibus. I think the only parts I've ever sold for a 2005 Malibu were regular maintenance parts (headlights, tail light bulbs, brakes, stuff like that,) and that was for my own Malibu!
I absolutely, totally agree. The Malibu is the way to go my friend.
Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
He would be MUCH BETTER OFF with the Malibu!!!
Originally Posted By: bullwinkle
He would be MUCH BETTER OFF with the Malibu!!!
Originally Posted By: Spazdog
What can I say that's good about the Chrysler 2.7?
Hmmmmm......
I'm thinking.
Nope. I got nothing.
Stick to the 3.5 in the Intrepid (or 300)
My stepfather's 2.7 Concorde will turn 200K before Christmas. No engine problems...of course, he actually changes the oil regularly!
What can I say that's good about the Chrysler 2.7?
Hmmmmm......
I'm thinking.
Nope. I got nothing.
Stick to the 3.5 in the Intrepid (or 300)
My stepfather's 2.7 Concorde will turn 200K before Christmas. No engine problems...of course, he actually changes the oil regularly!
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