NHTSA Complaint #765891 — 2000 CHRYSLER SEBRING

ON 7/26/02 I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND HEARD A THUDDING SOUND COMING FROM SOMEWHERE BELOW MY RIGHT FOOT. THE ENGINE DIED WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THERE WERE NO OTHER SOUNDS. THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL RESPONSES. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO MY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PULLEY THAT MOVES ALL THE ELECTRICAL PERIPHERAL BELTS HAD BROKEN OFF. THE AUXILIARY BELTS SNAPED AND ONE OF THEM WENT THROUGH THE PLASTIC COVER (HOUSING) OF THE TIMING BELT. THEY CALLED CHRYSLER SERVICE (POWERTRAIN CARE PLUS) AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANY WORK SO FAR DONE AND SHOULD HAVE THE CAR TAKEN TO A CHRYSLER DEALER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO OURISMAN CHRYSLER. THEY TORE DOWN THE ENGINE AND TRIED TO REBUILD IT. TOO MUCH DAMAGE WAS DONE. THE CALLED THE SERVICE CONTRACT (DAIMLER/CHRYSLER) PEOPLE WHO SAID THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY SOMETHING EXTERNAL TO THE POWER TRAIN AND THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED WOULD BE $8,000. THEY SAID NEW NOT REMANUFACTURED. I FOUND THAT OUT LATER. I SHOPPED AROUND AND FOUND A SERVICE GROUP THAT SPECIALIZED IN INSTALLING REMANUFACTURED ENGINES AND THEY SAID " IT WOULD COST $4900 INSTALLED WITH A 3 YEAR, UNLIMITED MILE WARRENTY INCLUDING PARTS AND LABOR". I TELL THIS TO CHRYSLER AND THEY SAY THAT THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE. THEY CANNOT GET THEIR "REMANUFACATURED" ENGINE FOR AS LITTLE AS THAT. I NEED YOUR HELP. I HAVE BEEN DECEIVED BY CHRYSLER ABOUT THE ENGINE, ABOUT HOW MUCH "I" WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND WHAT THE SERVICE CONTRACT COVERS. THE PULLY THAT THEY SAY IS NOT PART OF THE POWER TRAIN IS RUN OFF THE POWER TRAIN TO GENERATE THE ELECTRICITY TO RUN THE STARTER FOR ONE AND MANY OTHER COMPONENTS THAT MAKE THE CAR GO. I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR AND PAID A GOOD PRICE FOR THE POWER TRAIN PROTECTION. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY ANY MORE BECAUSE OF THEIR MALFUNCTIONING PRODUCT. CAN YOU ASSIST ME?