1997 DODGE INTREPID Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

1997 DODGE INTREPID-169,610 MILES > > I ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 1-1/2 YEARS WITH LESS THAN > 3,500 MILES DRIVEN. > > TODAY ON MARCH 16, 2008 AT 1:15PM, I CAME BACK TO > COLLEGE FROM SPRING BREAK. I NOTICED THAT I WAS 29 > MILES AWAY FROM THE COLLEGE AND THE STEERING WHEEL > STARTED TO JERK TO THE RIGHT AND MOVE ON ITS OWN. I > TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO THE LEFT AND HAD TO > FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN AND MOVE WHERE I NEED TO GO. > > > THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER MADE NOISES AS I WAS > DRIVING > TODAY, BUT I NOTICED THAT I HAD TO FORCE THE WHEEL > HARD TO MAKE A TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT. WHEN I > TRIED TO PARK, THE WHEEL WOULD NOT RESPOND, SO I HAD > TO FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN...

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED AN ENGINE SENSOR, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO A DRUG STORE PARKING LOT AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BURNED BEYOND RECOGNITION. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WHEN DRIVING OVER 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ON TWO OCCASION, BUT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE THIRD TIME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

MY 1997 INTREPID'S (DODGE) ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY A FEW WEEKS AGO. THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND T HE BRAKING MUCH REDUCED AS A RESULT. DANGEROUS SITUATION. DODGE DOESNT TAKE ANY BLAME EVEN THOUGH THEY DID MAJOR ENGINE WORK ABOUT 2 MONTHS PRIOR (HEAD GASKET REPLACED DUE TO OIL LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMING ON.*AK

VEHICLE OVER-HEATED TOOK TO MY MECHANIC. FLUSHED SYSTEM, CHANGED THERMOSTAT AND CHECKED WATER PUMP. VEHICLE STILL OVERHEATS MECHANIC THEN ADVISED ME OF HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. *JB

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY AND ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE HAD COME FROM THE REAR HOOD AREA. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE #5 FUEL INJECTOR/WIRING HARNESS/FUEL RAIL. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST BRAKING POWER AND REVVED DURING THE INCIDENT. THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT WHERE THE ROCKER ARM COVER WAS REPLACED, THE POWER STEERING WAS NOISY, LEAKED, AND WAS REPLACED, AND THE BLEEDER SCREW WAS BROKEN AND THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS REPLACED. *SCC *NLM

WHILE DRIVING, STEERING LOCKED. COULD NOT TURN WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO CHANGE RACK AND PINION. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK A WORN BELT WAS REPLACED BUT DID NOT REMEDY STALLING PROBLEM, NOW RADIATOR LEAKS. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN REPLACING THE AIR FILTER, THE PLASTIC CASE THAT HOLDS THE SCREWS INSTANTLY BREAKS. DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAD A RECENT FRONT END ALIGNMENT, HOWEVER THE TIRES WORE IN 8000-10000 MILES. *TT

THE PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS RELATED TO THE WATER PUMP, SPECIFICALLY THE O RING SEAL. MY VEHICLE HAS OVERHEATED ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. EACH TIME, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SOON AS I NOTICED THE TEMP NEEDLE IN THE RED OR THE IDIOT LIGHT ILLUMINATING. ONCE COOLED DOWN, I REFILLED THE COOLANT RESEVOIR AND WENT ALONG MY WAY. EACH TIME, I VERIFIED OPERATION OF THE THERMOSTAT AND THE CONDITION OF THE HOSES. IT'S FINALLY BEEN NARROWED TO A BAD O RING SEAL. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT LATENT HEAT DAMAGE INTERNAL TO THE ENGINE. THE WINDOW SEAL PROBLEM IS VERY IRRITATING. THE WIND NOISE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH IS OBNOXIOUS. I'VE HAD IT CHECKED, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE UNDER THE WARRANTY (TO MY KNOWLEDGE). THE WINDOW LOCK PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DISLOCATED SPRING LOCK. I REPAIRED IT MYSELF BY REPOSITIONING THE...