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Dodge Intrepid

3457 messages,  Last post on Oct 08, 2012 at 5:35 PM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Intrepid, Sedan

Messages Page 313 of 347

#3113 of 3457 Re: 2000 R/T - engine is wonderful, body not so much [kmauss] by andre1969

Jan 20, 2007 (4:57 pm)

Replying to: kmauss (Jan 19, 2007 6:16 am)
I'm just wondering what anyone else's experiences are with Intrepids of this age that have had to spend their life outside in northeast winters. Is my experience typical? Do they just start to fall apart at a point?
 
Well, I hate to say it but that whole thing about the body falling apart around a bulletproof engine has been a bit of a Mopar trademark since 1957! There was an old joke going around that the Dodge Dart was the worst car ever inflicted upon humanity, because they tended to leak water around the base of the windshield and fresh air intake, and get the front seat passengers' feet wet. But since the drivetrains were so indestructible, people would drive around in these cars, suffering with the water torture, long after most "mortal" cars had had long since blown an engine or transmission.
 
As for the Intrepid, well I bought a base model in 2000, and now have about 127,000 miles on it. It started having some minor issues when it was about a year and a half old. Stupid stuff, like the window seals shrinking, power adjust to the passenger mirror failing, the little cover to what would normally be the ashtray in the center console getting loose, etc. Now that I think about it, the power lock actuator in the driver's door went bad, and had to be replaced around 35,000 miles, when the car was only about 13 months old. I used to deliver pizzas part time, so I racked up the miles pretty quick early on.
 
Other than that though, I've been pretty lucky I guess. The car now has about 127,000 miles on it, and the closest thing to an engine problem I've ever had was a leaky thermostat housing, which was replaced around 51,000 miles.
 
I have heard of the leaky transmission lines running to the radiator being a common problem on the models with the 3.2 and 3.5 engine. I've also heard that power window failures can be somewhat common, although I've been lucky there, too.
 
I had to replace the front brake rotors around 99,000 miles, but was able to do it myself. Have you had your battery replaced yet? If not, when that time comes it's going to be a pain in the butt, because it's buried down low in the front passenger fender, between the wheel and the headlight assembly. It took me about 2 hours to replace mine, and it was a big enough pain that I swore I'd either trade in the car before it needed another battery, or just pay the mechanic to do it!
 
I'd say overall though, my car has aged fairly well. Most of the irritating stuff popped up between when it was about 1 1/2 to 3 years old, but nothing significant since then. Oh, around 87,000 miles (just shy of 4 years), the oil light came on. Luckily it was a problem with a sensor getting too hot and was fixed for free under a TSB.
 
Unfortunately, I can't answer your question as to whether you should get rid of it or not. While the R/T is a fairly rare car (I wish I could've afforded one when I bought mine! And I did come close to trading mine in back in late 2003 for a used '02 R/T the dealer had on their lot), I don't think it's considered a very valuable car. The Intrepid's resale is pretty bad, regardless of the trim level or how well maintained it was. So on the plus side, the car has probably depreciated about all it's going to, so it's not like you have to ditch it immediately to keep from losing any more value.
 
But if the car is getting to the point that you just don't trust it anymore, it might be time to sell it and get something newer. It's really hard to put a dollar value on peace of mind. But at the same time, don't fool yourself into thinking that a Honda, Toyota, or whatever is automatically going to be bulletproof after 7 years, either. Often, things just start to go on a car once it gets older, no matter how low mileage it is.
 
Anyway, good luck, whatever you decide!

#3114 of 3457 A few other odds and ends... by andre1969

Jan 24, 2007 (7:08 am)

I just noticed with my Intrepid. I don't drive the car regularly anymore, so I probably don't keep up on this stuff like I should. Anyway, the low washer fluid light comes on every time I start the car, with a ding, although it has plenty of fluid. The power steering pump seems to make a high-pitched grumble for a moment or two in the morning, the first couple times you turn the wheel. And every once in awhile, whenever the power locks lock/unlock, the one in the driver's side back-door makes kind of a sick sound, like a dying Teddy Ruxpin doll.

#3115 of 3457 Headlight problem by fbandy

Jan 29, 2007 (6:25 pm)

Has parking lights, no road lights, no head lights, can hold high beam switch up and will have high beams. Release switch and have no head lights. Replaced muti-function switch did not solve problem.
 
Any suggestions?

#3116 of 3457 Fbandy by hayneldan

Jan 30, 2007 (10:27 pm)

Could be both low beam bulbs are burned out?

#3117 of 3457 Re: 2000 R/T - engine is wonderful, body not so much [andre1969] by kmauss

Feb 01, 2007 (7:52 am)

Replying to: andre1969 (Jan 20, 2007 4:57 pm)
Thanks Andre! I haven't been back on the forums much in the past week or two, so I didn't see your reply until just now. At this point, I'm hanging onto it, but it's "on probation." (In other words, it if keeps costing me several hundred dollars per month, it's getting traded.) I still like the car and so far (knock on wood) it hasn't done anything bad engine-wise at all yet, so for now I'm continuing to fix the little stuff and see where we are in another few months. Karen

#3118 of 3457 Re: Fbandy [hayneldan] by fbandy

Feb 01, 2007 (5:13 pm)

Replying to: hayneldan (Jan 30, 2007 10:27 pm)
I've changed the bulbs. The bright lights will not stay on either unless you hold it up on flash to pass.

#3119 of 3457 Re: Howdy group.... [Jason5] by dodgeram2

Feb 05, 2007 (8:33 am)

Replying to: Jason5 (Oct 12, 2006 4:44 pm)
I heard the evaporators go bad very quickly. especially in trucks. sounds like poor material.

#3120 of 3457 fbandy by hayneldan

Feb 05, 2007 (11:50 am)

From my 99 shop manual
Headlamps do not illuminate
1 No voltage at headlamps-------Repair open headlamp circuit
2 No ground at headlights-------Repair circuit ground
3 Faulty Headlamp switch--------Replace headlamp switch
4 Faulty dimmer switch----------Replace headlamp switch
5 Broken connection between
  BCM & headlight lamp relay----Repair broken connection
6 Faulty parking/headlamp relay-Replace relay
7 Faulty body control module----Replace body control module
 
The ground is the black lead from the headlights.
The relays are located in the fuse box accessed by opening the driver door and opening the cover on the side of the dash.

#3121 of 3457 Re: Howdy group.... [dodgeram2] by Jason5

Feb 06, 2007 (7:22 pm)

Replying to: dodgeram2 (Feb 05, 2007 8:33 am)
Thanks for the response dodgeram2...albeit three months later. I suspect if the evaps were that poor it would have surfaced long before 140,000 plus miles. The only thing I've seen in particular was that certain evaporators on earlier minivans were placed in a way that road debris could bounce up and hit them......sounds strange but apparently true. I was prepared for some repairs after 100,000 miles. In any event, I'm in a 07" Pacifica now and enjoying the extra room...

#3122 of 3457 1997 Dodge Intrepid ES by bstnsportsfan3

Feb 07, 2007 (1:33 pm)

Replying to: Jason5 (Feb 06, 2007 7:22 pm)
I have a 1997 Dodge Intrepid ES with about 105,200 miles. i do know that my back breaks are 90% worn and am saving up to fix them. but i have noticed now when i i turn that the steeting wheel squeeks and its kinda high pitched and annoying....does anyone know what this is!???

Messages Page 313 of 347

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