2000 Dodge Intrepid Base from North America - Comments

My engine has blown and the extended warranty through Daimler Chrysler refuses to pay for the repairs. I have been told that my timing chain tensioner went, and ruined my valves. The repair bill will be about $2,000 to rebuild my engine or about $4,000 for a used one. They are claiming that I did not change the oil often enough. I have changed the oil once since my purchase. I do have some of the previous owners receipts though.

I just paid $5,500 for this car from a private party. I felt that I was safe because of the extended warranty that came with it. I do not have the money to fix it. I am a full time college student, and work to help pay expenses. My car had to be towed from my college, to my house... over 150 miles. I have exhausted all my loans, and I still do not have enough money to fix this. I have spent all the money I earned working in high school to pay cash for this car. I thought it would last me until I graduated. Boy was I wrong. It lasted me about one and a half months!!! At least I do not owe on the car like so many people here do. I do not have the money for a new car, and do not want to have payments. My car currently sits at my house... it looks nice... but it doesn't run!

My name is Mike and I have rebuilt about 200 2.7 engines. Most of them were damaged because of the timing chain tensioner going out, which causes the timing chain to slip over the cam gear, which means that the valves do not come back up before the pistons come up, so the pistons wind up hitting the valves and bending them.

The tensioner goes bad because of sludge in the motor. The sludge in the motor is a mystery to most people, and of course the shop blames it on you, saying you did not change your oil. Over time I have experimented and found that if you run Mobile1 15w 50 oil, your motor will never sludge up. If you have any questions or would be interested in selling one with a bad motor in the Kansas City area, just email me at chevytrucks65721@aol.com