Yesterday I bought a used (60,000 miles) 2002 PT Limited from a near by used car dealer. I test drove it on Friday and went back late yesterday to do the transaction after they got the new state inspection done. I pulled out and was several miles away before I used my turn signal and noticed it was not working. I bought this car for my daughter with the hope of it lasting about four years or so. I got home to show my daughter and she was so excited that she was shaking. I watched her and her mom and brother take off for a test drive and noticed there were no brake lights coming on as she made the first stop. I'm thinking, how did this pass the state inspection?
After doing a little checking, I found that the instrument cluster backlighting is not working and the hazard lights are not working.
I checked the fuses:
Engine compartment fuse panel, #18, 15a fuse - Hazard = Blown
Interior fuse panel, #2, 15a fuse - Parking Lamp = Blown
Interior fuse panel, #12, 15a fuse - Stop Lamp = Blown
I replaced the fuses and saw that the instrument cluster backlighting flashed on for just a second and blew the #2 fuse again along with the #18 fuse.
I searched the web and found this site, joined and started digging. After lots of digging I found that there were 3 recalls for the 2002 I had just purchased.
2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser Recalls
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Recall ID # 01V288000 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
Recall Date: SEP 10, 2001 Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH Model Affected: PT CRUISER Potential Units Affected: 43000 Recall Date:
SEP 10, 2001
Model Affected:
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ARE BEING RECALLED FOR A SOFTWARE ERROR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MICROPROCESSOR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLUSTER, WITH THE MAJORITY OF ITS GAUGES, ILLUMINATION, AND WARNING LAMPS, COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE.
Consequence:
DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH AN INOPERATIVE CLUSTER COULD CAUSE A DISTRACTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL RE-FLASH THE CLUSTER SOFTWARE TO CORRECT THE CONDITION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 8, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Potential Units Affected:
43000
Notes:
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION 994
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Recall ID # 04V268000 - STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTION
Recall Date: JUN 03, 2004 Component: STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS Model Affected: PT CRUISER Potential Units Affected: 438391 Recall Date:
JUN 03, 2004
Model Affected:
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.4L NON-TURBOCHARGED ENGINES AND AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLES, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE MAY CONTACT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIFFERENTIAL COVER, POTENTIALLY DAMAGING THE HOSE.
Consequence:
POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RELOCATE, OR REPLACE AS NECESSARY, THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND CONFIRM TORQUE OF THE HOSE FASTENER AT THE STEERING GEAR END. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Potential Units Affected:
438391
Notes:
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION D18
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Recall ID # 02V215000 - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ELIVERY
Recall Date: AUG 08, 2002 Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ELIVERY Model Affected: PT CRUISER Potential Units Affected: 345436 Recall Date:
AUG 08, 2002
Model Affected:
2002 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER
Summary:
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL PUMP MODULE MOUNTING FLANGE COULD LEAK FUEL IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.
Consequence:
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SECONDARY SEAL OVER THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 12, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Potential Units Affected:
345436
Notes:
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION B23
I then went to the Chrysler website to check my VIN number for available recalls.
Chrysler Recall Website:
Chrysler - Contact Us
Here are your results
VIN Number: 3C8FY68B92T310180 Vehicle Description: CHRYSLER PT CRUISER LIMITED 4-DOOR HATCHBACK Model Year: 2002
No Incomplete Recalls or Customer Satisfaction Notifications Exist
NOTE:
Results returned represent unperformed or incomplete Recalls and Customer Satisfaction Notifications initiated by Chrysler Motors Company LLC at the time of your inquiry.
I'm not sure what they mean by "No Incomplete Recalls or Customer Satisfaction Notifications Exist "?
As a used Chrysler PT buyer, will my local Chrysler dealer still honor and repair these recalls?
None of these recalls sound good and I want my daughter to be in a safe car. My daughter is pretty bumbed-out right now and so am I. It's Sunday, so I can't conatact the guy I bought it from. My daughter really likes the car, so I'm hoping that you guys can offer some guidance.
This is a great website and has helped me a great deal already.
Thanks