Another "considering purchasing" thread from a dang newbie poster

[kd4pbs]

Hi!
I've been lurking here quite some time, and have been trying to get a good idea of problems that I might find with a used PT, but I finally am in a position to get one at a price I want. I'm hoping someone who has a bunch more experience with the PT Cruisers than I have can answer a quick question. My knowledge is limited to the one my Mom owns; a 2006 Touring. Since she's elderly, she only puts about 5K on the clock a year if that. It's been super reliable for her so far, but due to the low miles I can't gauge the reliability by her experience. I've owned mainly Chrysler products in the past 20 years (4 Caravans, a turbo LeBaron convertible automatic, Shadow 3 liter, Daytona turbo 5 speed, '95 Ram 4x4, '97 Ram 4x4, '94 Concorde, and probably a couple more that I have forgotten) and my overall impression is that they are fairly reliable, save auto transmission issues with the FWD cars.
I'm looking at a 2003 PT Cruiser GT. It has around 95K on the clock, and has everything I want except for the fact that it's an auto. I really would rather have the 5 speed, but this seems like a good deal to me... the owner is asking $5500 for it. It's in real good clean shape with no damage at all. The only concern I have is with the auto. My newest FWD Chrysler auto is a 2000 Caravan, and while it's been a good vehicle for the last 50K miles, it's sitting for a while in the driveway awaiting warmer weather so that I can replace the carrier bearings in the transaxle that puked at 202K miles. So, I'm mainly wondering two things;
First, how reliable is the turbo engine? Any bad issues to watch for on it? I am a competent amateur mechanic, capable of totally rebuilding the vehicle if need be, but I obviously don't want to have to do that! My last total restoration was an '84 Corvette and I only want to do that ever 10-20 years if possible! Minor issues like head gaskets, manifold gaskets, and transmission replacements don't scare me, but it sure does make me feel my age after crawling under a car for the weekend!
Second, how reliable is the auto transmission? Given my experience in the past with the auto transmission on every FWD Chrysler I've owned, I don't want to have to work on this one for quite some time. The 2000 Caravan was purchased used with 150K on the clock, and I had zero problems up until the carrier bearings have gone bad, so if this is the original transmission, I would consider it being reliable if it lasted 200K without any issues. Can I expect that kind of service out of the more modern Chrysler 4 speed FWD auto? I'm assuming they put the 42TE on the turbo engine in there?
Thanks a bunch, and I hope to join your ranks soon!

[CREWZIN]

First, if you have no service history of the car, you don't know what's been done and how it's been driven. A little old lady or a boy racer. Whatever someone tells you on this forum doesn't hold water if the "boy racer" was the first owner.

At 95K the first thing to be done is the timing belt. Not a job for a novice. With the timing belt, the water pump, tensioner and both drive belts should also be replaced. About a $1200 job with parts if the dealer does it. Less for a private mechanic.

Check over the front suspension. Lots of bearing and bushing issues on a lot of PT's and other (me included) have had no problems at all.

The auto trans is tricky. No problems on mine and a lot of others yet many have had issues. If you push it, your bound to have some problems and with the Turbo, your bound to push it. Drive it like a "cruiser" and only use the turbo when needed and occasional red lines and it could last a long timewith some preventative maintenance.

Hopefully other will jump in and give their opinions.

[kd4pbs]

Good thing I'm no novice While removing engine mounts, body parts, and 1/2 the front end to get to the belt(s) is not picnic, it ain't like I've never done that before once or 10 times.

So a Carfax report is on order for sure before handing over any cash. Hopefully the seller will be able to clue me in to it's history as well. I know the guy that's selling it is no boy racer, but I do know that in many cases the outward appearance sometimes tells us of the history of the vehicle. Usually if the engine is dirty dusty but in good condition, it's a sure sign it wasn't driven by some racer boy, as the racer boy would usually detail his car more. Clean but not too clean is what I'm looking for. I'm not really looking for advice on how to spot potential problems due to abuse with this particular car, but more for advice on characteristic trouble problems with the '03 model year PTGT and the auto transmission. Your bushings comment will help alot; I'm glad to know I need to look more closely at that. Thanks!

[Hooligan]

kd, Welcome to the Forum.

Another thing the tranny should be flushed, not just change the fluid, the knowledge around here is 30K change, 60k flush, 90K change, but seeing you don't know the history, Flush it.

PT's also have a problem with the radiator fan, bearings burn out and car overheats.

[kd4pbs]

So I've been reading reviews on edmunds.com for the PT Cruiser. I'd say about 95% of them make it out to be a total POS. I can't believe that one single car, save for some particular FURD products, could be so terrible. Especially since I read reviews at other review sites and people have no issues with the car and love them dearly.
Is this simply some sort of assault from a disgruntled owner? I think so since reading further back into some of the older reviews, people seem to be satisfied with the car.
Transmission FLUSH (not just filter change and pan fluid change) is right up there on my to-do list, with only ATF+4/7176E of course.
I'm luckily not seeing any complaints of auto transmission issues, so it looks like Chrysler finally got their head out of the dark smelly place and updated the A604 enough to change the model number, as well as eliminate the common infant death of the transmission. My '92 Shadow ES 3.0 puked the A604 at only 62K miles. Wife (the one I had at the time) was driving 70 MPH and the thing basically tried to engage 3rd and 4th at the same time. The loud bang she heard was from the case literally cracking apart. The OD assembly grenaded, spilling planetary gears willy nilly into the case. That was so fun, and started my love hate relationship with the electronically controlled 4 speed auto that Chrysler graced the world with.

[quicksilverdon]

Agree with Crewzin and Hooligan. Also, stock ignition wires are crap - get just about any good aftermarket brand, and do plugs at the same time - gap at 0.040 (TSB).
If you do need bushings, get polyurethane and be done.
No problems with either of my PTs, save for a broken rear sway bar from a pothole bad enough to crack a rim on my '02, and 1 bad ABS wheel sensor on my '05 - I did have trannys flushed at 50,000 miles.
Also, with turbo - use synthetic oil.

[Hooligan]

GT plugs should have a 0.030 - 0.034. Stock plugs are good enough, no sense spending big $$'s on platinum or iridium.

[03GTCruiser]

And a sugestion I've heard go around quite a bit is don't boost in 4th. If you want to pass someone or accelarate put it in autostick and down to 3rd which should get you up to about 100mph if needed. In 4th only 2 clutch packs are used where in 3rd all 4 are used. The transmission is a close relative to the a604 from what I've heard so I've been taking it fairly easy on my pt. I've had a 604 grenade on me before and it was no fun.

[kd4pbs]

Thanks for the tips. I only run Mobil1 in all my vehicles, save the motorcycles (Amsoil 100% synthetic motorcycle oil goes in them). I do cheap out on the riding lawnmower and the diesel generator with Castrol SAE30 and Rotella T .
I'm headed to look it over after work here in a few minutes. Of course, I forgot my cell phone, so I'll have to do the research the old fashion way by writing it down then going home with the info (VIN for the Carfax, and no pictures from the look-see).
It sounds like there are no major things that routinely break on the PT Cruiser, unlike the VW New Beetle TDI I was considering as well. Those things are evidently a nightmare, with the car typically falling apart around the engine, from what I've read. When I say "routinely" I mean non-wear items like body panels, interior parts, transmission failure (look at the history of the Saturn Vue from around the same time... 2003 or so). Looking at the Subaru Forester of the same era also reveals lots of head gasket problems. The original Chrysler 2.5 also had problematic head gaskets, and the question was when would it fail, not if. Belts, suspension bushings, tires, brakes, lightbulbs, spark plugs and wires; now those are normal wear items to me, and I'm not too concerned with them.
Looking at prices, this car is a good $1000-$1500 below what I see other comparable vehicles going for. I know I'll end up with a PT Cruiser now, but I don't know for sure it will be this one. So, I'll catch y'all around!
Thanks a bunch!