Running out of patience with CEL problem

[coolvirus]

I've been having problems with the check-engine-light (CEL) for sometime. The light has always been solid (not flashing). Please bear with me. It's a bit long.

I own a 2003 PT Cruiser GT. Has about 48k miles. I renewed the bumper to bumper warranty for added peace of mind (with these problems I'm having, I’m glad I did).

The CEL came on first week of Jan, 07. Brought the PT to the dealer. They told me it was the intake pressure sensor and replaced it. Light went way.

CEL came on again towards the end of Jan 07. Back to the dealer. They told me the sensor they replaced was defective and replaced that one. Light went away.

CEL came on yet again towards the end of Feb. 07. Back to the dealer. They said the problem was another sensor and they also noticed the turbo gasket leaking. Both parts were replaced. Light went away. I told them I was getting frustrated by the constant trips to get the car serviced. They said that’s unfortunately how it goes sometimes with cars.

CEL came on AGAIN yesterday, accompanied by a rattling noise coming from the engine compartment. I’m not a mechanic but I popped the hood anyway to do a visual inspection but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Sounds like the noise is coming from somewhere next to the engine. It sounds like the jackhammers used for road work but obviously not as loud. Just a similar, rattling noise. And it’s not constant. It’s on for a few seconds, goes away for a couple of minutes, back on for a few seconds and so on.

Back to the dealer this morning. Luckily the rattling noise was there as I was pulling in so they heard it. I told them this problem needed to be escalated because this was the FOURTH time in 2 ½ months that I brought the car in. It’s very frustrating and inconvenient to say the least because that’s the car my wife drives to work so every time this happens, she has to borrow her father’s car and by the time we take the PT to the dealer, come back to the house and each one of us is on our way to work, we’re already late. And then one of us has to leave work early to pick up the car. VERY INCONVENIENT.

I don’t know what to do. The guys at the dealer are great to deal with, very courteous, professional and they care about their customers. But the fact remains that we keep having the same problem over and over. I don't know if their mechanics just don't know what they're doing or if I'm that incredibly unlucky that everything that can go wrong (to trigger the CEL) is going wrong. And in the span of 2 ½ months.

Have some of you had a similar experience? Do you have any suggestions as to how to best deal with a situation like this?

Thank you in advance for letting me vent my frustrations and for reading.

[quicksilverdon]

First, you do know how to pull the code, don't you?
Turn key "on", "off", On, Off, On.
error codes(s) will appear in odometer window followed by "done".
You say it's the same problem, but it may not be.
Hope there isn't another light, but of there is, write the code down, THEN you'll know if it ever comes back.

[coolvirus]

Thanks quicksilver. I'll keep that in mind if it happens again.

By the same problem, I don't mean the same exact code. I'm just referring to the fact that the light comes on, something is replaced and then the light comes on again after only a few days of driving. I mean, what are the odds of some parts breaking down one after the other in a few days, 3 or 4 times in a row?

I guess it's possible and if that's the case with me, then I'm just a really unlucky person at the moment.

[fritz_t_coyote]

Hmmm.....

Pressure sensors keep failing... then they notice the turbo gasket?

Then after they have messed with the turbo a new rattle develops?

Is there A DIFFERENT Chrysler dealer in your neighborhood? Maybe one with more competent mechanics?

Courteous and Professional and Friendly and 'Caring' about customers it all well and good, but right now you need "Damn Good Troubleshooter", and not just a code-reader-part-replacer.

[coolvirus]

Couldn't agree more fritz.

[coolvirus]

Got a call from the dealer. They took "readings" from the computer, sent them to Chrysler and are waiting for their input.

Let's see what happens.