Please help...I need some advice.

[Rainman]

Hello there to all. I am in serious need of some PT advice. You see, in the past 10 months, I have had numerous problems with PT and am not sure what to do. It is an '03 GT and it has gone into the shop numerous times since last August. At 18,000 miles, the tranny cooler lines burst. I took it in and it was fixed. At 20,000 miles, they burst again. I took it in and it was fixed again. At about 27,000 miles, the tranny was making some weird noises so I took it in; I got a tranny rebuild. At about 29,000 miles, my power steering pump was leaking fluid, they adjusted a hose clamp. At about 32,500 miles, the air bad light started to come on and off intermittently. As I was trying to find some free time to take the car in for that, the car started to leak coolant. I took it in, they replaced a hose for the coolant leak and replaced a seat belt tensioner for the air bad light. My wife and I drove it to Albuquerque from Santa Fe and back once since then; the air bag light is still going on and off, the power steering pump seems to be squeeking and when I got home and looked at it the next day, the coolant level is about an inch to an inch and a half low. That trip was only 120 miles. So I am at at 33,000 miles right now seeing that my warranty goes up in 3,000 miles. What should I do?!?!?! I LOVE my car!! It is my second PT because I love it so much. Should I continue to get work done on it? Should I trade it for another? Or should I completely give up on PTs for now? And if I do, for what? The Matrix and the Mazda3 5 door are pretty nice, but don't hold a candle to the PT. Is mine just a fluke? Please help!!!

[mich_132003]

quote:Originally posted by Rainman

Hello there to all. I am in serious need of some PT advice. You see, in the past 10 months, I have had numerous problems with PT and am not sure what to do. It is an '03 GT and it has gone into the shop numerous times since last August. At 18,000 miles, the tranny cooler lines burst. I took it in and it was fixed. At 20,000 miles, they burst again. I took it in and it was fixed again.

Well Rainman - Your not to only '03 Inferno Red GT with tranny hose problems. I had the same situation last year immediately following the installation of my Stage 1. Originally I thought it was the increase power, (it was my top hose to the tranny radiator that ripped right below the clamp). Had it fixed. Two months later - same hose, same rip. Had it fixed again. I come to find out (from this forum) Chrysler had issues with the tranny hoses on our model year and also with the replacement parts. So far, since my last fix, I haven't had another ripped hose and I've been pushing it hard over the last two months. I still have a tranny leak that my dealer tried to fix two weeks ago but it's still there. I need to find another dealer - mine sucks.

Hope your second visit for the hose replacement will be your/OUR last.

Regarding your other problems - sorry - I can't help.

Lou

[PTGT_Boy]

My thumbrule for less headache cars is the 60,000 mile test. A car must pass the 60K mark with minor issues (no powertrain issues allowed).

To keep your sanity it might be best to take a loss and trade in for a newer car or 04 GT's.

In addition, you might want to calculate the loss time spent taking in your GT and weigh it with the loss on the trade and decide from there.

[Rainman]

Well, I just got a call back from the shop. They said they feel the power steering sqeek is normal. I never noticed it until I started listening for things that sounded wrong. So it was possible that it always sounded that way. They pressured tested the coolant system and found no leaks. They suspect the excess went out the overflow since they had filled it up to the "fill hot" line. I was hoping that might be it as well as I have seen no leaks so far. And as far as my airbag light, they said they had to order a module for it. So hopefully I will get the car back tomorrow and this will be the last of my problems. I appreciate the responses and have decided for now that I REALLY like my PT and don't want to get rid of it and at this point, am not ready to take the trade in loss. But I am gonna keep a real close eye on things as I approach the 36,000 mile mark. Again, thanks!

[DrData]

Wow!

I've got an '03 GT that gives me absolutely no problems! The only thing I've done for 18 months is change the oli and filter every 3K miles. Only hassle has been each of two dealers learning how to drain the oil



DrData

[PTGT_Boy]

From a dead stop with engine on, if you hear a whistling sound when you turn your steering wheel OR during low speed turns than you can use this TSB.......

NUMBER: 19-001-04
GROUP: Steering
DATE: Mar. 16, 2004
This bulletin is supplied as technical information only and is not an authorization for repair.
SUBJECT:
Whistling Sound When The Steering Wheel Is Turned
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves installing revised power steering hose assembly.
MODELS:
2003 - 2004 (PT) Chrysler PT Cruiser
NOTE: This bulletin applies to vehicles equipped with 2.4L Turbo
engines (sales codes EDV or EDT).
SYMPTOM/CONDITION:
A whistling sound that increases in intensity when steering input is made. The higher
the torque required to turn the front wheels, the louder the sound.
DIAGNOSIS:
Let vehicle warm up for a minute then turn the steering wheel; the intensity of the
sound will be proportional to the torque required to turn the front wheels. The
intensity of this sound will NOT be dependent on engine RPM, only minor frequency
changes will occur with RPM changes. If the whistling sound is heard when the
steering wheel is turned, perform the Repair Procedure.
PARTS REQUIRED:
Qty. Part No. Description
1 05272319AJ Assembly, Power Steering Hose
REPAIR PROCEDURE:
1. Replace the power steering pressure & return hose assembly with a
revised assembly, p/n 05272319AJ using the procedures outlined in the
Service Information on TechCONNECT.
Use the following specifications for tightening the hose fittings:
FITTING LOCATION TORQUE SPECIFICATION
Gear End Return Port 26 - 29 Nm (230 - 260 in. lbs.)
Gear End Pressure Port 31 - 35 Nm (275 - 310 in. lbs.)
Pump End Ports 31 - 35 Nm (275 - 310 in. lbs.)

[Rainman]

I am definitely gonna call them and mention that TSB to them. Thanks. Hopefully this will convince them to look into it a little further. By the way, that is exactly how mine is acting. At a stop, if I turn the steering wheel, I hear a small kind of high pitched whiste. The more I turn, the louder it gets. I also hear it at slow speeds, but at high speed, I hear nothing.

[steve smith]

where is [:I]the tranny cooler lines[:I]

[steve smith]

how can the dealer know if i am stage one if i dont tell him because i have to fix a transmition leak and i dont want tell [|)]

[Gary04GT]

I'm not sure [:I] he can tell unless he checks the computer for all cars with S1 installed. [:I] [:I] From outward appearance, the stock and STAGE 1 PCMs look the same with no exterior markings to tell them apart (at least from my experience on my GT).