Finally figured out the problem

[ptguy]

Belt tensioner. After they fixed it, I said screw this and went and bought an HHR LT. Love it way more than the PT. Thanks for all the help guys.

BTW, the tensioner went out with only 56000 miles on the clock. Endoubtedly, it's somewhat common. ARRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mean Green]

Originally Posted by ptguy

Belt tensioner. After they fixed it, I said screw this and went and bought an HHR LT. Love it way more than the PT. Thanks for all the help guys.

BTW, the tensioner went out with only 56000 miles on the clock. Endoubtedly, it's somewhat common. ARRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not common at all.

[ptguy]

Originally Posted by Mean Green

Not common at all.

Really???

A while back, I felt a 'mechanical shift' from the engine, and then it 'shifted' back with no further problems. But then, my waterpump blew, it blew a t-stat seal, and on and on. I wonder how related these were. A few hundred here, a few hundred there, pretty soon it's real money.

I also based my comment on comments about PTs they see. 9 out of 10 are problematic like mine. But, then again, maybe it's just because they go to that shop.

[Mean Green]

I've had 3 PTs, a '01, a '03 GT and currently my wife's '04. The only major problem with the '01 was the auto tranny went out at 81k miles. No surprise there. The 41TE has it's problems. My '03 5 speed GT had the clutch master cylinder go out at 10k. It was covered under warranty. No other problems and the car was modified to 280 hp. The car was a beast and ate V8s for lunch. My wife's automatic '04 currently has 83k+ miles and has had no problems other than a flash of the PCM for a stalling problem covered under warranty. So for us at least the PT has been a good car. Now Chrysler offers a lifetime drivetrain warranty so I wouldn't have a problem buying another one.

[MOPAR43]

Mean Green:

Thanks for sticking up for us Mopar faithful. The only way I'd abandon my GT would be for another Mopar, possibly the new Nitro SRT-4 or a Crossfire SRT-6. But a Chevrolet HHR, uggghhhh!

Besides, based upon your Cruiser ownership experience, there is nothing like repairing the car that you love, rather abandoning it in mid-life! We've only driven ours (the '03 and now the '05) about 6K each year, so (knock, knock) we have only had to see the shop for oil changes and routine recommended maintenance.

.

[PTClive]

Originally Posted by ptguy

A few hundred here, a few hundred there, pretty soon it's real money.

I've heard it's usually cheaper to fix a car than to give up on it, trade it in and make payments on a new one.
Looking at the prices of new vehicles... now that's REAL MONEY.
Not to mention the big dollars you lose as soon as it rolls off the lot.

But, once somebody goes sour on a vehicle, there's usually no turning back.
Sorry that happened in your case.
Hope you enjoy the HHR and it's more reliable than your previous car.

[quicksilverdon]

Put 87,000 trouble-free miles on my '02 PT, and have 54,000 trouble-free on my '05. Trouble-free doesn't count spark plugs wires on both, or broken sway bar from a pothole (also cracked a rim) on my '02.
If you think GM has better reliablility, I hope you're right.

[CREWZIN]

92K here and looking around for a good place to do the timing belt and tensioner as I plan on keeping my PT awhile longer. Problems, yea I've had a few but I've had a few on my Chevy Vette, and the wife's Suzuki and first KIA. I've seen an HHR being towed but I've also seen a Cadillac and Benz on the side of the road. Nobody's immune.

Reading all your posts, it sure sounds like it all started with the major service a few months back, one thing leading to another after it was at the dealer. You even stated at the end of one post, "No problems up till then". I guess I would feel the same way as you do if everything went at once.

[bobs turbo pt]

nothin major here thank god on both that we own

[ptguy]

I didn't mean to knock the PT, if I didn't like it to begin with, I wouldn't have gotten it.

I admit, I probably got a lemon. And my neighbor too. lol In the month she';s owned it, it's been in the shop in another state for half of it. They can't figure out the cooling problem. It was used and out of warrsanty.

I keep cars for under 3 years, with 1 1/2 - 2 being average, and I had the PT for 25 months.