No one knows what the problem is??

[will21]

I have an '06 Pt Cruiser. Its just the basic edition. I bought it from CarMax back in March and have LOVED IT. No problems what so ever. It had just under 27,000 miles on it and right now its between 34 & 35,000 miles, so the 3yr/36k warranty is still good.

Anyhow, a couple of weeks ago my gas guage quit working I took it to my nearby Chrysler dealership. They said it needed a new fuel sending unit, but they had to order it. Next week I brought it back and they had the wrong unit. They claim Chrysler sent them an 04 part and they changed them in '06. So my car basically hung with the fuel system dropped out for over a day until the new part came. Since getting it back its not been the same. Then over the weeking the engine light came on. I took it to Autozone who read the code and said the fuel intake was too rich or something was dirty in my fuel. I got some fuel injector cleaner and after another trip the light went off. Then the next day my car had trouble starting, as if it wasn't getting enough fuel. I took it back and they couldn't find any problems and the computer wasn't giving any codes. Later that evening it did it again and I finally got it to start and got it back. They had it all day today and they say they found nothing wrong. On the way home I took my car to a car wash, and as I was leaving it wouldn't start again. During one of the times I was trying to get it to start I kept hitting the gas and the engine rolled over and I got home.

I'm not sure what to do. Its under warranty and this dealership is starting to give me some attitude like I'm making this up. I feel like they aren't looking over everything well enough. Apparently since it the problem of it not getting enough gas when it starts, its something with the fuel system. Things were fine before they worked on it and messed with the fuel system.

Any thoughts or anyone experience a similar problem?

[CREWZIN]

Will,

Welcome to the forum. It sure sounds like they messed something up when replacing the sending unit which I'm pretty sure it's inside the tank. Since your still under warranty you have a choice of keep taking it back to the dealer or see if you can find another dealer near by.

See if you can convince them to have a mechanic go for a ride with you and stop a couple times to see if you can get the PT to do it while someone is watching. Or, ride around a bit and stop at the dealer right up to the service department to see if it will act up. If not, take it for a ride again stopping back at the dealer, over and over till one time it will act up and not start right in front of them.

I did that will a noise from the engine with my wife's car. Every time I took it, the noise went away, so I keep going back till I could hear it right in front of the service bays and went in to get a mechanic to hear it.

I'm not on the dealer side but I know how difficult is it to diagnose a problem that's intermittent. Good Luck

[will21]

Thanks for the reply.

I've consider just to keep driving it up to them until I can't get it to start, but I do have some weird job hours plus college, so I'm limited on time. The dealership's refusal to really look at the fuel system, especially the part they replaced, really bugs me. I'm going to call them tomorrow and tell them it happened again. Another thing that bugs me is when I'm trying to talk to the service manager, he is constantly doing something else and not paying attention. We do have another Chrysler dealership in town, so I'm going to call them tomorrow. A friend at work told me thats the only place where her husband takes his Jeeps, so maybe they might be a better choice.

I also noticed this service center lost some lady's car for over and hour and a half for an oil change. The tech was taking in all new arrivals over the ones waiting.

[CREWZIN]

Sounds like they are trying to please all the new customers to get more business but once your there, you become second fiddle. Try the other dealer.

[BLUEH20]

Document by having them open a waranty repair order each time you bring the vehilce to the shop. Document the concern you are having.

When it began to malfunction.
What type of vehilce activity at the time of malfunction--idling, highway, stop and go--ge the picture.
What the vehicle does and does not do when it malfunctions.

You need the clock to start and keep running on this issue until it is solved.

Under warranty arbitration they, one or any compbination of Chrysler repair facilities, have three attemps to correct the problem under warranty before the arbitration clause becomes effective. It does not matter that you are not the first owner. The rules of abritration apply to the state that the vehilce was originally placed in service which may or may not be the one you are currently in.

It is a pain to the service department when the vehilce does not act up in their shop--be prepared to let they have it for a day or so--I would personnaly have a good tech drop the fuel tank/fuel pump assembly and give it a good visual and operational check--especially in light of the previous repair.

Again get it fixed--NOW--do not let the warranty mileage or time expire.

As close to the termination of your warranty--get it to the repair facility NOW! Get this taken care of--leave the vehilce with them to have it repaired. Should the Service Manager choose to not assit you--1-800-992-1997. Keep to the facts-no attitude--ask for assistance in getting your vehicle repaired under the warranty that is in effect.

[petty]

Check the fuel pressure using a fuel pressure gauge. Watch the gauge and the pressure should hold. If the pressure drops quickly7 then there may be a leak in the fuel pump assembly.

[slartyblarfast]

Just FYI when starting most all fuel injected cars stepping on the gas kills the injectors. It's the equivalent of an old carburator when it gets flooded you put the throttle to the floor to start it. The PCM sees the throttle open and kills the injectors thinking that you are trying to start an engine that is flooded. From the sound of it you may have an injector leaking down but I can't really diagnose it from Texas.
And like others have said... If it aint broke I cant fix it. Intermittent problems are a bear to find. It irritates us and you. Be patient and courteous but firm.