Timing Tensioner problems of the 1999 Dodge Intrepid

Timing chain failure - second time. Tensioner failed, allowing timing chain to flop, resulting in nine bent valves and head damage.

: the contact stated while driving 55 mph the vehicle engine sputter, the low oil pressure light illuminated and the engine seized. The vehicle was pulled off the road without incident and then towed to an independent repair shop. Prior to this incident the timing chain tensioner was replaced, the mechanic determined this replacement did not cause this engine failure. However upon inspection of the engine there was a large amount of oil sludge in the engine block and the engine needs to be replaced. Updated 04/17/06.

My Dodge Intrepid showed no signs of any problems, timely oil changes ,but on this early morning while driving to work on the expressway. The oil light came on and then the check engine light and then sudden engine shut down ,lucky for me that there wasn't any traffic on the road or I would have been in a serious car crash. Car towed to auto shop. They said that this type of Dodge engine has a serious defect with the engine. The tensioner oil port is too narrow and it gets plugged with oil sludge which causes engine failure.

Engine started making rattling noise while driving, pulled off road and shut off engine. I tried to restart and it wouldn't start again. I had it towed to my mechanic and was told the engine failure was due to sludge in the timing chain tensioner, and that the engine would have to be replaced. This engine was well maintained and had 68000 miles. No repairs have been done on it due the expense of a new engine.

I also own a 1999 Dodge Intrepid with the notorious 2. 7 almost blown engine, due to oil sludge. The was well maintained with regular oil changes. The car has only 76k miles. For a couple of months the car would sound like a diesel for a very short time and disappear. I called the dealer and inquired if there had been any similar complaints or problems. They replied they knew of none. I even had the car in another repair shop one day and they did not know what could have caused the sound I complained about, because it disappeared before I got there. Just a couple of weeks ago the sound reappeared suddenly after 4 months of nothing. The shop owner could not believe his ears when I drove up left the car running and went in to get him. He found that the hydraulic tensioner that holds the timing chains in place needed replaced, but when he took the front cover off the motor he found it filled with sludge. I was lucky that the motor had not blown yet, but I face the expense of having it rebuilt or replaced. I still have the car, but I had to go replace it with another car. This was an added expense I was not planning on. R miller, delaware.

The timing chain on my 1999 Dodge Intrepid went out and I only had 76,000 miles on the car. This is a major problem for other people also, as I have been put on a waiting list for one of the parts needed (tensioner). There are 1400 of these parts on back order now, 02-11-03. This indicates a major defect in this part of the engine and a recall is in order.

I was the owner of a 1999 Dodge Intrepid, that was completely wrecked at 36,000 miles after experiencing sudden loss of steering control prior to the wreck, my dealer assured me over and over that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle although I was very concerned and pretended to know nothing about steering problems with these vehicles. Prior to the total vehicle loss, the engine blew up with a rod knock at about 33,000 miles and had to be replaced, the transmission had to be overhauled after it failed, the input and output speed sensors both failed and much more. This is just 1 of 2 defective daimler Chrysler vehicles I have owned and daimler Chrysler accepts no responsibility. Many of these vehicles are defective and do not hold up reasonably. I have never had any of these problems with a 15 year old vehicle with over 220,000 miles on it. . Read more...