Rattle Squeak
Anybody know anything about cars?
My car is a 2002 Dodge Stratus with 71,200 miles on it. Lately, it has been making a squeaking, rattle noise when I have my foot on the brake and it is in either drive or reverse. I have been told that it could be the torque converter which is very pricey! Could it be something else?
This sounds like a transmission issue if you are not moving. If it squeals when applying the brakes and moving it is time for a brake job. You car is past the sweet spot for a Chrysler product and I would trade it for a good Japanese care made in the USA.
There are 43 consumer complains that may be related to your problem on one website (mycarstats.com) plus a total of 51 factory maintenance bulletins (known defects that may be repaired for free or for which there are updated parts).
I traded an LHS for a cheap Toyota Corolla and find it plenty roomy and comfortable. More importantly, it gets 41 MPG, parts are easy to find, and it has the best overall repair history of any car model ever made. In the long run, it is cheaper to trade for such a car and keep it 10 years than to repair a six year or older US model (unless you are related to a good mechanic). Find a good used 2004 or later if you can (rare). Otherwise, just buy a new leftover 2006 and keep it forever. You could easily dump thousands into an old Chrylser product in repairs. I made that mistake. Dump your car before the problem becomes obvious. Never repair a transmission if you can trade the car instead.
Remember to negotiate on an “out the door” price including trade, all taxes, tags, transfer, dlr. fees, and options so you don’t get stiffed with hidden dealer fees. Everything is negotiable. Get the numbers from http://www.edmunds.com new car prices and you can check your local dealer’s incoming cars from Toyota’s regional distributor websites. The only option you want on a Corolla is the upgrade pkg ($450) for pwr windows & locks. Even a base CE 5-speed comes well loaded with everything you need and should go out the door for about $13,600 plus sales tax.
You can get a better price and a 10 year warranty on a similar Kia Spectra S if you are firm and can negotiate. Most brands have a Corolla clone with similar standard features. Honda’s Civic is a more advanced design but way overpriced, even compared to the pricey Corolla. The Mazda 3i is much sportier and drives like a small BMW. You might be able to get one for about the same price if there are any without a lot of options still available (imported from Japan, very limited selection). Nissan finally came out with their new Sentra which is yet another clone. You will be amazed at the room inside and performance of their detuned racing engines with variable valve timing, all electronic controls, and 16-valve, double overhead cams. The bottom line is total cost of ownership which includes initial price, cost of operation, availability of parts, frequency of repairs, and trade-in value. I’ve research a lot of inexpensive cars and believe the least expensive to own is a Toyota Corolla or perhaps one of the new Korean clones with long warranties.
If you can, go with the standard manual tranmission. They are simpler and much cheaper to maintain or repair. I’ve owned one automatic in 40 years and had to replace the trans. for $2,200. It was a Chrysler. Be sure to get all the facts and make all your decisions from online information before you visit a dealer. Then stick to your decisions and pricing. Go home after 25 minutes with any dealer including the test drive. Don’t let them wear you down. Any deal they offer will likely still be good tomorrow unless it is the end date of a factory incentive (see Edmunds).
As an alternative to the dealer headache, you might try selling your car yourself via Yahoo Auctions (as I did once) then buying a new car online without a trade-in.
Squeak, Rattle & Roll
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