Car warranty information help!!

77amc · Post by **77amc** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:38 pm

Hey guys, I'm not sure where to put this and it may be moved but..
I need to ask a question for the certified machanics here.
I had picked up a 99 dodge intrepid from friends of ours that their nephew bought without test driving and on the way home it started having an "engine noise". He parked it, got towed, and sat at 'Uncles' house for several months with the kid owner going back to Texas..
Well to make a long story shorter, I bought it from Uncle, did a bonded title, yadda yadda and got it home and started looking into finding this "noise"
Got a key cut, hot battery and VVVrrrroooomm

..... TIC TIC TIC TIC...

Now I dont think it's a rod because you can feel it at the rear valve cover. It runs too smooth for a knock, doesn't shake but just has this loud tapping noise coming from there.
I know that the 2.7 motors were known to burn up the oil and toast the motor, or the oil pump would go and do the same.
I took the pass valve cover off and besides the oil, YOU COULD EAT OFF IT! Spotless.

So I pulled the cam towers and looked at things and to my assumption, It looked like a hyd lifter collapsed and wasn't springing back like the others.
Well, paid 13.00 and re-installed a new lifter, put everything back together and TIC TIC TIC... Now I asked the dealership where I got the lifter, and told them the problem and asked if I could give the vin# and if he could tell me if there has been a warranty engine installed?? (it only shows 138K on it) and because it was just tooo clean inside.
The MGR. told me that all dealerships are privately owned and couldn't tell if there has been ANY work done from a dealership other than thiers..

Now I know I can go into ANY Honda dealership, give my vin and they can pull up any work that a certified dealership or shop has done..

So with all that story, Am I being lied to? Does anybody here know if the warranty work status of a vehicle can be pulled up?

The car is SPOTLESS and I'd really like to get it running as the family car. And if the engine is still under a warranty I could maybe get it replaced

I ran out of time to test each coil on plug on that side to see if unplugging it will have any effect OR do a compression test.

Sorry for the long post, but would like to give as much info as possible for a good solid answer, or possibility.
Your help is appreciated. Errol

slowquest · Post by **slowquest** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 7:01 pm

They can only tell you if something has been done UNDER warranty. If the customer paid for the job, there's no way for a dealer, other than the installing dealer, to tell. Also, if an engine has been installed, it would ONLY be warrantied to the owner who paid to have it installed. And yes, they will check the registration.....

Now, about the noise. It's very possible that the noise is coming from a collapsed timing chain tensioner. It is located on the pass side of the engine in the side of the head. They are kind of a pain to change, but not terrible. Big problem here is, if it's had a loose timing chain due to the tensioner for any length of time, it's gonna need the chains and guides also. MAJOR job.....best left to someone who's been into one before.

77amc · Post by **77amc** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:01 pm

Well, one good thing is that from what I was told (hope it's true) the kid pulled over and shut down after he heard it. Not drove it home to see what had happened like most would.
So I may be lucky in that respect. If you have a link to that job I'd appreciate it, or if it's just under the cams on that side it shouldn't be that bad. Would the head have to come off?
The only manual that i have is a goofy Hanes.

And the place where I got the Colt gt, had a 2002 2.7 that came out of a wrecked car. The alternator mounting point got broken off in the hit with a small chunk breaking off the block? If they can't "fix" it they will sell it as a core.

I don't think there can be THAT many miles on a 2002??
It's already out sitting on the ground with the trans. (Made me think of my younger days with the 914's.. MAN that would be a perfect swap!!)

The car has been just sitting for months anyhow I can just take it slow.
Thanks..E

slowquest · Post by **slowquest** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:05 pm

I don't have any links or anything for ya, sorry. It was more of a "been there, done that" kinda thing. I worked for a Dodge dealer from 96 to 02. The head does not have to come off to change the tensioner. They do not have to come off to change the chains and guides either. You may want to check on DodgeIntrepid.net for some writeups, but most of those guys will tell you to do a 3.2/3.5 swap