00 Intrepid ES--Sigh...Luck of the Draw?

Greetings,
My 00ES broke 60K so I took it to the dealer to have the drive belts
replaced. The reason I took it to the dealer was to have some other issues
looked at with it. To date, there has been no issues.
At my 57K oil change (I change it on a rack at the military hobby shop), I
noticed wetness around a weep hole on the right side of the transmission
above the transmission pan. I suspected it was differential fluid because it
didn't look or smell like transmission fluid. I cleaned it up and at my 60K
oil change the "wetness" was there again. So I asked the dodge dealership to
give me their best guess. They said it was a transfer shift seal that was
the culprit. Needless to say there it'd be over $1k to dive in and fix that.
My executive decision is that I'm going to monitor it. There isn't any
pooling or anything beneath the car.
The second issue was the steering wheel "sticking" while turning right. This
would occur rarely, but when it did, right after starting to drive away. I
initially attributed it to the cold weather and sticking joints, etc...
Well, it happened twice after driving a substantial distance. It would stick
after about a half steering wheel right turn. You'd then turn it to the left
and then back to the right--normal. It is very intermittent (happening 3
times) considering the number of times you turn right. The dealership
diagnoses...need a new rack and pinion set. He said parts alone would run
around $900...add in labor and you're over $1k. Arggg.
Then to top off this "bad" news. I look under the hood and they only
replaced the serpentine belt...not the A/C belt. I called the service
manager and he said the mechanic felt that the belt was OK. Geez,
Louezzz...ya gotta take the serpentine belt off to replace the A/C belt. I
mean the guy was in there. While I have no doubt that the belt is still
"good," but I doubt for another 60K maintenance interval.
Sigh....

 

Hi Rich.

On the steering, I would change the p.s. fluid (using ATF+4). It may
help, and can't hurt. I've seen posts on Chrysler forums where
replacing the fluid fixed similar problems.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

ATF+4???

My Haynes Manual has listed "Chrysler power steering fluid (not automatic
transmission fluid) or equivalent."

I've never heard of using ATF for that purpose. Can you reconfirm?
Thanx,
Rich

 

i have been getting reman racks for 465.00 for the lh cars
i have seen a bunch of lh cars with the side casing wet and thery are still
going strong with 100k + on the clock just keep a eye on it along with a ear
listening for any gear whine

 

I also noticed the oil wetness near the transmission on my Intrepid while I had
it on the lift (also at a military hobby shop yesterday. I recall reading
a TSB via allpar that some weeping is normal, although I don't have TSB access
at the moment. Of course it's hard to know how much fluid is still in the
differential.

 

Interesting...
Kinda makes you wonder if dealerships (not to disparage all) ever look at
TSBs...
Thanx,
Rich

 

Definitely what I would do. Keep an eye on the differential fluid level.

Try a PS fluid change. Maybe even a couple of changes a few weeks apart.
The rack is a Saginaw made by GM, and so all the things you find in GM
forums about steering racks apply to this one as well.

I'd get a new dealer.... or skip the dealer and do it ALL myself. After
all, you do have access to a lift!

 

Rich - According to my local dealer (so it must be true!) 8^) they
can't even get the official Chrysler p.s. fluid thru their official
Chrysler supply chain any more. They tell me that even when they
specifically order the p.s. fluid by part number, the Chrysler warehouse
substitutes ATF+4, i.e., the p.s. fluid is unobtanium. I've posted this
anecdotal info. on a couple of Chrysler specific forums (including this
one) and no one has ever disputed it, so I am thinking it may be true.
I have looked for a TSB on the subject, but there doesn't appear to be
any. It could well be that the ATF+4 is not only adequate but even
overkill for p.s. fluid, and so is OK to use (best to flush and
re-fill).

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

Bill,
Thanx much!
Rich

 

Now this is interesting. My LH 1999 Factory Service Manual (printed edition)
Page 19-12 says "In all pumps add fluid as necessary, using only Mopar Power
Steering Fluid, or an equivalent. DO NOT USE ANY TYPE OF AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION FLUID." (emphasis theirs)

An electronic copy of the 2002 LH manual, page 19-54, says, "CAUTION: Use only
Mopar ATF+4 Automatic Transmission Fluid (MS-9602). Do not overfill."

So was their a design change for the newer model years? Or is this change of
mind retroactive to 1999 models too?

--------------------------

For checking the level, both model year manuals say, "The power steering fluid
level should be between MAX. COLD and MIN. COLD when the fluid is at a normal
ambient temperature of approximately 32°C to 43°C (90°F to 110°F)."

Is this correct, or is at a units (NASA style) typo? I wouldn't consider a
normal ambient temperature to be between 32C and 43C, especially for a line
marked COLD. Did they mean perhaps between 32F and 110F?

 

To answer the original poster, and explain thier emphasis, yes, it has been
a common practice forever. The only drawback to using ATF for hydraulic
fluid is it loves to leak.

 

If my dealer is giving me the straight scoop, then it is retroactive
(intentionally or unintentionally) seeing that you can't even get the
official Chrysler p.s. fluid any more (according to them).

I did not know that it had officially been changed for later model
years.

Any time they can eliminate a part number from their inventory system,
it saves them money in inventory and documentation costs. Hopefully the
ATF+4 is an exception to the ATF leaking rule.

I never noticed that before, and I have no explanation. I guess we have
to put our cars in an oven for a couple of hours to check the fluid
except in the summer. 8^) In reality, I doubt if the level will be
significantly different at 60°F than 90°F. Between 60 and 200 - yes,
but not at normal ambient temperatures.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

that is true! atf4 is the replacement for power steering fluid of past but the
system must be filled and flushe once with atf