Huge Chrysler OEM part price increases?

Anybody noticed this since the Cerberus deal? I'm talking increases
like a typical $40 part now costing $120 - and that being typical, not
just an isolated example. Comments?

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

 

I have not bought any parts recently, but I too, am concerned how this
Cerberus deal is going to affect parts pricing and availability. I am
planning to keep my three Mopars for now.

I had to replace the mounting screws for the coolant recovery tank on
my 2000 Cirrus. They were $2.50 each. I tried several aftermarket
options, but none of them had the correct thread pitch.

-KM

 

KM

What was so unique about the screws? I would count on my junkbox
having something. If not a close by Ace has lots of choice.

Bob AZ

 

Vulture capitalists. Gotta love 'em...

 

After the Daimler "merger," I noticed a couple of things with the parts
supply. One: prices took a big jump at that time, and two: a HUGE number
of parts were rendered NS-1. For example, I went in to buy a throttle
cable for the wife's 1993 LH. No dice, the part was NS-1, inventory zero
nationwide. I was DUMBFOUNDED because at the time the car was only 9
years old and I was still getting parts similar to that at the dealer
when my '73 Satellite was 20 years old! In fact during the past 5 years
I've probably picked up more parts for my 40-year-old cars at the dealer
than for the 93. It seemed as though the not only discontinued parts
from 90s vintage cars, but flushed them from the inventory too while
keeping the more common stockpiles of old, old bits and pieces.


A few months after the throttle cable fiasco, I went looking for a power
seat track system for that car (the friction clutch had died on the
fore/aft motor) and was quoted $600! SHEESH, and I only went to the
dealer because I didn't want to buy a WHOLE SEAT (with nice leather
upholstry no less, too bad it didn't match our car) from a junkyard for
$100. When I quit laughing, I noticed that the counterman (who has been
at that dealer for 30-odd years) was looking kinda hurt and hang-dog,
and he told me that he thought it was insane too, especially since that
was a fairly often-needed part because the recall for fixing the track
bushings always put a heavy load on those friction clutches and they
tended to fail, but it was a corporate price and there was nothing he
could do.

Suffice it to say, I never darken the door of a dealer parts department
any longer unless I've struck out everywhere else. So maybe there has
been another huge price jump, but I wouldn't know or particularly care
anymore. But I'm hard-pressed to see how it could be any worse than it
was under Dumbler.

 

I did hear from a source that I can't identify that when the Cerberus
sale took place, many suppliers decided not to renew contracts.
Therefore some parts are (at least for now) not available, and others
are available at much higher prices due to supply/demand.

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

 

you can say that again
i replaced a few neon fuel filler tubes and they were under 125 .00 now they
are 265.00 list

 

[/QUOTE]

Or is because Cerberus wants to pay for Chrysler ASAP.

I've read that Cerberus is in financial trouble because it's GMAC is
losing big bucks on sub-prime mortgages.

 

Once the insurance companies figure this out I wonder if it will be too
expensive to renew our colission policies?

Ricahrd

 

Those wondering what will happen to Chrysler might do well to study
the end times of Studebaker.

 

It would more quickly push their decisions towards totaling out with
relatively minor damage on existing policies (the threshold was low
enough as it was - BTDT).

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

 

The only part I bought since the takeover was the little 4 inch rubber
hose on the fuel rail at left rear. ( I don't know the correct part
name) I know people have been using any old hose for repair, but I
wanted to use the correct hose, with a different ID at each end.
It had to be shipped in from the main CDN warehouse, it's cost was $7.
That's $1.75 per inch!
My it really has improved the 3.3L engines running. My hose had broken
down and was leaking.

 

Now I realize why Chrysler is offering lifetime power train warranties.
It's Chryslers lifetime they are referring to. <