Concorde 2.7L Engines

[azrider12]

Hello.,
I have a 99 Concorde, I bought it used, at 90,000 miles, the engine blew. The cause::: SLUDGE:::This is an ongoing issue so I'm seeing. There is no help for those of us who own or are trying to own these beautiful, spacey, high classy cars. I've looked all over for new and used engines, and have had prices that range from 7,000.00 for new to 3500.00 used...Mind you, I owe 9000.00 on this lovely car. Haven't even had it a year yet, and it's sitting in my yard, with a cover over it, waiting for it's new engine to arrive. I found them reasonably cheap, and if your also needing an engine, and advice on how to keep this next engine sludge free, pls contact me. All info is FREE , I just want to share what I've learned with fellow Concorde [email protected]

[n.o.d]

Welcome to the Club of Angry Concorde 2.7L Engine Owners!
Early december last year I bought a 98' Concorde that ran w/ a 2.7L engine at 100,000 miles. One month later my engine died on me. The Head Gasket blew up, the bearings were worn out and there was water in the block. I should have listened to my mechanic advice: American cars with 90,000-100,000 miles on them are not worth buying. They've reached the end of their life. He also told me that even after getting a new engine, weeks after that your transmission will go, then the suspension and then everything litlle thing that can go wrong will go wrong. In essence, having your engine dying at 100,000 miles signals the end of the car. However, the 2.7L is notoriously known to be defective, in point of fact, some Condorde equipped w/ the 2.7L have died relatively early at 20,000 miles.
For those of you who unlike us are still enjoying your 2.7L engine, one advice that you might already be aware of, flush out your oil and replace it w/ synthetic oil, it prevents slugde and is smoother on your valves.

[MrRoscoePC]

DO YOUR MAINTENANCE PEOPLE! why do you think the dealers want to see your service records when something happens? When the cars come in because the engine is noisy or has siezed and the car has 40,000+ km with "factory installed" printed on the oil filter I have no sympathy. The people I feel bad for are the ones who buy the cars used from these abusive past owners. (beware the rentals and used leased cars)

[calgary_redneck]

The chystler 2.7l engine failure is an epidemic I am shocked at the number of failures I personally have seen and also heard about. Its an outrage that chysler would dare to but out such as poor quality product. This coupled with their increadably failure prone 604 auto transmission I'd run away from these cars as fast as possible. As for all american cars being worn out after 100k I'm afraid I don't agree i worked on many gm fwd with 200k + on them and still run very well. The rwd cars even are more durable again such as fords crown vic and so forth.

[MrRoscoePC]

The timing chains on these engines are tensioned with engine oil pressure, so when the screens on the pickup in the oil pan clogs up from the gunk and sediment collecting in the oil pan then the chain tension lessens and then its knock knock bang time for the engine. I have changed ford, Chrysler and GM V8 engines with the same gunk from the same lack of maintenance.
Yes the early 604 Trans was garbage, but led the way for the evolution of electronic shifting trans now used by every automaker.
RG

PS: It's DaimlerChrysler now. The Germans have their fingers in the design teams pie now too, so they may share in some of the blame.

[geozukigti]

I had a 94' Concorde with the 3.3L. I bought it with 82,000 miles on it. The tranny fell apart on me whrn it hit 98,000. But I changed the oil(synthetic) every 2700 miles, and I kept the car until 179,000 miles. It ate 2 transmissions in that time tho. That tranny was a piece of crap. I've seen many 2.7L chryslers with well over 150k on them. Just need to give those engines a little more TLC than usual. EARLY OIL CHANGES SAVE ENGINES!!

[gbpreacher03]

As an owner of several Chrysler products past and present...I find it the reponsibility of the owner to keep the automobile serviced on a REGULAR basis and not when the urge hits you....being a good steward pays off with thousands of miles of dependable, high end quality from our cars, anyone who thinks they can purchase a vehicle and let the oil turn to sludge...then believe they have a right to complain needs to re-examine their priorities as an owner....my Chrysler products are treated with knit gloves and serviced with pride because I am a proud owner....no matter the make or model.....it's just as simple as that....

[seniorbigs]

In the four years I've seen the 2.7 come into the shop. I've only seen one bad engine, original oil and 70,000 miles. Doh!?

[Mike Holt]

Ok so following the manufacturer's recommended servicing schedule is our fault that these engines are running hot enough to cook the oil into sludge, block the oil pick up screen and fail the engine? Hmmmm
Using recommended 5W30 dino oil (note the manual does not say to use synthetic) on a recommended schedule is being a bad owner?
Hmmmm
I would counter that if there are that many failures of the 2.7L due to incorrect servicing, Chrsyler should..No it is incumbent on Chrysler as a service organization to put out a bulletin to all owners recommending a different schedule. They also need to change the owners manual.
My wife's car is in the shop right now because the oil light keeps coming on. I only hope that it can still be salvaged and the engine isn't trashed. The car will be gone very soon and I for one will not own another Chrysler product! This one has been a disaster from day one and yes I follow a regimented service schedule even if I don't maintain certified, notarized records for the service techs to verfiy so they can deny me any replacement of a lousy engine!

Ok rant is over!

[eeb4u]

I bought my first brand new 4.5 years ago. How happy!! The price of the concorde was very appealing. Now I realize you get that you get what you pay for. I know this is a post about engines, but I will get there. The doors don't fit correctly and have worn through the paint even though they don't contact the body when closed??? Does the body flex when moving?? What's that musty smell in the trunk? Two and a half inches of water in the wheel well thats what. Now the engine. The engine started miss-firing while driving (just enough where you wondered if it happened or not) and then it wouldn't start. The on board diag code pointed to the cam sensor. $50 fix, I thought I was in the clear. Next I noticed a slight "fluttering" sound when removing my foot from the gas. I thought it might have been something at the top end and flushed the oil thinking an oil line might be clogged. No good, the fluttering turned to tapping and rapidly to clunking. My mechanic says the bottom end is shot. He diagnosed this after talking to chrysler mechanics. Not an uncommmon problem he said.

How sad!
$5400 fix I own $3500 Is it worth it? I don't know, I was looking forward to a replacement for my other car. 93 taurus with 157K miles. I change the oil in these cars every 4-5K miles. I put 100K on the taurus since I bought it. Never again will I buy a chrysler.

[AWP9521]

According to my son who works at the local Dodge garage, the 2.7's main problems is indeed the Timing Chain Tensioner, apparantly the slider the chain runs on wears quite rapidly causing the chain to fail or the engine to jump time.

IMO, Synthetic Oil is the only to go for any modern Engine, it handles the heat better, it keeps the Engine clean, it flows better when cold, and if you do happen to go a little long on the next oil change the effects will be less detrimental on the Engine as Synthetic Oil doesn't break down as rapidly as standard Oil does.

[theFREAKnasty82]

For those of you who think the 2.7 Liter is a piece of garbage, I really feel for you. I have a 2002 Dodge Intrepid (the sister car to the Concorde) all I use is Mobil 1 Synthetic 5W-30 and I have 50,000 miles on it. Runs like a top, I have had no problems with it since I first bought a little over a year and a half ago. YOU MUST REGULARLY MAINTAIN THESE ENGINES!!!!! I know because I am an ASE certified Chrysler Technician and that's all we tell our customers. The owners manual says that you can go 7,500 miles before your next oil change. All I have to say to that is: GARBAGE!!! No matter where you live, how hard you drive or how less you drive your car, you must stick closely to the 3 month, 3,000 mile service schedule. Also, don't add any additives to the oil, thinking it will prolong engine life b/c it won't; it only adds up to the sludging, which can happen on any engine, whether it is a Toyota, Honda, Nissan or Chevy, it happens, maintain your vehicles, closely or else you will pay dearly people. I admit, the 2.7 has had its issues, but the 2.7s that they use in the new LX platform (Dodge Magnum and Chrysler 300) use the same 2.7 and I have not heard of any issues so far to this point. Making a long story short ladies and gentleman, MAINTAIN YOUR VEHICLES AND SERVICE THEM ON TIME, DON'T WAIT ANOTHER 2000 OR SO MILES, WHEN IT'S TIME TO CHANGE THE OIL, CHANGE IT!!!!!!

[eeb4u]

[quote= The owners manual says that you can go 7,500 miles before your next oil change. All I have to say to that is: GARBAGE!!! [/QUOTE]
[br]
I maintained my engine on a regular basis. I changed the oil every 4-5K. My old Taurus is still going strong (thank god, I am down to one vehicle) with 158K miles. If it says it in the manual it must be right, or at least they should stand behind their recommendations. Chrysler has a problem with these engines that they are going to have to address. I recommend everyone with a problematic 2.7L Chrysler/Dodge engine file a complaint with the Center For Auto Safety (CAS) www.autosafety.org They are currently handling this with letters to Chrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche. This is NOT an uncommon problem.

Chrysler should extend warranty to 10 year/150k as was done by Mercedes, or follow VW and Toyota in similar extensions of warranty.

File a complaint with CAS and additionally with www.nhtsa.dot.gov

CAS is currently working with a NYC lawyer (Brian Hufford) in pursuit of a class action lawsuit, join up and force Chrysler to do something to get us out of this problem.

Currently the Concorde has the become the ideal Christmas present storage container. It's not doing anything else!

[caddy57]

Not only is the 2.7 junk, but try a 3.5. I owned a 96 intrepid w/ 3.5 and was nothing but problems. You would'nt think a timing belt and water pump would have to be changed @ 29000, but mine did. I had the oil changed every 3000 and the bottom went out on this peice of junk @ 47000. Not only engine problems, but 4 evaporaters, three total front ends, 4 sets of brakes, front and back,1 trans. { covered by warranty, but had to fight} headlight covers twice, door locks and various other minor problems. I was the original owner and never drove the car hard. Never again will I own a Chrysler product.

[theFREAKnasty82]

eeb4u, honestly, don't lie or hold back, did you regularly at 3,000 mile intervals, changed your oil? The owner's manual is wrong, I agree, Chrysler, (rather DaimlerChrysler) should re-word their maintanance schedule; that, I'll fight. But to say that they are a bad manufacturer, is just absurd. I'm sure you've been told by numerous mechanics both that you have to stick close by a 3 month/3,000 mile schedule or you'll trash ANY motor! Plus, your Taurus has 185,000 miles on it; I'm a tranny tech and your transmission, the Ford AXOD-E or AX4-S, known by Ford now, has not been the smoothest transmission. I used to work for Ford and everytime a tranny would go, I would eat it up. Working on those cars was so much fun b/c I made more money in one week fixing Taurus' than I would make in 2 months combined! Just FYI, no manufacturer is perfect, they all have their flaws; you've been lucky, so far.