I NEED HELP! Chrysler Concorde V6 Malfunctioning
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Joined: Apr 2005
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I NEED HELP! Chrysler Concorde V6 Malfunctioning
Okay guys, here's the story.
I drive a 1996 Chrysler Concorde. It has a 3.3L V6. When I drive my car, I intermittently had the oil light come on. Only around very sharp turns at high speeds. So I assumed that it was due to the G forces pushing the oil around. I thought nothing of it.
So on Monday, I turn on the car to go out for lunch and as I'm driving the oil light comes on. Not on a turn this time. So I figure, ah crap, I need oil. I drive the car the 7 more miles to the service station without surpassing 2000 RPM and halfway there, my engine starts making clicking noises. It closely resembles a loud clock. The speed of the noise increases with an increase in engine speed. In fact, when I reach a particular speed, the noise is occurring so fast it seems that it is gone.
When I got to the service station, I ask for an oil change. So they refuse to touch my car after hearing the noise. I then ask for them to just top off the oil and I drive it home (1/4 mile - not even). The car has been sitting at home ever since.
So what would this noise be from? From what I can gather, it is one of four things (thanks to about.com):
1. The valves in your engine need to be adjusted: Adjust valves or replace hydraulic lifters as required.
2. There is a lot of sludge in your engine that is stopping oil from circulating properly: Flush engine and replace oil and oil filter.
3. The engine's valve lifters are collapsed: Replace valve lifters.
4. One or more of the engine's valves are stuck: Remove valves and repair or replace valve guides and/or valves as required.
So I'm hoping it is #2, but I doubt it since it was so sudden and the oil light turned on. How much does it cost to flush the engine, and would it be a good idea for me to do?
And the other 3, I would imagine would cost more than $1500 to repair. If that is the case, then I'm not sure I would pay to fix it. Would it be okay and/or safe to drive with the noise (and possible engine damage) if I attempt to continuously maintain the oil level (in case it burns it off quicker)?\
Thanks a lot guys!
I drive a 1996 Chrysler Concorde. It has a 3.3L V6. When I drive my car, I intermittently had the oil light come on. Only around very sharp turns at high speeds. So I assumed that it was due to the G forces pushing the oil around. I thought nothing of it.
So on Monday, I turn on the car to go out for lunch and as I'm driving the oil light comes on. Not on a turn this time. So I figure, ah crap, I need oil. I drive the car the 7 more miles to the service station without surpassing 2000 RPM and halfway there, my engine starts making clicking noises. It closely resembles a loud clock. The speed of the noise increases with an increase in engine speed. In fact, when I reach a particular speed, the noise is occurring so fast it seems that it is gone.
When I got to the service station, I ask for an oil change. So they refuse to touch my car after hearing the noise. I then ask for them to just top off the oil and I drive it home (1/4 mile - not even). The car has been sitting at home ever since.
So what would this noise be from? From what I can gather, it is one of four things (thanks to about.com):
1. The valves in your engine need to be adjusted: Adjust valves or replace hydraulic lifters as required.
2. There is a lot of sludge in your engine that is stopping oil from circulating properly: Flush engine and replace oil and oil filter.
3. The engine's valve lifters are collapsed: Replace valve lifters.
4. One or more of the engine's valves are stuck: Remove valves and repair or replace valve guides and/or valves as required.
So I'm hoping it is #2, but I doubt it since it was so sudden and the oil light turned on. How much does it cost to flush the engine, and would it be a good idea for me to do?
And the other 3, I would imagine would cost more than $1500 to repair. If that is the case, then I'm not sure I would pay to fix it. Would it be okay and/or safe to drive with the noise (and possible engine damage) if I attempt to continuously maintain the oil level (in case it burns it off quicker)?\
Thanks a lot guys!
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 217
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From: Detroit - soon to be Irvine, CA
A friend of mine had a Mazda 626 that began making a similar noise so he got some oil treatment and went for a quick 10 mile drive around the area.. He never made it back, the engine shot a piston through the bottom of the block on the freeway down the street from my apartment.
Driving makes me :)
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 370
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From: Irvine, CA
It might not be any serious damage at all. Not sure if this applies to you, but my previous 89 Mazda B2200 has this exact same condition when the oil becomes low. I used it as an audible warning to add more oil. After oil was added, the noise went away and all seemed well. Didn't notice anything different about the drive.
