TOP 3 DODGE REPAIR PROBLEMS

Not just messy but also regarded as the worst complaint of car owners, engine oil sludge is common to a wide array of Dodge sedans. In fact, the defect has been bothering owners since 1998. This occurs specifically to cars that have a 2.7L V6 engine, whose oil circulation system's design is flawed. What happens here is that regular oil tends to get hotter than normal, eventually causing it to gel. As the gel settles in the engine, the oil fails to provide the necessary cooling for your engine. It rather stores heat that can result in excess wear as friction increases. What owners can do to avoid this is to pay more attention to maintenance. For instance, replace the PCV (crankcase ventilation) valve every 30 thousand miles. Car owners should also remember not to drive with an overheated motor and to have their cooling system regularly checked. Having more frequent oil changes with high detergent oil is also an outstanding move.

Apparently, Dodge Ram trucks have flimsy dashboards. It is said that their dashboards are constructed using materials that do not even last after some years or so. It may not be as significant a deal as an oil-smudged engine but still, a damaged and exposed dashboard, particularly its sharp edges, is a concern. And the problem seems to expand from day-to-day use: a small crack on the passenger side can develop to cracks across the windshield all the way to the airbag panel, consequently tearing the entire dashboard in half. The best way to solve this problem is to have a topnotch aftermarket dashboard cover installed upon first sight of damage. Replacing it with another dashboard is not recommended since Dodge has yet to use upgraded materials in crafting their dashboards, so a Dodge dashboard replacement may just crack again after some time.

Perhaps the most dreaded message a Dodge owner (particularly a Durango driver) can come across is "NO BUS." This memo flashing on the odometer can mean serious business: either your car computer has become faulty or it has already died down on you. When your Dodge's Powertrain Control Module, abbreviated PCM, is not able to carry out its task, which is to control and communicate with your car's electrical systems, this can cause your Dodge to suddenly stop, stall out, lose its power, and break down. It is a safety risk, especially if your car goes dead in the middle of the highway and a speeding car is right behind you. Despite the problem pointing to computer failure-usually, the PCM's circuit board gets hot then warps, causing a circuit to be broken-it does not necessarily mean that it is always the computer's fault. It can actually be an indication of a loose fuse, a crank shaft sensor shorting, or a bad connection. So before taking your car to a shop or the dealer for a replacement PCM, try to have the basics (i.e., fuse, etc.) checked first.