Sebring Convertible LXI 2.7L V6

• Automatic transmission
• 88,000 miles

FAILURE OF WATER PUMP RESULTED IN CRANKSHAFT/MAIN BEARING WEAR/DAMAGE THAT HAS RENDERED A BEAUTIFUL CAR COMPLETELY UNDESIRABLE. THE CAR IS FIXED AND RUNS GREAT, BUT SHOWS AN OMINOUS OIL PRESSURE LIGHT FLICKER AT LOW RPM AFTER THOROUGHLY HEATING UP. WHEN FIRST STARTED, A BEARING "CHATTER" IS AUDIBLE.

MY MECHANIC BLAMES THE MIXTURE OF OIL AND ANTIFREEZE ALLOWED WHEN THE WATER PUMP FAILS. THERE SEEMED TO BE NO "SLUDGE" PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR, SO IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE WEAR HAS BEEN OCCURRING ALL ALONG, AS IS SUGGESTED BY MANY OF THE OTHERS ON THIS FORUM, OR WHETHER THE DAMAGE WAS DONE WHEN THE WATER PUMP FAILED. REGARDLESS, THE RESULT IS A TOTAL DISASTER. IT COST $1200 ( A FAIR PRICE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT) TO REPAIR THE WATER PUMP AND MAKE THE CAR DRIVABLE.

THE BUMMER IS THAT NOW, MY MECHANIC, AND EVERY CHRYSLER SERVICE MANAGERS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH, ADVISE ME TO SELL THE CAR ASAP. I GUESS I AM RELATIVELY LUCKY. I STILL HAVE A RUNNING VEHICLE (VALUED AT $4500) TO TRADE. I DO HAVE THE MORAL DILEMMA OF KNOWING THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO EVENTUALLY BUY THIS CAR AND UNDOUBTEDLY SUFFER A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE SOMETIME IN THE FAIRLY NEAR FUTURE.

WHAT A SHAME! THIS WAS THE BEST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED UNTIL ONE WEEK AGO. NOW, I COUNT IT AS THE WORST PURCHASE I'VE EVER MADE. I HATE TO LET IT GO, BUT KNOW I HAVE NO CHOICE.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS AND HAVE YET TO SUFFER THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE, OR ARE CONTEMPLATING WHETHER TO BUY THIS CAR, MY ADVICE IS TO HAVE THE ENGINE FLUSHED REGULARLY, USE A LIGHTER WEIGHT OIL (5W20 etc.) AND CONSIDER REPLACING THE WATER PUMP AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE RATHER THAN WAITING FOR IT'S EVENTUAL DEMISE.

GOOD LUCK! IT'S A GREAT CAR WITH A HORRIBLE GREMLIN.