I have a 2006 Dodge Stratus SXT that I have been having problems with the coolant system. I noticed last year that my car was not heating properly. I took it to a local garage and I was told that my radiator had a hole in it and that it will cost me $600 to repair and flush. I went to Autozone to price a new radiator that only cost me $200 for a life time warranty thinking that if I purchased the part it would cost less. I soon found out that the radiator on the Stratus was basically plastic! So how was you going to repair plastic? I went to another garage and they put the radiator on for $260. In April, I noticed that temp gauge was reading higher than normal. Suddenly when I got home steam was coming from under the engine and the overflow was leaking antifreeze on the engine. I looked an notice that hose on the side had come loose from built up pressure. I fixed that! Then later on, I was not getting any heat and the temp gauge was still running hot. I took it to the garage again to find out that it was the thermostat and the housing. I got that replace to have the same thing happen again a week later. I went back to get that fixed again for it to happen once more. My wife and I decided to buy another car. On the way to pick up the new car, the Stratus over heated again but this time antifreeze went everywhere and the car red lined. I had to call a tow truck to take it to the garage again. The garage kept my car for 2 days, after 2 days, I was told that the seal on the new thermostat was not placed on it causing the thermostat to bounce around. So for about a week the car ran good until yesterday, when I get to work, steam starting coming from the car again. After work, I took it to Jiffy Lube to get my oil top off. The tech at Jiffy Lube after 10 mins tells me that I have Coolant Bypass System leak and my Head gasket is cracked. In 10 mins that took a certified tech 2 days to tell me something different....THE THERMOSTAT!! On my way home, the car overheated and I had to stop on the side of the road. The Stratus is a great car but the heating system and repairs on this is ridicules.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I have a 2006 Dodge Stratus SXT that I have been having problems with the coolant system. I noticed last year that my car was not heating properly. I took it to a local garage and I was told that my radiator had a hole in it and that it will cost me $600 to repair and flush. I went to Autozone to price a new radiator that only cost me $200 for a life time warranty thinking that if I purchased the part it would cost less. I soon found out that the radiator on the Stratus was basically plastic! So how was you going to repair plastic? I went to another garage and they put the radiator on for $260. In April, I noticed that temp gauge was reading higher than normal. Suddenly when I got home steam was coming from under the engine and the overflow was leaking antifreeze on the engine. I looked an notice that hose on the side had come loose from built up pressure. I fixed that! Then later on, I was not getting any heat and the temp gauge was still running hot. I took it to the garage again to find out that it was the thermostat and the housing. I got that replace to have the same thing happen again a week later. I went back to get that fixed again for it to happen once more. My wife and I decided to buy another car. On the way to pick up the new car, the Stratus over heated again but this time antifreeze went everywhere and the car red lined. I had to call a tow truck to take it to the garage again. The garage kept my car for 2 days, after 2 days, I was told that the seal on the new thermostat was not placed on it causing the thermostat to bounce around. So for about a week the car ran good until yesterday, when I get to work, steam starting coming from the car again. After work, I took it to Jiffy Lube to get my oil top off. The tech at Jiffy Lube after 10 mins tells me that I have Coolant Bypass System leak and my Head gasket is cracked. In 10 mins that took a certified tech 2 days to tell me something different....THE THERMOSTAT!! On my way home, the car overheated and I had to stop on the side of the road. The Stratus is a great car but the heating system and repairs on this is ridicules.
- Link T., Lynchburg, VA, US