Rose City Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep >$1000 to change the timing belt on a crappy neon. Welland Ontario
I went to change the timing belt on my sisters car to save her some money. So I bought the belt and was told that only Chrysler made the tensioner pulley for the car.
I pulled in to chrysler and asked them for the tensioner (usually about $40 for any other car). They said that they didn't have my tensioner because it has been updated and I have to buy the updated tensioner as a package (the new hydraulic type) for a low price of $560 plus tax. I was told that chrysler patented the hydraulic cylinder for the tensioner so it isn't available as an aftermarket product.
The parts person had no remourse and said that it was a fair price when I asked him if he thought if it was just a little ridiculous.
I also needed the serpentine belt tensioner pulley (usually about $20) because the bearing was going. They said that they couldn't sell me the pulley and I'd have to buy the whole tensioner assembly for $175 plus tax. The aftermarket community does not make this size pulley.
All this on top of the cost of the belt and some other parts to do the job on a 2000 neon that already went through 2 rear main seals ($700) and a head gasket ($1000) within the last 2 years.
I will never buy another Chrysler or GM or Ford product again. (My Family was also screwed with a Ford Windstar that had a billion problems including head gaskets.)
Chrysler obviously designed the car in this manner in order to increase profits by gouging the pockets of the working class person.
I hope they go bankrupt and all of those money hungry executives lose their jobs.
Greg
Port Colborne, Ontario
Canada
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Mike
San Francisco,California,
U.S.A.
Maybe its time for a new car
#4Consumer Comment
Thu, December 27, 2007
Reading your report just makes realize that there are people out there that really need to get a life.
1st of all, a 2000 Dodge Neon (or plymouth) is probably worth about $3000.00 anyways.
2nd of all, this car probably has well over 100,000 miles, and most car manufacturers recommend a timing belt/chain change at around 100,000 miles anyways.
3rdly, parts is parts. If you need them, you will have to pay for them, whether the price seems crazy or not, you can't get by without them. Do you actually think parts stores/dealerships are a non profit organization? No, they have to pay their bills too.
4thly, if you think parts are expensive for this car, try getting parts for the imports, they are just as much or more!
5thly, you should probably get rid of the car, unless you like to pour money into a 7 year old car that is probably a p.o.s. anyways.
Greg
Port Colborne,Ontario,
Canada
Can't read
#4Author of original report
Mon, November 05, 2007
First of all, 560+175 plus tax is $845. You're obviously not smart enough to realize that a timing belt job cannot be completed with just the tensioner. It also requires purchasing the TIMING BELT, an exhaust gasket, some cleaner, the water pump and some coolant. That makes, oh yes... over $1000.
Second of all, not even knowing me.... and calling be a deadbeat because I think it should be a $40 part. Where do you see in the original report that I though it should have costed $40?
(even if I did, how does that make be a deadbeat?)
Even if it was $100 dollars it would be ok? but if you think I'm lucky to get it for $560 you either have too much money or aren't really from this planet.
They should have designed the part right the first time so that they didn't have to revise it and force owners of the "old" tensioner to upgrade.
My main concern about domestic card isn't even price, it's quality. Chrysler wants top dollar for this inferior quality part. I don't mind paying more money to Toyota to make a part that lasts longer.
And $800 for a security key??? If you're buying a toyota with an $800 security key then you can afford to replace it (however unlikely that it fails in the first place) because it's only available on the higher end models. If you want to make an argument make sure you compare apples to apples. Like the neon vs. the Toyota in the same class such as the Corolla which has a security key costing $75, which just happens to be right around the price of a neon key.
C
CINcinnati,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Can't add.
#4Consumer Comment
Wed, October 31, 2007
Ok, do your math, $560 and $175 isn't a $1000.
As for the revision, yes it the truth and that is just the way it is. There is no patent on the design and any after-market parts supplier can make this when ever they want. But their not. Why? because deadbeats like you think this should be a $40 part. Do you think you can make one for $40? No! be glad you can get the part for $560.
there isn't a law on the books that says a manufacturer has to service parts for any car for any period of time. you find something, I'll buy you the part.
Go ahead, quit buying American cars, you think that domestic car parts are expensive, wait till you pay $800 for a Toyota security key.