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gregswife
Cruiser Newbie
Posted: Feb 13, 2008, 12:11 PM
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To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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Hi all,
New to posting but a member for awhile. Anyway, I am still very much in love with my 2002 PT Cruiser TE 77k miles, but my husband is not -- well up until yesterday he very much liked it (I purchased PT before I even met my husband). Anyway, we took her into the shop because of some noises well, it was the timing belt and the water pump and with all of that comes the timing belt kit and having to recondition the a/c. We are looking at about $1000 including a break job, there are some transmission issues but the mechanic said we could hold off on those as they aren't as urgent as the other issues. My husband wants to get it fixed and sell but I think that with a few more minor things done it should be good to go for another few years. My husband drives it to work and back, about 4 miles round trip, we use it when we need to haul things but other than that, it doesn't get driven a lot. Anyway, just wanted to hear from some seasoned owner's and if you are keeping your PT's as they are getting older and costing more to repair.
Stephanie
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Posts: 2 | From: N/A
| Registered: Apr 2, 2006, 4:35 PM
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slipfit
Cruiser Expert
PT Cruiser Club Member
Posted: Feb 13, 2008, 1:38 PM
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Re: [gregswife] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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Hi Stephanie,  My '01' that I bought with 2,800 miles on it, now has 122,000 on it. I've had the timing belt, AC and water pump done - $858.72. I've also replaced tires, brakes and flushed the trans, plus plugs, wires and other routine maint. I still like hearing it start up as much as when I bought it. As long as I take care of it and it looks nice, I'll keep it. I've met a lot of nice people  because of it and taken a lot of great road trips which have created good memories. It's what you make of it. Keep Posting, Gary
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If it's gonna happen - it's gonna happen out there.
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Posts: 358 | From: Columbus, Mi
| Registered: Jan 21, 2007, 3:03 PM
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HipCat
Cruiser Veteran
PT Cruiser Club Member
Posted: Feb 13, 2008, 2:29 PM
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Re: [gregswife] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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I second what Gary said. I have an '01 with 90K on it. My Cruiser was totalled in a hit-and-run last fall, and I cried until my insurance adjustor agreed to fix it! I'm way to attached to mine. It's not just the car, it's all the folks I've met because of the car.
It's natural to be upset over a high repair bill, but you have to remember that you're eventually going to have one with any car that's a few years old. You said in the first line that you're still in love with it—there's your answer. 
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AL PTCC Director
http://al.ptcruiserclub.org/alabama/
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Posts: 2451 | From: Homewood, AL
| Registered: Aug 13, 2002, 12:00 AM
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OldSchool
Cruiser Expert
PT Cruiser Club Member
Posted: Feb 13, 2008, 3:02 PM
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Re: [gregswife] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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As you pointed out, you had the PT before you met your husband.
The maintainence repairs are reasonable and expected.
Keep the cruiser, and if your husband hollers too much about it.......well 
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Old cruisers never die, they just go down a different highway.
_________________________
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Posts: 367 | From: Oklahoma
| Registered: Aug 27, 2004, 6:45 PM
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wa9zug
Cruiser Fan
Posted: Feb 13, 2008, 6:16 PM
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Re: [OldSchool] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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$1000 is $83.33 a month in car payments, for a year! Pretty Low!
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Posts: 19 | From: N/A
| Registered: Dec 20, 2007, 7:22 PM
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LeoCruiser
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Feb 13, 2008, 6:54 PM
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Re: [gregswife] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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Greetings,
I plan to keep my PT until I can not afford to fix it anymore or until catastrophic failure. I want to keep my PT a long time because I am wishing the 2001-2003 models turn into collectibles.
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"I rate enthusiasm even above professional skill."
-Ed Appleton
My PT:
http://www.ptcruiserclub.org/...ut14831/gallery1.htm
2002 Steel Blue
Classic Edition
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Posts: 290 | From: N/A
| Registered: Jul 3, 2007, 8:23 PM
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GT Bruiser
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Feb 13, 2008, 7:42 PM
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Re: [gregswife] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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As others have mentioned here... it's cheaper to make the repairs than to purchase a new vehicle. The repairs you mention are very typical and are recommended at the 90k mile mark anyway. You're 13k shy, but with ONLY 4 miles put on it per day, there's a lot more wear and tear happening than if you put on 100 miles per day. Besides...ALL VEHICLES need to be driven for more than a couple miles each way every time they're fired up.
Why? Lubricant contamination occurs from excessive idling or inadequately warmed engines. This is because engine operation at low temperatures creates soot deposits and condensation of water vapor that mixes with sulphur oxides to become sulphuric acid in the crankcase. So internally... your engine may be getting pitted and corroded from those little jaunts to his workplace. Better to let it sit than to drive it as such, and that rule applies to any cars you may own.
The timing belt and water pump typically run around $900 for the job. It's a pain in the rear and time consuming. I can do most everything on a car, but I won't touch that job... too many pitfalls and time.
The transmission is suffering from the same problems due to under-usage. Lots of moisture buildup inside the trans housing and valve body. Before any major transmission overhaul though, I would suggest a complete flush, filter & refill.
Most of all, your PT sounds to be reliable and is only suffering from a bit of neglect. Any car will break down from lack of proper maintenance. Surprisingly, lack of use will effect more damage than daily driving, so drive that thing more. This rule applies to all your cars... drive them or watch them slowly fall apart.
Regards!
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Intense Blue Pearl... Yeah, Baby! 2003 GT - 5 Speed Getrag - Factory Loaded W/Ghost Flames, Borla Cat Back Dual Exhaust. "I Suck At Electric".
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Posts: 289 | From: Twin Cities, MN
| Registered: Dec 15, 2004, 3:52 PM
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MICKEY41
Cruiser Addict
Posted: Feb 14, 2008, 4:22 AM
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Re: [gregswife] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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 Hi Stephanie, Thanks for your post. I plan on keeping my car forever as it is the only car I have ever owned with a personality or maybe a car that has given me one. To the members of this forum, the car is more than a car. We take such pride in it, love to look at it, feel so happy driving it and love the looks and comments we receive from people passing by. As others have mentioned, we PTC owners have a bond of friendship that is priceless. I hope you repair and keep it. Nice to have you as part of the family, Mickey 
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2005 ELECTRIC BLUE CLASSIC
Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect.
It means that you have decided to look beyond the imperfections
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Posts: 884 | From: Gilbert, Arizona
| Registered: Apr 24, 2007, 8:45 AM
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sent1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Feb 14, 2008, 7:04 AM
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Re: [gregswife] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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Ditto to all the above.
Maintenance is important with any car. When I got my dreamer last year I knew it wasn't running as well as it could have been. It wasn't any wonder--with 50k miles it still had the original spark plugs and wires. No car would still run well with that. There are certain things that just need to be done with any car to allow it to continue to run the way it should.
The PTC is no exception. To have a car at all, one must pay the price. If you're going to have a car, why not a PTC? Why not the one you have? Do the required maintenance and you still have a good car that will last you a while still AND its a car with character that you love.
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DC1 #1610--5-speed. Its got some stuff.
'03 Inferno Red--Its getting some stuff too!
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Posts: 424 | From: Salem, Oregon
| Registered: Apr 14, 2007, 8:56 AM
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Cruiser RN
Cruiser Veteran
PT Cruiser Club Member
Posted: Feb 14, 2008, 2:24 PM
Post #10 of 13
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Re: [gregswife] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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Hello Stephanie.A timing belt and water pump at 90k miles is par for the course and it sounds as if your car is suffering nothing more than matainance neglect.I bought Miss CRN,a 2001 Limited Edition with 3000 total miles in 2002.I primarily do light city driving and only have 37110 total miles on her.She runs as well as on day 1 but I change the full synthetic oil every 3k miles and have religious preventitive matainance practices.In this span of time all the plugs and wires were changed,complete front and rear break jobs,Tires rotated every other oil change,transmission flushed filters and fluid changed,A/C Condensor and Heater Core replaced,ect,ect ect.Your car will only give you back what you put into it so get the work done and enjoy her for years to come............Mike
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Mike Casabianca
His: 2001 Black LE with Auto Transmission, BullDog Signs Flames, WeatherTec wind deflectors, cargo area mat, PT trash can, PT valve stem caps and Dart's coldair intake, chrome tail and headlight bezels, chrome bumper inserts, chrome license plate pillow, chrome fender trim, 1940's retro chrome on front and back fenders, door spears, chrome hatch door trim, chrome gas door, brushed chrome door sills, billet door pins, custom "BlueHaze" dash mat, MRK Group lugnut covers, dome light trim, etc. and the chrome goes on......
Hers: 2003 Patriot Blue Woody with Automatic Transmission, Bulldog Signs Eeyore, Cargo area mat, WeatherTec wind deflectors, PT valve stem caps, PT trash can, "BlueHaze" custom dash mat, and chrome tailpipe extension, "Old School" wood shifter knob, wood and chrome door pins, MRK Group interior knob and switch covers, door surrounds, and dome light trim, chrome door surround trim, white eeyore window decals, smoothie hub cap, wood eeyore plaques ....and the Wood goes on
http://community.webshots.com/user/mdcvmvc
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Posts: 2281 | From: Yonkers, New York
| Registered: Aug 21, 2002, 12:00 AM
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gregswife
Cruiser Newbie
Posted: Feb 14, 2008, 3:26 PM
Post #11 of 13
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Re: [gregswife] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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Thanks for all of the encouragement and great advice. We have taken very good care of the PT and are very diligent about maintenance. We both love cars and believe in keeping them in tip top shape. We do oil changes every 3 mos/ 3000 miles, had brakes replaced a few times already, had the works done at 50K, so I know it isn't a case of maintenance neglect, just a case of it getting older and the parts are wearing out and as GT BRUISER pointed out, not driving her enough. We found out that it is going to cost more than we originally planned to have it repaired but it will hopefully last a lot longer after all of this and we can once again enjoy my PT. My husband has decided it would be best to keep as it is paid off and he knows it means a lot to me. He read all of your posts and appreciated the information.
Thanks again everybody!
Stephanie and Greg
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Posts: 2 | From: N/A
| Registered: Apr 2, 2006, 4:35 PM
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Cruiser RN
Cruiser Veteran
PT Cruiser Club Member
Posted: Feb 15, 2008, 3:43 PM
Post #12 of 13
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Re: [gregswife] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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Hi Stephanie and Greg.Ginny has her 2003 Patriot Blue Woody and I my 2001 Limited Edition and have come to the same conclusion.it is far cheaper to run em and keep em.I am sorry I came to the wrong conclusion of matainane neglect and humbly apologise for stating same.Did not mean to offend in any way just trying to help fellow cruisers.God Bless........Mike
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Mike Casabianca
His: 2001 Black LE with Auto Transmission, BullDog Signs Flames, WeatherTec wind deflectors, cargo area mat, PT trash can, PT valve stem caps and Dart's coldair intake, chrome tail and headlight bezels, chrome bumper inserts, chrome license plate pillow, chrome fender trim, 1940's retro chrome on front and back fenders, door spears, chrome hatch door trim, chrome gas door, brushed chrome door sills, billet door pins, custom "BlueHaze" dash mat, MRK Group lugnut covers, dome light trim, etc. and the chrome goes on......
Hers: 2003 Patriot Blue Woody with Automatic Transmission, Bulldog Signs Eeyore, Cargo area mat, WeatherTec wind deflectors, PT valve stem caps, PT trash can, "BlueHaze" custom dash mat, and chrome tailpipe extension, "Old School" wood shifter knob, wood and chrome door pins, MRK Group interior knob and switch covers, door surrounds, and dome light trim, chrome door surround trim, white eeyore window decals, smoothie hub cap, wood eeyore plaques ....and the Wood goes on
http://community.webshots.com/user/mdcvmvc
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Posts: 2281 | From: Yonkers, New York
| Registered: Aug 21, 2002, 12:00 AM
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Panasonic
Cruiser Newbie
Posted: Feb 15, 2008, 8:19 PM
Post #13 of 13
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Re: [gregswife] To keep or not to keep my 2002 PT
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I vote to keep it, mine's a 2001 purchased brand new and waited a 6 weeks to receive. It has helped me
avoid major accidents 3 times.
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(This post was edited by Panasonic on Feb 15, 2008, 8:21 PM)
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Posts: 2 | From: Rhode Island
| Registered: Feb 15, 2008, 6:52 PM
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