2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser engine and engine cooling problems

“I PURCHASED A USED 2001 PT CRUISER ON THE WAY HOME WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT, IT SOUNDED LIKE WATER RAPIDLY BOILING WITH SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAVE LOOK UP THIS PROBLEM AND SAW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FROM 2001 TO 2008 PT CRUISERS, NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, IT WENT FROM A RADIATOR CAP TO THE BLADES COMING OFF OF THE FAN. I DON'T KNOW HOW SO MANY VEHICLES CAN HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT THERE BEING A RECALL TO FIX THIS. TO LOWER THE ENGINE HEAT I HAVE TO PUT THE HEAT OR AC UP TO THE HIGHEST SETTING. I HAVE HAD THE THERMOSTAT AND RADIATOR CAP REPLACED. HOW CAN THIS SAME PROBLEM GO UNFIXED FROM YEAR TO YEAR? I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS TILL I EXHAUSTED ALL AVENUES TO LOOK, EVERYONE SAYS THE SAME THING, FROM YEAR TO YEAR, WATER BOILING SOUND, CAR OVERHEATING ALMOST EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD REPLACED AND STILL THIS SAME PROBLEM EXIST. I AM SHOCKED THAT I DID NOT SEE THIS PROBLEM LISTED ON YOUR SITE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOOGLE IT. YOU WILL BE SHOCKED TO SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM YEAR AFTER YEAR, YET IT GOES UNFIXED. CHRYSLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT. I AM AFRAID THAT MY CAR IS GOING…”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BRAKING TO A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 245,000.”

“THE ENGINE STARTING MAKING A TICKING SOUND WHILE I WAS DRIVING UPHILL ABOUT 40 MPH. I STOPPED TO CHECK OIL WHICH WAS ABOUT 1/2 QUART DOWN. I PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE DRIVING I WENT ABOUT ANOTHER MILE AND THE CAR STARTED LOSING POWER. UNKNOWN TO ME BUT THE CAR WAS ALREADY ON FIRE. SOMEONE BEHIND ME ALERTED ME AND WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO THE PT CRUISER WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR”

“OVER HEATS DONE EVRYTHING TO THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND STILL OVER HEATING ISSUES, BEEN IN THE SHOP OR UNDRIVABLE MORE THAN I HAVE DRIVEN IT. THIS IS A BAD IMAGE FOR CHRYSLER, AS I SEE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, WITH NO RESULTS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED ALMOST EVERYTHING TO BE CHANGED IN THESE MOTORS, CARS ARE JUNK NOW IM STUCK WITH A LEMON I OWE ON. GRRRRR. *TT”

“PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 69,591 MILES. CAR HAS ALWAYS CONSUMED MORE OIL THAT NORMAL. TOOK A 200 MILE ROAD TRIP, UPON RETURN THERE WAS A RATTLING AT THE TIMING CHAIN COVER. TENSIONER PULLEY WAS BAD. TAKEN TO MECHANIC SHOP WITH 93,643 MILES AT TIME OF INCIDENT. WHILE DISASSEMBLING THE CAR TWO BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS, BUSTED LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHING, A BAD WATER PUMP, BUSTED RADIATOR SEAL, AND A BAD TENSIONER PULLEY WAS DISCOVERED. THE CAR NEVER OVERHEATED OR SHOWED SIGNS OF ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. AFTER THE CAR WAS PUT BACK TOGETHER IT IDLES HIGH, CUTS OFF, AND OVERHEATS. TIMING HAS BEEN CHECKED AND RECHECKED, IT IS IN TIME. CAR RUNS WELL AT HIGHER SPEEDS BUT CANNOT STAY ON AT LOWER RPMS. I AM NOW REPLACING THE FAN, PCV VALVE AND PIPING, AND POSSIBLY GOING TO PERFORM A COOLANT FLUSH. I HAVEN'T PASSED 100,000 MILES AND I'M ALREADY HAVING THIS KIND OF TROUBLE. *TR”

“2001 PT CRUISER OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS,FROM A NEW RADIATOR,NEW HOSES,FANS, BELTS,FLUSHES,ETC. AND IT STILL OVERHEATS. PEOPLE NEED TO BE WARNED OF THIS PROBLEM ABOUT THESE CARS,THEY OVERHEAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU HAVE HAD REPAIRED ON THEM. I HATE THEM THEY NEED TO BE BANNED FROM BEING PURCHASED ANYWHERE WHERE CARS ARE SOLD!!!!!!! *LN”