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Dodge Avenger Car Repair Questions and Answers

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Question: 1999 Dodge Avenger mileage: 50,000. My check engine light has been on for awhile. I have taken it to several garages to have it scanned. The code they get every time is that the O2 sensor is bad, they have replaced it three times now and reset the computer. I leave and ten to fifteen miles down the road it comes back on. Besides the light being on, the car is running great. Any help or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

Answer: From what you describe, it sounds like you may have a faulty fuel pressure regulator allowing raw fuel into the engine or possibly a leaking fuel injector.

Question: 1998 Dodge Avenger mileage: 91,000. I recently encountered a possible automatic transmission problem with my Avenger. While driving on the highway this week, my car went into second gear. Since then, it will not kick into any gears after that. Reverse works fine. I've taken it to a transmission shop and they drove it around the block and told me I have to replace the whole transmission. I got some advice from a mechanic and he said that it could be major transmission problems, or it can be the emergency computer system in my car, which puts it in a low gear when certain fluids are low so that you don't damage the engine. From our conversation, he said that the Dodges have a computer system that tells the engine to "slow" down when fluid levels or problems arise in the engine. I'm not mechanically inclined and I don't want to get ripped off. If I have to replace the whole transmission, then I will.  But, if all it needs is its fluids changed then I don't want to get swindled. I'd appreciate any advice you give me.

Answer: Before you have major transmission repairs done, have the computer scanned for fault codes. We do not know of an emergency computer system that slows the engine down.

Follow-up: You were right on that, there is no safety system to protect the engine. Trans limp in mode is designed to get you to a repair facility without walking. If you drive faster than twenty five miles per hour you will over-rev engine and it will get hot. Try driving at highway speed and you will toast your engine. The transmission problem has to be diagnosed with a scan tool and could be as cheap to fix as a twenty dollar input or output speed sensor which fail all to often, about every 25,000 miles for the life of vehicle. That is my estimation not based on any statistics but on how many I replace, about two per day, every day, all year long. That transmission is in many different cars.

Question: 1998 Dodge Avenger mileage: 93,000.  I have a rumbling noise in right rear tire is wearing unusually too much on outside of tire.  Also, have what appears to be skipping marks on outside edge of tire like the tire could be bouncing during braking.  Inflation is correct.

Answer: Check the wheel bearings on the right rear wheel.  If they are okay, have the car’s alignment checked with four-wheel alignment equipment.

Question: 1996 Dodge Avenger mileage: 133,500.  I just picked up this car at an auction and began making it right.  I change all fluids (oil, transmission & coolant). I was going to do the plugs, wiring, rotor and cap but can't find these parts readily available. The Dodge dealership quoted me $465.21 including labor. Why is this so expensive and is it worth the effort.  The engine service light is also on and only the dealer can diagnosis a potential problem and fix it.  The car runs and shifts fine and is quicker since I put in some injector cleaning fluid, but what is it with these cars?  Did I buy a mechanics nightmare?  Would you know of any problems that I should be aware of, transmission, engine, alignments?

Answer: The “check engine” light will “light” when there is a malfunction in the engine management system. The fault code is then stored in the computer. The computer must be scanned to retrieve these stored faults to pinpoint the malfunctioning component.  Because the check engine light indicates something is wrong, a trip to you neighborhood automobile service center sooner rather than later is recommended. Once repaired, the car should be dependable.

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