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2001 Dodge Intrepid, Engine problems. Blown head gasket?

Tiny
MICHAELW420
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 DODGE INTREPID
  • 114,000 MILES
Hello, I currently have a 2001 Dodge intreped SE. I just bought the car a month ago from a used dealership. It was very nice inside and out. The engine looked clean but the check engine light was left on. The man I bought it from was really cool, very nice and cut me a huge slack with the down payment. I trusted him when he said the light was just a whacked up sensor. Well a month later my car wont start, lots and lots of white smoke, and there is coolant all over my oil dipstick. My dad said its a blown head gasket or worse. It starts and goes but very poorly. I decided not to mess with it for the time being. What would you recommend? What would most likely be my issue? How much would the repair be? Any help would be HUGELY appreciated.
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Monday, December 26th, 2011 AT 10:16 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Sounds like a blown head gasket or worse. So the low coolant light was on when you bought the car and you never checked to see if the coolant was low?
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Monday, December 26th, 2011 AT 10:25 PM
Tiny
MICHAELW420
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I refilled the coolant just a week before. It was low, then I filled it. Now its bone dry.
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Monday, December 26th, 2011 AT 10:29 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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If you have coolant in the oil and blowing white smoke you will have to have the engine torn down to see where the coolant is entering the oil and combustion chamber. Hopefully you still have warranty on that car.
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Monday, December 26th, 2011 AT 10:50 PM
Tiny
MICHAELW420
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Unfortunately not. Is there any chance it's just a coincidence? Or did the guy know he was probably selling me a lemon?
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Monday, December 26th, 2011 AT 10:56 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Its hard to say there are car dealers out there that will sell cars with known problems. There are also ones that are pretty honest with what there selling. Its hard to say without a lot more details. If if the low coolant light was on when you bought that was a bad sign and I would have had them look at that when ou bought it. You could go talk to them about it and see what they say its worth a try.I would talk to the sales man that sold you the car and that you mention the light to.
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Monday, December 26th, 2011 AT 11:06 PM
Tiny
MICHAELW420
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
About how much would you expect the cost to be to replace the head gasket if thats all it is?
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Monday, December 26th, 2011 AT 11:12 PM
Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
Youll need to get the labor hours for doing a headgasket job. Then youll need 2 rebuilt heads and the gasket set. Odds are those heads were cracked before u got it. Unless you blew the gaskets and heads by overheating the engine.
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Monday, December 26th, 2011 AT 11:39 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Give me your zip code and I will get you a estimate.
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Monday, December 26th, 2011 AT 11:53 PM

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