Dodge 2.7 litre motor

[SilentShado]

Anyone know anything about these motors? My friend called and said that his 2001 dodge stratus was not running. I stopped by pulled the codes and found a dead camshaft position sensor. I poped a new sensor in and it fired right up. The only problem is after you get off idle it sounds like a tin can full of marbles. Someone said that it could be the valves smashing into the piston. Any ideas?

Click to read more...

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

All I know is it's a nightmare. The intrepid in general is a nightmare to work on....

 

[SilentShado]

Doesn't the intrepid motor sit in the bay differently then the stratus?

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Oh thought it was the intrepid you had problems with. I'll read it all next time

talk to angus, maybe he knows

 

[RebelGTP]

Dodge 2.7L engine = BAD NEWS

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

it needs all it's timing chain guides replaced 9 times outta ten, what your hearing is the chain slapping against the inside of the timing case saturn had a similar issue with their engines

 

[SilentShado]

Motor have to come out to access the timing cover on the stratus? Also he was complaining before this happened the temp was fine be he was not getting heat. Also all cylinders have 155 compression except cylinder 3 only has 125. Bent valve/s from chain?

I already removed the valve covers on the car doesn't appear sludged up as I have read about.

 

[Angus]

I don't believe valves could be bent if there is good compression... Someone else can verify that.

The major problems with the 2.7 come from the valve chain. I don't believe you have to pull the motor to get to that, but do have to go through a front tire well to get to it.

What year stratus?

 

[SilentShado]

2001.

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

i used to replace the ignitor module inside the dizzy on older 2.7's but thats not likely the sound your hearing, heat issue might have been a seperate issue like a bad hvac door etc...unless the coolant level is low...that could be an indicator for more extensive issues...

how many miles?

 

[SilentShado]

129k miles. I heard about problems with the water pump, which is connected to the timing chain. So I figured it could be that, although no coolant in oil, and coolant level is correct. I'm gonna take the front wheel off and the splash guard tonight, then take off the power steering ect. to get to the timing cover. Might as well install a new chain and tensioners and see if that fixes it. With 100+ k miles might as well anyway.

 

[Angus]

no heat problem is very common. It leaks out coolant somewhere on top of the motor overtime till you don't have enought coolant in the system to fill the cabin heater core...

Doubly chack that first - coolant level and bleed out the system of any air.

 

[SRT41320]

2.7L = bad news for cars (engine)
2.7L = good news for boats (anchors)

 

[Angus]

eh, it's not that bad of a motor... definately not meant for the bigger cars DC is putting them in... And DC fixed the sludging problem in later 02 models.

Just needs some booooost.

 

[RebelGTP]

2.7L = bad news for cars (engine)
2.7L = good news for boats (anchors)

 

[SilentShado]

Timing chain appears loose, could this just be the tensioner or is it the chain stretched out. I am going to replace both but I would rather only change 1 of the above mentioned items if need be. Thanks for everyone input so far. BTW if anyone is in mchenry and wants to double check my work I would appreciate it

 

[SRT41320]

if the chain is loose - replace both - chances are the tensior lossened up but the chain is prolly messed up due to running loose....safe bet / cheap insurance to replace both - especially if you plan on keeping it around for a little while

 

[Gav'sPurpleZ]

when i worked @ a chrysler jeep svc dept..........the 2.7's had issues with the oil becoming clay. even if you changed your oil with full synthetic every 2K miles, = mud

 

[NetChemica]

I do recall a lengthy thread where Angus was swearing up and down that the 2.7l was a half decent motor. I think it took like 20 pages for him to realize the truth.

 

[Angus]

eh, it's not that bad of a motor... definately not meant for the bigger cars DC is putting them in... And DC fixed the sludging problem in later 02 models.

Just needs some booooost.

I do recall a lengthy thread where Angus was swearing up and down that the 2.7l was a half decent motor. I think it took like 20 pages for him to realize the truth.

Still think it's a half-decent motor.

And BS to used synthetic, changed every 2k miles and still sludged...

Problem with the motor was that it needed a better/higher maintenance level than what a family sedan should need. If you ran full synthetic and religiously changed it every 3k miles, you'd be fine. But does/did that happen in the real world? no.

I pulled my valve covers off many times to check for sludging and never saw any trace of it while I owned the car. Never had any problems till my boost went catastrophically lean...
The rigorous maintenance required to avoid sludging was this motor's downfall...

 

[SilentShado]

I still need to know how to get the timing chain cover long bolts off so I can get the cover off. I want this POS out of my garage. Anyone done one on a 2001 stratus before?

 

[Angus]

You either have to pull the engine and tranny out or unbolt the engine cradle out and raise the car.

sucks.

 

[SilentShado]

Ok it appears I will be dropping the motor down the bottom to get to theses damn bolts for the chain cover. Now here is a stupid question. It seems that the timing is correct as it runs perfectly just noisey. Can't I just take the chain off where it is at now, and just replace with the new chain, wtf does it matter where the colored links end up. Or am I stuck trying to align colored links and arrows? Also sorry so long winded but do I need to remove the camshaft sprockets to install this chain? Any help appreciated.

 

[SilentShado]

First off thanks to everyone that has helped me so far. Now one more question before I put this thing back together. The chain guide seems loose to me, if you look at the picture if I reach behind the bolt on the guide I can pull the guide toward that bolt almost 3/4". Is it made to float like that or is it worn and need replacement? Thanks again for all the help, this one has just kicked my ass, I'm gonna think twice before I work on one of these again

 

[Angus]

In anyway you move that guide, does it lose contact with the chain?