2006 Chrysler Pt Cruiser

I WAS TRAVELING ON I-95 NORTH IN THE VICINITY OF FREDERICKSBURG, VA AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND; I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE. I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY HAZARDS ON, BUT BECAUSE MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND, I HAD TO COAST APPROXIMATELY A MILE BEFORE MY VEHICLE ACTUALLY STOPPED. THIS WAS PARTICULARLY FRIGHTENING BECAUSE I ALSO HAD MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. AFTER STOPPING, I TRIED TO CRANK THE VEHICLE AND GOT NOTHING. THE RADIO AND LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T BUDGE. QUITE FRANKLY, I FEEL FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE GIVEN THAT I WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I HAD IT TOWED A REPAIR SHOP. AT FIRST THEY WEREN'T GETTING ANY DIAGNOSTIC READINGS, BUT EVENTUALLY THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED FUEL PUMP. I HAD THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED THE NEXT DAY, AND ALTHOUGH I DID NOT DRIVE VERY FAR, THE CAR RAN FINE. THE DAY AFTER THAT, I COULDN'T CRANK THE CAR. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY FROM THE SAME PEOPLE WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL 19 NOVEMBER 2012. I DROVE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, DROVE BACK HOME, AND WENT INSIDE FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT AND TRIED TO CRANK MY CAR, IT DIED AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS. I TRIED TWO MORE TIMES AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. ON MY LAST ATTEMPT I HEARD A WHIRRING SOUND BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURNOVER. I TRIED TO JUMP THE BATTERY, AND THEY DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I SPENT 20 MINUTES TRYING TO CRANK IT. MY WIFE TRIED LATER IN THE AFTERNOON WITH THE SAME POOR RESULTS. *TR

MY WIFE AND I OBTAINED A 2006 PT CRUISER FROM HER FATHER IN 2008 WITH 12,980 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IN 4 YEARS WE'VE ADDED ABOUT 12,000 MILES. STARTING LAST WINTER, BOTH WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT CITY SPEEDS (30-45 MPH) AND WHILE IDLING, THIS 2006 PT CRUISER HAS PERIODICALLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS AND GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE NEEDLES ALL SIMULTANEOUSLY SWITCH BACK AND FORTH RAPIDLY, THEN GO TO THE OFF POSITION. THE PANEL LIGHTS TURN OFF AT THE SAME TIME, THEN AFTER A FEW SECONDS TO A FEW MINUTES, THE PANEL RETURNS TO NORMAL. PRIOR TO LAST FRIDAY, 10/12/2012, THESE INCIDENTS HAD NOT PRESENTED A DANGER OR INTERFERED WITH DRIVING. HOWEVER, ON FRIDAY, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND THIS TIME THE PANEL WENT HAYWIRE AS DESCRIBED BEFORE, BUT THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO HER PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, AND SHE WAS FORCED TO COAST TO A SLOW ROLL IN THE 40 MPH TRAFFIC! THEN, THE ENGINE REENGAGED SUDDENLY AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD WHEN SHE WASN'T EXPECTING IT. SHE REFUSES TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. OUR LOCAL CHRYSLER SERVICE TECH SEEMED TO BE COMPLETELY UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM WHEN I DESCRIBED IT TO HIM, AND A CALL TO CHRYSLER CORP LLC PROVED USELESS. A CURSORY INVESTIGATION ONLINE TURNS UP DOZENS OF THIS EXACT COMPLAINT OVER THE PAST 5 OR 6 YEARS, AND VIRTUALLY ALL OF THEM INDICATE A NUMBER OF ATTEMPTED SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING REPLACING THE BATTERY, THE VACUUM HOSES, THE WIRING HARNESS, THE FUSES, OR THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND NONE OF THESE APPARENTLY ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. IS THIS AS COMMON A COMPLAINT AS IT APPEARS TO BE? IF SO, HOW CAN IT BE RESOLVED? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH THE LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED, THE GAUGES DROPPED AS IF THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,497. ..UPDATED 11/14/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE BEGAN OCCURRING MORE OFTEN SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. MECHANICS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BUT, HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONSUMER FOUND MULTIPLE REPORTS OF IDENTICAL INCIDENTS ON AN INTERNET SEARCH ENGINE. UPDATED 11/15/2012 *JS

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE MY DASH LIGHTS/GAUGES WENT CRAZY (ON/OFF,ON/OFF). FINALLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THEN IN DEC. I WENT OUT TO START IT & NOTHING, TRIED TO JUMP IT & NOTHING...END UP BUYING NEW BATTERY & IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THIS MONTH (MAY 10 2012) WAS DRIVING TO AN APPT. & DASH LIGHTS ALL CAME ON & THEN ENGINE QUIT, PULLED OFF ROAD, TURNED KEY TO OFF & BACK ON (CAR STARTED RIGHT UP), NO MORE TROUBLE THAT DAY. MAY 13 2012 DRIVING & DASH LIGHTS WOULD ALL COME ON & THEN GO OFF SEVERAL TIMES, THE ENGINE DIDN'T STOP THIS TIME. WHAT IF I AM ON INTERSTATE AGAIN & IT DOES THIS, INJURING SOMEONE. I'M NOT HAPPY WITH CHRYSLER, THERE IS NO RECALL. MILEAGE IS 71, 200. APPARENTLY PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, YOU JUST SHAKE IT OR TURN KEY OFF/ON IT QUITS. DON'T KAV THE MONEY TO FIX & MECHANIC CAN'T GET IT TO THIS WHEN HE HAS CAR. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO FAIL AS WELL.THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATING THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO IDLE ROUGHLY. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY REFUSE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BUT THE STARTER WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL REPAIRS UNKNOWN TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

I OWN A 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER W/AUTOMATIC TRANS. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INC. THE 4 CYL ENGINE IN MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY FAILED 3 SEPSRASTE TIMES, TWICE LAST YEAR, AND 1 TIME SO FAR THIS YEAR WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY; EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS AS WELL AS ALL POWER ASSIST SYSTEMS SUCH AS STEERING AND BREAKS, AS WELL AS ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO FAIL. I CONTACTED THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE INTO THE LOCAL DEALER AS I WAS ABLE TO RESTART, AS WAS I ABLE EACH TIME PREVIOUS, GIVEN I EXPERIENCED NO FURTHER PROBLEMS UNTIL LAST WEEK. HOWEVER, THE DEALER DIAGNOSTIC TEST YIELDED NOTHING WHICH COULD ACCOUNT FOR THE VEHICLE COMPLETE OPERATIONAL SHUT-DOWN. I WAS ADVISED THERE ARE NO RECALLS, OR WARRANTY, AND THE DEALER INFORMED ME TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURERS CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER TO ADVISE THEM. THE CUSTOMER CASE MANAGER INDICATED THERE WOULD BE NO ASSISTANCE FORTHCOMING AS THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SHOWED NOTHING CONCLUSIVE. THE LATEST FALURE MILEASE WAS 72,000.

2006 WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT STARTED HARD TIME CRANKING, JERKING, SKIPPING AND LOSING POWER DOWN TO ABOUT 25 MPH. REPLACED PLUGS, WIRES, BATTERY AND CRANK SENSOR NOTHING SEEMED TO FIX IT. I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF THIS WAS A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH THE PT CRUISER AND ON SEVERAL WEBSITES FOUND IT WAS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM HERE IS THE RESULT OF ONE OF THE SEARCHES: I RAN INTO THAT PROBLEM WITH A CUSTOMER'S PT CRUISER THE SAME YEAR AS YOURS. WHAT I FOUND BY ACCIDENT DURING DIAGNOSIS WAS THE CONNECTORS TERMINALS THAT PLUG INTO THE FRONT CONTROL MODULE LOSE TERMINAL TENSION CAUSING INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONCERNS. THE WAY I FOUND IT WAS BY WIGGLING THE WIRING HARNESSES THAT GO UP UNDERNEATH THE MODULE WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM TO SHOW UP. I HAD TO DISSEMBLE THE CONNECTORS AND RE TENSION THE TERMINALS. THE TERMINALS ARE KIND OF DINKY ON THOSE AND IT WOULDN'T TAKE MANY PLUGGING AND UN-PLUGGING OF THE CONNECTORS TO CAUSE THE TERMINAL TO LOSE TENSION. NO FIX IS LISTED ON THE CHRYSLER WEBSITE OR ANYWHERE YET THERE A NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY 16YR OLD (NOW 17) NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT UNTIL NOW. WHEN GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE IT WENT FROM 65 TO 25 AND SHE WAS SCARED SENSELESS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGIC ACCIDENT. NOW THE CAR DOES IT WE PUSH THE PLUGS BACK IN RUNS FINE THEN WHEN THE CAR IS RAN FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME IT DOES IT AGAIN. PUSH THE PLUGS BACK IN RUNS FINE SO I DO KNOW IF IT IS THIS PART I HOPE FOR A FIX BEFORE SOMEONE GETS REALLY HURT FROM THE LOSS OF POWER SO ABRUPTLY. WEBSITES I REFERRED TO: CARJUNKIE.COM, ASK.COM, CHRYSLER.COM, GOOGLE.COM SEAR FOR 2006 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. *KB