The Chrysler PT Cruiser is particularly cherished model of Chrysler, now with about 20 years of history behind it. The last production model was manufactured in 2010, and when a car has been around for over a decade, some problems can eventually start to become apparent. Happily, the fixes are pretty simple, and if you’ve got the requisite mechanical knowledge, you may find that you’re able to get them sorted yourself. Here are four of the most common, and what you can do about them.
PT Cruiser starting problems
If you’ve experienced issues with your PT Cruiser not starting, there’s a good chance that you have a faulty camshaft position sensor. This is a small but pretty crucial component – as its name indicates, its main function is to monitor the camshaft position and speed. It feeds that information back to the Engine Control Unit, which uses it to calculate how much fuel needs to go into the combustion chamber, and exactly when to ignite it. If the ECU doesn’t have access to that information, it’ll switch off fuel and spark delivery entirely, resulting in engine failure.
Most of the time, it seems that this issue will become apparent when the PT Cruiser itself is parked up, which can be incredibly irritating but not immediately dangerous. However, there have been instances of it happening while the car is in motion – far more worrying! Thankfully, you’ll generally get a bit of warning before something like this happens, so if your Check Engine light is on, make sure not to ignore it.
Happily it’s a simple enough fix – you simply need to replace the camshaft position sensor.
PT Cruiser clutch failure
Another common issue with the PT Cruiser concerns the clutch slave cylinder, which has been sometimes known to fail. If you feel like the clutch pedal might be weakening or sagging when you press down on it with your foot, that could be a good indicator of the onset of this issue. If the clutch pedal goes all the way to the floor before it engages, the issue might be at a relatively advanced stage already.
The clutch slave cylinder is directly behind your clutch pedal, after the clutch master cylinder. During normal operation, the slave cylinder will receive the piston of the master cylinder, with both of them being put in motion by pressurised brake fluid. If a serious problem starts to develop with the clutch slave cylinder, one of the most immediate consequences can include an inability to change gears – and you don’t have to know too much about cars to see why that’s a bad thing!
Again, thankfully it’s a simple fix. All you need is a replacement clutch slave cylinder.
Chrysler PT Cruiser engine misfiring
This is an especially well-known issue on some of the oldest models of PT Cruisers – it’s essentially due to a design fault on the spark plugs, which can cause poor idling and engine misfires. As you may know already, spark plugs play a vital role within your combustion engine, which maintains a careful mix of air and fuel. Your spark plugs provide the spark that ignites this mixture, which powers your engine.
Some of the older spark plugs aren’t always the most reliable at consistently igniting the air fuel mixture. Thankfully Chrysler addressed this some time ago by issuing new spark plugs, so fixing the issue is mainly just a matter of sourcing and fitting them. You can do this yourself, or you’ve not got the requisite skills, you can get a mechanic to do it on your behalf.
There’s a rattling noise in the interior of your PT Cruiser
If you’re getting worried by a rattling noise coming from the passenger side – somewhere along the wheel arch area – you might be glad to hear that this issue is less mechanical in nature than those we’ve listed above. It’s basically due to a poorly fitted dashboard. You’ll need to remove the glove box and pack around the area before replacing it, and that should stop the rattling noise sharpish.
And of course if you need help with any of these replacement parts, that’s exactly what we’re here for at ACD of Lancashire. As specialist Chrysler breakers, we have unrivalled knowledge of these vehicles, and provide a comprehensive range of parts to enable you to make the necessary repairs. If you’re having trouble finding something you need, don’t hesitate to let us know on 01254 301021, and we’ll be happy to see how we can help.
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