2.7 v6 engine question

[hemigeno]

OK, here's the particulars:

We have a 2004 Stratus with the 2.7 v6 engine that my kids use as their daily beater.  It was purchased in 2006 as a used car with under 70k miles, and it now has 160k.  So far, no major issues.  While tracing down the source of a power steering pump belt noise recently (more annoyance than anything else), I noticed the serpentine belts were a little cracked.  Figuring that it was no problem to change those out - but wanting to do a bit of research before tackling the replacement - I started looking at some YouTube videos.  That's when I learned a lot about the problem these engines have with those timing-chain-driven water pumps.  Whose bright idea was that, to embed the water pump inside the block??  But I digress...

Based on some videos and even some search feature feedback on here from Stuart, Cooter, et al, it does not appear this is a DIY repair.  My question is - with the local repair shop pegging a water pump replacement (parts and labor) at $1,800 or more depending on what else we decide to replace while it's all torn down, is the water pump replacement really a repair which needs to be made?  With this many miles, are we living on borrowed time until the pump is replaced?  Are there ways to tell a problem is brewing before the oil pan and/or block fills with coolant?  We haven't had issues with timing chain tensioners, etc. which might require the front end of the motor to be cracked open, and it gets serviced every 5,000 miles.  The oil stays clean, no milking or other evidence of water/antifreeze seeping into the oil sump, and there's no significant or unusual changes in coolant levels in the reservoir.

Just curious what the wrenches around here would say...

[70Sbird]

Not trying to be a Smart@$$ Geno, but what is a 2004 Stratus worth, or better yet what is this particular Stratus worth to you? $1,800 seems to be a lot of money (for me) to put into an older car with a bunch of miles.
Since the car is serviced regularly and you are opening the hood occasionally, I would just run the car as-is until you began to loose coolant or anything shows up in the oil.

Scott

[Indygenerallee]

They are trash.... Water pump replacement is pretty involved, I have done a few and don't even work on them anymore due to them being junk... grenade with the pin pulled. I have seen some with 190,000 miles and some that blew before they had 50,000. When I was working for Dodge in 2000 a woman bought a brand new 2.7 Chrysler LHS less than 10,000 miles later a rollback brought it back with a blown 2.7 dealership did not warranty it.

[69_500]

Geno, I had the same situation with an avenger we had. 165k on it, and was thinking I was on borrowed time. Inured repair was too costly so just decided to ride it out. Car now has 310k on it, still running. Gave the car to my in laws when it hit 250k thinking it was pushing my luck too far.

[hemigeno]

Thanks for the input, gents.  I wasn't too thrilled about sinking that much money on a repair to begin with for that type of car, and it sounds as if we'd be better off to keep driving it as-is.  It's a little reassuring to hear about Danny's good experience with the same issue, as maybe we have a "good one" too.  We'll see...

The nice thing is, my oldest daughter (the one for whom the car was purchased in the first place) graduated college in May and will be getting her own car as soon as she can get the rest of the downpayment & sales tax money together.  That'll take the every-day use burden off this Stratus, and there won't be any 3 hour road trips to & from her college campus most weekends any longer either.

Thanks again 

[Cooter]

They are trash.... Water pump replacement is pretty involved, I have done a few and don't even work on them anymore due to them being junk... grenade with the pin pulled. I have seen some with 190,000 miles and some that blew before they had 50,000. When I was working for Dodge in 2000 a woman bought a brand new 2.7 Chrysler LHS less than 10,000 miles later a rollback brought it back with a blown 2.7 dealership did not warranty it.

[gtx6970]

IMO<
If it aint broke don't fix it .

That said,,yes they are some what known for  water pump leaking internally,,although I wouldn't say it's a major issue.
As long as you raise the hood once in a while for some basic ck overs ,,your good.
My daughters 2004 has 150 on it's 2.7 . And other than a very slight rear main leak,,it's runs like a watch. But for my own peace of mind. I plan to open it up and replace said pump and timing chains next spring ,,just because I can. Before she starts college with it.

As an fyi,,one of the best things to help on the 2.7 is run full synthetic oil in them . It helps with the sludge issues associated with them

[Indygenerallee]

The best oil to run in a 2.7 is 5-20. does not matter if it is synthetic or not. the head oiling ports were too small and "bulk oil" used in oil change shops (and even the dealer I worked for back in 2000 was 10-30!! and longer oil change intervals would also lead to quicker overheating failures.

[hemigeno]

Those are all good tips.  I made a point of running 5W-30 in it when we first bought the car; but once my daughter took over the responsibility of having it serviced, I have not looked or asked recently what's been used.  Probably worth checking into - especially the full synthetic part.

Bill, I would have possibly torn the front end of the engine down myself over the winter, but I've read that changing out the cam/crank sensors can sometimes lead to a "phase" problem which keeps the engine from going over about the 1/2 throttle or RPM point.  I figured it'd be my luck to have that type of problem and then have to pay someone to re-do what I fouled up while trying to fix it myself.  For me, that'd be worse than having paid the repair shop to do it in the first place.

Thanks again for the advice, everyone.