quote:

ORIGINAL: pbearfin

Has anyone else noticed extremely load lifters for about the first minute and a half after cold start.  I have brought this thing in 7 times for this and the transmision slaming into and out of 2nd or 3rd gear.

the lifter noise started lightly at about 1500 miles.  It has been gradually getting louder.  I heard on ,only a few from the assembly line, that there was a rocker arm problem that allows the lifters to colapse .  But the dealership would tell me they couldn't hear it and finally when I started it in front of them the tech told me that this diesel type sound that can be heard from inside the house is normal..

If I didn't love the car so much I would have Lemon Lawed it by now.  Has anyone else had this problem and did they fix it.

quote:

ORIGINAL: futil

Well I have slightly over 1000 miles on my car now and I have been noticing a lifter tick on cold start up for about 30 seconds. I would assume its a lubrication issue where it just takes a while for the oil to get into the lifters and quiet them down, possibly a design flaw or a low pressure oil system ... although its possible that it is poorly designed lifters to compliment the rest of the poorly designed car :)

The lifters could also be breaking in but that doesn't sound normal and I have never seen this with other cars during break in (Just trying to state all the possibilities)

I really think its a lubrication issue though because the ticking disappears after a little while.

After my first oil change from the dealer I am going to replace their oil with Mobil 1 Extended Performance 10W-30 which shouldn't make much of a difference with the lifter noise.. but I am also going to replace the stock oil filter with a K&N HP-2010 oil filter because they have incorporated a Anti Drain Back Valve into their filter which prevents oil from draining back into the oil pan and will supply oil to the top half of the engine faster since it doesn't have to start pumping oil from the bottom of the engine on start-up..  it just picks up where it left off and continues pumping oil which should help reduce wear on the engine which occurs predominantly on start-up when there is no oil in the top of the engine.
 
Im gonna try this because its cheap and easy, couldnt hurt to try it, and there is no way in hell I'm going to let the dealer take my engine apart and replace the lifters if there is a problem with them unless the engine is in imminent danger of blowing up or has already blown up. Its been my experience that when you have people play with your new engine no matter how good they are, your engine never really is the same afterwards..

quote:

ORIGINAL: futil

I dont know exactly which CD you are referring to but the ones I have seen there look like they are probably a 2007 Dodge/Chrysler general maintenance manuals sold as 2008.

quote:

ORIGINAL: futil

lol Talk about a good guess..

The title of that ebay item is:
Dodge Avenger Chrysler Sebring Service Manual 2007 07

So its a service manual made for a 2007 Chrysler Sebring.. Dodge didnt start re-making the Dodge Avenger again until 2008 and even though the Sebring is simular I wouldnt waste my time with that manual.. Well.. unless you own a 2007 Sebring or want to be a Sebring Expert :)

I just love it when people post items made for other vehicles and slap a picture of a 2008 Dodge avenger on it.. Wastes so much of my searching time.. Although it kinda worked out well with the hood scoops :)

quote:

ORIGINAL: futil

Well.. I think it depends on a person's knowledge of vehicles on weather or not that manual would be useful.. If you just wanted to get a general idea on how to fix things im sure there would be plenty of areas that would be simular enough to assist you in repairing your car.. but there are going to be lots of images and info that will be different so I wouldnt use the guide for anything specific like torque settings, or electrical diagrams.. etc..

General items like "how do I change my brake pads" should be close enough for people to use with that guide so it wouldnt be an absolute waste but they still shouldnt be selling it for use with a 2008 Avenger.

Either way thats too much $ for a guide not made for your car when you can probably find a manual not made for your car for free online to get a general mechanical feel for repairing the car.