1993 DODGE INTREPID

Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Delayed or harsh 2-3 upshift, Slipping in third or fourth gear under load, No movement in any gear after warmup, Burnt transmission fluid smell and dark color

Fix: The early A604 four-speed automatics have weak overdrive clutches and solenoid pack failures. Rebuild requires 8-12 hours; most shops recommend complete rebuild with updated parts rather than attempting solenoid-only fixes. Transmission cooler circuit flush is mandatory during rebuild or you'll destroy the new unit within 20k miles.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust on cold starts, Coolant loss with no visible leaks, Oil milkshake appearance on dipstick, Overheating under load or persistent bubbling in overflow tank

Fix: The 3.3L develops external coolant seepage and internal breaches between coolant and oil passages. Job requires intake manifold removal and both heads off — 12-16 hours labor. Must resurface heads and replace intake gaskets simultaneously. The 3.5L is less prone but not immune.

Estimated cost: $1,400-2,400

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front end, Steering wander and loose on-center feel, Tire feathering on inside edges, Visible separation or rubber boot tears at ball joint

Fix: The front lower control arms use pressed-in ball joints that fail prematurely on these heavy sedans. Most techs replace complete control arm assemblies rather than pressing new joints — 3-4 hours per side including alignment. Do both sides and all four outer tie rod ends at once or you'll be back in six months.

Estimated cost: $600-1,000

Typical onset: Not mileage-dependent — age and corrosion

Symptoms: Transmission fluid pooling under front of engine, Burnt fluid smell in engine bay, Low transmission fluid on dipstick despite no visible pan leaks, Pink residue on radiator support area

Fix: Steel cooler lines rust through where they route near the radiator and along subframe. The connections at the radiator itself also seep. Replacement involves 2-3 hours to access lines, fabricate or install pre-bent replacements, and refill transmission with four quarts of ATF+3 or compatible fluid. This is the recall item — Chrysler extended coverage but it's long expired on '93s.

Estimated cost: $250-500

Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: No-start with good battery and starter engagement, Stalling when fuel tank drops below half, Intermittent fuel gauge reading or stuck on empty, Whining noise from rear seat area during key-on

Fix: In-tank pump motor wears out and the fuel level sender develops broken solder joints. Tank must be dropped — 2.5-3.5 hours including fuel system depressurization. New OE-style assemblies include pump, strainer, and sender as one unit. Aftermarket pumps are hit-or-miss; spend the extra $80 for name-brand.

Estimated cost: $400-700

Typical onset: 60,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Misfire codes on cylinders 2, 4, or 6 (or 1, 3, 5), Rough idle when engine is hot, Hesitation or stumble during acceleration, Check engine light flashing under load

Fix: The waste-spark coil packs crack internally from heat cycling. Two coils fire three cylinders each. Diagnosis requires swapping coils to see if misfire moves with the pack — 0.5 hours. Replacement is straightforward, 1 hour per coil. Always replace spark plug wires at the same time; they rot from heat and cause identical symptoms.

Estimated cost: $180-350