1973 DODGE POLARA

Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Hard starting when hot, especially with 318 and 360 engines, Rough idle and backfiring through carburetor, Rattling noise from front of engine on cold start, Loss of power and poor fuel economy

Fix: Replace timing chain, gears, and tensioner. Requires front accessory removal and timing cover pull. Budget 4-5 hours labor. Critical to check cam gear condition—worn cam lobes often accompany stretched chains on high-mileage units.

Estimated cost: $450-750

Symptoms: Gas smell in garage, wet intake manifold, Stumble on acceleration from idle, Black smoke from tailpipe under load, Engine dies at stop signs when hot

Fix: Rebuild or replace carburetor. Factory Carter BBD 2-barrels are finicky—needle/seat wear and cracked accelerator pump diaphragms are typical. Holley 2-barrels on police packages leak at boosters. Full rebuild takes 2-3 hours including adjustment and tuning.

Estimated cost: $350-600

Typical onset: 70,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front end, Wandering steering, requires constant correction, Uneven tire wear on inside edges, Vehicle sits lower on one side

Fix: Replace upper and lower ball joints, tie rod ends, and pitman/idler arms. Torsion bar adjusters rust solid—penetrant and heat required. Front-end rebuild with alignment: 6-8 hours. C-body suspension is heavy—air tools essential.

Estimated cost: $800-1,400

Symptoms: No-start, no spark condition, Intermittent stalling when hot, restarts when cool, Engine cuts out randomly at highway speed

Fix: Replace Chrysler electronic ignition control module (orange or chrome box on firewall). Heat-related failures common. Carry spare in glovebox. Testing requires oscilloscope or known-good swap. 0.5 hours labor if that's the only issue.

Estimated cost: $120-220

Symptoms: Fuel gauge reads empty when tank is half full, Gauge stuck on full or fluctuates wildly, Gauge reads backwards (full when empty)

Fix: Replace fuel sending unit in tank. Tank drop required—exhaust may need loosening. Corrosion on sender float arm causes most issues. Voltage limiter on gauge cluster can also fail. 2-3 hours labor for sender replacement.

Estimated cost: $250-450

Symptoms: Delayed or no downshift when flooring throttle, Transmission stays in third gear longer than normal, Poor passing performance, Linkage hanging up or sticking under hood

Fix: Clean, lubricate, and adjust kickdown linkage bellcrank and return springs. Linkage rods rust and bind where they pivot. If severely worn, replace bellcrank and rod assembly. 1-2 hours for cleaning/adjustment, 3 hours for replacement.

Estimated cost: $150-500

Typical onset: 60,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Sweet coolant smell in cabin, Passenger-side floor wet with coolant, Windshield fogs up with oily film, Low coolant level without external leaks

Fix: Replace heater core—dash removal NOT required on C-body, but HVAC box disassembly under dash is tedious. Expect 5-7 hours labor. Core lives behind glovebox. AC-equipped cars add complexity. Flush system after replacement to prevent repeat failure.

Estimated cost: $500-900