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Old Apr 1, 2005 | 11:02 AM
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Don't shoot me!

My wife has a 2001 Dodge stratus. (Ford had just discontinued their midsize sedan and the Focus was too small and expensive, and the Taurus was too big and expensive. We got the stratus off lease for a great deal and for 4 years it has not missed a beat. However, yesterday the check engine light came on and a trip to Autozone for testing neted codes p0700 and p0740. The description is one of electrical circuit trouble not moving a solenoid or switch to lock up the torque converter. Anyone have any ideas, and am I looking at a $300-500 repair or a $1300-2000 repair? Any help?
 
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Old Apr 1, 2005 | 11:47 AM
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I can't remember on the Stratus, but on the mini vans there is a solenoid pack on the front of the trans that gets sticky with age. They aren't too expensive, but that may or may not be the problem.
 
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Old Apr 2, 2005 | 10:07 AM
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I would recommend heading down to your local parts store and picking up a Haynes shop manual for the car. It should have detailed instructions on how to do everything from an oil change to an engine rebuild. If it's a solenoid, this should show you how to replace it.
 
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Old Apr 2, 2005 | 12:01 PM
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There is the Ford 500! It is a sweet mid size car. As for your Stratus, I am not sure.
 
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Old Apr 2, 2005 | 12:20 PM
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In 2001 there was no Ford 500 that had been made in the last 2 decades though. The liar of a salesman tried to convince me that the Focus was the same size as the Stratus.

And we were only looking to trade the Escort we had at the time because it had toasted a transmission and it was going to cost more than the car was worth to fix it. Black book on the 98 Escort at the time was $2200, repair was going to run $2500....... Go figure.
 
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Old Apr 2, 2005 | 12:46 PM
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Hey i pm'd you about your stratus


Alpine
 
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Old Apr 2, 2005 | 12:55 PM
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Why do you need to justify your decision to buy a Dodge? Come on, people! The Stratus is a nice mid size car that is reasonably priced, gets good gas mileage, and has plenty of room. The Five Hundred is a full size car, and so is the taurus. So what, it's not a ford. Big deal.
 
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Old Apr 2, 2005 | 01:52 PM
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Thanks alpine,

I'd buy another stratus tomorrow. Ford does not offer a true midsize like the stratus. And I'd rather roast in hades (not really), than own another GM. And for the money NO car dealer at the time was offering anything like what we got.
I love my Expedition, wouldn't trade it for nuthin.... Well maybe an M1A2 but somehow I don't think the Sherriff would find much humor in that, and with gas prices now....WHEW!
 
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Old Apr 2, 2005 | 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Crazy001
Why do you need to justify your decision to buy a Dodge? Come on, people! The Stratus is a nice mid size car that is reasonably priced, gets good gas mileage, and has plenty of room. The Five Hundred is a full size car, and so is the taurus. So what, it's not a ford. Big deal.
Because it is a Dodge! No, I am just kidding. Actually, the Taurus and the 500 are mid-size cars. The Crown Victoria is a full size.
 
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Old Apr 3, 2005 | 11:31 AM
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The Taurus is a midsize car, but the Five Hundred is a bit larger, and I think they do call it a full-size. As for the Focus bein too expensive? Are you nuts? I got mine bran new for $10,500...Can't call that expensive if you drive an Expedition lol.
 
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Old Apr 3, 2005 | 11:41 AM
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I bought my Stratus for $11,000, Loaded with power everything, cruise, tilt wheel, power seat, CD. The Focus was about the same, but for in my opinion, a LOT LESS car!
 
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Old Apr 3, 2005 | 12:35 PM
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Actually the 500 is a mid-size. The Taurus is 197.6 inches long. The 500 is 200.7. They only offer a small v-6 in them. Now the full size Crown Vic is 212 inches long. I think the 700 is going to be the new full size soon.
 
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