Help! Why did I ever buy a Dodge Caliber? Well it has been five year and is not very good car but I have done my best with it. I currently have around 120,000 miles on it and recently the engine starting to make alot of noise. No engine lights no error codes it just started to sound like a diesel truck! I have done regular maintenance on the car and purchased it new in 2007.

I happened to buy it two weeks before Dodge came out with the lifetime drivetrain warranty they had in 2007 so I am screwed on that.

Any idea is there is a fix for the noise? It runs fine and I have never had a issue with the car and how it runs.

Should I try a different oil weight to reduce the noise if I am going to keep driving it the way it sounds now? If so what weight of our should I try?

Does it sound like valvetrain noise? If so, an oil and filter change may help. I'd try a little heavier oil like 10W30. Also, all filters are not created equal. Walmart usually stocks Mopar filters which is what I use mostly.

I once got a oil/filter change for my Durango far from home at a Penzoil quick lube place. After that I sometimes had brief lifter clatter at start up. I asked the dealer to look at it (still under warranty). They said they would be happy to look at it... the first diagnostic being an oil & filter change because they believed the filter installed did not have an anti drain back valve. I thanked them and said I'd take care of it. Mopar filter and fresh oil and no problem.

FWIW, my wife drives a Caliber. Its got 104k and been good to us. She just got back from a 2,000 mile road trip in it.

Which engine does your have?

You might pop off the serpentine accessory belt and start the engine for a second and see if the noise still exists. I have put several alternators on those cars do to excessive noise.

Yes I will do a new oil change tomorrow and I will also check the alternator. It is weird it sounded and fine and all of a sudden it started happening.

Craig

Does the owners manual list a periodic valve adjustment. If so, it may be time for one.

A/c compressor where known to fail also, since they dont have a clutch they run all the time regardless if a/c is on.