Finally bought my first car! (It's a Dodge Shadow 1988)

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Ultima

Platinum Member
Oct 16, 1999
2,893
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Finally bought my first car!

After a while of searching... finally got a Dodge Shadow 1988 2.2L (non-turbo) Problems? Right flasher doesn't blink.. one of the windows doesn't roll down, the muffler could fall off (gonna have to tie it to the car somehow cause the clamp is rusted thru), other than that, it doesn't seem bad at all. I paid $380 US for it, he paid the tax. I don't have my license yet (just have my learner's permit) but I get it in 2 weeks.

Anyway I scared the sh!t out of myself earlier. I was with a friend and it was raining and I was coming off the highway down an off-ramp and I was going about 70mph and started braking and then the brakes skidded and I saw I was going to hit this car. I don't know what came over me, I just acted like one of those d!mb kids that stares at what they're going to hit and locks the brakes. That's exactly what I did. Stopped 3 feet away from its bumper :frown:

I'm gonna have to start training myself so I react better in situations like what happened... driver's ed sucks totally for that ;)
Right after it happened I was practicing braking and was able to find the point just before skidding so it stops a lot faster. Should probably have done that before though ;)

--------
Well now that I have the car, what sort of things should I do? I mean, I never owned a car.. what should I look at, etc? Oil and windshield wiper fluid are obvious, but those seem fine.
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,407
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hmmm... even car dealers give $500 if the car will move under its own power...
 
C

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0
Those are great cars. my friend bought one with 310,000 kms and drove it 'til 340,000 (his is a 2.2 turbo though) only having to do the front brakes in that time. he paid $500 CAD for it... (about $300 USD) it's a steal if you ask me! excellent A to B car.
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,407
8,595
126
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
any car that runs (and stops) for under $500 is a pretty good deal.
Click to expand...

i'm looking for a roadster about that much
 
U

Ultima

Platinum Member
Oct 16, 1999
2,893
0
0
I'm gonna have to start training myself so I react better in situations like what happened... driver's ed sucks totally for that ;)
Right after it happened I was practicing braking and was able to find the point just before skidding so it stops a lot faster. Should probably have done that before though ;)

Well now that I have the car, what sort of things should I do? I mean, I never owned a car.. what should I look at, etc? Oil and windshield wiper fluid are obvious, but those seem fine.
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
all of the above, check belts, brakes, spark plugs and transmission.

i will put this in bold because it's like life or death:

YOUR TRANSMISSION TAKES SPECIAL CHYRSLER-SPEC TRANSMISSION FLUID. DO NOT USE DEXRON EVEN IF IT SAYS SO ON THE DIPSTICK. YOU'LL FVCK IT UP IN NO TIME.

thank you.

http://www.allpar.com/fix/trans.html
 
U

Ultima

Platinum Member
Oct 16, 1999
2,893
0
0
Originally posted by: HighTechRedneck
Some bailing wire will fix that Muffler. ;)
Click to expand...

I dunno where I'm going to put it, though. There's nowhere to attach the muffler to. The whole piece of metal where it was attached just rusted off completely. Totally eaten through. So the muffler is just hanging there with part of the metal wall still stuck to it.
 
U

Ultima

Platinum Member
Oct 16, 1999
2,893
0
0
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
all of the above, check belts, brakes, spark plugs and transmission.

i will put this in bold because it's like life or death:

YOUR TRANSMISSION TAKES SPECIAL CHYRSLER-SPEC TRANSMISSION FLUID. DO NOT USE DEXRON EVEN IF IT SAYS SO ON THE DIPSTICK. YOU'LL FVCK IT UP IN NO TIME.

thank you.

http://www.allpar.com/fix/trans.html
Click to expand...

Thx for the warning. So, does this apply to the 3-speeds too? That page seemed to talk mostly about 4-speed automatics. How often does the transmission fluid need to be changed? I just got this car.. like I said, I don't got a clue on the things to do other than the regular oil and windshild wiper fluid ;)

 
iamwiz82

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
13
81
Originally posted by: Ultima
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
all of the above, check belts, brakes, spark plugs and transmission.

i will put this in bold because it's like life or death:

YOUR TRANSMISSION TAKES SPECIAL CHYRSLER-SPEC TRANSMISSION FLUID. DO NOT USE DEXRON EVEN IF IT SAYS SO ON THE DIPSTICK. YOU'LL FVCK IT UP IN NO TIME.

thank you.

http://www.allpar.com/fix/trans.html
Click to expand...

Thx for the warning. So, does this apply to the 3-speeds too? That page seemed to talk mostly about 4-speed automatics. How often does the transmission fluid need to be changed? I just got this car.. like I said, I don't got a clue on the things to do other than the regular oil and windshild wiper fluid ;)
Click to expand...

no, the three speed is not effected. I have never had any issues with chryco 3 speeds. :)
 
S

Soybomb

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
9,506
2
81
Originally posted by: Ultima
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
all of the above, check belts, brakes, spark plugs and transmission.

i will put this in bold because it's like life or death:

YOUR TRANSMISSION TAKES SPECIAL CHYRSLER-SPEC TRANSMISSION FLUID. DO NOT USE DEXRON EVEN IF IT SAYS SO ON THE DIPSTICK. YOU'LL FVCK IT UP IN NO TIME.

thank you.

http://www.allpar.com/fix/trans.html
Click to expand...

Thx for the warning. So, does this apply to the 3-speeds too? That page seemed to talk mostly about 4-speed automatics. How often does the transmission fluid need to be changed? I just got this car.. like I said, I don't got a clue on the things to do other than the regular oil and windshild wiper fluid ;)
Click to expand...


Yes this problem does apply to the 3 speed A-314 transmission, but to a lesser extent to the A-604 automatic. Don't let anyone put in Dexron fluid, use ATF only. I'd change it once every ~30-50k miles unless the car is like at 150k and has never been changed, then I just wouldn't touch it :) I change the fluid in my turbo's more frequently but they're really too powerful for the transmission and make alot more dust in the pan.

Does the turn signal for the right side stay on? If so its probably a bad bulb or corrosion on the contacts. Other wise check the flasher module, wiring connections, etc.

As far as the windows not rolling down, pop the switch off and check it first, I've had a few go bad in our cars.

If you need any diagrams or help or anything feel free to email or PM me, I have the 88 factory service manual and can help you with diagrams and stuff.

I'm a bit of an enthusiast of these cars btw ;)
 
U

Ultima

Platinum Member
Oct 16, 1999
2,893
0
0
Originally posted by: Soybomb
Originally posted by: Ultima
Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
all of the above, check belts, brakes, spark plugs and transmission.

i will put this in bold because it's like life or death:

YOUR TRANSMISSION TAKES SPECIAL CHYRSLER-SPEC TRANSMISSION FLUID. DO NOT USE DEXRON EVEN IF IT SAYS SO ON THE DIPSTICK. YOU'LL FVCK IT UP IN NO TIME.

thank you.

http://www.allpar.com/fix/trans.html
Click to expand...

Thx for the warning. So, does this apply to the 3-speeds too? That page seemed to talk mostly about 4-speed automatics. How often does the transmission fluid need to be changed? I just got this car.. like I said, I don't got a clue on the things to do other than the regular oil and windshild wiper fluid ;)
Click to expand...


Yes this problem does apply to the 3 speed A-314 transmission, but to a lesser extent to the A-604 automatic. Don't let anyone put in Dexron fluid, use ATF only. I'd change it once every ~30-50k miles unless the car is like at 150k and has never been changed, then I just wouldn't touch it :) I change the fluid in my turbo's more frequently but they're really too powerful for the transmission and make alot more dust in the pan.

Does the turn signal for the right side stay on? If so its probably a bad bulb or corrosion on the contacts. Other wise check the flasher module, wiring connections, etc.

As far as the windows not rolling down, pop the switch off and check it first, I've had a few go bad in our cars.

If you need any diagrams or help or anything feel free to email or PM me, I have the 88 factory service manual and can help you with diagrams and stuff.

I'm a bit of an enthusiast of these cars btw ;)
Click to expand...


Yep, the turn signal for the right side just stays on. Sometimes it will blink but sometimes it stays on and I have to blink it myself ;)
I'm not sure about the windows. All except the back left roll down, but the ones that roll down sometimes need help to do so. The guy who sold me the car says he changed the motors 10 years ago so I guess they must be pretty weak now or something..
 
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