Almost sounds like a girl problem but its my car that I so loved thus far.

1st it was the timing chain at 65k miles - $1400 dealer installed
2nd was the clutch at 69k miles - $750 I installed.
3rd was the ACD pump failing - $8, fixed it myself.

This is starting to get rediculous!!! I thought this was going to be a good car, boy was I wrong!!!

 

Did you buy the car new or used? No problems until 65k miles seems pretty decent, not for a timing chain of coarse, but you do have a 2008 which was known for this.

P.S. Rule of thumb: Never ever ever buy the first year of a new production vehicle.

 

Yup bought her new.

And yea, of anyone I should know this. I work for Fiat, not saying too much but 1st model year cars are pretty horrible.

 

other than the timing chain..which sucks that yours went on your...the others seem totally normal...what clutch did you get?

 

+1

 

I went with the ClutchMaster FX300, love it so far.

 

Your first mistake was taking your car to a dealer to get the timing chain fixed. Then again, your in PA..

 

I think the self fix $8 ACD pump fail isn't worth mentioning in a "nickle and diming me to death" thread. Sounds more like you were smart and fixed it super affordably!

Sorry on the other two, but that many miles on a clutch on a modded AWD car is not bad at all. Timing chain definitely sucks.

 

Stop leaving your car in gear when you shut the car off. This will keep the timing chain from stretching.
And almost 70k miles for the stock clutch is pretty good.

 

I'd say you were pretty fortunate actually

 

Is this true? Please explain.. (not being sarcastic, seriously.)

 

Its true if you just put the car in a gear uphill or downhill.

Do all three. Turn the wheel, set the handbrake, let go of foot brake, turn engine off, stick it in 1st or reverse.

 

Good info i never new this either i have habit of shutting the car off while still in gear not my evo though atleast now i know not to make that mistake.

 

LOL, think that's bad, try owning a classic VW Bug.

The local air-cooleds part store had to tell me that they sold me every throttle cable in the their warehouse after I bought my 12th one in 5 weeks. They were only a little under $3 each, but ...yeah had some snap in the same day because of the tube that came out of the tunnel.

...or those damn ceramic fuses >__< So, glad I rewired the whole car with ata style bus fuses.

 

Most stick the car in 1st or reverse, then let off brake, before setting the handbrake which puts stress on the chain.

Most people let their car roll in gear before they set the emergency brake. It's an old school way of thought, but what happens is that this puts undo stress on the chain because the clutch is engaged and trying to turn the motor. You can actually force your motor to turn over if you are on a steep enough hill.