Hello To Everyone!
 

The title may possibly be misleading and appear as if it should be in the 'Newbie Section' but I'm just introducing myself before asking some questions which I hope I can find answers to.

I've just bought a 2008 Sebring 2.0 CRD Diesel four door saloon, now I love the car and have had no problems so far but it didn't come with an owners manual , the salesman informed me it doesn't have a timing belt but a timing chain instead.

Does this mean I never have to worry about changing it?

I am in the process of accumulating parts to give it a service and need clarification,I'm based in Scotland and parts aren't as readily available as other types of car over here, I've managed to get an Air Filter/Oil Filter and have found a place that sells Fuel Filters, although one parts dealer told me it just says the Fuel Filter is 'In the tank' and they didn't sell them, so I'm a tad confused as to whether I should get one or if I need one.

I also noticed you can get a Pollen Filter but only found that out after I'd bought the Air and Oil filters, and unfortunately this place I found it requires you to buy all three as part of a Service Kit.

Do I need one?

My last question is about Tires, the ones I have appear to be a rare size(215/55/R18) and therefore extremely expensive.

My question is can I change them for a more common tire(I've noticed other 18 inch tires for about a third of the price of these) , and would it affect the performance or anything else if I did change?

Sorry for all the questions, can't seem to source an owners manual anywhere.

Appreciate any help.

Ok...first things first..... It is spelled SALON.....

Here in the U.S. ..A SALOON is an old west slang expression for a PUB.. So unless you have one of those MAGICAL CUP HOLDERS that automatically dispenses PINTS ....:):)

The fuel filter is below the Aircleaner assembly, next to the brake Booster. 'The in-tank filters are typically for GASOLINE engines.

Cabin air filter, or Pollen Filter as you described it, should be changed, but is NOT mandatory....

Changing Tire sizes really is not recommended, since the vehicle operation and performance was designed around a specific set of parameters. ABS Brakes, Traction control and even Speedometer and Odometer can be affected by "Non Standard" wheels and tires. A discussion with a Dealership service department and a Competent tire specialist may provide a suitable compromise.

Ha ha, on this occasion since you've been helpful I'll stand corrected, although I assure you over here where the Queens English is impeccably observed and we don't mispell words like 'Authorise' as 'Authorize';), it is Saloon.

Salon is somewhere a woman would go to get her nails done;)

Ah so the fuel filter can and should be changed, thanks for that.

Thank you for the Tire advice also, I had been advised that you can change them.

Much obliged:)

ps Are you familiar with the Timing Belt/Chain situation?

I knew I forgot something......

It most certainly is a Belt. Service info says 150,000 KM for replacement....

My Chrysler: Chrysler Owners Service Manuals - Chrysler Cars, Minivans, SUVs, Convertibles, Crossovers

It might be worth a shot, although diesel passenger cars are rare here in the states...

It is indeed a Belt, the dealer says it's recommended to change at 90,000 miles.

Aren't you guys in the States still dealing in miles as opposed to Kilometres?

Do you know if it's a big job to change it?

ie taking out the whole engine block like you do with some cars?

I don't think diesel cars would be so rare in the States if you were paying the fuel prices we do in the UK ;)

Thanks again for your help.

yep....But the info I got was direct from chryslers internal server, and it lists the vehicle as "EXPORT"...so all the values are in metric....My math skills are horrible, so I didnt try to convert it.:)

As for diesel....Here in the states, diesel is typically more expensive, and we probably have much more stringent emissions regulations than you guys.

As for the belt, Reading the procedures, it seems pretty straight forward, although I personally have never done a belt on a diesel. However, it does reference "Locking Tools" for cam and crankshafts....And being that Ive never done one..I really cant say how critical the tool would be.....Other than that, it is removing covers, loosening a tensioner and swapping out the belt.

yep....But the info I got was direct from chryslers internal server, and it lists the vehicle as "EXPORT"...so all the values are in metric....My math skills are horrible, so I didnt try to convert it.:)

As for diesel....Here in the states, diesel is typically more expensive, and we probably have much more stringent emissions regulations than you guys.

As for the belt, Reading the procedures, it seems pretty straight forward, although I personally have never done a belt on a diesel. However, it does reference "Locking Tools" for cam and crankshafts....And being that Ive never done one..I really cant say how critical the tool would be.....Other than that, it is removing covers, loosening a tensioner and swapping out the belt.

It's more expensive here too but you get almost twice as much mileage from a tank of diesel than petrol(Gasoline;)), so it's more economical.

Over here the diesel emissions I think are lower than Gas emissions, we pay a certain amount every year for Road Tax and I noticed when I first went diesel the annual fee was way cheaper and when I enquired why, was told it was because diesel was 'Greener' and it was down to the emission that the Tax duty was cheaper.

Thanks for the Belt advice, I noticed it was up quite high and didn't need anything removed from atop it, so figured it had to be easier than any Cars I've owned.

I won't be doing it myself, just wondered how much labour cost it would incur and it's nice to be armed with the knowledge.

:).....

Hello
I've got the same car as yours, bought it new two years ago , running great since...
The timing belt ( part no 68001309AA) in the service manual it says that it must be changed 8 years or 120.000km , my dealer though suggested changing it at 7 years or 105.000km.
At four years or 60.000 km you must change the accesory belt ( the one on the alternator- part no 04891804AA)
Fuel filter in the the book says 3 years or 45.000km, I changed it at 2 years and 25.000km - order the MANN WK722/1 wich is the same as the original one (mopar put a logo on top of it after buing it from czech republic and reship it more expensive). To change it you need to remove the tubulature from the air filter 'cause is in the back of the engine with a metal cover on it ( you can read the MANN code on it), you need an allen bolt of 5mm to change it
The engine as you probably know is a vw 2.0 pump duse engine 16 valves dohc with diesel particle filter, engine code BYL (remove the engine cover and you will read the code), it is a more advanced engine than BKP (that has a lot of problems)- use castrol edge 5w30 oil (made for vw/audi vehicules)
I've found original tires (KUMHO ecsta kh11) for around 100 euros a piece, you cannot put different size tires on your existing wheels- i think will need changing after 50.000km

I hope that was helpfull

Thank you it was very helpful.

When you say the 'Accesory' belt, is that the Fan belt?

Is your car a 2008 model?

I thought I read somewhere it was taken over by FIAT and it's not VW anymore, but I'm not sure if it was done since 2008 or before.

Where are you based?

The cheapest Tyres I could find were Falken but even those were £125 per Tyre, I have two of them on the front and two Kumho on the rear.

I found a guy on ebay selling Continental Premium Contact (which are retailing everywhere else for £160) for £90, it's on a 'Come and collect' basis and it's a 400 mile round trip but I'm thinking it might be worth it.

You're welcome
The accesory belt is the only one that you can clearly see when you lift the hood
near and parallel to the cooling and windshield liquid cans
Yes, mine is a touring 2008 MY but it was actually built in september 2007 (you can read this on your drivers (mine is left) door
FIAT controls the management team of Chrysler, doesn't own it yet (they only have 25% with an option to increase this share)
Here, in Romania, Chryslers will not be sold anymore (they will be rebadged in the near future as Lancia's) and then they will have a fiat engine
Yours is a vw engine , because Chrysler doesn't build diesel engines in the US
And the gearbox is an AISIN built by Toyota (the same as the one found on Corolla and Avensis)
Until now the service of my car was done at the local Mercedes dealer (they used to own Chrysler) but recenlty i've done it somewhere else (cheaper, and the most important part i could stay near the car the whole time and learned a lot about it), thats why i know the part codes (cause i bought them myself)

Very interesting, thanks again:)

maybe its too late to reply but sebring diesel vw engine 2007-2010 and my service book says 150,000 km some service pls says same 150,000 km or 10 years.i think its little long time for timingbelt..