I recently took my 2018 Pacifica Limited with just under 66k miles to dealership for a check engine light code p0303 (cylinder 3 misfire). The car would idle roughly. clearly distinguishable. No other OBDII codes. No overheating or coolant issues. The dealership mechanic diagnosed and determined a blown head gasket and requested to conduct a full engine tear down. I approved and now the dealership is having Mopar inspectors to check engine. Since I bought from a dealership in 2020 as certified pre-owned, it is still under a 7 year or 100k warranty. As anyone had any issues with getting mopar to honor the warranty? The dealership service rep is hinting that mopar sometimes will not and find ways to say the owner has not properly followed the EXACT manufacturers recommended maintenance. For example getting oil changes every 3k miles. I mean with synthetic oils, do you really need them every 3k? Also, it seems the blown head gasket is common for pacificas at such relatively low mileages. Any other owners have similar issues?
2018 Blown Head Gasket
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mikepacificasandiego
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46 Posts
Model Year:
Pacifica 2018
Gas / Hybrid:
Gas
Trim:
Limited
Any word back from you mechanic on outcome of teardown? I received my new engine at 66k miles from a P0303 code and blown head gasket. I was fortunate the vehicle was still under warranty until 100k miles. I still never received an explanation from dealer or Chrysler on the cause of head gasket to fail. I doubt they will ever say even if they did know.
They called and said they started the teardown and noticed excess fuel in the cylinder. They said it could be a faulty fuel injector. I asked about the head gasket as well amd they said it didn't look to be the cause of the code. They also said it doesn't appear to be from a warped head. I asked them to check further into it as I would like it fixed fully and to not have to revisit this issue in a few months. I will let you know when they get back to me with the final diagnosis!
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1,645 Posts
Almost by definition, a misfire is incomplete combustion, which would result in unburned fuel in that cylinder. Have they taken the head off or just inspect the cylinder via the spark plug hole? If they took the head off, then you should be getting a new head gasket - only the lousiest mechanic would put the head back with an old gasket.
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1 Posts
Same issue! 62000 cylinder 3 misfire. Trying to figure out what to do!
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456 Posts
Model Year:
2022
Gas / Hybrid:
Gas
Trim:
Pinnacle
Get it into the dealer with a level 3 tech asap so they can do a proper diagnostics. You need a dealer with a level 3 tech in order to get anywhere with possible head gasket issues. I've just gone through this process myself for my 2018 and currently waiting for it to finish being repaired.
I have a 2018 Pacifica that is exhibiting the same symptoms as many others. Ours has a little of 100,000 miles and has been a very reliable vehicle up until a few weeks ago. P0303 fault code, led to new spark plugs and coil pack on cylinder 3, and also replacement of coolant overflow tank (they found a leak). A week later, the fault code came back and the tech then identified a faulty PCV valve allowing oil to syphon into the air intake. 5 days later, the fault code came back again, and the leak-down test performed on cylinder 3 (when the engine was warm) showed a leak into the coolant system (blown head gasket). I'm trying to decide now whether to have them do the tear-down and hope the engine block is OK, or jump right to the engine replacement. Has anyone had any luck with getting assistance from Chrysler on this issue when the vehicle out of warranty?
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46 Posts
Model Year:
Pacifica 2018
Gas / Hybrid:
Gas
Trim:
Limited
Sorry to hear about this all to common issue. For my vehicle, I was still under warranty and Chrysler Cares did cover everything for a new engine and even reimbursed me for 6 weeks of rental car expenses. I am not sure if they will do anything if out of warranty.
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4 Posts
I just got news that my head gasket is blown and I need an engine replacement. I have a hybrid and rarely use the gas motor (I fill my tank at max once a month). I am over mileage for warranty coverage. Has anyone had luck with Chrysler helping with this issue?
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2,431 Posts
Model Year:
2017 & 2021
Gas / Hybrid:
Gas
Trim:
Touring L
So sorry to hear that your engine needs to be replaced. I'm not entirely sure, but yours might be the first hybrid that has failed. Would you mind telling us the model year of your hybrid and how many miles are on it? Also, was your engine losing coolant and/or oil?
I was hoping never to hear this with the lower compression engine and fewer run-time hours than the ICE version. What are your miles? I am glad I bought the extended warranty at this point. As much as I like my Pinnacle it will be replaced when warranty contracts expire. I had engine problems with my T&C and had the exhaust cam replaced, lash adjusters, and roller rocker arms replaced for side 1, 3, and 5 in 2018. I also had to replace the oil cooler as it cracked and started dumping oil out of the engine valley all over the transmission. Close to $2,500 in repairs at the time before I got my 2018 Pacifica Limited Hybrid in July 2019.
There is no way I would want to face replacing the HV battery, transmission, and engine in close intervals. That would be crazy money. Depending on the dealer, HV Battery $13,000 to $20,000, Transmission $9,000 to $13,000, and the engine $6,000 to $9,000 are numbers I have seen reported. No thanks, I would rather dump that kind of money into a new vehicle and gain a warranty again.
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4 Posts
Since it’s a hybrid and just a carpool grocery getter, I rarely run the gas engine. I have a 240v charger and put gas in it maybe once a month. I bet. The gas engine has only 30k miles on it. The oil pressure was fine when the light came on
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4 Posts
70,012 miles and most of them are electric miles.
Man.. that is how i drive mine.. that is very upseting.
Actually, the hybrid motor has higher compression. Ram, Jeep and the Dodge Caravan all used versions of 3.6 with 10.2 :1 compression ratio. The Pacifica 3.6 uses 11.2:1 and Hybrid Pacifica uses 12.5:1 compression ratio. I am very disappointed to hear a hybrid developed a head gasket failure.
Anyway for you to ask your dealer if your oil filter housing was shot? It would be leaking oil which would accumulate here:
Crappy thing is if you say have the extended warranties(lifetime or otherwise) they won't put a part like this on if they fix it even though it's a much better part.
How can the hybrid version have a higher compression running the Atkison cycle vs the ICE running the Otto cycle? They both are the same engine with the exception of the hybrid having different cams and timing leaving the intake valve open longer reducing the compression stroke. Please explain.
Otto vs Atkinson Cycle Engines: What's the difference and their applications
2018 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid Specifications https://s3.amazonaws.com/chryslerme...ediasite/specs/2018CH_Pacifica_Pacifica_Hybrid_SPbekrinj41um7v9h1ktn2eemqif.pdf
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