Fix the easy things that you can do.
Have a good mechanic fix the other stuff that are more complicated and critical. Otherwise, you could be replacing parts and not knowing if that will fix the problem and keep spending money on it.
It is really not an easy question to answer.
How many miles on it? It might not be worth spending more money in it, when you know you are just going to keep spending money on it just to keep it running.
You can sell it, buy a better car in cash so you don't have to worry about making payments. You can buy something used but in better condition so that your insurance cost would not change that much.
Just the sales tax and fees on a new one will be more than enough to fix it.
I feel your pain and am no expert . . but can share similar experiences for what they're worth.
I had a LHS and loved it . . .the room, the ride, cushy interior, good gas mileage with reasonable power.
At 96,000 miles it started with the "check engine light" and the stalling. I took it to a trusted independent mechanic who said it was a fuel injection problem - big bucks - BUT it was under a "service program" on that car and Chrysler would fix under warranty. Took it to the deal and indeed there were problems and Chrysler paid for new "fuel rails", injectors and associated work . . . . covered up to 100,000 miles under the service program. -0- cost to me.
At about 110,000 miles, the things started needed fixing: water pump, AC compressor and other things you expect. The "check engine" light started coming on all the time - took it to the mechanic and the diagnostic kept showing EGR valve problems, but he could find nothing wrong with it. This went on for several months until I was poking around under the hood one day and noticed the vacuum hose to the EGR valve - stuffed-up tight between the engine and firewall - was split. Got a length of hose, replaced it - - - car ran fine for 3 more years.
Power Steering problems: that could be the deal breaker for you. Mine started to leak and lost power assist from time-to-time. Online research confirmed what my mechanic says . . . the LHS is different from other Chrysler power steering rack & pinion assemblies: it has variable assist.....more boost at low speeds, less at highway speeds. The control valve or whatever is in unit with the steering rack - can't be replaced separately......part cost was $700+. So I lived with it the way it was.
Nice car . . . ran it up to 164,000 miles and would have kept it but had a chance to trade it in on one my company's low-mile leased company cars . . a Taurus. When I took the Chrysler to the Ford dealer they all came out and said "beautiful Chrysler - you really have taken good care of it - we won't allow you more than $1000 for it".
Good Luck with your decision. BTW, don't like the Taurus as well as the Chrysler, but it has 64,000 miles on it now and we've yet to need a repair.
To be honest, I'd fix it. $1500 is what, 2 maybe 3 new car payments? And definitely raised insurance rates. So if all it takes to make your car drivable, legal and reliable again is $1500, just do the work and keep the car.
Another thing to check: Back when they made it, MOPAR used two different V-6 engines - One they made & one they bought from Mitsubishi. The Mitsu engine was a piece of junk & burned-out with great regularity. So, make sure you don't have one, because they can't be fixed, only replaced by the MOPAR-made engine.
Chrysler LHS 1999 car. This car stalls, cant pass inspection, has about $800-1500 of repairs to top it off I got an uninspected ticket today ( comments are not needed). So I am now debating do I sell my car and put the money towards a more reliable car, or fix my current car. I have no payments so its nice.. all I worry about is insurance. Advice would be appreciated as I am stuck and do not know anything about cars.
* What needs to be fixed: Front Right Ti-Rod, windshield wipers, license plate light, stalls, hard to turn on(turns over for a while), and the check engine light is on, along with my car leaking power steering fluid onto my engine which caused my engine to catch on fire.. Thanks
