Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2005)

256 consumer complaints on file.

#10441354December 27, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SWITCH FOR THE FOG LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440451December 19, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 CHEVROLET PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD SMELL SMOKE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439847December 14, 2011
SUSPENSION
MY PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE STARTED MAKING A THUMPING NOISE WHEN I WOULD TURN. THE NOISE WOULD COME FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. LIMPED IT TO LES SCHWAB AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE STRUTS AND SOME PLATE THING THAT GOES ON TOP. I WILL HAVE TO $750.00 OUT OF POCKET. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436317November 18, 2011
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PT CRUISER TURBO CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT HEATER IGNITED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435141November 10, 2011
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN ONE OF THE TIRES BECAME FLAT. THE CONTACT COULD NOT RECALL WHICH EXACT TIRE WAS FLAT BECAUSE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY TWELVE TIMES AND EACH TIME, IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIRE THAT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE RIMS WERE CORRODED AND PITTED. THE RIMS WERE CLEANED BUT THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT AIR WOULD CONTINUE TO ESCAPE FROM THE RIM AND CAUSE THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434980November 9, 2011
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DETACHED FROM THE SEAMING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430716October 18, 2011
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME WHEELS WERE FLAKING. AS A RESULT, THE AIR PRESSURE WAS SEEPING OUT AND CAUSING THE TIRES TO GO FLAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES A TOTAL OF SEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH THE TIRES BUT WITH THE RIM ITSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429425October 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED AND RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVEN TIMES BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DETECT A TROUBLE CODE DURING THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE POWER TRAIN WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,278.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428051September 30, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE PT CRUISER 2005 TURBO WAS PURCHASED NEW AND CURRENTLY HAS 68,296 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE WE WERE DRIVING. WE IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED CERRITOS DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP (CERRITOS, CA) AND GLEN E. THOMAS (SIGNAL HILL,CA} AND BOTH SERVICED VEHICLE. NEITHER DEALERS FIXED THE PROBLEM.THE LAST TIME WE PAID A SERVICE TECHNICIAN ALMOST $100 TO JUST RIDE AROUND WITH US TO SEE IF VEHICLE WOULD STOP. AGAIN NOTHING WAS DONE. AFTER FINALLY BRINGING THE CAR BACK 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, WITHIN A 12 WEEK PERIOD, THEY TOLD US TO CONTACT THE CORPORATE DIVISION AT CHRYSLER BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT SERVICE OUR VEHICLE. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS IN SEPTEMBER 2011( WHICH PUT OTHERS LIFE IN DANGER) WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 60 MILES/HR. THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF, AGAIN WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS, FOR FEAR OF RISKING THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND OURSELVES. WE ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING A RECALL BECAUSE WE KNOW OF OTHER OWNERS WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425385September 14, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOD WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON FOR THE WARNING LIGHT TO DISAPPEAR. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10424439September 9, 2011
SUSPENSION
HEARD THUMPING NOISE ON RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE AND NEW TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. MECHANIC INVESTIGATED AND FOUND FRONT END SEALED BEARINGS WERE COMPLETELY SHOT. SINCE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY IT COST US $800 TO REPAIR. BASED ON THE OTHER COMPLAINTS WE HAVE FOUND, THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10421667August 26, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PURCHASED A 2005 PT CRUISER IN JUNE 2008. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WOULD SHAKE ONCE I TURNED ON MY AC. WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME THAT I NEEDED A TUNE UP. SO I HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR A TUNE UP TO ONLY FIND OUT THAT THE PROBLEM ON PERSISTED. I TOOK THE CAR TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THEY ALL SAID I NEEDED SPARK PLUGS ALTHOUGH I JUST HAD THEM REPLACED. FLASH FORWARD TO NOVEMBER 2010, ON MY WAY TO WORK OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR STARTED PUTTING AND MY ENGINE WAS SHAKING AS IF MY CAR WAS ABOUT TO EXPLODE. AGAIN I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE SAME THING... TUNE UP. CLEARLY THIS WAS NOT THE CASE, HOWEVER I HAD MY GASKETS CHANGED TO SEE IF THAT WAS THE ISSUE...NEGATIVE. SO I DECIDED TO GOOGLE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS MYSELF JUST TO SEE IF I MISSED A RECALL OR IF THIS IS A PROBLEM. T O MY SURPRISE I FOUND SEVERAL FORUMS SPECIFICALLLY FOR TEH CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. TO TOP THE CAKE THEIR ISSUES WAS THE EXACT SAME ISSUES I WAS HAVING WITH MY CAR. ENGINE SHAKING, CAR PUTTING, AND THE CAR CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING! I CALLED CHRYSLER TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND I WAS SO BAFFELED THAT THERE WAS NOT. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND I'M VERY DISSAPOINTED THAT CHRYLSER IS IGNORING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE MATTER! THIS CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. HOW SCARY IS IT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND YOUR CAR JUST STOPS OR STARTS PUTTING! I HAVE SPENT OVER $500 TRYING TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND OTHERS HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS ON CHRYSLERS BEHALF. MY CAR STILL HAS THE SAME ISSUES TODAY 8/26/2011. I CAN'T AFFORD A NEW ENGINE ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS IS A MORE THAN COMMON ISSUE. PLEASE GOOGLE "PT CRUISER ENGINE SHAKING PROBLEMS" AND SEE THE MANY BLOGS AND COMPLAINTS. EACH BLOG HAS THE SAME ISSUES LISTED, AND I KNOW THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO CHRYSLER'S ATTENTION BUT THEY CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT. FYI.. IT ONLY TOOK TOYOTA 11 COMPLAINTS FOR THEM TO RECALL THEIR VEHICALS. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407383June 18, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LEFT WORK TO FIND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. GOT IT JUMPED AND WENT HOME. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND REMOVED THE KEY, I NOTICED THAT THE FOG LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINED ON. I CHECKED THE LIGHTS AND FOUND THAT THEY WERE STILL ON. I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON, SIGNALED LEFT AND RIGHT, JIGGLED IT AROUND AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT FINALLY WENT OFF. AFTER A COUPLE MORE OCCASIONS OF BATTERY DYING (AT THIS POINT THE FOG LIGHT RANDOMLY STAYED ON) EVENTUALLY I FIGURED OUT THAT IF I LEFT THE LIGHT CONTROLLED IN THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL POSITION WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR THE FOGS WOULD TURN OFF. THIS WAS THE ONLY WAY THEY WOULD TURN OFF. AT SOME POINT WE REPLACED THE FUSE, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR OFF AND ON. OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED AS WELL. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS NO LONGER GO UP OR DOWN. THIS IS ESPECIALLY PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE IT IS A CONVERTIBLE AND THE WINDOWS MOVE UP AND DOWN AN INCH OR SO WHENEVER THE DOOR IS OPENED AND CLOSED IN ORDER TO SEAL SHUT. RAIN COMES INTO THE GAP BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND ROOF BECAUSE THE WINDOW NO LONGER SEALS SHUT. I HAVEN'T EVEN TRIED TO PUT THE TOP DOWN IN A COUPLE YEARS FOR FEAR THAT I WILL NOT GO BACK UP, SO I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THAT WORKS. LIVING IN THE CITY OF ATLANTA, I AM REQUIRED TO GET AN EMISSIONS TEST DONE EACH YEAR IN ORDER TO RENEW MY REGISTRATION. DUE TO THE BATTERY DYING, I FAILED THE EMISSIONS TEST BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH MILEAGE TO SHOW NECESSARY DATA. I TRULY REGRET THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407380June 18, 2011
STEERING
TOOK 2005 PT CONVERTIBLE FOR OIL CHANGE, MECHANIC INFORMED ME I WAS VERY LOW ON POWER STEERING FLUID, HE REFILLED IT. GRADUALLY BEGAN NOTICING WHINING/GROANING SOUND WHEN TURNING, THE TIGHTER THE TURN THE WORSE THE SOUND. SOUND INCREASINGLY BECAME MORE FREQUENT. RETURNED TO MECHANIC (A DIFFERENT ONE) AND HE SAID I WAS OUT OF STEERING FLUID. I INFORMED HIM THAT IT HAD BEEN FILLED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. GOING FROM MEMORY HERE...HE CHECKED FOR LEAK AND FOUND NONE, AND REFILLED. PROBLEM CONTINUED TO INCREASE UNTIL THE POWER STEERING STOPPED COMPLETELY AND I COULD BARELY TURN THE CAR. RETURNED TO PREVIOUS MECHANIC TO FIND THAT THE HOSE HAD POPPED OFF. HE REATTACHED. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER WHEN TURNING LEFT I HEARD AN ODD SOUND, CAN'T REALLY DESCRIBE. WITHIN A WEEK THE GROANING WAS BACK, HOSE HAD POPPED OFF AGAIN, AND FLUID RAN OUT IN A MATTER OF DAYS. THE MECHANIC AGAIN REATTACHED AND SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE WAY THE EQUIPMENT IS ARRANGED UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSES SOMETHING TO RUB AGAINST THE POWER STEERING HOSE, CAUSING IT TO DETACH. THIS ORDEAL WAS REPEATED 3 TIMES WITHIN ABOUT A YEAR. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PIN DOWN THE TYPE OF MOVEMENT THAT CAUSED THE HOSE TO COME OFF...TURNING LEFT WHILE AT AN INCLINE OR DECLINE. THROUGH-OUT ALL THIS (I AM NOT GOOD WITH CARS AND AM A GIRL) I ENDED UP NEEDING TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. I WISH I HAD THOUGHT TO CHECK INTO THIS SOONER AS I SEE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10407386June 18, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE CAR SITS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND. I AM A CAUTIOUS DRIVER, BUT THE BUMPER TOO EASILY SCRAPES WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS OR SLIGHTLY STEEP INCLINES/DECLINES, AS WELL AS WHEN PARKING, TOO EASILY TO SCRAPE OVER CURBS. THIS HAS CAUSED THE BUMPER TO CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE, OVER THE HEAD LIGHT, COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE CAR IN ALONG A 6 INCH LINE. THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX WITHOUT REPLACING THE WHOLE BUMPER/GRILL COVER. I AM IN CONSTANT FEAR OF THE BUMPER FALLING OFF AS I STRUGGLE TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO REPLACE. I TRULY REGRET PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10406140June 13, 2011
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WITH ALL THE WINDOWS CLOSED, THE REAR PASSENGER QUARTER SIDE WINDOW SUDDENLY EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE SEALANT NOT HOLDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10389665March 9, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER, MANUAL TRANS, NATURALLY ASPIRATED - ARIZONA STOP LIGHT, DASH INDICATOR, ENGINE OVERHEATED, AC HIGH PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE RELEASES R134A REFRIGERANT. AC SHOP SAYS DEFECTIVE PCM, AC SYSTEM FAILURE. SHOP SAYS ONLY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP HAVE PCM FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386331March 3, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE OWN A 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST YEAR WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FOG LIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES AND WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY DEAD. THERE MUST BE A SHORT IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHICH IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. WE TURN OUR LEFT BLINKER ON BEFORE WE SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND THIS SEEMS TO KEEP THE FOG LIGHTS OFF. WITH THIS BEING A SHORT, IT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING - RESULTING IN POSSIBLE DEATH. MY EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH FOR THE SERVICE THAT THE NHTSA PERFORMS AND I ANTICIPATE THEIR ACTION ON THIS WELL KNOWN ISSUE TO BE COMING SOON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382711February 15, 2011
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
NO EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE OTHER THAN NOTICING THE SEAT HEATERS SEEMED TO PUT OFF MORE HEAT THAN OTHER COMPARABLY EQUIPPED VEHICLES. SEAT HEATER BURNED THROUGH SEAT COVER AND SEAT CUSHION FOAM INTO A PILLOW THAT HAD SLIPPED BEHIND MY DAUGHTERS BACK. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE PILLOW, MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS BURN INJURIES AS SHE WAS ASLEEP AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION. SO FAR CHRYSLER HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE OLD PARTS ARE STILL IN THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND SAYS THE SEAT HEATER UNIT ITSELF MALFUNCTIONED OTHERWISE THE SYSTEM IS NORMAL. HOWEVER, THE DRIVERS SEAT ALSO REACHES TEMPERATURES THAT WILL CAUSE BURNS ALSO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376449January 12, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND IT BEGAN TO CHUG AND JERK. I THOUGHT IT WAS BAD GAS AND CALLED A FRIEND. THE NEXT MORNING OUT OF THE BLUE IT BEGAN TO SELF ACCELERATE. I TRIED TO HIT THE GAS TO SEE IF IT WAS STUCK, HIT THE CRUISE ON/OFF, APPLIED THE BRAKES - NOTHING. IT WAS GOING 60 MPH BY ITSELF. I FLEW THRU STOP SIGNS, UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR, NOTHING WORKED. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. I EVENTUALLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE KEY AND HAD IT TOWED. THE HARD PLASTIC COVER THAT COVERS THE ACCELERATOR HAD BROKEN OFF AND LODGED ITSELF ON TOP OF THE ACCELERATOR, MAKING THE CAR ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN NO GAS WAS APPLIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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