Chrysler PT Cruiser Complaints (2005)

256 consumer complaints on file.

#10321246March 21, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE FOG LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AND PARKED IN PARKING LOT. CAME BACK 1 HOUR LATER AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. HAD NO PHONE AND HAD TO WALK 4 BLOCKS IN A DARK VACANT, "SCARY PART OF TOWN" BY MYSELF. CALLED BCAA AND THEY CAME OUT TO GIVE ME A BOOST. THE TECH TOLD ME THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10316168March 3, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A SLIGHT OIL LEAK. SHE CHECKED THE ENGINE AND SAW THAT THERE WAS AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF OIL INSIDE OF IT. LATER THAT EVENING, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN SHE CHECKED THE ENGINE, THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE STICK AT ALL. THE NEXT MORNING, SHE PUT FOUR QUARTS OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. BEFORE LEAVING WORK, SHE PUT TWO MORE QUARTS IN THE VEHICLE AS IT SHOWED THAT SHE WAS TWO QUARTS LOW. BY THE TIME SHE REACHED HOME, THE OIL LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AGAIN. SHE PUT FOUR QUARTS OF OIL AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP THE NEXT MORNING. THE MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT CAM SEAL FAILED AND POSSIBLY CAUSED THE OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHEN THE MECHANIC RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED, ALL OF THE OIL LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THE MECHANIC THEN CALLED HER TO SAY THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE ENGINE PUMP. SHE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO INSTRUCT THE MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE THRUST BEARINGS. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE THRUST BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL HER IN 24 TO 48 HOURS (SHE WAS CURRENTLY AWAITING A RESPONSE). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315950March 2, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) MALFUNCTION ON THE HEADLIGHT/FOGLIGHT MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ON A CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 2005, [XXX] (EXPORT VEHICLE, RUNS IN BRAZI). IT STARTED UNWITTINGLY TURNING ON THE FOGLIGHTS EVEN WHEN THE CAR IGNITION WAS OFF, IT LEAD TO DRAIN CAR BATTERIES AND FOR ME TO THINK AT FIRST THAT WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY BATTERY, SINCE WHEN I SAW THE CAR THE FOGLIGHTS WERE OFF BECAUSE IT DRAINED THE POWER. THEN, AFTER A HOT DAY I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A RAINY AND DANGEROUS HIGHWAY AND MY FOGLIGHTS WENT OFF AND I FELT A SMELL OF BURN CABLE AND SMOKE INSIDE THE CAR, SO I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OFTHE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND GOT REALLY SCARED. AFTER SO MANY DAYS AND SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I FINALLY DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY DRAIN HAD TO DO WITH THE FOGLIGHTS SWITCH. I TOOK ALMOST 6 MONTHS TO DISCOVER IT AND SO MY FOGLIGHTS REFLECTOR STARTED TO MELT AND LOOSE THERE FLEXIBILITY. I WENT TO CHRYSLER DEALERS IN BRAZIL AND THEY SAID THEY CANT DO NOTHING FOR ME SINCE THE CAR IS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY. THE THING IS, THERE IS MORE THAN 550 COMPLAINTS (AND COUNTING) ON A WEBSITE EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM AND WHAT THE MANY DANGEROUS POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES. AND 95% OF THE CARS IN THOSE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY FROM CHRYSLER MANUFACTURE. NOW I ACTUALLY RUN WITH THE CAR WITHOUT THE FUSE RESPONSIBLE TO FOGLIGHTS. IT COST ME A BRAND NEW BATTERY AND 2 DAMAGED FOGLIGHT REFLECTORS AND THE OBLIGATION OF RUNNING WITHOUT FOGLIGHTS ON HIGHWAYS. (THAT ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WITHOUT THE PROPER ILLUMINATION! HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.COM/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314967February 28, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I OWN A 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST YEAR WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE FOG LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN ON AS THE SWITCH IS BROKEN AND SOMETIMES THERE IS VISIBLE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE COLUMN FOLLOWED BY THE STENCH OF BURNING RUBBER. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR. THE FOLLOWING LINK IS A WEBPAGE DEVOTED TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW MANY PEOPLE THIS IS EFFECTING. CHRYSLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THE PART HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE PART FIXED AS I SEE THIS AS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED AT THE COST OF CHRYSLER. IN THE WEBSITE YOU CAN SEE OVER 800 PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. THERE HAVE BEEN ACTIVE POSTS SINCE 2005.HTTP://WWW.TOPIX.NET/FORUM/AUTOS/CHRYSLER-PT-CRUISER/TF81KHBDLDVT92AH2. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312461February 21, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
IN 2006 I PURCHASED A 2005 PT CRUISER WITH 12000 MILES, IT RAN GREAT UNTIL MAY,2009 WITH APPROX. 28000 MILES, WHEN IT STARTED SPITTERING AND SPUTTERING UPON ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT EXCEED A SPEED OF 25 FOR 15 TO 25 SECONDS, SOMETIMES LONGER. I FOUND THIS OUT ON A 275 MILE ROUND TRIP UP US HWY 40 AFTER STOPPING TO GET GAS. UPON REENTRY TO HWY 40 WITH CARS TRAVELING 70-85 MPH, MY CAR JUST WOULD NOT GO. I FELT MY LIFE AS WELL AS MY HUSBANDS WAS IN GRAVE DANGER. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FLASHERS ON AND STAYED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD UNTIL IT RETURNED TO NORMAL SPEED. THEN WHILE GOING UP HILLS, OR STOPPED FOR RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGN OR SLOWING DOWN TO YIELD, IT WOULD AGAIN, SPITTER & SPUTT AND BACKFIRE. UPON MY ARRIVAL BACK HOME I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL CHRYSLER DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS IN NEED OF A TUNE UP (ATL ESS THAN 20000 MILES), AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, WHICH I BELIEVED WAS A UNLIMITED 5 YR/50,000 MILES, COSTING IN EXCESS OF $300.00/WHICH I DID NOT AND DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO GET REPAIRED., BUT STILL FEEL THIS IS A DANGER FACTOR FOR ANYONE RIDING IN IT. (WHICH I SELDOM HAVE ANYONE WITH ME EXCEPT MY HUSBAND OCCASIONALLY.) THE PT CRUISER IS STILL THE SAME EVEN THOUGH I HAVE ADDED GAS TREATMENTS AND FUEL INJECTOR CLEANERS TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS SEVERE, AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM. THE CAR TO DATE ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 35000 MILES AND IS STILL ACTING UP, AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A TRUSTED LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT IT IS A TUNE UP PROBLEM OR THE FUEL INJECTORS, AND THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THAT WAS STILL IN EFFECT AT THE TIME. (WHAT IS THE WARRANTY WORTH? (NOT LIFE OR LIMB.) I MIGHT ADD THAT IF I HAD KNOWN OF THIS WEB SITE OR HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED I WOULD HAVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE "PEOPLES RIGHTS AND SAFETY." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10301900January 22, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. HE STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BECOME CLOUDY WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS APPEAR TO BE CLOUDY DURING THE DAY SINCE THE SUN REFLECTS ON THE LENS AND THAT THE PLASTIC ON THE LIGHTS HAS DETERIORATED. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47000. UPDATED 02/17/10 *BF UPDATED 02/17/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300004January 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
PCM CHIP IN 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP AS BEING THE PROBLEM. PCM CAUSES MYRIAD OF ELECTRICAL & TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH CHRYSLER WON'T ADMIT TO. WHEN ANY ENGINE LIGHT OR OTHER ALARM INDICATOR GOES ON IN VEHICLE AND I BRING IT TO CHRYSLER-THEY SIMPLY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. THEN THE TROUBLES START. THE PCM CAUSES STALLING AT A RED LIGHT OR AT LOW SPEEDS--GOT REAR ENDED TWICE, VEHICLE NOT TURNING OVER/WON'T START, DRAINS BATTERIES (REPLACED IT 3 TIMES),(CAR WAS TOWED TO CHRYSLER BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T START) POWER STEERING MECHANISM LEAKS (REPLACED TWICE) CAUSES ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON DASHBOARD, RADIO & CD PLAYER WONT WORK (CD IS STUCK IN PLAYER), CAUSES CAR LOCK/ALARM SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION (REPLACED TWICE) CAR LOCK/SYSTEM HAS LOCKED ME OUT OF MY CAR AND FOG LIGHTS/HEAD LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF WHICH THEN DRAINS BATTERY. CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP "SUPPOSEDLY" REPLACED THIS PCM CHIP 1.5 YRS AGO AND THE REPAIR TOOK A MONTH AND A HALF WHILE I WAITED WITHOUT A LOANER CAR EVEN THOUGH MY CHRYSLER EXTENDED WARRANTY ALLOWED ME TO HAVE ONE! WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK I NOTICED THAT THE FOG LIGHT/HEADLIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON AND WENT BACK TO DEALER TO TELL HIM IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN AND HE INDICATED THAT I NOT EVER RETURN TO HIS DEALERSHIP. NOW 1.5 YEARS LATER, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE AND IT'S THE PCM CHIP CAUSING THEM. I HAVE LOST MY JOB FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO DRIVE TO WORK WHILE THEY 'FIXED' MY CAR FOR A MONTH, LOST THOUSAND OF $$$ REPAIRING THIS VEHICLE, MY WARRANTY IS NOW EXPIRED, AM STILL FINANCING VEHICLE, BUT CAR WON'T START AND IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT STALLS WHILE DRIVING, ETC. THE CAR ISN'T WORTH 3K AND THE REPAIRS ARE IN THE THOUSANDS TO FIX ALL THE ISSUES. *TR CONSUMER WANTS AN UPDATE ON COMPLAINT. 1/27/10 *NJ UPDATED 02/01/10*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10290391October 30, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 PT CRUISER MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILED . FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER I REMOVED THE KEY. SMOKE CAME OUT OF SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290648October 28, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS FOR THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON THEIR 2005 PT CRUISER. *NJ WHILE DRIVING RECENTLY, THE CONSUMER AND HIS WIFE FELT A VIBRATION IN THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10282920September 4, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER 71144 MILE BLEW CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL, BUT NEEDS ENGINE REPLACED. THIS IS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT PREMATURE DEFECT ON ALL 2.4 ENGINES A RECURRING PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10281353August 21, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE FOG LIGHTS ON MY 2005 PT CRUISER COME ON BY THEMSELVES. ENGINE OFF - KEYS NOT IN IGNITION. DEAD BATTERY TWICE IN THE PAST 24 HOURS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10280999August 19, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS ARE SO CLOUDY, LOOKS TO BE UNSAFE. HAVE TRIED 3 DIFFERENT PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET TO CORRECT THIS BUT SO FAR NOTHING HAS HELPED. SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE OUT IN THE WEATHER LIKE A HEADLIGHT COULD BE MADE FROM SOMETHING BETTER THAN THEY ARE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277347July 19, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY WIFE'S 2005 PT CRUISER WITH ONLY 10,100 HAS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM STARTING. BY REPLACING OR REINSTALLING THE FUEL PUMP RELAY THE ENGINE WILL START. RECENTLY ON ONE OCCASION THE ENGINE STALLED; GLADLY IN A PARKING LOT, HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE ROAD OR FREEWAY AN ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED. HAS CHRYSLER BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND IS IT JUST THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE OR ARE THERE OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WILL THERE BE A RECALL BY CHRYSLER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE OR AFTER AN ACCIDENT? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10277258July 18, 2009
SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE FRONT END AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE AT ABOUT 10-15 MPH ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED OR SLOWED POSITION. ONCE ACCELERATED BEYOND THAT SPEED, VIBRATIONS REMAIN, BUT LESS INTENSE. VEHICLE WILL PULL UPON APPLYING BRAKES, MAKING IT HARDER TO CONTROL. FEELS AS IF THE VEHICLE FRONT END AND TIRES ARE "GRINDING INTO THE PAVEMENT", THIS AT STREET SPEEDS OF 35-40 MPH. HAD TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED ON ALL FOUR TIRES AND PRESSURE WAS AS SUGGESTED BY MANUFACTURER. HAD BRAKES CHECKED AT DEALER AND THEY STATED THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES, "THE BRAKES ARE FINE." THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. IF CHRYSLER/FIAT DEALERS CANNOT PINPOINT THE CAUSES OF THESE DEFECTS/PROBLEMS AND FIX THEM (AT NO COST THEIR CUSTOMER) ONCE AND FOR ALL, THEN WHO? THESE PROBLEMS POSE SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS, AND RECALLS SHOULD BE ISSUED. WITH THESE PROBLEMS UNRESOLVED, THERE IS LITTLE ENJOYMENT IN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274649June 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT INSIDE OF THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. A NEAR CRASH ALMOST OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERED THREE YEARS AND 36,000 MILES. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS; HOWEVER, HE DOES NOT WANT TO PAY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,805.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274677June 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CHRYSLER 2005 PT CRUISER CONVERTIBLE. DEFECTIVE MULTIFUNCTION CONTROL SWITCH. (TURN SIGNAL, HEADLIGHT, FOG LIGHT LEVER). CAUSES FOG LIGHTS TO STAY ON EVEN WHEN THE IGNITION IS OFF, DRAINING BATTERY ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. FOR NOW ONLY WAY TO REMEDY PROBLEM IS TO PULL THE FUSE FOR THE FOG LAMPS. CANNOT FIND A REPLACEMENT PART. DEALER SAYS THEY ORDERED 50 REPLACEMENT PARTS OVER 4 MONTHS AGO, NATIONWIDE OVER 3000 ARE BACK-ORDERED, SO CHRYSLER OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10270027May 27, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2005 PT CRUISER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269387May 19, 2009
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS HAVING NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON HER VEHICLE WHEN ONE OF THE LUG NUTS SUDDENLY CAME OFF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE OTHER THREE LUG NUTS WERE FOUND TO BE EXTREMELY LOOSE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS WAS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE PT CRUISERS AND RECOMMENDED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE A TIRE COULD FALL OFF AT ANY MOMENT. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED SINCE THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269432May 19, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION PARKING PALL BROKE. AFTER PLACING CAR IN PARK AND EXITING VEHICLE, THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. HAD TO GET CAR OPEN QUICKLY AGAIN AND APPLY BRAKE TO KEEP VEHICLE FROM STRIKING A PERSON OR ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268448May 11, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY AND THIS HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. IN THE PAST THE VEHICLE DID START WITH A JUMP OR BY CLEANING THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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