Thanks for the good wishes. The operations were a piece of cake. I'm ready to keep rolling, and will pursue this issue tenaciously. If I have to, I'll go to Detroit and get someone from the Detroit Free Press to go with me to FCA. Maybe it will take a little Crossfire Demonstration in front of their headquarters to get their attention and some coverage. Maybe an old guy with a flag and a big sign saying "HONK if you want FCA to stop screwing veterans." There must be another Vet somewhere that has an Xfire and needs or will need a SKREEM. Two is plural Vets.

Here's what I wrote to Manley. Please don't copy or post until we see what the reply is.

"
Dear Mr. Manley,

I have attempted to contact Chrysler several times via your Customer Care link, to no avail. Hence this letter.

The issue I wish to call to your attention is the inability or refusal of Chrysler to provide a critical part for my 2005 Crossfire. I have contacted several dealers in my area and none of them are able to provide this part, which is a SKREEM Ignition Immobilizer - part # 1708201826 - that controls the security system, and which due to failure makes the car inoperable and totally useless. I am not alone in needing this part - many other Crossfire owners need it and also have cars that are totally useless without it. (See Crossfire Forum.)

This part s a standard module used in all Crossfires as well as all Mercedes SLKs built at the same time, and perhaps in numerous other MB vehicles. It is/was made by Siemens and is in stock in the Mercedes parts system, but Crossfire owners can not purchase it through MB due to the fact that it is a vehicle specific, theft related part and the MB parts system will not accept a Chrysler VIN and MB dealers have no access to the Chrysler code that must be installed in the part. The Chrysler dealers also have - they claim - no access to these codes, and their queries to Chrysler say there is no ETA for any such part ordered. They also state that if we want one we need to pay, in full, in advance with no commitment as to when the part will be delivered. Therefore, because of this snafu, many Crossfire owners are left with cars purchased from Chrysler that are only useful as lawn ornaments. Somebody has to correct this situation.

My car has been inoperative for many months. I am an 81 year old army veteran who last year was diagnosed with Stage Three colon cancer, so for the better part of the last year I have been busy with health issues and so let the car sit. Fortunately I had a successful operation last October which removed 79 cm of my colon and tied me up with an ostomy pouch that I wore for 5 months. Then this April I had a reversal surgery and got my plumbing reconnected and am now in great shape and cancer free, the docs tell me. (Thank God for the VA health system.) I don’t know how much time I have left, but I need to get this situation solved so I don’t leave my wife as a widow to deal with a useless car.

I am asking you to immediately tell someone at Chrysler to remedy this situation, come up with the part with the correct code for my vehicle installed and get one to one of your dealers to install it, ASAP. There are two Chrysler dealers near me where I can have the car towed for this service, if the part is made available. I hope to be able to drive this car to New York in mid September to the Hemmings Motor News Concourse at Lake George, NY where it is entered, so this matter needs urgent attention.

Recently I saw online that FCA Chairman, John Elkan, speaking in London at the anniversary of Sergio’s death said, “Sergio liked to describe FCA… as filled with women and men of virtue. Individuals who feel a weight of responsibility for what they do, individuals who react with decisiveness and courage, who don’t shrink from the opportunity to set an example”I hope that’s true, and that you are one of those of whom he was speaking.

I implore you to step up and do the right thing and correct a situation that has left a lot of Chrysler customers in an untenable position.I/wehave bought many cars from Chrysler, in fact my daily driver now is my old 2001 Sebring convertible.By not solving this problem Chrysler has left a lot of Crossfire owners with cars that cannot be driven or sold.People like me cannot suffer this kind of financial loss because of Chrysler’s inability or refusal to provide a critical part for a car we purchased in good faith, are proud of, and want to drive and enjoy.It seems to me that Chrysler could easily get one of these modules from Siemens, MB or somewhere in your overseas parts system, program it for my vehicle, and get it to me PDQ.I attach copies of my Drivers License, the Illinois Crossfire vehicle registration in my name and insurance card to show the VIN and that I own this car.Since this moduleis an existing part that MB stocks, it shouldn’t require much effort on your part to get one or some of them into the Chrysler system.

As I see it, this is a golden opportunity to turn a very negative situation into an opportunity to generate positive publicity and priceless goodwill that shows that Chrysler cares about its customers. I know it may be a small thing for you, but it is surely something you could easily designate to someone in your entourage to solve ASAP and demonstrate that FCA wants to make things right. We owners that need this part have really no other option at our disposal. We keep spending money on the cars for plates and insurance, but can’t drive them.

I’ll hope to hear something positive from you in the very near future.

Sincerely, "