Well it was bound to happen. After experiencing more than two years and 2 weeks, and over 21,000 miles of perfectly reliable transportation from my Crossfire, I've had my first malfunctioning part.
The little rubber "umbilical cord" that holds my gas cap looks as though it suffered from "dry rot" and broke. (Atleast it didn't leave me stranded, I was only 7 miles from home when it happened, so I didn't need a tow). Has this happened to anybody else?
I've got over 200,000 more miles on my 1999 Chevy Van, and its gas cap teather is working just fine. (Does that mean American rubber is better than German rubber?)
I just may have to rethink this whole "long term keeper" plan I had for my Crossfire. What next, I suppose I'm going to have replace the windshield wiper blades too?

 

Sorry to hear about all your troubles. That really stinks. Like you say, at least you did not need a tow. I think ya got lucky on that one.

My '04 has never been in the shop for anything at all and I'm just dreading the day that I have to replace something. The thing already has 7,000 miles on it and I'm just hoping that it makes it to 10K... My fingers are crossed.

I had to use my windshield wipers a couple of days ago and I just freaked out when the drivers side wiper left a streak across the window on the first swipe. I got lucky! It was only a bug... LOL.

 

I don't know how you can tolerate this kind of reliability, or lack of. Maybe you should switch the cord with that of your Chevy truck.

 

And there it is ... I knew you were looking for an excuse to get an SRT.

 

But then when you come out the next day the chevy cord will be in the middle of the road broken up because the Crossfire is alive will reject the foreign body.

 

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Guess i don't know my history on DZ.

 

I hope you've learned a lesson from this and start to maintain your car properly. Don't dangle your cap. Carefully place it in the holder on the Gas Door ... And treat it with a high quality rubber conditioner.

 

I can't stand it, if this is what I have to look forward to I'd better sell mine now! If German rubber can't stand up to a little dangle... Well...

 

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I guess it's too late for the Lemon Law.

 

Man, I hate it when the rubber breaks.

 

Just for the record guys, my 1969 car still has the original wiper blades, and they're still soft enough to squeegy off the windshield when it gets wet. But I have to replace the wiper blades on my van practically every year.
I'm from Akron Ohio, The Rubber Capital of America, (well, atleast it used to be) and I used to work for B.F.Goodrich, and it really ticks me off that rubber products don't seem to hold up like they did years ago.
I can't even buy a new bag of rubber bands that's worth a crap, and yet I have old family documents in folders that have rubber bands from the 50's keeping them secured.
For what ever it's worth, I never let my gas cap "dangle", and I think I actually discovered the little pocket that's meant to hold it by the 3rd. tank full.That's why it surprised me the teather broke so soon.
The next time I talk to my German friend (who used to work for Continental Tires) I'm going to give him an ear full about German rubber products.


Oh yeah, to Marauderroy, I'm still laughing over your comment.

 

Yes Michael it does happen, I just had to replace the driver's side windshield wiper and I only have 4,500 miles on my car! I only fill up once a month so I doubt I'll have the gas cap issue for a while.

Pat

 

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No, mine broke at its base. It looks fine where it's attached to the ring that's just under the actual cap.
It just looks like the rubber crumbled, or was torn away.
Of course I'm no "Polymer" scientest, but I think it simply boils down to, "They don't make em like they use to."

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...2/DSCN2732.jpg

 

The AMX looks good Mike!

 

Thanks Brad.

 

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wow, that really surprises me for you to have something like that malfunction after only 20k. i've had my XC for more than 3 years, and have put over 40k on it, and have NEVER had any problems what-so-ever. of course, i've been frantic about maintenance the entire duration of those three years, so that may be a factor, someone said a few posts back that you should use a high quality rubber conditioner on rubber engine parts. i've found that arm-in-hammer rubber cleaner works quite well.
anyways, i hope you haven’t lost your faith in this amazing car, im sure that it was either a fluke, or you just need to be sure that you maintain engine parts.

Kate