My neighbor just purchased a Crossfire and when putting the car in reverse, the ****, leather cover, plate, and wires came apart. I noticed that one other poster mentioned that the **** came off twice.

Is this a common problem? Please advise.

Thanks,

Bert

 

dealers' job

 

First I've heard of it.

Take Dan's advice and take it back to the dealer.

 

I've had mine since Oct. 03 and no problem with mine.

 

This was a small problem early on, and in the dealer prep procedure, at least back when I bought mine last August, there was a step they were supposed to follow to check for this and correct before delivery.

 

Hello everyone! I am THAT neighbor Bert is talking about and I am asking anyone out there if you are having similar problems with your Crossfire. The three replys I am able to read state that it is not much of a problem BUT when I viewed the replys on her screen last night, I saw that some of you did/do have this problem. WHERE ARE YOU NOW? I can't locate you on my computer at work. Am I doing something wrong or different then Bert did last night? Please respond because if the problem is serious I will fight the Dealership & Chrysler Corp. I really like this car with only 300 miles on it and exactly one week old but the dealership will not take responsibility of the body damage that resulted from the gear shift coming off in my hand when I put it into reverse. The car lunged back & to the right hitting a parked truck & damaging my right quarter panel & bumper. No damage to commerical truck. ANY SUGGESTIONS & SHOULD I INSIST ON MY VEHICLE BEING REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE FROM THE FACTORY WITH THE GEAR SHIFT PROBLEM BEING CORRECTED?

 

Wow!!! Sounds like it's time to get a lawyer. Sorry to hear about your troubles. Bummer.

 

Read this thread.

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...ighlight=03013

It looks like the dealer is supposed to aggressively try to pull the **** off to check to see if the retainer needs to be replaced. Since they apparently didn't do the correct prep procedure, you could argue that they should be responsible for any damage that occurs.

 

The shift **** has a lock on it. If it isn't locked into place it can come off. Looks like it wasn't inspected before you got the car. Talk to the service department. I'm sure they will take care of you. The **** is part of the car prep before giving it to the new buyer.

However, hitting a vehicle in result of it is kind of your own fault. Just because a **** comes off, does't mean you lost all control of the vehicle. It just in reverse gear! Your brakes, steering wheel, and clutch pedal were still fully functional right?

I know if I had put it in reverse and it came off, I just wouldn't let off the clutch.

 

Sorry to hear about your trouble Rich, but I'd have to agree with Adam on this one. I think you would have a VERY hard time selling to D/C that you completely lost control of your car just because the shift **** and such came off while you were in reverse. You can try, but...

 

My suggestion is to be as nice as you can with the service rep. Give good details on the situation and just ask that it be taken care of. Let them know you want the situation to be fair. Most of the time they will like the fact you aren't being an ******* and might just take care of all of it for you. Dealers want customers to come back. I'm sure the repairs aren't that bad.

 

Geeze: Reverse is reverse, clutch disengages the transmission, gas pedal accelerates the car, brakes stop the car...

I replaced the factory **** with a Momo and didn't tignten it down hard enough. And while driving the Malibu Hook-up at decent speeds through a fairly decent canyon road, my shift **** popped off...

I had a Crossfire no more than 6 feet in front of me and another about the same behind... The only thing that happened was a BIG expletive as I missed a shift.

I have been racing and driving cars for at least three decades. And I think everyone will agree here, you put the car in gear, (no matter reverse, or forward) and then feather the clutch while feathering the accelerator...

If the gear shift **** pops off it's going to happen well before your car is even in motion. And even if it is in motion the gear shift **** has nothing to do with the forward or backward momentum of the car...

Sounds like someone needs to learn how to drive...

I would call this a perfect example of OPERATOR ERROR... and someone is looking for an excuse for such.

Sorry for being so RUDE. But I'm amazed that someone is looking to sue for what appears to be their incompetence.... :twisted:

 

I can see that most of you are not sympathetic with Rich's situation. Yes, it makes sense that his foot should have been on the brake, but I would imagine that it was quite startling. I have copied the original post I read from this forum and you will see that this poster was also shaken by the **** and boot assembly flying up into his hand. Perhaps in addition to separating from the car, it might be possible that it engaged accidentally. We do not know this and he was so shaken that he assumed he must have taken his foot off the brake. The car has only 300 miles on it and I must stick up for Rich. This car should have been carefully checked prior to delivery. Nobody wants to have a 2-week old car and have to take it to the paint shop AND pay for the paint when something as serious as this occurs to your new car. Anyway, here's the post I saw: ....Bert


2 days ago, in a parking lot, I started to put my 6-speed in reverse. To my surprise, as I pulled upwards, the entire gearshift **** and boot assembly flew off! The **** and boot hit the headliner and I nearly had an accident. It was like opening the can of peanut brittle and the snake pops out. Man.

Mind you I've never done steroids and was never bitten by a radioactive spider, this was not a matter of brute strength overcoming an otherwise solid piece.

I recalled seeing something about this on this board having to do with retaining clips (but haven't been able to re-locate it, only mightyjlr's post about Service Action #03-013). After staring dumfounded at the bare stick (and the shifter innards underneath) for a few, I was able to get the **** on good enough to operate.

Yesterday my tech confirmed he was able to "duplicate the problem." Trouble is, they performed the Service Action #03-013
supplemental deal, according to their records, while this was on the floor. So, having done what Chrysler recommends, they are mystified.

Anyone else having this problem? Any suggestions that don't involve duct tape or JB Weld?

It seems only to happen in reverse so it's not too frequent -- and it hasn't happened since, but mainly because I now approach Reverse like I am about to de-activate a land mine. The danger is that when it happens it is shocking, and in a tight situation where a driver is not thinking about this, say parallel-parking downtown, or backing into a space, it will happen again and the slight delay in reaction time will make one bang into a car behind, or a light post or something.

 

Again, I'm not bashing the guy, I'm giving suggestions. I happen to work for DCX corporate. If you go into the dealership with the best attitude and just lay it all out. The dealer will work with you to get you the BEST solution possable. Go in there with a lawyer screaming about revenge, then they will most likely be irratated and not willing to help you with all flexable options.

Until he realizes that backing into anything was his own fault, then he will have an easier time getting everything resolved. Pointing fingers isn't such a smart thing to do. I do however understand the car is very new, has blind spots, touchy clutch, accelerator, etc. However when driving you must take EVERYTHING into consideration. Yes the dealer is responsable to fix the shifter, and they will work with you on getting it resolved. The other stuff is between you and the dealer.


Again.. good luck Sorry for the bad luck. Hope things go better. Please update us on this.

 

OK Everyone Thanks for your advice on the gear problem & also from a couple of you the criticism on my driving, but let me assure you that I have been driving a car since 1961. I was only asking if anyone had similar problems with the gear shift. As for my driving ability it wasn't necessary to slam or blame me for this minor incident. What happened, did happen in a split second. When the shift lever came off in my hand it startled me and I must have either taken my foot off the brake or my other foot sliped off the clutch pedal, jerking the car backwards & to the right side. I WAS nice to the dealer, their service department and the salesman noting that none of them were at fault. I just didn't appreciate the dealer rep. telling that I may be responsible for the payment of the body damage. They also wouldn't assume responsibility for the admitted defect or improper install. I have since been in contact several times with the dealership, & Chrysler/Daimler. I really like the vehicle but if it has a defect I wanted it fixed properly or the car replaced with a newer similar model. This car only has 300 miles driving time and is one week old to me. BY THE WAY, I NEVER SAID I WAS GOING TO SUE!

 

You're right Rich: I appologize. After review of the thread I clearly see that you had not mentioned suing DC...

On a kinder note I can see that if you have little (300 miles) experience with this, or any sports car you could make mistakes and have an (accident)...

The car car be squirley if you are not used to it's operation and torque. That's why they call it a sportscar and not a cruising sedan...

Hope all turns out well with your fender bender, I would assume your insurance company would cover it and perhaps recommend an automatic for future purchases. :roll:

 

Well well,i have to say that if my gearshifter flew off and hit the ceiling I'd be lucky not to have hit something!I think that is a BIG safety issue in a manual tranny that would startle you enough easily to loose your foot on the brake or throttle.Or knock your eye out!Lucky it was only a little body work.I think your insurance co. should fight the issue for you!!

 

Oh come on Dan, you're a better driver than that... I had you on my tail all Saturday... and halfway through Latigo my damn self-installed Momo shift **** popped off... At the apex of a turn... Did you see me sweating bullets or slow you down at all ?????? OR RUN INTO A TRUCK BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY ????

Be realistic and think about it... Guy puts car in reverse, clutch in, brake on..... Shift **** pops off...... Why does Guy release clutch, takes foot off brake, steps on gas and fly backwards and turns toward truck parked behind him...

LOLOLOLOL I call that RETARD !!!!!!!!!

 

I think he said he'd had the car only a week! So I just assumed he had minor experience ,driving it.And in that context (new Car pop off that would startle me.)

As for your driving it speaks for itself.

As for mine i was just following you,in a auto tranny!

 

As I said before, I feel your pain. But WHY, under what exact reasoning, should the dealer or D/C have responsibility for your driving. You were sitting still, right? And the shifter came off in your hand? And THEN you somehow backed up, AND turned, AND hit another vehicle? I can't imagine how without a $1000/hour lawyer and a civil lawsuit (and even then preying on a jury's "oh, the poor man, only had his car a few days" emotions to get a judgement) you'd have any expectation of not shelling out of your own pocket (or along with your insurance) to fix this yourself. Neither the dealer nor D/C let out the clutch, hit the gas, turned the steering wheel, etc., and it's my opinion this is a serious stretch trying to put the blame on someone other than the one who DID do those things. Why has our society degraded to such a point that everyone wants someone to blame? That there's no personal responsibility for one's actions? Someone else must pay :?: :evil: :evil: :evil: