Good thing! You may need to resort to those tactics when you ask him to fix it.

By the way, I'm not so easy. So, if there's ever any info you'd like *me* to provide, feel free to include photos.

 

Hey guys,

I promised to let you know if I heard from Dr. Z and well, I did not make it past the gate keepers but this is what they had to say:
What a response, eh?

 

I'm sure Sharon appreciates all the help. But, what it boils down to is that the dealership has a bunch of untrained 'putz'es there... There are only certain techs that are trained in the Crossfire and Crossfire SRT6. You need to find one of them... or one of them that was LISTENING during the training. I suggest trying another dealership even if you have to drive 50 miles to get there. Find out from them what the true scope of the problem is... If you're driving your car and mash the peddle, get lurches, stalls, etc and the tech says it's "normal" then perhaps they themselves are not "normal". So go find someone that really is "normal". The people on this board have been more helpful than the technician and management. THAT is the key indicator that something is wrong with the dealership service department.

 

Okay...I'd follow that up with...so what's going to happen? What are you going to do about it? Dr. Z better get off the tube and realize that he's got a problem with your car! Be sure to post your follow up letter and see what happens. Also, I'd not hesitate to go to the MB dealership and hopefully, find someone willing to listen and test drive your car to see what they think. I would think they'd do that for you and maybe with no strings attached. it's certainly worth going that route if all else fails.
I had my scratch fixed today and am crossing my fingers that my car doesn't decide to get some sort of transmission problem. I have 10, 150 miles on it...just a wee bit more than you. Exercise your rights as a consumer and a very assertive, beautiful young lady!!!

 

Does your local TV station have a "whoever" on my side? If so forward all your correspondence to them and cc DR Z... Be careful to state facts, It stalls in the middle of intersections , OR whatever, don't be ugly be frightened by the failure and upset at the lack of Chrysler's care for the safety of their customers. Also follow the above advise and seek a more competent mechanic.

 

This is probably pointless to add any additional information but... The Manassas, VA Chrysler Plymouth dealer told me the same thing...NORMAL. I had to pull off the road 2 times to avoid being hit from behind when I "floored it". I turned at a stoplight from a "slow California roll" both times and the car had absolutely NO pick up at all! If we were timing it we would be talking about 0-60 in about 10-12 seconds (My daughter's 4 cyl Chevy Cavalier could do better).
The tech that test drove my car told me to manually shift the car into 1st gear...that the transmission was probably still in 2nd or 3rd gear and didn't downshift?!?! I did not want to pick up the car...hoping that he might hear something from one of the other dealers that are logging these problems. I am going to pick it up on Friday.
I have to ask though...The SRT-6s have been out for almost 2 years now. Have only a few of us REALLY experienced this problem?

Also, if anyone who stated that had this problem and it was fixed could let me know the dealership that they went to so that the tech could call them I would appreciate it. Also, were any SENSOR lights illuminated for any of you? Mine are not on...no indication of a problem other than almost getting killed!

From a dead stop the car almost always kicks butt 0-60 in about 5 sec.

 

Also check here, there are a few transmission related TSB's listed.

https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...ead.php?t=8146

 

The Ford 500 had the same problems and they attributed to the throttle by wire set up. I know its a completely different car and company but this problem is out there and my guess is they don't have the answer so they give you Bologna. This is really a safety issue. I Hope MB can fix it for you and if they do the bill should go to your dealer not DC. The reason is to sue DC would be difficult. Your local dealer can Be done in small claims court without much cost or difficulty. A much shorter process from beginning to end.

 

I seriously doubt it's the XF throttle by wire system, I own a standard transmission XF, and never have these problems. No other XF owners who have standard trannys have experienced this that I've heard of.
I think it's only the Automatics.

 

Guys,

It seems that RobW and I are going through the same thing. While it may not be happening to everyone's car, the fact that its happening which means there is a problem.

Tranny problem? Possible. Sensor related? Possible (although we both had ours replaced). Computer related? Possible (although mine has been replaced). Electrical? Sounding to be more probable since the problems are sporadic and are not triggering any error codes or Check Engine lights.

I am going to keep doing research, keep talking to people and keep being aggressive.

Sharon

 

We were able to get into everything via the MB SDS system with the exception of the shifter and ESP controller.

I really think you're having an issue with the transmission valve body or valve body electronics.

 

Years ago there was a guy who had painted his car bright yellow and put a giant paper-mache lemon on the trunk lid. He also painted "Ocean Dodge Lemon" in big letters on the sides. Every Wednesday he would park on a side street (I lived on the side street) right next door to a Dodge Dealer and sit there all day. He would read, wander about,etc., but he was legally parked and they couldn't touch him. This was before Lemon Laws were enacted. I never did find out what was wrong or if it got resolved...

Remembering that, I was tempted to paint my Ariens riding mower brown with a giant paper mache "dump" on eth back - that was terrible piece of junk...

 

PLEASE HELP!!!

For ANYONE that has had this problem fixed or HAS this problem:
Did your dealer enter your data in the DC STAR D/B? If they are not logging the problem than I've been told that no one is seriously going to look into it as a possible TSB or RECALL.
Also, It would be nice if any of you that did get it fixed put your dealer information into the FORUM so that us UNLUCKY people can have our tech call a dealer that has fixed the problem.

 

I just went to another FORUM: MBWorld Discussion Forums
Went to a post that really sounded almost exactly like Sharon and my problem posted by A///MG_Power.
What ended up being the problem was the air cooler pump. What was happening to the guy (and the more I think about it to me too) was that when he drove it cold there was no problem. After driving it for awhile and the car heated up the car would lose power and not respond.
This would follow because unless the technicians are really driving the car for awhile they won't see this problem.
The test was: "Have the Technician check the inlet air temperature after driving hard. If the temp climbs excessively then the intercooler pump is the most likely suspect."

 

RobW, did you get any extended warranty on your Xfire? Curious as since you paid extra for extended warranty, you really aren't getting good service from the dealership, or at least the one here... The Manassas, VA Chrysler Plymouth dealer told me the same thing...NORMAL.

If you have the Premium protection, that gives you free rental cars ANYTIME the car is in service (even for a simple oil change), then get the rental car, keep it, and have them take it to any other dealership aside from the one you've been dealing with. Find the tech who is trained on the Xfire, meet him, shake his hand, and take him/her for a ride. Have them authenticate your claims... Speed off in the rental car that the warranty pays for... and wait for them to overhaul your tranny or tranny electronics... What you need is some support from an understanding dealership, not a "stealer"ship.

 

RobW - looks like you and I are dealing with something so unique that its hard to nail down. But I do have two new updates:

First - I did get a call back from the MB dealer today (how I got this lucky to have one side with me when he did not need to do it is a blessing unto itself) and interestingly enough, the SLK's have had electrical issues that resemble what we describe - sporadic, loss of power, hesitation. Kent said the techs were able to "retrain" the computer with new software uploads - this retraining means they tell the car to override the error when it happens so the car acts normal. He also told me that DC has the same equipment they use to diagnose the problem but its a matter of really knowing these engines and their nuances. His certified SLK tech said that it takes years of training to know these cars (SLKs) because they are very complex and a breed unto themselves - which we all already know. So in essence, if we don't have someone that really knows our cars, they won't know what to look for. And these two have been merged for how long?

Second, I got a call from the Corporate offices of Chrysler (I know, shock!) and I was told that I will get a call back on Monday - message left a name and number! I mass blasted emails to all the email addresses I could find online and in their documents and apparently someone finally heard me and what I was saying. Guess that means I will have yet another update?

But in my email, I did mention that I am talking to a few other owners (ok stretched that by a few) that were in other parts of the country and that they were experiencing the same problem and that my attorney was very ready to file a Class Action Lawsuit should Chrysler not respond.

I am not backing down and will get some results, one way or another. And RobW, you and I are going to get some answers and some resolution. As my mom always says, never back a Niesen against a wall (my last name). And she is right... all prettiness goes away...

 

Give Coyote a buzz, he had a very similar problem, and found a competent tech to fix it somewhere... This is an excerpt, which makes sense:

I experienced a similar problem. Turned out that the auxiliary water pump,
for the intercooler, needed to be replaced. This caused an over temp issue
for the supercharger, so it didn't engage.

Coyote


I remember he went through hell too... Had to get the "super-tech" down from somewhere to finally analyze and get it fixed... If it happens to be the same problem, suggest having Chrysler do a TSB on it since it's happened to a few Xfire owners... But his was an SRT6 though, and I believe you have the Limited without the supercharger, so this still may not be correct...

 

She does not have a supercharger or intercooler. Her problem is NOT the same.
He has an SRT. She has a Limited.

 

Well, well, well... guess all the emails I sent to all the email addresses I could find online got to the right person - or at least someone that heard me loud and clear!! I just got off the phone with someone at DC Corporate that is going to take my complaint to senior management and the engineers to see if they can figure something out. They will review my case and get back with me. Guess a threat of getting an attorney involved may have been the icing on the cake??

Keep your fingers crossed for me, guys. I still want my car but would settle for a replacement car (same options and color of course) and let them have this one to use as a guinea pig!

 

Well I took my to the place my wife bought it (Koons at Tysons...in Virginia). For the first time ever when I have had an intermittent problem it happened with the service foreman in the car!
It happened 3 times...pedal to the floor acceleration non-existent. I printed out the FORUM entries from the Crossfire FORUM and the MB FORUM and told him that the STAR D/B should have this logged because they directed a repair on another Crossfire.
My main question is whether the water pump fix will also correct the transmission "bog down" that happens intermittently causing whiplash.

I'll keep you posted.