Hello all- this is actually Bat not Bladecutter,

I'm back after a couple months absence and I could use some advice.

I got my '08 Roadster in October - I posted some mountain pics (https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22239&page=41), a video, a few posts then promptly disappeared from the board. The reason being - my Crossfire has been spending ridiculous amounts of time in the shop for ongoing electrical circuit problems.

Ironically, it all started the day we went to get the actual tags for the car. Car started random turning on and off of the alarm, radio, lights followed by the car completely turning off in mid drive. Got her started again only to have it happen seven more times (on route to auto store to get battery, alternator, starter checked - all in or above spec, btw) and then to stumble to the dealer. Tank was full, no other obvious problems. Before anyone starts giving theories - trust me, it is ongoing problems with the electrical system, as you will read if you bear with me - all other components have been ruled out.

After repeated stints and many days of my car residing at the dealer, we have replaced the PCM once, the BCM several times, the entire air bag system including the passenger seat, the top motor components, door lock system, etc. The problems have been with nearly every single part of the electrical circuit on the car from starting the car to the top to the locks to the lights to the spoiler, etc. Nearly every week, another thing goes wrong.

Technically, the car already qualifies as a lemon under Colorado law. I am frankly worried that I'll be taking a curve at high speed and the system is going to fail yet again leaving me sailing off the side of a mountain - like Thelma and Louise only with a decided lack of sound due to the car no longer being on.

Now, this should be a no-brainer - unload the car, asap. My problem? I'm in love with the damned thing (and I mean "damned" as in possessed by the demon of all things electrical). I love the way she looks, sounds and handles...er, when I actually have her and she's running. I am heartbroken. Told myself when I got her back this last time that if one more thing goes, she's gone. Well, the spoiler started acting up again yesterday and I no longer have a trunk light.

The service guys are as frustrated as I am. Chrysler specialists have been flown in twice to get her fixed up yet she keeps having problems and no one can fully explain it.

She is like a bad boyfriend...I want to throw her out but then she gives me the puppy dog eyes and promises to be better this time and I fall for it all over again. This is a nightmare - I don't trust her not to leave me stranded or worse.

Have any of you heard of such a thing? I mean this is a new car, dammit, a new car should not be in the shop every other week.

 

Sorry guys, first I log in under my boyfriend's name then I post twice - can you tell I am a wee bit upset about this whole situation? If a kindly admin could please fix my errors - I'd greatly appreciate it.

I am thinking I'm going to have to let this car go (never should've named her Mischief even if it was apt) but I really wanted to hear some thoughts on the mess from some of you long-time owners first.

 

I would pursue the Lemon law!

And try and get a new one? I have not heard of anyone having all those problems.

It may be as simple as an intermittent short, or grounding problem, somewhere in the entire harness,But try and locate it..Good luck

Sorry to hear of your Mischief.

 

If you really wanted to keep the car and it sounds like you do. I would take it to a respected Mercedes shop, either dealer or independent specialist. It's also possible all the tinkering by your Mopar shop has made things worse, not better. Good luck!

 

I personally think it sounds like a problem with the SKREEM / Security module.

But regardless, if it got to the point of the rant you just made, just lemon law the thing. It's not a human being, it's a car. It's not unique, there are at least 1000 other cars exactly like it, down to the last bolt.

 

Electronic issues are always a NIGHTMARE ! Did you do a CarMax search on where the car originated ? Possibly, lets say, New Orleans ???

Personally I would say throw in the towel and shed the menace ! It is after all a machine, as much as we all rave about these cars, when it comes down to dollars and Sense or is that cents ? Dollars do make a difference. On the other hand attachments to inanimate objects can sometimes override good judgment !

Unfortunately I have no insight as to what may the root cause of your dilemma, only advise from someone who has been in the mechanical business for sometime. Good luck and hopefully a bump to this thread will cause an experienced member to chime in.

That's just my Dos Centavos

 

Buy a couple of lemons, go back to the dealer, put the lemons in your seats and then go in and execute your right to declare it a lemon....just make sure you post the vin on this site.

 

Bat, I agree with above posts: use your state's lemon law. Electrical problems of the sort you're having will either be solved by sheer luck or not at all.
Besides, the way Xfires are selling nowadays you should be able to score another one right quick!
Just keep repeating to yourself: "it's just a machine, nothing more."

 

I'm shocked you keep that lemon this long. Get another X-Fire and be done with it! Squirrel Crusher

 

I had a '93 Concorde and the wiring harness was a big problem, the insulation broke down and caused different problems all the time. They put in new wires and the problems were solved.
Are individual problems solved or do they keep re-occurring? That is a major question to be answered. If individual problems are solved then it probably is a lemon. If they re-occur then the problem is a general one and is probably localized.

 

Since Chrysler has flown in people twice and could not fix it, I would talk with the Chrysler district manager and see if they would swap it out for you. The Lemon law just has some disadvantages to it. Anyway it's good to see you are bitten by the bug. Good luck.

 

With the prices that Crossfires are selling for I'd get out of a bad situation and try my luck again.

There are some awesome deals out there on Crossfires.

 

I had a brand new Corvette that spent a week of every month I owned it in the shop. That was before the concept of loaner cars. By the time they finally fixed it I had lost interest in the car. It was way more problem than fun. I traded it in on a 280ZX and never had one problem with that car, any Z car I woned for that matter.
Your car should be returned and I'd look for a low mileage used Crossfire.
Not only is your car a PIA with the things you describe its unsafe. No way I'd keep that car.

 

Ouch. Hate electrical problems when they need an "exorcist".

See if the dealer can take it back or something related to the lemon law. Would not try to sell it. They have almost no value used. From my experience they are down 60 to 75% from original value after just 10,000 miles or less. I literally could not give mine away.

Great car. Just worthless in today's market. Hope you can somehow exchange or return it.