Originally Posted by pizzaguy

"Chrysler Engineers are looking into it...", yea, a car they know nothing about and did not design. THESE CARS ARE ORPHANS, there is a REASON they lost so much value.
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Originally Posted by midasknight

While the SM was calling the tow truck I told the mechanic about what the forum had said, the RCM and the solder. Mechanic says hey that makes sense.

They open it up and jiggle the wires on the RCM and it responds to to every jiggle! They brace the wires so they can drive it and go back to the dealer.

3 hours later I have my car back and it runs great!

Thank You! Thank You!! Thank You!!!
....and I will read more of the forums posts from now on

MK

Originally Posted by Mrmiata

Beyond me how those solder joints are wiggle jiggle sensitive.. and propping up the wires fixed it to get it to the shop... I'd say there's a little more to this than just solder joints.. bad plug connector or something along with it..

Originally Posted by midasknight

Well I have to thank everyone here again for all of the insightful information.

The Service Manager and head mechanic came to my house to investigate the problem. They were afraid that any codes that were 'thrown" might get wiped out if I had the car towed to them. So they came here with the scanner and tested. I'm glad the car acted the same way during the entire time they were here.

After many confused looks they decided to drive it back to the shop. They didn't make it 20 feet.

While the SM was calling the tow truck I told the mechanic about what the forum had said, the RCM and the solder. Mechanic says hey that makes sense.

They open it up and jiggle the wires on the RCM and it responds to to every jiggle! They brace the wires so they can drive it and go back to the dealer.

3 hours later I have my car back and it runs great!

Thank You! Thank You!! Thank You!!!
....and I will read more of the forums posts from now on

MK

Originally Posted by midasknight

I am a very patient person, but I can’t take it anymore!
This is a long story, so I apologize ahead of time, but I have to tell the whole thing.

In 2004 I leased a Crossfire and thought it the most exciting car I’ve ever driven. Unfortunately, when the lease was up I could not afford to purchase the car. After 2 years of driving my ‘96 Grand Caravan and failed attempts at the Cash for Clunkers deal, I decided I would just try to get the car that I really wanted, the Crossfire.

I searched around and found a SRT6(which I didn’t even know existed) with 18k miles for a reasonable price. I purchased my Crossfire SRT6 in August of 2009 from a used car dealer in Long Island, NY. I had a company check it out for me and it passed all tests and the Carfax was clean. The same day I also purchased a Chrysler Service Contract, Maximum Care Package. I was a happy guy…………for 6 months.

The first incident occurred during an hour and a half highway ride when the SRT shut itself off. I was lucky to be near a shopping center and coasted into the parking lot. The car would not restart. The engine would not turn over. After a few failed attempts, I waited 15 minutes and tried again. Voila, it started and ran like nothing had happened.

The next 2-3 incidents, which were weeks apart, were similar but different. Each becoming progressively worse until the last time when I had to limp home at a max of 5mph. I was lucky that time that I was close to home.

The scenario:
After driving a short distance(local stores), then returning to the SRT, the engine would run extremely rough upon startup. Shaking and rumbling like it wanted to misfire. Additionally the gas pedal would become unresponsive. Strangely, there was a very small sweet spot in the pedal pivot that would make the engine rev like a race car. The first two times I was able to turn it off, wait a few minutes, and it was ok again. The 3rd and last time it did not return to normal at all.

So I took it to my dealer to check it out. I explained exactly what I have described in detail so they could isolate the issue. This was March of 2010.

First they said that there was debris of some sort in the gas tank that likely was clogging the fuel rails and they would have to clean it all out and maybe replace the gas tank. Not sure if it is covered etc… I disagreed with the conclusion as I felt it did not fit the scenario. Turn the key it works, drive, turn it off, return and it doesn’t work, wait, turn it on again and it works, and the gas pedal oddities didn’t seem like a clogging issue to me. When the engine starts, it runs perfectly. Never the less, they stated that they had to remedy the gas tank and fuel lines before they could continue. Great, go for it! I was given my first of many loaner cars. A Neon Blue PT Cruiser.

That was the beginning of the diagnosis phase of this story.

Over the course of the next 12 months they replaced the computer 3 times, the crank sensor twice, the throttle body mechanisms at least twice and many, many other sensors and parts. You name it, they replaced it. During this time I contacted Chrysler Service who assigned a Rep to my case. The dealership never called to update me so I would always have to call to ask what was going on. I complained to the Rep who continually said the issue was being escalated and that they were bringing in additional resources to resolve the issue. There was more talk of the District Supervisor being aware of the situation etc…

The dealer explained that they were in communication with the Engineers at Chrysler and were actively resolving the issues. When I pressed for more info it became obvious that the communication they were referring to were e-mails between the two of them. Dealer would say “we tried this and it didn’t work”, the Engineers would respond days and sometimes weeks later with, “ok then try this”. On and on it went. If they needed a part, weeks would go by waiting for “the part”.

I called the rep at least once a month and suggested that they ship the car to where the experts were as this was already taking way too long to resolve. I would get the same type of answers that more resources were on it and that the regional head engineer was going to the dealer to examine himself.

I was patient and understanding for a while and then we had a very snowy winter where I rationalized that I couldn’t drive the car now anyway.

February 2011 – Your Car is fixed!!! NOT
After getting the call from the dealer that all is well, I rush down with tremendous excitement. I speak to the service rep who is now the manager of service and he explains how they finally got it running. He gives me the keys and says its outside. Drum roll please….
As soon as I find it in the lot I can see the door has a 10 inch scratch on it and the rear tire is flat. WTF? Oh yeah and the engine does the same thing the first time I turn the key. Storm back into the dealer who appears genuinely stunned when I tell him the engine is doing the same exact thing as before. He gets the mechanic who had worked on it to go check. Now the mechanic looks stunned and confused as the engine doesn’t run. I also ask him about the flat tire and he says, “oh yeah, it’s dry-rotted”. I tell the Svc Mgr that I can actually believe the engine not running, but how did you miss the 10 inch scratch and flat tire??? I get the PT Cruiser Mobile back as a reward.

During the time that all of this went on, Chrysler Service agreed to pay the remainder of the service contract as a form of compensation and also discussed additional compensation that could be done.

April 2011(2 months later), another call that it is fixed. The scratch is gone, the tire is fixed and the engine runs!!! Woo hoo.
During my last conversation with Chrysler Service they claimed that the issue was caused by something the prior owner had done. Specifically, spreading the pins on the electrical contacts. They said that I was somewhat lucky because this type of thing is not normally covered. Of course since now the issue was not their fault, any additional compensation items that were discussed were now off the table. Wow, thanks again. I tell them that I completely disagree with their diagnosis and will not believe for one second that the prior owner theory is the cause.

It ran fine for 3 months, till June 2011. Then the same exact thing. It ran fine last night and now this morning, it doesn’t. The symptoms were identical. Tow it to the dealer and another PT Cruiser for me. At least this one was grey.

I called Chrysler Service and was told that since the prior issue was closed, the rep who answered the phone would now be my new Rep instead of the one who knew the entire history and who I had spoken to for hours. She would of course be available to assist the new Rep, but would not be assigned to me. Great, thanks again.

The FIRST thing the new rep says. “It says here that the issue was caused by the owner so I don’t know how important they are going to treat this. Your best bet is to tell the dealership to get the district manager involved.” What! So now patient me is losing it on the phone.
I told them that we NEVER agreed that “that” was the cause. “If you want to say that the prior owner did so and so etc… then tell me why, after you’ve fixed it, the same problem still exists. Did the prior owner sneak over to my house and do it again?” I’ve never received another call from Chrysler Service about my case.

That was 15 months ago. I’ve had PT Cruisers, Sebrings and lastly a very nice 2012 Journey. So from that point I have to admit that I’ve at least had a car. It’s had become a joke to everyone I knew. “How’s the car?” You have no idea how many times I’ve had to answer that question and how embarrassing it has become to try to explain.

I would stop into the dealer every few months for an update but there was never anything positive to report. They would say that they’ve had no luck and were working with the Engineers again. One time I actually saw it on the lift in the garage instead of it’s normal spot in the parking lot. They were replacing the wiring harness. The Service Mgr said “that so many people have had their hands in this car, we want to replace it just to be sure there aren’t any shorts or cracked wires etc”.

During this summer of 2012 I went to the dealer after hearing that the dealership had burned to the ground. Man, I was hoping but no luck, the SRT survived. No doubt because it wasn’t in the garage.
I talked to the owner and service manager(the original service rep who was now the manager). They flat out said “Chrysler can’t fix your car.” “I would sell it as fast as you can.” “We can’t get parts for it anymore” “since the relationship with Mercedes ended they don’t have the engineers with expertise on this vehicle anymore”….you get the idea. The owner discussed alternatives of finding another Crossfire and swapping. We expanded the possibilities of replacing it with any car and not just a Crossfire. At this point I was flexible since the Crossfire appeared to be cursed for me. The owner left it up to the service manager and me to work it out. The SM explains that the loaner car is costing them $30 a day since they would normally be renting them. $30X365 days=$10,950/yr. Additionally he explained that Chrysler was no longer reimbursing them so that cost was coming out of the dealership pocket. He says they would’ve been better off giving me the Sebring(loaner car at the time).

After pondering I countered that if they would give me the value of what an SRT Crossfire would sell for(if it was running right), pay off the remainder of my loan and give me a car that is worth the balance so that I wouldn’t have a car payment. (The economy had outsourced my job in June of 2011) and provide a year service warranty, I could live with that. He says that sounds fine. We’re talking about a $10k-$12k car. I inform that I will be traveling to Iowa in a few weeks to visit my terminally ill Father and that I will drop off the Sebring when I leave so they can make a few $ while I’m gone, and he agrees to look for a suitable replacement vehicle. Total time is 5 weeks till I return.

I return from Iowa and they haven’t found any suitable vehicles. They also won’t have a loaner car for another week. A week goes by and I call and for another week no one is returning my calls so I have to go back down there. “We’re waiting on a Sebring for you, all we have are PT Cruisers”. I tell them I don’t care what kind of car at this point. “Ok come back after 3 and we’ll have one ready for you.” Somehow, karma finally shined my way and the PT Cruiser was gone when I got there so they handed me the keys to a 2012 Journey. Very Nice.

3 weeks go by, It’s July 2012. Around this time I decided to relocate to Iowa to be with Dad. I call and ask if they’ve found any vehicles? “No nothing yet but we’re getting cars in all the time.” I inform the SM that we should include 4wd or awd vehicles since I will be relocating to Iowa with more snow. “Come down and see what we have on the lot.” So off I go.

There are a few that might be ok and I decide on one. A BMW X3 for $12k, it looks nice but needs shocks so I’m not so sure. After 2 weeks of hearing nothing again, I call and they say the cost of 1 years worth of service for the BMW was $5k and that would have to come out of the balance after our dealings.(we never agreed that the service would come out of the balance), but either way that’s just way too much and the shocks would have to be a claim after the fact, they weren’t offering to fix that first. So no deal. I tell them that I am going to move near the end of Sept 2012 so let’s try to find something before I go and wrap this nightmare up.

End of August 2012 – “We fixed your car”
You’re kidding right?
They said that a service alert for a regular Crossfire came out that stated that when re-programming a new computer, a certain order of entry had to be done for the ABS System, otherwise the ABS could interfere with the engine operation(as a safety measure). They realized that they were performing this operation differently which could be causing the problems.

It sounded like a stretch to me, but they said the car is running, spinning wheels in the parking lot etc… One hitch was that the air breather cover things on the top of the engine had been lost in the fire that destroyed the dealership and would need to be ordered. He estimated 2 weeks(early Sept). I reminded them that wouldn’t give me much time to drive the car and feel confident that everything is ok, given the past history, and that I would be driving to Iowa, 22hours, 1600miles. I need to feel comfortable about this.

4 weeks later, the end of September I call to find out what’s the deal? I’m leaving for Iowa in 2 weeks??? “Any day the breathers should be in”. Are you confident this thing will drive me across the country? “Yes it’s running great.”

I am scheduled to drive to Iowa Oct 9th
The moving truck is scheduled to leave on Oct 8th
I am packing, loading the truck and they call on the afternoon of Oct 2nd to say it’s ready.

Once again I ask and reiterate the dire scenario I see in front of me. Less than a week to test drive this thing and they say, with confidence, that the car is running great. I ask if there was a nirvana type moment where they realized exactly what was wrong and fixed that one broken thing. “No”…..”We likely fixed it long ago but the ABS thing is what was tripping us up. Now that we’ve done that the car runs fine. But I would sell it, the parts are becoming impossible to get and extremely expensive”.

Oct 3rd I pick it up and give back the Journey. It runs fine but I notice a dash light warning that a light is out. License plate light was out, back to dealer, we resolve. (The SM never test rode the car at night and hadn’t put the lights on, therefore didn’t see the alert. But I find that the dash alert comes on right away anyway, whatever.)

Oct 4-5 I drive 50.9 miles running errands for my move to Iowa while continuing to pack the moving truck. My family is now officially freaking out that I am going to drive “that car” 1,600 miles. I assure them that I have towing service with Chrysler Service and Allstate. I call Chrysler Service for re-assurance that if I have any issue they will come to my rescue at the very least. They inform me that my contract has expired. What!

Remember Chrysler Service has not contacted me in any way about the SRT or my contract in the 15 months that they have been working on it.

I explain to the nice people the entire story and they see that the issue had been raised to National Accounts in the past so they would have to confer with them the determine what they can do. I repeat that I’ve had the car for 36 months, 27 of which they were repairing it. 75%. They will get back to me asap. I haven’t heard a word since, likely because it was a Friday.

Oct 6th, Saturday, The car wont start! Same exact Engine problem!
Call dealer. The Service Manager is off for the weekend, back on Monday. I’m supposed to leave on Tuesday to meet the moving truck in Iowa on Friday.

If you’ve read this entire story I thank you. I had to vent somewhere. the SRT is a great ride when running normally and that’s what sucks so much. It would have been nice to drive across country finally and enjoy the road. I haven’t seen another story like mine so I’m sure this is a one of a kind nightmare. I have 2 years of payments remaining and no work presently. While I am hoping to find work in Iowa, spending time with Dad is the most important to me. I don’t want to sell this car but financially I really should and since they can’t fix it, it’s almost a mute point but I don’t feel right selling it to someone else if this problem hasn’t been permanently eliminated.

If you have any ideas, whether automotive, financial or legal, please let me know and thanks.

MK