Hey!

I was driving my crossfire the other day and totally realized how horrible the stock gearbox is on the Xfire -- especially upon your initial crank and during cold starts.

Anybody know of some good aftermarket trannys/gearboxes?


Thank you.

 

I take it that you're talkin about the manual 6-speed? Cause the 722.6 auto is one of the best trannys ever made. The fact that they can handle over 700 ft/lb is the reason why they are still used with all V12 Mercs instead of the newer 7-speeds!!

 

I am talking about the automatic tranny. This thing is horrible -- it was used on the already dated MC Benz SLK320 gearbox.

This thing is ROUGH when it comes to the gear ratios, man. I don't know how this could be considered one of the best trannys ever made.

 

My Crossfire has the 6sp manual, but I had a Charger R/T with Hemi and basically the same 5sp auto, and absolutely loved it. Best manual shifting automatic I have driven, including some Tiptronic Porsche, Cadillac, and KIAs. And as mentioned, it is very able to handle torque. I think the only real issue with it I have heard of is up through about 2005 the front seal could leak, and that is even in the LX cars.

 

Ever thought that you may have a bum one?

 

I'm not sure I fully understand your complaint. What do you mean by rough gear ratios?

 

I am assuming that there is something very wrong with yours, as I've never heard any complaints before. I drive an SRT6 and think it is one fine shifting auto. Be a little more specific about what it does and maybe we can help you trouble shoot it. How long have you had it?

 

Sound like your tranny has been abused along the way.
Might be dated by design standards but is awfully bulletproof and is still used to date......
Must be pretty damn good to also be used in these models:

2005-2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR
2002-2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee[8] (02-04 WG Diesel, 05-10 WK V6)
2006-2010 Jeep Commander XH 3.0 litre diesel export model
2011-2012 Dodge Durango (V6 Models only)
2005-2014 Chrysler 300 (AWD, 300C, SRT8 only)
2005-2008 Dodge Magnum (AWD, RT, SRT8 only)
2009-2014 Dodge Challenger
2006-2014 Dodge Charger (AWD, RT, SRT8 only)
2007-2011 Dodge Nitro (4.0L Models only)
2012-Present Jeep Wrangler[9]
2002–2013 Maybach 57 and 62
1998-2002 Jaguar X308 (Supercharged models only)
1998-2002 Jaguar XK (X100) (Supercharged models only)
1998-2005 Porsche 911 (996 series)
1996–1999 Mercedes-Benz W140
2000-2005 Mercedes-Benz W220
2006–2013 Mercedes-Benz W221 (V12 Models only)
1997-2002 Mercedes-Benz W210
2003-2009 Mercedes-Benz W211
1997-2000 Mercedes-Benz W202
2000-2004 Mercedes-Benz W203
1998-2005 Mercedes-Benz W163
1998-2005 Mercedes-Benz R170
1996-2002 Mercedes-Benz R129
2001–Present Mercedes-Benz R230 (V12 Model and Earlier, up to 2005)
1998-2002 Mercedes-Benz W208
2003-2005 Mercedes-Benz W209
2000-2006 Mercedes-Benz C215 (V12 Models only)
2007–Present Mercedes-Benz C216 (V12 Models only)
1996–Present Mercedes-Benz W463 (AMG Models only)

 

Mayhaps.

I only said this because I've spoke to 3 people in my town who own XFires that vary from 20k-65k miles and they said their first crank each day is rough and fits the same issue I feel mine has.

I'll definitely look more into it to make sure if it's just the case of me having a bad transmission.

Thanks!

 

First crank?
Explain please.

 

On a cold morning if I start the car and within a few seconds take off mine feels sluggish only in first gear. Once it shifts it's fine from there on out. Mines got 100k+ miles on it and I'm sure they've been hard. Otherwise I'm satisfied with the way mine operates.

 

Cold morning? You have had your car two months and you live in Ohio not Alaska, I doubt you have had a cold morning of any consequence. Wait another three or four months.

 

Going from a 90 degree day with humidity levels approaching hell's standards to a 530am 40 degree morning 12 hours later makes it tough bud! {slight exaggeration} Lol.

But after I experienced that sluggish feeling right off the start I let it warm up a minute before I take off. Maybe it's me, maybe it's the car, maybe it's Ohio or the Hadron Collider. Who knows. Lol

 

When you first start her in the morning, do you let her idle until the RPMs drop from the auto choke closing? May take 10-15 seconds but you'll hear the idle slow down. Then drive her and see if there's a difference!

 

Seriously, you blaming that? We all know it is solar flares & sunspots.
As for the cold affecting transmissions, how well or poorly does the syncros in the 6sp work when frigid?

 

I have the same gearbox in my tow car and it is fine. Of course I don't think it has ever been cold.

Still looking for a 2.6 rear gear for my six-speed. Talk about terrible ratios...

 

I want to do the math to figure out what you need to hit 60 in 2nd, I'm sure a 2.73 would do it, but I doubt a 3.07ish would. I love the ratios once in 3rd though.

 

It's the blood moons and the Popes visit. That's what's causing it I'm sure of it.

 

By "first crank" I mean your initial crank on that given day.

e.g. I get home from wherever I may be at night (7pm and the crank is fine) and I don't use it again until the morning following (9am and the crank is rough and rigid and feels like it's struggling to go into second gear because the RPM's are too high to have not changed gears automatically) -- that's what I mean by first crank.

I've found that using the slapshift in the mornings can help this problem, I also let it sit in the mornings for about 2 minutes before I leave.

 

My car does the same thing, I never experienced any issues with my transmission, so far I've only had the car for a month and a half with 66k on the clock. The only problem I have is that it shudders sometimes when changing from 2-3, need a fluid change soon. It's probably just the choke letting the engine warm up quicker by keeping it in a lower gear.