A long read but worth the time IMO.....Members here like these deserve the recognition........

As I posted in a few other older threads earlier this week I began having trouble with my Crossfire last Friday.
It all started when every time I would go to start the car it would crank all the way through a cycle (which I believe was 8-10 seconds)
at this point the car realizes it is not going to start and then shuts off the starter.
Try it again.... same thing happens and finally on a third try it fires up and runs normally.

This goes on for several days until Wednesday when driving the car home about 7 miles from work it nearly quits running on me.
Apparently the fuel pump is now failing to supply the fuel needed to keep me running so I barely make it home but I do.... but on only about 3 cylinders !!

Now I want to add that during all of this I never got a CEL so I ruled out the cause to be a CPS
(crankshaft position sensor / camshaft position sensor)
So I do a search with the word "Cranking" here on the forum and find this subject had been discussed before.
turns over but trouble starting
Long Cranking problem I've had...

In these threads I read that in the fuel pump there is a check valve that holds pressure in the lines when the car is turned off.
This supposedly prevents the fuel from returning to the tank when you shut the car off, and allows quick fuel when you hop in to start the car. This is prone to leaking on the SLK32's from what I've read which causes hard starts.

Also the fuel filter has a pressure regulator valve built inside it.
A defective pressure regulator valve can cause a priming issue just as a bad check valve and create the same problem.
Ironically I did just have the fuel filter changed 8 weeks ago

So I called Rudy (rcompart) and tell him what is going on and what I have read here and he also suspects the fuel pump is my problem but won't rule out a defective fuel filter either.

He makes a call to Rob @ Needswings and asked for a fuel pump and a fuel filter to be sent FedX overnight to a shop near my house in Palatine, Illinois.

Rudy has built a relationship with this shop and now frequently will work on cars at this location on his own time.
The shop is called... SPEEDRIVEN
I call Rudy back today and he says bring the car up to the shop tonight and I'll have ya back on the road driving it home.

So I have the car towed (flatbed) and ride up to the shop with it.
About an hour later I have a new fuel pump and a new fuel filter and the car is back to running as it should !!!
We believe that the fuel pump was the actual cause but since we had a new filter there anyway I just decided to have Rudy put that on as well.

My thanks to Rob (Needswings) for the fast delivery of the parts and to Rudy (rcompart) for driving more than an hour from his home in Wisconsin and spending a Friday evening at a shop just for me to repair my car.

Without guys like this and the Crossfire forum I suspect that I might have been at my Chrysler dealer and not had such a good experience and reasonable repair bill.


Gary

 

Awesome, Rudy and Rob are just great guys, period.

Good story Valky.

 

Two of the best for sure, and they are always willing to give 100% and go the extra mile to help solve a problem. Good story Gary.

 

Great story, and glad to know that there are some great and caring individuals out there.

 

That's what I'm talking about.

 

Yes, sir, without these two, and a few others, we'd all be up the creek....

 

Awesome, having great people like that on board is just incredible! Thanks guys!

 

Wonder what a house call to Arizona would cost!

Nice to have great folks like these on our side.
Together we all make a great bunch of people.
Another example of why we have such a great forum.

 

There are some guys who know allthis stuff and arrogantly bragg about it.

Then there are those who know all this stuff and share.

I put Rudy and Rob in the latter group. I cannot compliment and thank such members enough. We are lucky to have them.

Rudy has never touched my car but it runs today because of his involvement, donation of time and effort.

Thanks pal.


roadster with a stick

 

100% agree. Thanks guys, for all that you do. Sometimes picking up that phone when you know it is one more XF modder calling you on a Saturday to get something working has got to be challenging - so thanks

 

Couldn't have said it better!!!
Thanks guys!

 

Agree with all of the above posts.

Over the years I've "lurked" on a lot of other forums, and there are none as tight as this one.

 

Great story nice to have people on site that are willing to help as much as Rob & Rudy.

 

Thanks everyone for the kind words. It really means a lot.

Take care

 

This really has to be the best car community going around! It's great to be involved, thank you to everyone who makes this possible members, professionals, enthusiasts and innovators. Everytime I log on (which is everyday) I'm just blown away by the help offered by most and honestly it makes owning my crossifre a joy!

Now if we could only fix the economy as easily ;-)

 

Kudos to Rob & Rudy from CA. We haven't met, but I've learned a lot from you two. Thanks.

 

I think Rob is from "way up north" but the Rudy from Ca he is the best , i met him in San Francisco, or was that Fontana NC. or Ft. Lauderdale,, I know he is from somewhere,,,if anyone is in CA and sees Rudy,, tell him thanks .. jim

 

Rudy is from up north as well. He's from MN. Now in Wisconsin. Hopefully, soon in the Land of Lincoln...We're fortunate to have them close to us.

 

I think Rob is from "way up north" but the Rudy from Ca he is the best , i met him in San Francisco, or was that Fontana NC. or Ft. Lauderdale,, I know he is from somewhere,,,if anyone is in CA and sees Rudy,, tell him thanks .. jim



FP did u forget Rudy just delivered my crossfire V8 to me in Florida,, I was doing a pun on Rudy being from CA,, of course i know where i live... jim

 

HaHa. I see how my last post could be read as "Rudy from CA". Punctuation is definitely important; especially in a Forum. Just a simple comma makes a big difference. "Let's eat, Grandpa." or "Let's eat Grandpa."