Hope it works out for you, Galen.

Somebody else ask a related question, and I don't think anyone answered, but could someone describe the actual experience/circumstances of it popping out of 1st.

I've heard it does it under acceleration/load, but per the other poster's question, do folks have their hand on the shifter during this time? If so, what's the sensation to the hand/arm/wrist? One would think that such a violent rejection would have the potential to cause a sprain or otherwise cause injury.

For those with the problem, if you mannually try to hold it in first under load, can you, or is the rejection too strong?

Obviously, you shouldn't have to hold the car in gear, but I'm just trying to get a better understanding of what happens. I don't think in my own driving style I ever (or very seldom) drive the car in first without my hand on the gear shift, ready for the upshift.

 

It was me that asked that question as like you, I don't think I ever take my hand off the gearstick up to 3rd gear.

 

Okay, I have never tried to hold it into gear, but to describe the problem...

First, realize I am a loose-hand-shifter. I really never "grab" the ****. Three fingers is all I gernally ever have in contact with the **** (reverse aside). And, I do release it completely, just about every time. I tend to keep a very light touch on all driving controls (which the xfire responds to very well with the tight steering and short clutch)

When the gear pops out, the whole car shudders (accompanied by a loud metallic clang of the saft snapping loose echoing through the bulkhead behind you). With my light grip, most of the time the concussion (and my own shock, no matter how many times it happened) causes my hand to completely come off the shifter, if I did have it on the **** inbetween.

The couple times I conscously kept my hand in place (again, really not putting any resistance to the ****) I felt it pop loose, like the mechinism that holds it forward into first just lets go. And, its in neutral, with the weight of my hand pushing it to the left. I don't feel the pop there, in fact (thinking back) I don't even think the sudder that runs through the whole car is felt there (always felt smooth, like it the mechinism just let go of the ****), but that may not be true.

As for the first part, when it happens: it seems to happen most on inclines and/or left turns, where you are reving just a bit higher. However I have had it happen on every condition (up/down/straight/fast/slow/good clutching/poor clutching). From just after letting completely off the clucth, to halfway down my 300' driveway. But, always after it is moving (i.e. it does not happen inplace of it stalling out from an inept heal-toe) and the vast majority of times, around two to three car-lengths from the starting point (just getting past the first lane of traffic at an intersection), when you are approaching second (2.5 - 3K rpm).

Hope that helps describe it.
Sorry I can't shed light on forcing it to stay in gear. I don't hope to have the chance again, and it is so counter to my driving style, tring to drive that way may be as dangerous as it popping into neutral. :wink:

 

By the sound of it, it wouldn't make any differance, I thought it was simply 'popping out of gear' but its doing alot more than that. The way you describe it, it sounds like the drive shaft??

 

Yes, Galen described the problem perfectly (except there seemed to be no instance where it happened more often, such as left turns...it just happened...a lot), and no, you can't hold it in first...it is forced out of first, not just a pop. You learn to just get the car moving at all and then immediately move to second, because if it is going to happen, it does happen within 3-4 car lengths...babying it or winding it out seemed to make no difference.

Galen, take heart. I got the new tranny a few weeks ago, and while it takes a week or so to stop being skittish about it possibly popping, it is sooooo nice to drive, now. No more problems at all...just pure pleasure to drive. (Knock on wood)

Good luck!

 

I'm also having the same problem. After accellerating in first gear it pops out of gear into neutral. It happens about two or three times a week. I have not contacted the dealer yet, I'm waiting for my first service call which is coming up within the next few weeks and I hope by then they will be able to resolve the problem.

 

Mike,

Curious, when did the problem begin for you, both in terms of how soon after you purchased, and at what mile mark?

Todd

 

Todd,
The problem began around the 2nd or 3rd week after the purchase date, with about 300 to 400 mile on the car. At the present time I'm coming up to the 2500 mile mark & I plan to take it in for service. I hope the local dealer here in South Florida can correct the problem.
Regards
Mike

 

Sighing contentedly.

Okay. Thursday night they swapped out the tranny. The Mechanic apparently stayed till midnight to finish. A couple notes: No one from Chrysler oversaw the process (as I was led to believe they would), and the mechanic said the Chrysler specs for the Tranny install were all wrong. He said there were twice as many cables comming off the tranny as the spec called out (just a warning).

Then, it turns out they didn't have the Transmission Fluid to finish the install (okay, okay, this one is on the dealer, no real harm done in the end, though). Ended up putting my weekend trip off eight hours while they shipped in some Fluid, bled, and tested.

Haven't seen the paperwork yet. I'll post a followup once I get the offical details.

Finally got it on the road Friday night. Immediately took it on an 800 mile round trip this weekend. So far so good.

 

I've had mine two weeks now and am having the same problem. At first I thought it was my shifting. I'll get with the dealer and post their response/corrective action.

AZ Outlaws
Mesa, AZ

SSB Six Speed #2815

 

Here we go.
About three weeks ago I finally took my car in to have the tranny repaired. First the dealer said they knew nothing about any tranny problems with the Crossfire. I had a conversation with the service manager and he acknowledged that he had the same problem with his Crossfire. After numerous calls to Chrysler they finally acknowledged that there is a problem.
Secondly the dealer wanted to first replace the service manager's tranny as an experiment to see if it would help, and if so then order one for my car. I had a problem with that approach, after all I've been waiting for a while for some feedback to correct the problem and nothing is happening.
In my opinion the problem is a huge safety issue for myself, and for the other driver that might need to take evasive action to avoid a potential accident if I'm stalled in the middle of the intersection or in a crossing situation. After a brief and to the point conversation with top management from the local Chrysler dealer they agreed to also order a new tranny for my car. It took a week to receive it and one full day for the installation.
I'm extremely satisfied with the outcome and it definitely feels different in the shifting so I think my problems have been resolved.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the service department management and personnel from Maroone Chrysler in Coconut Creek, Florida for their professionalism.

Good Luck to all.

Mike Donate
Hollywood, Florida USA

 

Way to go Mike!!! I'm printing out your post and giving to my dealer.

Thanks for the info.

 

I have the same problem and posted it elsewhere in this forum. Current situation: The car was brought to the dealer a couple days ago and they decided to get a new transmission installed. Told it would be here in a week or so.

Thanks to all those who escalated this higher up the DC food chain as it was such a painless discussion with the service dept.

 

Likely a synchronizer issue.. common on 1st run manual trannies..
I've replaced T-56's in Vipers, NV5600's in Dodge 2500 and 3500 diesels, and AX-15 in Jeeps for this.
I'll keep an eye out on our dealer's litttle fleet...

 

Update: 1st gear problem with #2815

15 days and 700 miles after my dealer supposedly did a fix on my transmission... it popped out of gear three times today.

A very long story cut short... went around in circles with the service manager today. There is nothing they can or will do until I can bring the car in and actually SHOW THEM the malfunction. They "can not" and "will not" put a bunch of miles on my car or waste alot of time trying to duplicate the transmission problem. "Can't fix what we don't see!!!" The service manager also made it a point of saying the problem coud be or is driver error!!! What a bunch of crap!!! All they have to do is forward it up the DC food chain. They can't be that stupid.

After a few more calls and pulling teeth to get the owner of the dealerships name, they gave it to me. Two hours later I get a call from the service writter, NOT the manager. "Bring the car in on Monday. The owner will drive the car a few days".

For the life of me I can not understand why a business that makes big money off it's customers would put someone through all the BS to get a problem fixed that could have a tragic ending if not corrected!!!!

Even with all the car's other little faults, I DO NOT want to get out from under this car... just fix it or put me in another SSB 6-speed.

Does anyone that has had this problem have names and phone numbers of the people they talked to at DC that actually helped them? At this point I really don't feel like dealing with some minimum wage customer service rep and listening to a bunch of nothing.

Thanks for any help or phone numbers. Will keep you updated.

AJ Card
Mesa, AZ
(One really ticked off Xfire owner)
:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

PS: Can you imagine the BS I'll have to go through if and when the seat starts to wrinkle like a few others that have posted the problem??? They'll laugh me out of the state or at least try!!! :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

First don't print anything off the forum, because the first thing ANY service guy will tell you is "don't beleive anything you read on the internet"--what a joke (I had a dealer tell me that about the radio issue). Have the dealer manager call DCX and ask for a manager there--don't deal with the people on the phone that cannot and will not make anything happen. Look at the post above a few--it looks as though someone at DCX knows about the issue, becuase it sounds as though there have been several transmissions replaced already. Kill them with kindness--getting pissed off will not help the situation at a dealer that does not want to do anything to begin with. Three words for you--escalate, escalate, escalate--don't deal with low level idiots--if you want a decision made, you have to speak with the people who can make those decisions. Let us know what happens...

 

I don't have names for you but my dealer replaced the transmission with no fuss. Actually, they told me the fix was to go into the transmission to do something but they were simply going to swap it.

They did advise me it may take longer than usual since this was the first XF they worked on. 48 hours later it's ready ...but I couldn't pick it up yesterday before they closed.

I think the problem is your dealer and you may have to locate a more customer-friendly bunch of people.

 

texex91,

Thanks for the "kill them with kindess idea", been there done that... now it's too late to go that route when all they tell me is "show them" the problem, "can't fix what we can't see", and that they've already talked with DC. I keep asking what part of "you never know when it will happen" don't you understand? It took 15 days and 700 miles for the problem to reappear. I'm not making this up because I don't have anything better to do. It's a real problem.

They also say they've been in touch with DC, that's why I asked if anyone out there had names and phone numbers so I could go straight to the top. Of course they won't give me any names or numbers.

diane from this forum, gave me the name and location of the her service manager that walked her through her transmission problem and finally got it fixed. I talked to him myself and he said he would talk to my dealer if they would contact him, which they don't seem interested in doing.

As I said before, I'm taking the car in tomorrow for the dealership's owner to drive it for a "few" days. Not wishing anyone harm... but at this point I truely wish some guy in the biggest and heaviest pickup truck rear ends him at a stop light when he suddenly looses power. Maybe then will these idiots get the idea!!!

I'm going to have a face to face with him and if things don't get solved I'll up it to DC and every TV news station's consumer action line that will listen. Some how this will get fixed.

Side bar: When I first saw the Xfire on a dealers lot it really grabbed me but I told my wife I'd never buy one simply because it was a Chrysler product. Then I found out it is basically a Merc and built in Germany. I couldn't go wrong there, could I?!?!?!? Yeh right... it's being sold and serviced by Chrysler a--holes. I should of stood by my first impression and just walked away.

Sorry for the vent, but $34,000 is alot of money for me. The only way I could afford this vehicle is because I had a creampuff '98 Honda Prelude that was paid off. I got $12,000 for it and put that down on the Xfire.

PS: You're 100% right... just like doctors, car dealers don't even want to talk about anything you learned from an internet forum etc. These people are really afraid of what consumers are learning!!! Salesmen hate it!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Hi AZ OUTLAWS,
I HAVE USED THIS TACTIC ONCE BEFORE AND IT WORKS GREAT!!!

Go to your Salesman or sales Manager and demand a "LEMON LAW" APPLICATION FORM AND OR INFORMATION. Restate your problem and just let them know you what to start keeping track of the repair time or not on your XF. Dealers do not like to know that you are willing to go this way if you have too.

gramps...

 

gramps575,

Thanks for your input. In AZ the dealer is required to give you a booklet on the state's lemon law.
The problem I'm having is they have never duplicated the defect... sorta like my word against theirs. "Can't fix what we can't see" is their position.