Wolf - I read something from SOS Diagnostics that they said the "30 tries and it locks" is a myth. It's somewhere on the forum here. Just letting people know that you can't "brick" the computer.

RL

 

One of the service advisors told me the secret code for the SKREEM is the VIN. Anybody who replaced a SKREEM know if that is true? And if you bought the unit from a dealership do you know if it came to them preprogrammed or did they do it? Saying "Life is too short..." seems misplaced with issues like this. Stuff with computers and this security system has to be exactly right, letter perfect or your car is useless. Has anyone ever swapped all the components with one of those eBay kits and had it work? Details please. The goal here is to get an established place to get the parts needed and the proper installation/replacement. Without that the value of these cars will continue to drop like a rock.

MB buyers with an SLK can buy the parts and DIY, or go to the dealership, and probably an independent shop that does MBs as well. We are screwed - no part availability, dealers who can't, won't or don't have the tools to fix them. We need the whole thing corrected, and competitively priced. I think SKREEMS have been an issue going way back to when Crossfires were still being manufactured. Nobody did anything - except perhaps Needswings. We absolutely need to get this fixed.

 

Its not just the Key it all the stuff associated with the skreem and everything that can have you stranded on the side of the road. I can buy a 1971 Plymouth key atlock smith or Walmart not for this car. thats what we are all complaining about . everything that we need to have our cars start reliably as these cars age is not available like the mechanical part you can buy from most every auto part stores. We are all complaining about how we are being gouged and ripped off on the electrical parts. I can go on line and buy 2 New Chevy flipkeys on ebay for $39 bucks yet for this Crossfire the price is higher than a Rolls Royce or aston Martin key thats whats crazy and I own a 2011 Mustang I bought 2 volkwagen type flip keys that I linked and programed to my mustang for $39 bucks I did it myself that is what we are all complaining about the keys are worth more than the car like fine jewelry done dare loose your keys your screwed !!! in this car if you drop in in the water you can not get a cheap replacement like I can get for a newer car. thats what is crazy owning this Crossfire. Im not worried about the security on a 15 yr old car thats why I have insurance to cover a stolen car not for a dam key !! we are upset that the parts needed to keep our car on the road are not available to us who bought these cars in good faith. Mercedes killed these cars when they sold Chrysler to Fiat. And to the guys who feel those of us who bought these cars used or at a price range we all could afford make slury comments and I wont mention who you are you know who you are .As I said b4 I thought this was a non judgement forum I thought we were all here to help each other and support the love of these cars and cars in general. I never thought this car was as expensive as I is perhaps I would have considered a Mercedes SLK instead of a Chrysler Crossfire because I loved the Crossfire more. We need to find someone who would be willing to disable the skreem so we can use our keys or and aftermarket key with no need for a transponder !!!

 

It's so sad that they made it soooo complex that I don't know if anyone fully understands the entire security/skreem operation, especially the dealers. Forum members know so much more than the dealers/garages. There was a link earlier in this thread about the business in Germany that has developed a ghost override system. Has anybody received an answer back from them directly?

 

Very interesting article related to buying and maintaining a used Mercedes vehicle:

https://jalopnik.com/5-things-no-one...-ca-1582610274

In a simular situation the writer includes complaining about the $400 cost of a replacement key.

 

MB dealers understand the system and make repairs as needed. Daimler Chrysler never trained and equipped two him. heir Chrysler dealerships on the MB systems that were used in this car. Many people took the car to indy MB guys for service. But the electrical stuff that is vehicle specific is locked out of their system. I can get MB parts fast from WorldPac or dealers, but not the vehicle specific stuff. If this was available along with the Crossfire cards for the DRB scanner any MB dealer could fix it because they have the scanner since it fits many MB models with variations of this system. When Chrysler went to Cerberus they dumped a lot of service aspects. Then they had the period where they closed dealerships and took the franchises away from some owners and sold them to others. Now those older Chrysler stores sell Nissan or other brands. One owner that lost his store has another Chrysler store in a different suburb. Management screwup.

When FCA was created they had Sergio, and he was addressing many issues - he was a dynamo. He fixed things that were brought to his attention. Sadly, he passed. Mr. Manley has an engineering background, so hopefully now that he is aware of this situation, whoever he has asked to correct it will get it done. Much better to have some customers saying how new management corrected something than to say they f***ed us. Maybe I should try to get a DRB III scanner and the other one sent to someone at the Forum that knows how to use it and we could keep it as a group resource. Or maybe someone like Needswings could be the stocking dealer for Crossfire parts/services like this.

 

Here's the guy that could have fixed these issues. And had fun doing it. RIP Les.

 

The cost to acquire a used DRB III $1,800, Crossfire program card $125, and multiplexer cable $900. They are no longer supported or serviced by anyone. If the DRB is damaged there is no one to repair it. For Chrysler dealers the DRB III was replaced by the Starmobile unit. That was replaced by the Starscan unit. That was replaced by the Witech VCI pod. That was replaced by the Witech micropod, then the micropod 2. The current version of the Witech Micropod 2 is only the wireless version. The Witech software can be upgraded with enhanced DRB emulation.


Chrysler DRB III with Crossfire Card and Multiplexer Cable

 

Purportedly Lexus built a single model a few years back with a computer that could not be reprogrammed for a new key - so the cost for the fi was an all new system at about $10K. Maybe that's an urban legend - it was told to me by a Chrysler Service Manager.

 

Vid of 'How High The Moon' came up when I went to view it...

.

 

Perhaps Chrysler Tech Center has a couple of these sitting around somewhere. I'll ask and see if I can get them to donate it/them to the Forum for use by whoever needs one. Is that viable? Would someone who knows the Tech keep it and send it out on loan to a member who needs it? My experience with asking about them showed only one possible having it, if he can find it, and no xFire card - unsure about the pigtail. If Chrysler has one or some sitting around it/they are not doing any good to anyone.

 

Les Paul, great musician and inventor of much of the electronic systems used in music - at least for fifty years. We probably need someone like that to do a runaround.
Mary Ford did all the voices over and over - one at a time, then Les put them all together. Probably did this stuff on his kitchen table. My original query was "How many xFire owners need a SKREEM. Never got an answer. Maybe the number is as high as the moon. Maybe just a few. Surely the number will increase over time. What has happened to the cars that were disabled and rendered useless by this failure?

 

I would like to buy one as a backup, but not for $700.00.

 

How does this grab everyone? Here is a company that not only claims to know how to bypass the SKREEM, they actually do it in the ECM itself. This mod appears to get the ECM to not even interrogate the SKREEM.

First, the product and company website:
https://support.carlabimmo.com/julie...ViysZP_7iN5evI

Second, a short video of how to mod the ECM and install the device:


Skills needed:
SMT technology level desoldering and soldering ability
Some expertise with the programmer(s)

Equipment needed:
The Programmer


I am a real "Debbie Downer" with this topic, but this time, I think these people are serious. Josh Chase has been asked if he will pursue this. I have no clue what the cost of the device will be, I'd assume the cost of the device, shipping the device to Josh, shipping your ECM to Josh, and Josh's time plus shipping the ECM back to you will come to a total of $300-500. But once done, you are FREE of the SKREEM and the car starts on the metal blade in the key.

Anyone else want to set themselves up in the business of rescuing the rest of us?

 

Personally I think we are all screwed !! And all this talk and ideas of how we should get a lawyer etc .It would be different if it were a new car but we got old forgotten model cars here mid to high mileage which only a select few have an interest in. Perhaps Chip Foose or Jay Leno have connections for this car. Any Ideas who here has connections to car fabricators ?? On the high end ??? Mercedes has dropped us forget Chrysler we are dead to them until we wanna buy a new Fiat. Not gonna happen junk car wait till that junker ends up needing parts or the Dodge Hellcat. 😜

 

Pizza Guy, I might be willing to kick in, to save the Crossfire family.

 

I copied Pizza's guy links and sent them to SOS Diagnostics and asked them if this was something they could do for a few thousand Crossfire owners. I'll let you know if they answer me back

 

Pizzayguy, it looks like that outfit is out of Poland. Would it be too much to hope that one day we could buy a "hacked" ECM that would bypass the SKREEM and work universally in any Crossfire?

 

Well, other than the two plugs per cylinder, our V6s are pretty standard engines. The ECM needs all the usualy inputs: IAT, Throttle pedal and butterfly position, cam and crank sensor inputs, etc. Why not a generic ECM that doesn't look at the SKREEM? I imagine a slight re-wiring on the key's "Start" pin directly to the pulse module would get the starter to spin the engine over. Doesn't sound like we are asking that much. But the car may not pass a strict emissions test, but why not just use a generic ECM?

Anyway, hate to say it but:

 

SOS Diagnostics got back to me and said that the company that hacked the ECU's (From Pizzaguy's post) "Crossfire not supported."