Hello all. I have a problem with my Crossfire; it won't start. I am told by a ex-Chrysler chief technician that the key fob is not talking to the car transponder/relay so the car is dead. he says that it needs a new key plus transponder plus gauges as everything is connected and that I need the correct MUX unit to register it all. Have any of you had the same problem and is there any other way around this please? The car is great other than that and it would be a shame to scrap it just because of an electrical glitch. Thanks in advance, Peter

 

Won’t start covers a lot of problems, please describe what happens when you turn the key.
I assume you are referring to the SKREEM failure. If the car starts and Immediately stops after disconnecting the battery three times then it is the SKREEM problem.
The technician is not correct if that is the problem, gauges and key are not required, just a new SKREEM.
what is a MUX?

 

The guys on this board are very knowledgeable, but you must be more specific. For instance:
1. when was the last time it ran?
2 does it have electrical power, lights etc.?
3 does the starter engage?
4 does the engine turn over?
5 does the engine start and then die?

 

Thanks for the replies. I have no idea what a skreem is but I will look in to it.
1. It is used daily.
2. yes it has power.
3. The starter engaged twice then stopped.
4. No the engine doesn't turn over.
5. No the engine doesn't start and now the starter doesn't even click.
6. I am told the MUX unit is a piece of kit that allows a technician to register new keys/relay/transponder to a car to override the Mercedes security issues.

 

MUX is the special Multiplexer cable used with the DRBIII.

 

Classic SKREEM failure symptom!

 

Peter, I believe this situation/topic has been discussed more than any other topic on the forum. At least recently that certainly would be true. There is not a simple single answer. There are many pieces of information, myth, different opinions, and options. The best and easiest option to purchase a programmed SKREEM is on hold right now until Chrysler and Mercedes sort things out. I highly recommend you use the search feature for "SKREEM" to get to an abundance of information. That's better than everyone duplicating what has been said over and over.

 

Classic symptoms? Only if he disconnected the battery between starts but he never mentions the battery being disconnected at all.

 

Note numbers 4 and 5 AFTER 3 (two no starts)
4. No the engine doesn't turn over.
5. No the engine doesn't start and now the starter doesn't even click

Any bets he'll get two failed starts then no turnover after a battery disconnect?

 

The symptoms are ambiguous to say the least. The car does not turn over so no wonder it does not start.
No mention of a battery disconnect, you are assuming that as a fact.
We have people on here who say buy this or buy that solely based on their wrong assumptions, I never do that unless the cause is obvious.
I have been on this forum for thirteen years and I have seen a lot of problems and sometimes the solution is not what you would think because the OP never gave all the facts.
As Joe Friday always said on Dragnet, “ Just give me the facts”.

 

True Dat! I defer to my senior...
We'll have to wait for the additional facts to surface to confirm the diagnosis.
But I'm betting on the SKREEM as the source of the problem as a matter of opinion.