Nightmare On Elm (SRT-4) Street

[dgc333]

Gee! I took a puruse over to the SRT forum and took alook at the thread. Seems to me that from what I read Mopar Performance is doing what it needs to do to get to the root of the problem and correct it.

[Kirby]

If they are doing the right thing, that's important to note! Their written language is VERY clear, if what they do is different, I think that we should take the time to make sure that the good stuff is known as well as the bad!
This situation is far from being resolved though!
The guys (more than one unit didn't work)that have nonfunctional units ARE between a rock and a hard spot with their cars now (even if the old ECU runs, the new injectors are not calibrated to the old box and should be running rich - what effect will this have?)
Let's see what happens.

[Kirby]

quote:Originally posted by dgc333

Gee! I took a puruse over to the SRT forum and took alook at the thread. Seems to me that from what I read Mopar Performance is doing what it needs to do to get to the root of the problem and correct it.

On a positive note, don't you find our PT site so much easier to use.

THANK YOU TO PTCRUISERLINKS FOR HAVING SUCH A GOOD FORUM FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATION!!!!!

[PK Cruiser]

quote:Originally posted by Kirby

On a positive note, don't you find our PT site so much easier to use.

THANK YOU TO PTCRUISERLINKS FOR HAVING SUCH A GOOD FORUM FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATION!!!!!

couldn't agree more...[^]

[DC2-1301]

Just thinking out-loud, but IMHO: NOTHING IS IDIOT PROOF. By no means am I saying anybody here or on the "other forums" is an idiot. I'm just agreeing with TripleJack, that a vast number of "bad outta Box" failures are user induced failures. Everything from spark plugs to toilet repair kits are available for the "self-install" kinda of people. So what do the manufactures attempt to do; hopefully they write a decent set of instructions with some detailed pictures to guide the process. They can't reach out and hold everybody's hand. I've seen guys snap off spark plugs when trying to install them. Was it the spark plugs fault?

Since I haven't been to the "other forums", does anybody know: Of the "Bad Out of Box" failures, how many have been self-install and how many have been dealer install?

[TripleJackInGA]

I would be curious about that myself.

[DTs_PTGT]

One of the computers were checked at a dealer. Seems that they forgot to flash the VIN.

[TripleJackInGA]

Are they supposed ot be flashed by DC before being shipped (meaning then that dealers could not stock them), or are they flashed at the dealer after purchase (probably this way).
Simple flashing is not bad, but I am curious about actual failures.

[Dalite]

I gotta weigh in with Kirby on this one. Mopar Bashing aside, when the warranty statement starts with the phrase AS-IS, any support that the vendor provides is strictly voluntary and not required. The customer acknowledges the lack of any warranty; expressed or implied, when they purchase a product under those conditions.

I don't think the warranty statement reflects the spirit or intentions of the Mopar Performance Group personel. I think it is a chapter from the standardized disclaimer generation software program that industry seems to rely upon to provide relief from any eventuality of responsibility; administered from the corporate level.

The issue that the SRT guys and Gals are facing now is being given attention my Mopar, and I feel it will be corrected. However, having said that, Mopar is under NO responsibility to do anything about the product when it comes to it's final ownership - the customer. The customer was made painfully aware of this when it is purchased.

On one hand, I am glad that there are folks willing to play Captain Kirk on this issue, and "go where no man has ever gone before"; making the purchase guided by blind desire and willing to take the chance.

On the other hand, if that group of buyers becomes the majority customer base that Mopar, Chrysler (or anyone else) have for their products, then the products and the responsibility issues will soon snowball downhill. This will happen because the customer has voted with their pocketbook for no-liability purchases and non-recourse delivery.

The issue of the SKIM and the PCM going to sleep was brought up in the early questions stage. If a number in the VIN is copied down wrong, mis-understood, or transposed in the handling of the order, then the chance of the PCM going to sleep after the start and stall security measure is taken X amount of times will be a re-occuring theme.

If this is the cause of the problem, you should have a plastic bag in your owner's manual folder in your glove box. If my understanding is correct, the bag will have both a barcode and a number that is used like a PIN (Personal Identification Number) that will allow the dealer to log back into the PCM and do a reset to get out of sleep mode. However, since the dealers don't have any diagnostic gear that will talk to the OBDIII PCMs, this is immediately a moot point.

At this point, both the dealer and the customer are in the same position if the installation doesn't initialize and verify the VIN stored in the SKIM. Neither have any gear that can correct the situation. Maybe this is why there hasn't been much of a push to insist on dealer installation. The legal issue of the dealer installing an illegal PCM on a street vehicle may also enter into the equation.

As of yesterday, Parts-Deals.com (handles Mopar's online orders via phone) quoted 5 to 6 weeks delivery time on orders for the 5 speed upgrade. As of this morning, Mopar Parts Tech Support quoted 3 to 4 weeks delivery time on orders for the 5 speed upgrade. Mopar Parts Tech support again confirms that the dealer cannot flash the PCM to enter or correct a VIN number. FWIW, my local dealer states December as the earliest that they will receive OBDIII gear needed to talk to the upgrade PCM or any 2004 OBDIII PCMs.

[Kirby]

Although I get carried away with visualisations... I would like to leave Mopar bashing aside also!

I am seriously afraid that pertinent information might be seen as just negativity, and someone will be led down a dark path without a flashlight!

Great Post!!!