Diet Vanilla Mack,
I had this problem for so long, and so many times to repair, that I actually got use to driving it like that. [:'(] I would putt down the street to the Freeway on-ramp. Get to the On-Ramp Light and shut it off, turn it back on and put it in 4th Gear. Floor it to as fast as traffic would allow to get at least into 3rd gear... Then drive and hope traffic didn't slow down enough for the Auto Downshift to go into 2nd or 1st, because if it did, it would not up shift... [:@]

 

The car's now on day 9 in the shop.

So I'm unclear on this one, Jimmy. Did yours get fixed or not? If it got fixed, what was the problem?

As far as the Lemon Law is concerned, I think I have a ways to go before that kicks in. Are you saying that you don't think they'll be able to fix it at all?

 

Diet Vanilla Mack,

OK, fair enough... Too much drama...

The error code that your car is making will lead the Technicians (not mechanics) to (3) sources of failure. Why it doesn't pin-point, well, we didn't pay $70,000 for the car...

Have they replaced the Valve Body? Typical fix #1, and worth nothing but (3) weeks in the shop waiting for the same part that is rolling off the assembly line every single day. Push the cars out, don't worry about the suckers that we already got their money from...

Have they replaced the Transmission Computer Module? Typical fix #2, and worth as much as the Valve Body, but it did come in in just about (2) weeks...

The final error code that you will get from the computer is the Bad Wiring between the Valve Body and the Transmission Computer Module... Strat there... Your whole dash will need to be removed, and that scared the crap out of me... But behind the Parking Brake mechanism you should find a short in that Wiring Harness...

I was only the 2nd or so customer with this problem. Build date of 11/05/04. What is your Build Date? 10,000 miles on the Magnum now...

Denny, how is my description for this particular error?

Life without Drama is called, Death...

 

Jimmy the Dude,

You're probably right about this one. It sounds like you know what you're talking about, but I'm pretty sure that if I try to tell the techs this, they'll blow me off. . . does anyone know if there's some sort of existing service bulletin on this one?

The Customer Service guy I trust will be back in the shop in about 1/2 hr., so I'll have him relay the message. . .for all the good it'll do. . .

My bld. date is the last week of 10/04 so it makes some sense that should have the same problem. . .I wonder what was wrong that particular week in Canada

and dude, "A good death, even when it kills you, is better than a bad one. . ."

 

Diet Vanilla Mack,

Dhoa...

I missed your earlier post of you Rice Burning Friends...

When they continue to badger you, tell them to grab their bong and burn more rice...

[&:]

 

Hey, not too bad. you even got the order correct.

On lemon lwas....NOT THAT I ENDORSE GETTING IT BOUGHT BACK, but if the vehicle is down for a total of 30 days you are entitled to a new car. OR if they try to fix the SAME EXACT thing more than twice UNSUCCESSFULLY you are entitled to a new car. Good luck, I hope it doesn't come to that.

 

Denny,

I am an exception to the Rule...

Yea, my car was in the shop, well over 30 days, 31 Days straight once...

Yea, it took them (3) Services to finally fix the problem...

But, honestly, this car is so damn fine, I can't bring myself to trade it in for an '06, with NO HOOD SPRINGS!!!!

I have considered, but why screw the company that made me such a fine machine...

Instead, I'll buy another... And another... And another... As long as Dodge keeps their products at the top of their game...

 

I totally agree. . .I'm not disgruntled yet. . .well, except about the way they're handling the loaner issue.

It's gonna have to get much much worse for me to even start thinking about using the lemon law.

I knew what I was getting into when I bought a first model year vehicle, and I agree w/ Jimmy, I don't want an '06, and the buyout does nothing for me. . .I mean, what am I gonna get this fine for the same $?

BTW, I just called the dealer, and they had gotten to step #3 already, but were having some trouble figuring out where the short would be. . .they actually seemed happy to get the advice.

 

Diet Vanilla Mack,

"Happy to get the advice..."

Yea, for some strange reason the Technicians at the Dealer are treated just like we customers are when it comes to the 'all secret Dodge knowledge' they sometimes need to repairs vehicles. They have to call a Technical Support Line at some 'Headquarters' and are handled like Customer Service calls. From what I was told during my repair, they call and get any one of the Tens? Hundreds? (I dunno) Dodge Technical Service Center operators, probably with the Computer information they don't let the Dealerships have.

On my second trip in, when I drove it off the lot and it failed within 100 feet, The Service Manager had to call several times to get a Technician on the other end of the phone that was familiar with his requests. You would think it would go more like this: "Dodge Repair, what kind of problems are you experiencing? Oh, Electrical, let me transfer you to Bob, he's our Electrical Expert. Just a moment..." Instead it's like Maxwell Smart and the Cone of Silence...

In all fairness, like you stated, this is the first production run on a rear wheel vehicle Dodge has not made in a long time, and way over due... Not to mention the Mercedes blending at the same time... But that is also why I wanted this years car. The classic Magnum... And I was warned prior to placing my order back in September. A friend of mine races for Mazda [:'(] and told me of just the standard problems all car manufactures have with the first year production run. OVERSIGHTS!!!

Down here on the bottom line, I love my 05 RT... [sm=gears.gif]

 

Diet Vanilla Mack,

Is it fixed yet?!?

[sm=headbang.gif]