UPDATE... Sorry for the delay to all following this. I've had the car back since the first week in February. So far all is well mechanically. It shifts a little rough when cold but gets nice and smooth when it warms up. The original tranny was smooth even when cold. I wrote a 3 page letter to Chrysler stating all that has been posted here with copies of all receipts. With a little family history thrown in with Dodge going back to my Dads new '70 Challenger 383, Moms Valiant, Dynasty,Jeeps, Brothers Ram work vans, and my Ramcharger, Magnum and SRT.
I get a call about a week later from Chrysler asking what am I looking for from them. I said simply, the money back that I needlessly spent because the dealer told me incorrectly that I wasnt covered. I was told that if I could prove that the clutch that I had replaced in 2006 was a stock clutch they would give me back the $706 the dealer charged me to replace the clutch with only 50 miles on it when they put in the new tranny. But that I had to take up the matter with the dealer for the additional $2,600 wasted at the independent shop trying to fix the original tranny.
So now tomorrow I have to fax over my 2 receipts from 2006. Plus the Mopar clutch box bar codes and shipping label from Chrysler to my tranny guy from 2006. I bet they didnt expect that.
But first I will call Westbury Dodge and speak to the owner (they gave me his name) as instructed by Chrysler corperate.They told me that it is the dealers responsability to refund the $2600 as it was their mistake regarding the warranty. ( So why is corporate willing to give me $706 ? )
Then they started to give me the whole "you know you modified the car" speech. But when I replied about how in the magazines I saved from '02/'03,the head of PVO was interviewed when the prototypes were in all the mags about how "when the stage kits come out in 6 months after production starts they will NOT void the warranty because they are Mopar parts". Or how legally you would have to show that the failed part was a direct result of the modification. Doubtfull they could do that, especially since a modified SRT4 just did 220+ mph at Bonniville with a stock tranny. Yes I know there is no shifting to do at 220mph but how many racers on this site are pushing way more than stage 2 with no tranny issues? Anyhow, my response ended that speach of theirs.
And as far as what was wrong with the tranny. We'll never know. At last count. EVERY part that touches 3rd gear was replaced. Gears, syncros, fork, fork rail. The last guess was that the tranny either twisted or cracked and it could never be repaired. All it said on the invoice from the dealer was "cost of repair exceded cost of replacement"
I'll keep you posted

 

*raises hand*

......well, at least until last week. input shaft snapped

but anyway, at least they're willing to work with you on this. i'm surprised that corporate actually called you, but hey at least you're getting something back. it sucks that the dealers in your area apparently are shady and won't fix what breaks. the ones around here are the same. dodge really does not have very good service departments. that's really my one major complaint about dodge. i've had awesome service with jeep, but dodge....blah.

at least the car is back and working now. hopefully it's the last time you have to take it in. *crosses fingers*

 

yea mine in only third gear downshifting pops out sumtimes.. like when im cruisin in fourth nd push the clutch all the way in nd put in to third it pops out or sumtimes grinds.. only third no other gear.. any one kno why it only has 35000 miles nd 10000 on the motor

 

your 3/4th gear synchro is shot

 

I really wish the tranny's in the srt 4's were a lot better, the gearing is very strong having straight cut gears, but actually getting these things into gear is a pain...

i only have 16K on my 05 and it hardly ever wants to go into 2nd from a downshiftand sometimes 3rd is a pain as well,when i test drove it at the dealer i just thought that maybe because it was very new that it just needed "broken in" a little bit and the gears would get smoother... NOPE....

i've been very patient with it so far..... for everone with these problems, just dont make it worse by forcing it into gear... youll just break things and have even more problems....

 

New update... The owner of the dealer called me back today. He recieved a copy of the letter I sent to corporate which resulted in corporate picking up the cost of the clutch. After some clairification as to why I brought the car to Gibralter Transmissions he said he would have all the files pulled to review and call me back no later than Monday. These will be the dealer order forms and hand written notes by them to replace the clutch, slave and master cylinder for $ 2066 before they would open the tranny.
The owner also told me that the service guy was also supposed to tell me that if this job was done and it was found that it wasnt the problem, the $2066 for the clutch ,master and slave would be applied to the tranny repair. Which I later thought wouldn't have mattered anyway as the tranny was under warranty.
Also, I remember someone saying that they heard there was a class action lawsuit against New Process Gear regarding these trannys. I cant seem to find any info anywhere regarding this. Does anyone know about this or is it just BS?

 

it's bs. someone was trying to set it up, but there's no grounds for it. they designed the tranny to mopar's specs so how are they at fault? mopar doesn't want to admit there's a problem, and good luck taking them on, you will lose.

 

UPDATE!!!... So now were going into the 6th month on this mess. Its Wednesday and the owner of Westbury Dodge finally calls me back 2 days late but whos counting after almost half a year. In a nutshell he says that I'm getting no refund what so ever. At first after reading my letter he thought had a legitimate gripe but after talking to his tech he changed his mind. First the owner admits he cant answer any of my technical questions because he doesn't know cars, that he is only reading me what the tech told him.
Lie #1-My tranny had gear oil and not ATF+3 in it
Lie #2- The clutch in my car was not an SRT-4 clutch
Lie#3- The wrong clutch caused the 3rd gear failure

If I want he would help me go after Gibraltar Transmissions. Also mentioned something about how his techgets paid$35 an hour and the Gibraltar guy gets only $15. ( So this means they're smarter? I guess supermodels must be working on the cure for cancer then. ) I asked him then how come if his tech is so great the car was returned to me 3 times still leaking fluid from his shop. He didn't like that.
This went on for about 15 minutes. Him reading something that the tech told him, and me explaining to him why this wasn't possible or didn't make sense.
After I told him I would like to come in to talk to the tech and him because somebody is not telling the truth he got really pissed told me he trusted his tech and that he built race cars and said I should call back Monday. ( I restore cars, am I smarter or dumber? I guess if I restored race cars... )
I still have to call the man at corporate that has helped me out so far and was willing to go in on a 3way conference call when I'm there at the dealer.
I'll let you's know Monday what happens.

 

just dont give up the fight man

 

Im not giving up. I called today, twice. first the owner said he was about to go into a meeting. Then an hour later I called back and he told me the meeting wasn't over yet and when it was he was leaving for the day. After all he leaves by noon and doesn't seem to be there more than 3 or maybe 4 days a week.
I also spoke to the Gibraltar transmissions guy to update him. He tells me that there is no way the "wrong clutch" can go in the SRT. Like the dealer tech claims. Also that Gibraltar (or at least his ) is contracted to do work for area car dealers who can not or do not have the tranny specialists on hand to deal with major tranny repairs. Which is why major repairs like mine are labeled "cost of repair excedes cost of replacement tranny" on the dealer work order. But Gibraltar asked me not to tellmy dealer which dealersGibraltar spacifically did work for (there was one neighborhood Dodge dealer) as he was worried that my dealer would call the others and cause him to loose work.
And I did realize that my last post had a typo...I meant to type ATF+4