Disappointed SRT4 nOOb...

[AZagent]

Hi I am new to the boards. I just got my black 2004 SRT4 Neon a week ago, and I am actually VERY displeased. I liked the car when I test drove it, but who wouldn't? It was a new car, and something new and exciting. Well now that I have been driving it for a week, this car has failed to meet up with my expectations.

For $20,195 all I got was a turbo charged Neon -- well it was a Neon to begin with, but I thought maybe Dodge would have done something right this time...I know it is a long shot, but there is a first time for everything. After a week, this car has rattles, and most of what we have all come to excpect from a Chrysler product. :mad: The tranny has a serious issue, not sure what it is, but it does not like to downshift into any gear from highway speeds. Th wing isn't even on there tight...at least I think that is what rattles at highway speed back by the trunk -- I guess I'll just take that off 'cuz it is too big anyways. And then at 55+ mph there is a shake, i am thinking wheel out of balance which is not a big deal...you would just think that they could get it right from the start -- damn at my old job while I was in college, I balanced big truck tires on a bubble balancer...it is not that hard.

How big of a hit should I excpect to take when I trade this car in (Dodge won't take care of me) next week? Not sure what I am getting yet, but it won't be from the likes of Dodge.

[Josh Brown]

Sorry to hear this. I wish they would take care of you. Maybe try a nother dealer or try contacting the HQ. I'm sure something can be done. I thin a large hit will be taken on a trade.

[McClane]

Are srt4s available with an auto ? From the sounds of AZagent's descript, he has an auto in it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you're cruising at highway speeds, the most it should do it kick down to third. I'm thinking the reason it won't kick down is perhaps the computer won't let the tranny kick down.

[Josh Brown]

I think it's manual but won't let him shift.

[flashingj]

I think that all SRTs are standard. Not letting him down shift and a vibration , sounds like the clutch plate to me or the synchronizers if they still use them. It's hard to keep up with all the new technology going into the new cars. Not trying to sound old though. :)

[McClane]

I think that all SRTs are standard. Not letting him down shift and a vibration , sounds like the clutch plate to me or the synchronizers if they still use them. It's hard to keep up with all the new technology going into the new cars. Not trying to sound old though. :)
In my old 87 Horizon, 2.2 5 spd, I noticed when I was at highway speeds it took abit of effort to down shift to a lower gear. I also noticed when I was in a certain speed range and I wanted to downshift (ie. 60-65 kmh, 4th gear, downshift to 3rd), that was ok, it went smoothly.

I figured it was a safety feature put in my Chrysler so you don't down shift the tranny in a high speed and possibly burn the tranny out.

[flashingj]

I wouldn't say a safety feature. The synchronizers are what allows for a smooth shift. It matches the rpms between the transmission and engine. For a better explanation on this www.howstuffworks.com has a great article. A friend back home had a CJ5 and the springs on the clutch plate started to go bad. at certain speeds the vehicle would start shaking like a wheel out of balance. It also became hard to shift, at first you could feel the gears coming together through the shifter and then it got to the point that it didn't want to shift, you could force it though. He let this problem go on way to long, more of the clutch springs broke and the throw out bearing went out and became seized on the output shaft. It ended up being a nightmare.
Either way DC seems to be forgetting about customer satisfaction and I have had my share of problems with them recently and in the past. But I wouldn't own any thing but a Dodge, just my personal preference. And I have a few right now, a 79 Dodge Magnum, a 04 Ram 1500 QC 4X4 and an 05 SRT4. A couple from the past have been a 92 Dakota and a 96 Ram 1500 Club cab. :)

[McClane]

Either way DC seems to be forgetting about customer satisfaction and I have had my share of problems with them recently and in the past. But I wouldn't own any thing but a Dodge, just my personal preference. And I have a few right now, a 79 Dodge Magnum, a 04 Ram 1500 QC 4X4 and an 05 SRT4. A couple from the past have been a 92 Dakota and a 96 Ram 1500 Club cab. :)
After reading about everyone's experience with the newer Mopars, it has really shaken my confidence in Mopar quality. From the valve spring breaking to the ball joint issue.

I have no problems with the older mopars, but the newer ones look great but build quality is something to be desired.

Anyways, thanks for clearing up the synchronization in the manual tranny. :rck: :rck:

[flashingj]

That might not be the problem, but if the clutch is broken it would shake the car and cause allot of hardware to come loose. I hope they leave a post letting us know what it turns out to be.
:)

[blu4door]

In my 04' srt-4 the tranny isn't all that smooth, but it isn't bad either. To tell you the truth it shifts easier when you rev it up a little. What I mean is if you are granny shifting than it is pretty clunky, but if you get it wound up a little more than it shifts smoother. My 98' dakota was a pretty clunky shifting manuel tranny also. I don't know about the shakes, but After I got mine I checked the tire pressure and adjusted accoerdingly. The tires were all at different pressures.

[AARP]

may be an SRT4 is not your car, i thrash mine, when its cold the tranny is slow but it's fast and enjoyable
i'm just a 57year old motor head what do i know