If members want to call around to salvage yards and you pull a parts, mainly you pulls, if they find a crossfire and the can get the needed parts off of it, I sure other members would help fund the project.
the community needs to pull together at times for projects.
paypal or go fund me, for projects like this or projects and upgrades that once figured out the average shade tree mechanic or a owner that has more knowledge can do.

thanks for the check up and research Ala, I have checked many times around the salvage yards around nashville tn, henderson ky and southern il and have not found any Crossfires, could he figure it out from a slk?
​​​​​

just wish there was descent upgrades, I had a 550 engine with 68k miles and was going to get amother nsg trans with 35k miles I think it was, stage 2 Clutch and was working on aluminum flywheels. Did my dual exhaust in prep for swap and my single piece aluminum driveshaft, and other things in prep for the swap, but gave up on due to lack of help for the electronics, and if I do a v8 swap it will not be a mb drivetrain, since no help with the electronics.

 

hmm if anyone wont volunteer, ill do it ( if someone got a loaner for a bit)

 

I see lots of acronyms above and assume they are all the same item ECM, ECU, PTCM, ??? Engine Control Module???

 

Here's a whole security set for $258 , https://www.ebay.com/itm/CHRYSLER-CR...!-1:rk:39:pf:0 . Although I think all you need is the chip from the fob, the skreem and the ECU.

 

from maggy55 " Here's a whole security set for $258 , https://www.ebay.com/itm/CHRYSLER-CR...!-1:rk:39f:0 . Although I think all you need is the chip from the fob, the skreem and the ECU. "

I will contribute, if someone sets up a go fund me

 

We nees to keep this thread up and make this happen. I woukd do it when mine is dead but it's working.

 

Y'all,
Has anyone considered approaching a member who is parting out their Crossfire that was operational before being T-boned or whatever?
That could provide the desired matching components of a working key fob, SKREEM module and PTCM.
It is doubtful that the RIP owner would be selling these components to other members due to VIN matching requirements.
If this sounds feasible, keep an eye out for newly listings for parting out cars and invite the owner to join this thread for the good of the community.
Just a thought.

Second thought, to prevent unintended consequences:
From what I've read, SKREEM failures tend to primarily affect the security lock out function preventing engine start up.

• That function requires the transponder chip embedded in the key fob to be read by the SKREEM circular antenna.
• However, the SKREEM also receives the lock/unlock radio signals from the key fob for the door and hatch locks.
• So, the SKREEM unit should be bypassed for engine start up, but remain in place for the lock/unlock function.
• Also, unless I've misread something, for the lock/unlock function the key fob can be reprogrammed by clicking the lock or unlock buttons twice, the inserting the key and switching on the ignition within 30 seconds.

So, if at all possible, the SKREEM module should remain installed after the engine start up function has been bypassed by reprogramming the PTCM.

Cheers

 

Oh dear, so what would I do here in Aus if my SKREEM goes faulty?

 

Read a long but interesting post on benzworld.org tonight with regard to an MB equivalent to our SKREEM.
Although it specifically addresses the M Class W163, it relates info on the key fob, DAS (Drive Authorization System), and ECM that seems to reflect our SKREEM process.

Here's the link and I've attached a txt copy incase the link gets deleted:
https://www.benzworld.org/forums/w16...now-about.html

It also describes the MB 8 key limit and the control/process in issuing new keys.

Cheers

 

Just a thought but are some really cheap '01-'04 SLK320s on CL occasionally. The SKREEM should be the same.

 

Any updates on this?

 

 

 

Y'all,
Did a Navy style Operational Risk Assessment with regard to the seriousness of a single point of failure for the SKREEM and the potential unavailability for a replacement.

• Major Risk - SKREEM failure will result in total mission loss (Can't drive Crossfire)
  • No readily available Mean Time To Failure data to quantitatively determine risk of failure
• Options - ONLY current option is to obtain and replace SKREEM to restore mission
  • ONLY source of replacement is CHRYSLER via Needswings
  • Price of replacements is increasing rapidly as supply decreases (Currently $699.95 plus shipping)
  • Demand expected to increase as Crossfire population ages and SKREEMs fail
  • Future availability of replacements is questionable (See Needswings comments NeedsWings Performance Products. SKREEM and Antenna Ring)
    • "In the near future we expect Chrysler to discontinue these as we are seeing it happen on other Chrysler/Mercedes vehicles and other crossfire parts. Get them while you can!"
• Bottom Line
  • To ensure current and future mission readiness a minimum of one spare SKREEM must be acquired BEFORE available spares are discontinued.
    • Failure to do so will result in a high risk of mission failure and beloved Crossfire becomes an inoperable yard monument (or parted out)
    • It's pay $700 now for peace of mind or bet on your SKREEM and be willing to lose your Crossfire

Based on the above. I bit the bullet and have a replacement SKREEM configured for my VIN arriving tomorrow.

My only remaining question is whether to install the new SKREEM now (at least for an Op Test) or store it for later, if and when the current one fails.
It's a bit of a pain to pull the dash apart again (Sticky key repair done last month), but my engineering background leads me to confirm the operability of the replacement BEFORE it is needed.

Sorry for the wordiness - my Education degrees came after my Engineering degrees so I've been contaminated and lost the art of writing in terse to-the-point language.

Cheers,

 

Chooch,

What kind of engineer were you? I'm a reliability engineer, and you're really speaking my language. Hooray DMS-MS issues! If anyone wants a good insomnia cure, you can read how the military deals with this issues by reading SD-22 ( https://www.dau.mil/guidebooks/Share...20(SD-22).aspx )


To the rest of the group, I'm looking forward to seeing where the SKREEM-R (replacement) project goes. Sounds like someone needs to temporarily give up a few parts. Since this is a common parts between X-fire and Mercedes owners, I'm wondering if we could figure out bigger buy/spread out the cost of developing the new process/modules across all affected models. this will certainly add complexity, but would help with economies of scale. Perhaps a kickstarter (or kickstarter-type arrangement) could be organized to fund development, and provide buy-in for the new components. Kickstarter could be a good mechanism here, though they do take a cut.

Thoughts?

-Wildcard

 

I would be willing to kick in $25.00 or so to help. If hundreds of us shared the development costs it shouldn't be prohibitive.

 

Y'all,
New SKREEM installed and all works well. Nice to have a spare SKREEM, but miss those retirement $$$.
Getting to the SKREEM caused some scuffing on the dash surround, even using the "Safe" plastic removal tools.
WHY did they paint the black dash trim? It was already black underneath, although glossy plastic.
Now I've got to restore the appearance. Remove all of the paint and let it shine? Or try to match and repaint the rubberized paint?
Oh well, tomorrow's another day as Scarlett O'Hara always said.
Cheers,

 

Count me in to contribute $25.00 to a fund for a work around on the SKREEM. Perhaps a moderator on this sight can act as trustee for this fund. Thoughts?

Regards,

 

Black Plastidip Spray?

 

Crossfirerush,

That's why I was thinking that we actually use Kickstarter. Funds aren't committed until enough interest has been generated to get it off the ground. A moderator or POC would be required to interface with the company running the reverse engineering/replacement aspect, though