I bought my 08 Coupe Limited 3 weeks ago. The joy of owning this car has been tremendous. I have, however, noticed a few minor issues. The first was the "drifting" of the car, most noticeable on the freeway. I have brought up this issue here and have already gotten many thoughtful responses.

The second issue was the passenger side door that would need extra oomph of a push to close when compared to the driver's side door. Upon closer examination, it was clear that the top of the window was jamming against the door frame. One time, the door closed with the window stuck outside the door frame.

I took it in to the dealer and had them looked at. I was hoping that they would replaced the steering damper (as someone here suggested) but they said it was fine. They also said that they took down the window so that it fit better in the frame.

When I checked it out at the dealer tonight, it was not fixed at all. There was another brand new Crossfire sitting there on the lot, so I asked to check its doors out. It had the EXACT same problem as mine. The driver's side door was fine. Well actually, the driver's side door is not that nice. It certainly does not close like MBs or Japanese cars. Their doors are "supple" and solid as they close. The Crossfire closes clumsily as if it's not latching on solidly. It kinda bounces in and out.

After seeing two brand new cars with the exact same door issues, I thought other people might have had similar experiences with their Crossfires. Love to hear about it and what solutions others have sought and found. Thanks.

 

BlazingSaddle,

Sorry to hear about the problems with your car; both items are not normal and need to be resolved under warranty. Sorry to day but that is sometimes easier then said. The problem is your dealership is a tool and the only way you're going to get better service is locate another dealership with that being said there is little incentive for another dealership either. A couple of years ago when I had a service issue with the dealership I bought the car from I raised hell all the way to the Regional Manager who was wise enough to realize that he was dealing with an ******* who wasn't going to roll over so he sent me to another dealership who did take care of my car correctly. Unfortunately with the American car industry in it's current state and Chrysler in search of a home it's hard to say if that approach would work today; who know where Chrysler's upper management's gas (give a ****) guage sits today. My other recommendation is try to locate a dealer that is more diverse; my current dealership carries Lexus, Toyota, Chrysler, Audi, BMW, Scion, KIA, and Jeep. Their mechanics appear to be a lot more knowledgeable of the Crossfire than my previous dealership.

 

I've owned 3 crossfires, currently own 2 srt-6's. Also i've looked are many many crossfires when looking to purchase my srt-6's. The door problem your stating is not normal, and i've never seen a problem with the passenger or drivers side door, and my eye is very good looking for body problems.

Maybe you just have bad luck with the ones you've seen.

 

Aha! I've got the same problem with my window hitting the top of the door frame and not quite closing unless the window is partly down or I push down every so slightly when shutting it.

It's my driver side door. The dealer (very reputable but like always treats the Xfire like it's the space shuttle or something) said they adjusted it all they can but there isn't any noticeable improvement.

It's kind of annoying but something I've learned to live with. You're the first one I've heard complain about the same issue. The first couple of weeks I had the car, I would occasionally hear a noise that sounded like something thumping against my driver side door. I finally realized that it was the window slamming closed after it had been stuck.

I'm going to hit up the dealer again in the spring. The clear coat on my wheels is peeling and I know others have had theirs replaced under warranty for the same reason.

 

I had an '04 Coupe and have two SRT6's now. None of them have had any door alignment issues. Nor any of the one's I test drove. I have noticed that with the windows all the way up I get a little air pressure build up in the car when I close the door. Driver or passenger side, whichever is last. I can feel the air compress when the door closes. This causes the door not to latch if the door is being closed a little softly. I dont consider this a problem, just good seals. Hope you can get yours resolved.

MikeR

 

well on my 04 I had that problem on the drivers door the glass hitting the upper molding, but not all the time and the dealer did fix that problem, you need to find another dealer that has a good tech that can do door glass alignments properly, but most dealers only have one x-fire tech, so talk with the service manager first to see if they can handle it, and get it repaired properly

 

ok I have this same problem and I've noticed that the window gets stuck on the outside by the rubber seal that goes around the edge of the top of the window. It sound like my door is open sometimes and I either roll down the window and back up real quick and it fixes it or I drive down the road a little bit and when I'm not paying attention the window pops back in place and scares the CRAP out of me. Any ideas on how to keep that rubber seal higher up in place?

 

I have also had this issue with my xfire. It does not happen every time I close but it does happen every now and then. I may be mistaken but if I recall correctly this issue was covered on a Technical Service Bulletin for the Crossfire. I'm not sure if the issue was ever properly resolved but you might want to check out the TSB's on the crossfire because there is a laundry list of them. I guarantee that most of the tiny little issues you have with the car will be covered on there.

But for now I suggest just messing with the window. Try a little experimentation if you want to. Like, roll the window up and down a few times with the door closed and then open and shut the door to see if anything changes or to see how it reacts. Then roll the window up and down a few times with the door open to see how the door shuts or if it shuts differently that way. Maybe push the rubber molding up around the frame of the door. Just get investigative with it and see if you can locate something before you take it to the dealer again. Good Luck Man!!

 

I don't have any of the problems you mention.

1. Drifting around on the highway is not normal for any car. My XF is dead straight as an arrow up to 120+ mph.
2. My doors close and open as smoothly as bank vaults, driver and passenger side both.


My first recommendation is to check the door latches on both your doors. I've heard in some cases that they become loose or are delivered loose from the factory.

I hate to say this, buddy, but did you even test drive your car before you bought it?

I test drove/inspected 5 different base XF Coupes on the same lot before I bought mine.

 

Sonoronos,
At the time I bought the Crossfire, the dealer only had 2 sitting on their lot. One was the gold one that I bought and the other one was with blue one with a funky artsy orange seats (no offense to those who have this one). I did notice the door was a bit resistant to closing but I didn't think much of it because that was actually presented as the "last one" on the lot. I'm a bit disturbed to hear how your XF goes "straight as an arrow" at 120. Mine keeps drifting side to side that I get a little tense trying to keep it from going out of my lane. I need to find another dealer. THat's for damned sure.

So, I'm hearing from you great dudes that while I'm not alone with my door problem, it isn't a problem I should just accept. That is really great to get these feedbacks.

As MikeR mentioned it, my technician's also attributed the door issue with the air compression in the cabin. His notes also says this: "Found window adjusted too tight on upper side. Remove door panel and perform window adjustment. Lower window 2mm." But to me, nothing has changed. It still does the same. Miker, Antonio, and Sonoronos, I appreciate your inputs as you all have the experiences to know better.

 

That would be the "cedar interior". Nicest color IMO. I don't have that color, but wish I did! My XF is perfectly straight going down the freeway, no wandering or anything. No issue'swith the doors at all. In fact never had a problem with the car. Only had it about 4 months, but all is good so far. Good luck!

 

Blazzin, I think it's probably still an adjustment/alignment issue more than anything. It seems that these cars have very little tolerance + or - when it comes to getting the windows in just the right position. I think it probably takes allot of trial and error on the Tech's part to get it just right. Unfortunately lots of time is not a luxury most Techs have at their disposal.
Somewhere here on the forum, there are photos posted of the door panel removed and of the adjustment bolt that is used to align the window. I believe it takes a "special" wrench to fit it.
There shouldn't be any air being compressed inside of your interior because there are special one-way flaps (back by the tail lights) that let the air out when ever the doors or hatch closes. So unless these flaps are some how "blocked" the air inside the interior should have a place to escape.
I was also thinking more about your cars "wandering" problem. Sometimes when there isn't enough "toe-in" and your front wheels are aligned perfectly straight, the car may tend to wander. I'd take it back to the dealer and have them recheck the alignment. Then if you don't get any satisfaction, go to a very reputable alignment shop that knows what they're doing. Good Luck!
By the way, I've got that "funky" cedar/slate interior and love it. But no offense was taken, I know it's not for everybody.lol

 

Is the wandering only on 'rutted' roads. I have a little trouble on roads that the semi's have heavily rutted. It make the back end want to switch from one to the other if I dont hold tight. I try to stay out of those lanes as much as possible when in the Crossfire. I believe someone said it has to do with the wide tires and small car. We just dont fit in I guess.

MikeR

 

Sounds to me like the car was in an accident. I test drove a 300ZX TT and the car "drifted" quite a bit. Also, the wheel well gaps from the top of the tire to the bottom of the fender were differed by about 5cm from the drivers side to the passenger side. The actual "frame" of the car was bent (explained the drifting).

Not saying your Crossfire was in an accident, but when parts of the car are not matching up perfectly, I would question the car's history. There is no reason for doors to be hitting the body of the car or unpredictable drivability.

 

It could also be a caster issue.

 

+fireamx,
Lol. That's great. You've got to have a pretty sizeable free-spirit to handle that color combo. Whao! Personally, I'm a bit too uptight to handle that. I have a very neutral black seats. Can't get any more safe than that, lmao. I might take that advice about redoing the alignment after I explore other options.

MikeR,
The freeways I drive on are pretty new and I do not belive they are "rutted." So, that theory does not apply to my situation. It's a good suggestion, though. Others had mentioned this theory as well -- that I might be riding on the grooves on the road. But I've tried it on a nicely paved ones and I still get the same drift. It's very much like my old 98 Expedition. Like many trucks, it did that and from what I understand this is normal for trucks. Well, not anymore. My new Expedition drives "straight as an arrow" -- to borrow an expression-- without any drifting whatsoever.

Mika33,
Good theory, too, but very little chance that a car that only had 16 miles had been in an accident.

Well, guys, I do appreciate all the inputs. It is very kind of you all to do that. It's one thing to have to deal with all these issues with my XF alone without knowing what the heck to think or just blindly following the techs. But it's another to have a community like this to get support and bounce off ideas. Good night all.

 

I was looking today and there is a few tsb's out for this problem with the widow. just do a search on tsb's and you'll find it.

 

An update on the stubborn door. I took it to my dealer and they "worked" on it but, nothing was changed. About a week later, alarmed with the TSB (thanks Chased316 and others), I called up the dealer and spoke to the service manager -- who was a woman. I thought, what a deal, no one messes with a woman manager. Sure enough, she listened to what I had to say and she got me in the next day with a Dodge Magnum loaner (!!) and was fixed perfectly. Now, the only thing that I still have not resolved is the "sloppy" steering wheel.

 

On my 04 cpe. I found that the window closed to high even after I brought it to the dealer many times. I just got used to closing them and then bumping the switch down a little. Worked fine doing that. On different roads I do find my car can be darty but for the most part goes straight.
A sure fix for the windows is to get a roadster and leave the roof down like I did.

They should check the steering for the loose bolt problem Andrew posted here somewhere.

 

Blaze

Listed below is a Technical Service Bulletin for your window problem. Take this to your dealer and they should have the complete listing in the computer system and they should do the repair, a simple adjustment to the window mechanism. This should take less that 1 hour to complete the repair.....
Dennis

TBS: 28-Jan-05 - 23-004-05 - Body - Window Glass Misaligned and or Contacts Roof