HELP Oil Leak and Service Issues [Archive] - Cherokee SRT8 Forum

: HELP Oil Leak and Service Issues


allflashnocash
12-12-2006, 08:37 AM
Guys-
I need to vent and then get suggestions. Last Fri. I noticed a large pool of clear fluid (Oil but it smelled like Transmission Fluid) under the front passenger wheel. About 6 inch in from the wheel. In addition, I have been noticing that the jeep will not downshift if you punch it at 20 mph. I told the dealer the issues and dropped it off. When I picked it up they told me that the shifting was fine. They said they punched it at a dead stop and when cruising at 60 mph. Obviously the idiots didn't listen. Next they told me that the leak was AC water. I told them I don't run the AC in 20 degree weather. They then said it was from the defrost. I told them it was an oil substance and not water. I made them put the jeep back on the rack and showed them where the leak was. Next they told me it was residue from the engine coating melting. BS answer. I said if that was really the case it would not drip in one location. Next they told me it was because I had oversized tires on the car and should have stock. I flipped. I asked them if they even new what car they were working on. I told them I bought the car 3 weeks ago from their dealership and that the tires are stock for an SRT8. Next they told me it was overflow from the differential and that it was finally regulating itself. I told them they were making random accusations and that I wanted it documented and I would take my jeep elsewhere. I filed a complaint at Corporate but that won't do much and scheduled a service at another dealer. Oh yeah. On top of this they tired to charge me $75 for my oil change (I like to have the 1st oil change at 1500 and to make sure it is synthetic). Any suggestions on who else to contact? Is there an SRT group I can reach out too? Anyone else seeing the same problem with the shift point and more importantly the oil? By the way: It is still leaking, but the leak is now the size of a quarter.

Ink Pump
12-12-2006, 08:55 AM
Sorry to hear about the problems and I hear your frustration about the dealer. Unfortunately a lot of these dealers appear to have never seen an SRT. All I know from others on the forum is you have to find one who is on board with the SRT range. Maybe there is someone on the forum who knows one in your area.

The $75 for the oil change doesn't sound bad because it expensive synthetic oil - in fact it sounds low

Good luck

allflashnocash
12-12-2006, 10:50 AM
Thanks Ink Pump.

jlandbl
12-12-2006, 10:54 AM
The $75 for the oil change doesn't sound bad because it expensive synthetic oil - in fact it sounds low

Agree. My oil change at the dealer was 97.20.


Also, regarding the dealer problems. When I called my dealer to schedule my 2nd oil change (which is next week), the Service Manager tried to tell me on the phone I need a tire rotation. It took me a few minutes to make him believe you cannot rotate the tires in this thing. Some dealers have SRT techs on site but mine does not.

Str8Srt8
12-13-2006, 11:16 PM
Knowing me, I would have waited to hear the results of the tire rotation :D

The terrible things they could do, but if you're on top of it you should know what their qualifications are and they should have done. Don't assume anything and check your vehicle thoroughly after service and before you drive off. If you're in doubt, question the service you had anyway. Ask questions...

Rick SRT 8
12-16-2006, 08:09 AM
I haven't use the SRT8 for at least 1 week and 2 days ago notice transmision fluid (large amount)in the garage and took it to the dealer today. Let's see what they will tell me.

jlandbl
12-16-2006, 08:38 AM
I haven't use the SRT8 for at least 1 week and 2 days ago notice transmision fluid (large amount)in the garage and took it to the dealer today. Let's see what they will tell me.

My guess is O-rings on the throttle body. Happened to me last month. Sorry to hear the news. Good luck.

AT'sGCSRT8
12-16-2006, 09:49 AM
Odds are good if it's trans fluid it is the 2 pass through o-rings.

GC GEEZER
12-18-2006, 09:01 AM
A friend of mine has one of the first 06’ SRT’s produced. He had the following experiences that may be in interest to others:

First of all has been a troublesome oil leak from the transmission that showed up after about 10k miles. The dealer said it looks like the leak is coming from an "O" ring seal (or seals) at a switch on the r/f of the trans, they say that they have seen a number of these on these transmissions. That leak has been producing a burning smell, as the exhaust curls right around that corner of the transmission pan, and the fluid was dripping onto it.

When asked about shifting problems he offered the following: “I'm not sure I have noticed anything other than maybe an occasional lazy shift, with a bit more slippage than normal, but I'm not sure that this isn't just my imagination. Worst glitch so far was when I failed to up-shift while passing in the manual mode on a two lane mountain road. It got into the rev limit hard enough to shut the engine off, or so it seemed.
Fortunately, I was able to complete the pass (a motor home coming the other way!), and then pulled off into a turnout area, where I was able to shut it off and re-fire it, at which time it returned to "normal".
Not sure what that was all about, but I chalked it up to operator error.
While it was happening I tried moving the shift lever back to the normal drive position, and even tried going to neutral and back to drive, but none of this restored spark, fuel, or whatever had shut down.
Lesson: Just let the darn transmission figure out how to kick-down to pass, and don't get distracted by trying the manual mode.
I'm sure that would have worked just fine, and would not have put me in that position.
You can imagine the looks I got from the two cars (one with a little trailer) I passed, as well as from the Expedition I had passed miles before, while I was sitting by the road as they went by me.
The pull-off was on the opposite side of the road to boot, the site was the only escape path I had before my momentum died.”

This guy is a very experienced and high ranking sports cars owner/driver in our region (races a couple E-production Caterhams) and is probably capable of reacting to a mishap more quickly than the average person. Imagine how you would react if your engine cut off during a dangerous passing situation. By the way he is very impressed with the speed and handling of his stock SRT and he also offered that he thinks it gets to 100 faster, and with less effort, than his 03’ C-5 Z-06 did, and THAT'S something.

Rick SRT 8
12-18-2006, 04:06 PM
My guess is O-rings on the throttle body. Happened to me last month. Sorry to hear the news. Good luck.


Defective o-ring conectors (2) in the transmision, were the result in my oil leak case.