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Dodge Caliber Transmission Problems
the CVT is slick and smooth. MOST of the time. Has anyone noticed it to be jerky when turning a corner and accelerating lightly? I have experienced jerky--ness at low speeds under certain situations. Is there a torque converter or something that locks at about 5 mph? this is when I always feel a jerk during light acceleration, 5 to 10 mph.
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that it fells like a down shift,this CVT takes some getting
used to,I noticed yesterday on expressway that when I went up to 140 km/h to pass it seemed upshift also,strange.
I was doing about 120 km/h when a silver Caliber RT
blew by me at about 140-150 km/h my black SXT looks
a lot better lol.
Remember, to save gas the Caliber shuts down the engine during some cases of de-acceleration. That might be what you are experiencing? :confuse:
Some people think the Caliber (especially the RT) has some jerky feelings. The CVT is VERY smooth, what they are feeling is the engine shutting down to save gas; everyone these days wants better gas mileage.
on deceleration however it can't shutdown completely or
that would be a stall but I think your on the right track
as it possibly goes to economy then just before it would be
a stall the CVT goes to lowest ratio and brings fuel back
to idle level.
What do you think?
First they reset the computer's calibration for the transmission. It became less jerky - don't know if this was in reality fine tuning or just a mask for the problem.
However, it's still jerky. Especially on cold starts and acceleration from a complete stop - even MORE likely if it is a turning acceleration.
Dealership has now just told me to 'ride it out.' It may be the solenoid, in the torque converter, most likely it's that the tolerance may be too tight the way the 'belt' moves through the transmission and just to put on some more miles and it will go away. To me this sounded a lot like "You cookie fish racecar niner hand" for all the sense it made.
It's been bugging me - is he just saying this or is there some truth behind it?
that does not excuse your dealer's ignorance of the problem.
this is why I leased my caliber as the entire powertrain is unproven and no one knows anything about it.
If my fuel economy does not improve soon I'll be looking for a way out of my lease...
I'm getting a brand new transmission installed as I type.
I now am over 7000 miles and the CVT is fine and the engine continues to run stronger all the time, but continues to be a guzzler at only 26 mpg. When new the CVT allowed the engine to rev to over 4000 rpm regularly on light to moderate acceleration giving the impression of a slipping, worn-out clutch. On the freeway it would typically run 3000 rpm or higher at 70mph.
Now that the engine is broke in the rpm remain in the 2000 to 3000 rpm range during all but heavy acceleration up to 55 mph. In town it will rarely even touch 2000 rpm. on the freeway at 70 mph it reads around 2800 rpm. It is quite a pleasant change.
2.0L/CVT last Thursday when I took it in for an oil
change at 10,000 km and I think the change is dramatic
in the case of my car.No more lag or hesitation
from 0 to 40 km/h,it just picks up and goes as if
it was regular automatic.
One thing I have noted is that the rpm at any given
speed are about 300-400 lower while cruising,hopefully
this will mean more mpg.
Is this still fixed?
cars but I have bought numerous first year models
with minor problems and they were always resolved
to my satisfaction.
I don't comprehend what you refer to in"is this
still fixed".
If your reference is to the software update then
it's been less than a week with it and seems to
be fine.
any insight would be good. Thanks.
I have SXT 2.0L/CVT and have not had any of your
problems to date,I only have 13,200 kilometers on
the odometer.
I have an excellent dealer that has todate looked
at any of my concerns seriously and resolved them
promptly.
Since I had the latest flash done mpg just gets better
and better,the car runs very quietly.
Log a complaint with Chrylser so they have to put out a TSB on it. I know of 3 people that have in the last week.
It is going to another dealership in the AM, where I know the shop forman and am hoping it will be fixed. It is not engine, or transmission related I have been guaranteed of that, and if you are careful you can actually feel it by reaching under the dash and touching the side of the housing when they click would or is occuring. Something is flexing that shoudn't be.
It is a removable heater core that must be moving withing the housing.
Very annoying, but other than that a Nice little car.
pedal fully before trying to shift out of park,failing that there is an emergency
park release access hole on the passenger side of the transmission
hump that appears as a small round button.
Pop out the button with a small screwdriver and once you have done this
there is a lever you activate by simply pushing your finger in the hole
and pulling the gearshift out of park.
This locking solenoid is adjustable and the problem should be looked
at by your dealer as there are several causes for it.
near the coolant cap, my dealer is giving me a hard time they are saying that
i or someone put something in the coolant, i have only 26k on it please let me know asap i will greatly appreciate
thanks a lot
p.s. the dealer is rockland chrysler
was along time ago when we did not have closed over flow systems.
If it was the result of boilover then you would have a serious problem.
Does the temp gauge run at normal temp(about the center of gauge)?
There is a commercial liquid rad leak repair called BARSLEAK and it is
a rusty dark brown appearing substance.Did you buy the Caliber used?
things like " I hope you have good life insurance ".
Your only hope is to find another dealer,I know it is easy to
say considering geography and timeframes.
Chase your extended warranty if it's not with Chrysler and
if it is email or letterwrite the hell out of Chrysler HO don't
mess with the middlemen mention lemon laws and lawsuits.
How much $$ did you lose on them?
I am seriously considering that but i am afraid i am going to lose too much $. I've had the car it was one year this past march 22, 2007. My car was just in the service dept. for just over a week and again they said it was fixed. They replaced 3 wiring harnesses and low and behold the light just came on again and we lost power, went into limp mode. The car and the dealership are really pissing me off. I could kill right now.
I took the car to the dealership and they called an engineer. He told me "ALL" calibers make this noise, some more then others. So I told him if Chrysler are still making brand new cars with a rattling noise in the transmission next time I will buy another brand name. Chrysler and the dealership are still refusing to fix my transmission. :sick:
It's fine on the highway (with the exception of an insane amount of highway noise), but driving it in town is embarrassing. The engine is extremely loud...my rear end vibrates when I am sitting at a stop light. The WORST thing about it is that every time I slow down, turn a corner, pull in to a parking spot, I get this weird noise. I think it sounds like something creaking, but my husband swears that it's something grinding. It's pretty loud, and happens every time I drive the car - but only when I'm driving at a slow speed or preparing to stop/start. It generally makes the car "jump" just a little. Has anyone else heard this noise with their Calibers? Any suggestions? It's been doing this since right after we purchased it, but it has gotten pretty severe over the last 3000 miles. It happens every time I drive it, without fail.
I've also noticed that sometimes it doesn't want to start. That is REALLY embarrassing. I paid 19,000 for a car that won't start half the time? It usually only chokes once and then it will start, but still...that's extremely annoying.
Any thoughts? Should I take it in to the dealership or is that just part of owning a Caliber and I'm just going to have to deal with it?
First thing I have to ask is have you been back to the dealer?
You should rally push them as you have a warranty so take
advantage of it,if you feel that particular dealer is not addressing
your concerns or treating you as some do when it comes to
women owners find another one they MUST honor your warranty
no matter if you bought from then or not.
Hiway noise is directly linked to the tires,if you notice when you drive
on relatively new asphalt things quiet down considerably.
Vibrations while stopped may be a exhuast pipe alignment
problem and it's rubbing or touching the body while under tension.
Creaking or grinding at slow speeds could be brakes or steering
mechanism.
You didn't indicate if you have a CVT(automatic) or standard shift
but if you have the CVT the car does have a slight jump or funny
feeling at abt 20 mph,that's the transmission and that is normal.
I have a SXT also and have had no problems in 2 yrs of ownership,
I admit the CVT tranny does take some time to feel right.
I would take it to the dealership with a written list of concerns
and if they try to fluff you off find another plus call Chrysler
customer service and register your concerns.
Stuff i have noticed and still taking it in for are:
- Jerkiness in the tranny when letting the gas pedal go and resuming.
- Door panels are coming loose and rattle in back right after having no bass applied
- Front two rotors warped. (they want to charge me for diagnose on this i have a 7 year / 160,000 warranty lol ) vibration in steering wheel when braking.
- back drums are sticking when you let go and apply bracks (dealership tighten them when i was in one time before)
- getting a hollow and loose noise from front end when going over minor bumps (keep saying they can't find problem)
- power steering pump loud sometimes
- both front doors window motors being replaced.
- just had front left tie rod replaced recently.
- two front speakers being replaced.
The warranty work on my car seems endless lol.......
I can't say that I have had any of those concerns come up
and I am at almost 30,000km the car has only been back
to dealer for free oil/filter changes and 1 computer update
at my request.
Good luck!
I can assure you that this car with a CVT tranny is not for mountain driving. Recently, we drove up Pikes Peak, at the gate where I paid, the Park Ranger inquired if I knew how to use the plus and minus on the gearshift, I assured her I did, she stated I should use 1st on the way down. As I left the parking lot at the peak, I got into 1st gear while still on the level. 1st gear will not hold the car back enough, I had to use my brakes way too much. At this point, I should mention that I have driven several vehicles on that road, and have made 8-10 trips, so I have a very good understanding about overheated brakes and driving in a lower gear on mountain roads. About half way down, everyone gets to stop to have the brake temp checked, I was just barely low enough, temp wise, but was so close the Ranger made a phone call to double check. In 1st, the car will speed up while coasting, instead of the other way around.
very long.
I don't doubt the veracity of your statements as I have never driven
Pikes Peak at all.
If you look at my location on a map you would doubt that we have
any concerns regarding such driving however we have quite a number
of 4-6% grade of from 1-2 miles in length.I have found on 2 of the 6%
I leave it in Drive and set the cruise for 40 kph/25 mph and the car
will brake against the engine while it gains no more than 4-6 mph.
You can watch the tach and see the rpms go up as the engine is braking
the car,I have never tried putting in Low while doing this however.
My car died and my transmission was no good. It was replaced with a new transmission and as I drove the car out of the dealer repair shop it would not go more that 5 miles per hour. I drove it right back and they said they fixed it. The next time I drove it away I got about 2 miles when the car died again. It was towed back and they said that the new transmission was no good . They then put in a second new one. That one lasted 3 days and it died again. Has anyone had any luck with the lemon law? I have only had the car for for 1 and a 1/2 year
January 25,2009 juu\st 41/2 months and milage at 42,500. the Transmission is a gonner. I can't believe it ... )o: NOT sure yet what the dealer is going to so but, It does NOT look good. I will be contacting the local BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU if they do NOT replace the transmission. My suggestion is that the MORE people that do this the better. Dodge needs to learn to make better cars. This is a potential safety issue. Well, PLEASE e-mail me with a respone if you can or wish.
NASCAR820@Frontiernet.net
I,m not sure where to start....the lovely tranny, that sounds like a gremlin resides deep in it's belly, or the car's inability to either catch up to traffic when entering a highway, or it's issue with shaking upon throttle lift before braking.Whoever signed off on this mechanical design needs to either resign, or take a brush up course on product development as this one leaves an awful lot to be desired, and my heart goes out to anyone who has paid hard earned money for this mess on wheels.Maybe this is another reason that Chrysler is taking on water at a rapid rate.....
It left a bad taste in your mouth however my personal experience
has been the opposite after 2-1/2 yrs of ownership.
My 2.0L/CVT has only been back to the dealer for my lifetime
free oil/filter changes and 1 software update.I have driven it as if
I stole it from day one and it gets 26-28 mpg US/city and as high
as 34 mpg US/hiway.I would say for 2L that it accelerates extremely
well on any occasion I have needed it to.
Again any experience with a rental would not lead me to condemn
any product out of hand.
Possibilty someone who is forum member has been there done that!
You may get help if you explain.
I thought that it was the brakes, until I popped it into nuetral while it was still moving back and I was still applying the brakes the howling stopped.
I don't understand the transmission in this thing, but I wonder if there is some sort of braking going on in the thing that could be making the noise.
I contacted the dealer and they said that it was normal but they wouldn't tell me what it was. Maybe it's time to contact a different dealer.
I'm just throwing this out there to see if any you out there have had the same problem or any advice for me on what to do.