Someone in Massachusetts willing to help (engine noise)?

[mforrest]

Hey all,

Is there someone in Mass. near metro west Boston (Maynard) who owns a 2011 or 2012 SRT-8 Challenger who would be willing to stop by my house or meet me somewhere so that I can see if the engine noise I'm hearing at idle is normal for these cars or if I need to press the issue I'm having with the dealer.

Basically at idle, I hear an erratic almost grinding noise coming from the engine area, but you can also feel it in the steering wheel and in the floorboards/pedals as a slight jerk. It's not at regular intervals but it is persistently there and very easy to notice.

I've had it to the dealer twice and this last time they replaced an engine mount, the service manager told me it was gone, I picked it up tonight and wouldn't you know it...first stop light I hit I can hear/feel it as clear as day.

I'm going to be calling them tomorrow (as well as Dodge, as they have a case # open for me) to tell them it's still happening. I just want to see if this is normal or if other SRT-8s are lacking this lovely feature.

If anyone is nearby and willing to just meet for 10 minutes so I can hear your car at idle, and maybe you could hear mine and give me an opinion, I would GREATLY appreciate it.

[chrys7]

I hear NO grinding noises while engine is on at idle, I poped the hood and I hear nothing but the natural purrrr it makes . Had the wife Rev a few time and then listened again and stil nothing grinding or ot of the ordinary. Record it and you tube it.

[SRTDogg]

In case nobody can help, just swing by a dealer and have them fire one up side by side to see how they sound comparatively... ??

[mforrest]

I intend on doing that...it's just such a PITA to get to a dealership in time before they close. Plus I'd like to get another owner's opinion...someone who has driven their car for a bit rather than just go listen to a brand new vehicle sitting on a lot. Specifically someone with another 2011 392.

Was really patient the last few weeks while they tried various things on the car. They admit to hearing the problem but now that they suddenly claim not to hear it after replacing a motor mount I'm concerned that I'm going to start running into typical dealer BS. I'm not sure they ever tried replacing the fuel injector which they thought might be a problem as well.

I'm just concerned this could turn out to be a bigger problem down the line. I still need to try to record the issue but I honestly don't think it's going to be as obvious as when you're sitting in it, hearing AND feeling it. My wife knows next to nothing about cars and often doesn't notice the same sounds I do, but after picking it up tonight she sat in it for 5 seconds and interrupted herself while saying "You know I'm not going to hear any....oh, that. Yeah, I definitely hear that." which was honestly a first in my 8 years knowing her.

[Heminator]

Is this a manual transmission? The Tremec 6060/clutch assembly is a bit noisy at idle.

[mforrest]

Automatic.

[Heminator]

Originally Posted by mforrest

Automatic.

Can't help you, sorry. The M6 Tremec 6060 sounds like a can of marbles at idle and that's apparently normal from what I can research.

[Bernd]

Hello,
I have a customer here in germany with just the same noise you are discribing. Are there any news on that? We are a german Chrysler and Dodge dealer and I have no idea what the noise could be.

[Ocron]

Colonial Dodge in Hudson has a used 2011 SRT8 on the lot, maybe they'd let you listen to it, or you could pretend to be interested in it. Only the next town over so might be worth the drive...or is this the dealer who is servicing your car?

[mforrest]

This is the dealer servicing my car...are there better service departments in the area that you know of?