I've contacted Dodge/Chrysler in regards to the tickatickaticka noise from my engine many times. My and many others from here have done the same and our concerns are falling on DEAF EARS! Why are some getting repairs done? Why are some getting new engines? Why are some being taken seriously and the rest of us are pretty much screwed? Yes, I said we were SCREWED! We Challenger owners REFUSE to take the explanation of our problem as "NORMAL". If it's NORMAL then why don't YOU drive it? We have had enough of being ignored. We are binding together as I type this. We want our Challengers fixed! No, WE DEMAND that our Challengers be fixed.
So... What do you have to say Dodge Cares???
November 18, 2014
Dear Dodge/Chrysler Customer Care:
I am writing this letter because I feel that I, along with many others, have been seriously let down by the lack of service we are getting with our Challenger’s. In particular, the HEMI TICK issue. One dealership says it’s normal, another actually takes the time to troubleshoot it, while others actually do perform service to correct it, such as replacing lifters that are showing flat spots?
Myself, along with many others, did not pay in excess of $40,000.00 for a car that ticks. We, the drivers, can hear it, our passengers can hear it, anyone sitting in the back seat can hear it, the service department at our dealers can hear it and yet, we are left holding the bag on service to STOP the ticking? There are many different things a dealer can do to attempt to fix this long standing problem. Yet, you, the big corporation, fails to allow them to do it. Too expensive for you? You didn’t have any problem taking our money when we bought our cars but now you won’t honor your commitment to excellence? All we want is our cars fixed. Plain and simple, fix it and we’ll be on our way!
My story is only one of many. I waited with great anticipation for my 2014 R/T Shaker to arrive at my dealer (Joe Cecconi’s Chrysler Complex, Niagara Falls, NY). After only a week or so of driving it, I noticed a ticking coming from the engine. The first thing I did was check the fluid levels in the car and everything was where it should be. A few days afterwards, at approximately the 500 mile mark, I pulled into the dealer to have my oil changed and to ask them to check the ticking. Cecconi’s was gracious enough to supply me with a Star Case (S1309000013 Ticking Noise from Upper End of Engine) that showed on some HEMI’s, tabs were left on lifters during the build process. The Star Case showed step by step instructions on how to remove these tabs with special attention of what NOT to do to avoid damage to the rocker shaft assembly and/or shaft tower, and to insure the retainers and rocker arms are not overlapped when torqueing bolts. It also stated not to rotate or crank the engine during or immediately after rocker arm installation to allow the hydraulic lifters adequate time to bleed down. It then makes reference to two other Star Cases, S1209000001 and S1309000021, that also pertain to the ticking. I owned an 09 R/T from October 2008 to April 2014 and never heard of a “HEMI Tick”.
A few days later, my car was returned to the dealer to have the Star Case performed, and unfortunately, the ticking did not stop after it was. Each and every time I brought the car in for service, I mentioned the ticking. Again, I pulled in to service to inquire about checking the intake bolts (plastic) and exhaust manifold bolts that others were reporting as lose, and that I am aware that an exhaust manifold could make the ticking noise I was hearing. I was really grasping at straws here to find what was causing this ticking! The dealership scheduled an appointment for me the next day. On arrival for my appointment, the tech that normally takes my information and has me sign the work order, asked me to have a seat and that he’d be right back. He didn’t come back…. someone else sat down and commenced to tell me that they would check the car again THIS TIME but not again for any ticking issue. On and on, finally stating they weren’t wasting time on my car as they would not get reimbursed from Chrysler for the service. I believe the man’s name was Shawn, and that he was the one who made me feel like a child in school being chastised by a teacher. I am a grown woman and I probably know more about my car than all the service technicians that were there. I did not appreciate being treated in this manner, and upset as I was, I walked out. A day or so later, I got Chrysler’s attention by posting on their Facebook page. After a week or so of phone tag, an appointment was made at Cecconi’s for me by Chrysler with hopes that a factory rep could be present.
The morning of this appointment, my son and I recorded the ticking from inside my car with the windows closed. It could clearly be heard, especially around the 2000 rpm mark. The factory rep got in the car and we went for a ride. He and a service tech could hear the ticking, and when we returned to the dealership, I also played the recordings I made that morning. The factory rep suggested that my car be changed from regular oil to full synthetic SRT oil. Since my contract with the dealer gives me free lifetime oil changes, I would have been responsible for any additional costs (no big deal for me), however, the factory rep stated that Chrysler would pay the difference for the next 5 years. The service department took my car into a bay and changed the oil right there and then. Driving home, my son and I could still hear the ticking, somewhat a little lower than what it was when brought in. After several days of driving, the ticking is back to what its been all along. I was hoping the synthetic oil change would have solved the problem. Oh, did I mention the following day I got an invoice from the dealer for $43.19, the cost difference for the oil change? Or that another Mopar bolt was lost? (2nd time for me!)
This morning, 11/18. I got a call from Chrysler Care stating that they would no longer provide any service on my brand new car for this ticking issue . Tell me Chrysler, if the factory rep and technicians didn’t think there was a problem, why did they do the work on the Star Case? Why did they authorize the change from regular to full synthetic oil? And if this is a known problem with HEMI engines, why aren’t they ALL doing it? Why are some customers getting service for this problem while others are denied? My 2009 5.7 R/T had no tick whatsoever. Many people I personally know with 5.7 HEMI engines have no ticking issues. So why is it that just a percentage of us that have this ticking problem can’t seem to get Dodge/Chrysler to fix it? Something is very wrong here.
I am currently collecting data from other Challenger owners to create a database of service, or lack there of. I’m amazed at how many other Challenger owners are jumping on board already and I haven’t even sent this letter to you yet! I’m hoping this issue can be resolved for all of us and that we won’t have to escalate this to the next level. All we want is our cars fixed once and for all. It’s not too much to ask that a brand new car doesn’t tick.
Here are 2 sound clips of just MY car. Keep in mind, this is only a cell phone recording.
Cutouts closed, filtered to remove exhaust sound
Car1-ORIGINAL.mp3 - picosong (Playing: Car1-ORIGINAL.mp3 - picosong)
Cutouts open
Playing Ticking by iamawild1 - picosong (Playing Ticking by iamawild1 - picosong)
I certainly will be anxiously waiting to see what Dodge/Chrysler has to say now.
And as a final note, I am NOT complaining about my Dealer. If it were up to them, I honestly believe my car would be fixed by now. Stop the choke hold on the dealers selling your cars!
Anyone wish to be added to the list of "normal" cars, simply PM me with your info and I will gladly add you. The list is growing rapidly and if we don't hear something soon, I will be left with no option other than to turn this over to an attorney for a Class Action Suit against Dodge/Chrysler. FIX OUR CARS!!!
So... What do you have to say Dodge Cares???
November 18, 2014
Dear Dodge/Chrysler Customer Care:
I am writing this letter because I feel that I, along with many others, have been seriously let down by the lack of service we are getting with our Challenger’s. In particular, the HEMI TICK issue. One dealership says it’s normal, another actually takes the time to troubleshoot it, while others actually do perform service to correct it, such as replacing lifters that are showing flat spots?
Myself, along with many others, did not pay in excess of $40,000.00 for a car that ticks. We, the drivers, can hear it, our passengers can hear it, anyone sitting in the back seat can hear it, the service department at our dealers can hear it and yet, we are left holding the bag on service to STOP the ticking? There are many different things a dealer can do to attempt to fix this long standing problem. Yet, you, the big corporation, fails to allow them to do it. Too expensive for you? You didn’t have any problem taking our money when we bought our cars but now you won’t honor your commitment to excellence? All we want is our cars fixed. Plain and simple, fix it and we’ll be on our way!
My story is only one of many. I waited with great anticipation for my 2014 R/T Shaker to arrive at my dealer (Joe Cecconi’s Chrysler Complex, Niagara Falls, NY). After only a week or so of driving it, I noticed a ticking coming from the engine. The first thing I did was check the fluid levels in the car and everything was where it should be. A few days afterwards, at approximately the 500 mile mark, I pulled into the dealer to have my oil changed and to ask them to check the ticking. Cecconi’s was gracious enough to supply me with a Star Case (S1309000013 Ticking Noise from Upper End of Engine) that showed on some HEMI’s, tabs were left on lifters during the build process. The Star Case showed step by step instructions on how to remove these tabs with special attention of what NOT to do to avoid damage to the rocker shaft assembly and/or shaft tower, and to insure the retainers and rocker arms are not overlapped when torqueing bolts. It also stated not to rotate or crank the engine during or immediately after rocker arm installation to allow the hydraulic lifters adequate time to bleed down. It then makes reference to two other Star Cases, S1209000001 and S1309000021, that also pertain to the ticking. I owned an 09 R/T from October 2008 to April 2014 and never heard of a “HEMI Tick”.
A few days later, my car was returned to the dealer to have the Star Case performed, and unfortunately, the ticking did not stop after it was. Each and every time I brought the car in for service, I mentioned the ticking. Again, I pulled in to service to inquire about checking the intake bolts (plastic) and exhaust manifold bolts that others were reporting as lose, and that I am aware that an exhaust manifold could make the ticking noise I was hearing. I was really grasping at straws here to find what was causing this ticking! The dealership scheduled an appointment for me the next day. On arrival for my appointment, the tech that normally takes my information and has me sign the work order, asked me to have a seat and that he’d be right back. He didn’t come back…. someone else sat down and commenced to tell me that they would check the car again THIS TIME but not again for any ticking issue. On and on, finally stating they weren’t wasting time on my car as they would not get reimbursed from Chrysler for the service. I believe the man’s name was Shawn, and that he was the one who made me feel like a child in school being chastised by a teacher. I am a grown woman and I probably know more about my car than all the service technicians that were there. I did not appreciate being treated in this manner, and upset as I was, I walked out. A day or so later, I got Chrysler’s attention by posting on their Facebook page. After a week or so of phone tag, an appointment was made at Cecconi’s for me by Chrysler with hopes that a factory rep could be present.
The morning of this appointment, my son and I recorded the ticking from inside my car with the windows closed. It could clearly be heard, especially around the 2000 rpm mark. The factory rep got in the car and we went for a ride. He and a service tech could hear the ticking, and when we returned to the dealership, I also played the recordings I made that morning. The factory rep suggested that my car be changed from regular oil to full synthetic SRT oil. Since my contract with the dealer gives me free lifetime oil changes, I would have been responsible for any additional costs (no big deal for me), however, the factory rep stated that Chrysler would pay the difference for the next 5 years. The service department took my car into a bay and changed the oil right there and then. Driving home, my son and I could still hear the ticking, somewhat a little lower than what it was when brought in. After several days of driving, the ticking is back to what its been all along. I was hoping the synthetic oil change would have solved the problem. Oh, did I mention the following day I got an invoice from the dealer for $43.19, the cost difference for the oil change? Or that another Mopar bolt was lost? (2nd time for me!)
This morning, 11/18. I got a call from Chrysler Care stating that they would no longer provide any service on my brand new car for this ticking issue . Tell me Chrysler, if the factory rep and technicians didn’t think there was a problem, why did they do the work on the Star Case? Why did they authorize the change from regular to full synthetic oil? And if this is a known problem with HEMI engines, why aren’t they ALL doing it? Why are some customers getting service for this problem while others are denied? My 2009 5.7 R/T had no tick whatsoever. Many people I personally know with 5.7 HEMI engines have no ticking issues. So why is it that just a percentage of us that have this ticking problem can’t seem to get Dodge/Chrysler to fix it? Something is very wrong here.
I am currently collecting data from other Challenger owners to create a database of service, or lack there of. I’m amazed at how many other Challenger owners are jumping on board already and I haven’t even sent this letter to you yet! I’m hoping this issue can be resolved for all of us and that we won’t have to escalate this to the next level. All we want is our cars fixed once and for all. It’s not too much to ask that a brand new car doesn’t tick.
Here are 2 sound clips of just MY car. Keep in mind, this is only a cell phone recording.
Cutouts closed, filtered to remove exhaust sound
Car1-ORIGINAL.mp3 - picosong (Playing: Car1-ORIGINAL.mp3 - picosong)
Cutouts open
Playing Ticking by iamawild1 - picosong (Playing Ticking by iamawild1 - picosong)
I certainly will be anxiously waiting to see what Dodge/Chrysler has to say now.
And as a final note, I am NOT complaining about my Dealer. If it were up to them, I honestly believe my car would be fixed by now. Stop the choke hold on the dealers selling your cars!
Anyone wish to be added to the list of "normal" cars, simply PM me with your info and I will gladly add you. The list is growing rapidly and if we don't hear something soon, I will be left with no option other than to turn this over to an attorney for a Class Action Suit against Dodge/Chrysler. FIX OUR CARS!!!