Is my Hemi Dead? I think so... :(

[SRT8U]

What a sad sad day
I spent the afternoon washing the SRT8U I hadnt driven her all weekend and decided to go run and get some food for dinner. Nice cool night..sunroof open windows down cruising..I cruised for a few miles and decide to take the long way to the restarant to pick up the food... surface streets...stop and go traffic ...I had probably started and stopped at red lights about 5 times this night before "IT" happened. Took off from a redlight...not super fast once rolling I hit it a little and quickly got up to 60 mph...the next light was red...I took my foot off the gas and began to coast...tapped the brakes, then held them to a complete stop. As I was coming to a stop something didn't feel right...I thought it was my brakes at first you know the feeling when the brakes rusty from a car wash and havent been driven, but this felt different...a grinding/shuddering...and it couldnt be brakes...I had already started and stopped plenty of times this night. I had probably driven 4-5 miles and operating temps were normal. When I came to a stop the car shuddered and a loud thunk thunk was heard...then the engine died. Weird...So I started her up...and she ran fine ...no lights no noises nothing hmmm.
SO I put her in D, foot on brake, and thunk thunk dies again...this repeated once more, and I notice the oil pressure light comes on...not good...my intent was only to get my car off the road so I could try to figure out the problem...I was the first car at the light and apparently the idiots behind me dont realize what hazard lights mean. Once more I fire her up...fine in Park, no lights no noises. I quickly put it in D, and shift to auto stick...the car runs fine and I drive her to the nearest safe parking area about 100-200 yds away...no issues no lights, when I pull into a parking space though same thing as i come to a halt thunk and shuts off.
So I call my wife and the Chrysler Roadside assistance. I cant get the car out of teh space because it will die when I put into D or R...each time this also causes the oil light to come on. However there is no oil light when in N or P. My wife heard a tell tale sound coming from the passenger side of the engine block and this was while idle in N or P...so that doesnt sound tranny related...up to this point I have has no issues w the car at all, no hint that there was a tranny or engine issue...no noises no loss of power.. nada. I thought maybe it was limp mode but after letting the car sit it still did the same things. My fear is that there is a serious engine and or tranny issue. So the flatbed came and we dropped her off at the dealer. Anyway...anyone have any thoughts I guess I will know more tomorrow.
Maybe it is back to Ford for me lol.
5 ford products and I have never had my car serviced for anything other than an oil change and owned the cars for years and 50-60-70k miles...for the record my charger has 12900 miles on it...sigh...not good fellas.

[Ghostface Mag]

[SRT8U]

I might also add...pretty much stock execpt a CAI.

[da BoMM]

OUCH -- that's painful! Can't hazard a guess as to what's wrong, but hope it's not serious. Keep us posted.

[lafrad]

Sounds like you may have a Lockup Clutch problem... this is related to the torque converter and transmission.

had that EXACT same problem on an old Oldsmobile that I drove when i was 16... the lockup clutch in the converter got stuck in the "locked" position. When you go to stop, the engine will strain against the clutch and just die. sounds awful...

Should be a quick fix if this is the problem... as the chrysler techs are getting good at doing trans maint... (have been for the past 20 years... :rolleyes:

[hemiwagn]

did you check the engine oil level by chance?

Lets hope it is like lafrad has diagnosed; pls keep us posted!
--hw

[Super T]

i didn't think the water-in-the-tranny tsb applied to srt's, but if you had some in yours for a long time maybe your internals are all bunked? Whatever it is, no worries... 3/36 warranty on the complete powertrain and they can't blame anything on your intake. if they try it, tell them you know damn well where the burden of proof lies and your lawyer will be in contact. don't ditch the car though man... you have have had some good luck with your fords, but what on earth would you buy from them that even comes CLOSE to the power, performance, or appearance of the mag?

[Nightshade]

i didn't think the water-in-the-tranny tsb applied to srt's, but if you had some in yours for a long time maybe your internals are all bunked? Whatever it is, no worries... 3/36 warranty on the complete powertrain and they can't blame anything on your intake. if they try it, tell them you know damn well where the burden of proof lies and your lawyer will be in contact. don't ditch the car though man... you have have had some good luck with your fords, but what on earth would you buy from them that even comes CLOSE to the power, performance, or appearance of the mag?

But he has a Charger, not a magnum..

Good thing the chargers are sweet looking too..


I agree though, take it in, it's gonna be something minor.. and if not, they will make it right am sure.. they have to..

[Lburou]

It could be simple, and just be a gap in your education, (mine too)

About Fords....In 1986, my whole family was along when our 1984 Continental with 63,000 miles on it quit entirely on us. It was in the middle of the night, in the middle of Kansas, in the middle of the Summer, in the middle of Labor Day weekend.

On tuesday, when the Ford garage opened, the service writer knew exactly what caused it and correctly diagnosed a broken timing chain over the phone. Ford had not bothered to notify me of this common failure....No more fords for me, ever....The local Ford/Lincoln, Mercury Dealer took a week to get the part and fix it....UNSATISFACTORY.

[SRT8U]

I hope it is minor...we shall see...yeah it is aready at the dealer. she got towed tonight as it was unable to be driven

[SRT8U]

It could be simple, and just be a gap in your education, (mine too)

About Fords....Five of us had an 1984 Continental with 63,000 miles on it quit entirely on us. It was in the middle of the night, in the middle of Kansas, in the middle of the Summer, in the middle of Labor Day weekend.

On tuesday, when the Ford garage opened, the service writer knew exactly what caused it and correctly diagnosed a broken timing chain over the phone. Ford had not bothered to notify me of this common failure....No more fords for me, ever....The local Ford/Lincoln, Mercury Dealer took a week to get the part and fix it....UNSATISFACTORY.

We all have our stories I guess...
My Ford dealers have always been better to me...free loaners ...sorry but I expect w a 45-50k car to have a damn loaner when in for warranty work...I would get them when I had a 20k car at Ford...and I have had Ford cars and trucks both... for the past 15 years..no recalls, no warranty work nada. Not saying no one has issues w any car make...just my experience. To this point I have been happy w my car...I love it...but this issue seems pretty bad to me..like new engine bad...and that will not make me hapy...if they cant even figure out the right kind of oil to put in my ride at the dealer what makes me think they will have a clue how to swap out a motor or tranny.
If I find out this oil issue is behind it ie. they put in teh wrong type and weight of oil when SRT exlusively calls for only one weight/type , they will be buying my car back...mark my words.

[Big Boy]

Sometimes the oil light just comes on because the engine died and there's no oil pressure at that moment.

I too had a vehicle that had the torque converter not unlocking. If you every had a manual transmission and were stopped, in gear and let the clutch out. Yes, it feels like that.

[SRT8U]

Sometimes the oil light just comes on because the engine died and there's no oil pressure at that moment.

I too had a vehicle that had the torque converter not unlocking. If you every had a manual transmission and were stopped, in gear and let the clutch out. Yes, it feels like that.

I am hoping this is the case..
It does feel kinda like how a manual would when you let the clutch out to fast and stall the car, only more violent. LOL
My only concern is the noises coming from the engine block that go along w the lights :(

[TNCHARGER]

We all have our stories I guess...
My Ford dealers have always been better to me...free loaners ...sorry but I expect w a 45-50k car to have a damn loaner when in for warranty work...I would get them when I had a 20k car at Ford...and I have had Ford cars and trucks both... for the past 15 years..no recalls, no warranty work nada. Not saying no one has issues w any car make...just my experience. To this point I have been happy w my car...I love it...but this issue seems pretty bad to me..like new engine bad...and that will not make me hapy...if they cant even figure out the right kind of oil to put in my ride at the dealer what makes me think they will have a clue how to swap out a motor or tranny.
If I find out this oil issue is behind it ie. they put in teh wrong type and weight of oil when SRT exlusively calls for only one weight/type , they will be buying my car back...mark my words.

I already posted to this on another forum about the wrond oil...but yes I agree about the loaner...I can get a loaner from my local Ford dealer & Dodge dealer...one big difference between the Ford & Dodge dealers...the Dodge dealer will loan me vehicle even if I bring my 1990 Bronco II in for them to service...and did just that a couple of weeks ago..they put valve cover gaskets on...What I am getting at here is that service is a dealer function..not brand..................but give em heck over the oil if they put the wrong vel in...I am so anal about changing oil I would not be able to...dang..

[SRT8U]

I already posted to this on another forum about the wrond oil...but yes I agree about the loaner...I can get a loaner from my local Ford dealer & Dodge dealer...one big difference between the Ford & Dodge dealers...the Dodge dealer will loan me vehicle even if I bring my 1990 Bronco II in for them to service...and did just that a couple of weeks ago..they put valve cover gaskets on...What I am getting at here is that service is a dealer function..not brand..................but give em heck over the oil if they put the wrong vel in...I am so anal about changing oil I would not be able to...dang..

I hear ya...on the oil issue..this is the reason I take it to the dealer rather than some quick change place...
1. They should know the right oil
2. It is documented is there is an issue
Looks like I am 2 for 2 lol

TN...your dealer is definitely the exception to the rule no matter the make...I am still floored that they would install the aftermarket cams etc in your ride. I am jealous lol