bramfrank

Not sure why they wanted people to avoid the 4 - it pulls well enough except, perhaps if one wanted to execute a tricky high speed highway pass. I'd probably have opted for a 4 banger SXT myself instead of my SE PLUS (which in Canada is a much better value proposition than the corresponding US SE trim level for the same money) to benefit from the firmer suspension, nicer trim and feature set. But there is a LOT more incentive in the US to upgrade from the SE to the SXT given how they really don't give much for that first upgrade step from the AVP. That no charge 3rd row seating during March announcement would also have been nice - the rear aircon that it comes with might have been useful, even if I would never, ever have actually raised that 3rd row of seat backs.

You'd need to use an mp3 tag editor.

I don;t believe any vehicle displays expected nmileage to empty below about 30 miles - my GMs worked that way, my motorcycles work that way and my old LHS simply frops from 30 to zero and then chimes and the light comes on, almost the same thing. 'Low Fuel' means that you should get your butt to the closest station and add some. If you know it is about 30 or so miles you can elect to live dangerously and ignore the message for a while - but note that; 1. Running with low fuel allows fuel to slosh around more and stirs up sediment and debris that can clog the filter. 2. Low fuel levels contribute to high levels of condensation in tanks at night - this can rust out components. 3. Low fuel levels leaves a larger percentage of the fuel exposed to the atmosphere in the tank which in this age of adding corn alcohol to gasoline means you will suck in a lot of moisture, further reducing your mileage.

Essentially, every vehicle is capable of implementing almost any of the features that one might get in a 'higher' model - there are 'semaphores' in the software that determine whether your air conditioning is servo-based or temperature controlled. There are codes to control access for fog lights, daytime running lights, cruise control, remote starter, remote window roll down and so much more. As you saw, however just installing fog lights doesn;t do the entire job in this case - the light switch needed to be replaced as well because it doesn't have the switch or software to control the fog lights. The samer applies to features like express down and express up window controls. All it takes is the ability to log in to the BCM and set (or reset) the appropriate codes. And that's where they can make a killing.

On the Canadian model, if you don;t have any sensors the system will warn you once and when you acknowledge the warning the system will not bother you any more - models in other countries may behave differently. I strongly suspect that as long as you have at least one active sensor the system will remain active.

Confirmed

The navigator software in the unit is a port from classic Garmin units and is licensed from Garmin. Garmin uses Navteq mapping.

Wrong. The filter can deal only with larger bits of contamination - if the filter caught it all then the oil wouldn't get black. That you never had any problems means nothing. Did you do a leakdown test? A compression test? Did you pull the crank and check the big end bearings? I didn't suggest the engine would blow up. Just that there's no benefit to paying triple for oil and that changing one third as often is not beneficial. LOL

Just to be correct, it should perhaps be noted that Nokia owns Navteq, not Garmin, and that Garmin is a publicly traded company owned by . . . whomever. As to why they charge for in-dash navigator map updates? Simple: The owners are a captive market - they have no options and, the reality is that Chrysler COULD have negotiated lifetime map updates for owners, but they want to keep their costs as low as possible - that's also why there are no tire warranties and why battery warranties are limited - they'd need to pay for them.

The simple reality is that if you run oil for twice as long you have double the contaminants in the sump and circulating through the engine, offsetting any friction reduction benefits due to using synthetic by the increased friction from contaminants. Since oil doesn't get 'used up' before it gets too dirty to reasonably keep in the engine, I use conventional 'dyno' oil and change it every 3K or so miles - that also gets a fresh filter into the system that much more often. I've yet to lose an angine to wear.

I wrote that you could probably lower your cost by $400 (which is substantial on a $1700 purchase) by sourcing the GPS elsewhere. I never suggested you wouldn't need to buy the controller by doing so - in fact I pointed out that you'd still need to buy their wiring harness. If you have any questions for them it isn't exactly difficult to click on the "chat now' button on their web site to ask.

Before you send your $$$$ to these guys for your systems, you should note that the Kenwood KNA-G610 navigator they use can be purchased for less than $200 online (it retails for $800). I dont know what THEY sell the GPS for, and you will need the wiring harness, but I suspect this is a quick way to knock off $400 so from the installed cost.

Base models don't enable the remote window roll down feature. The dealer may (or may not) be able to make it work in your car. It depends on just how they did it.

Since the problem was that people would weigh down their fobs with keys that would apply torque and switch off the ignition they really only had two options; 1. Apply a sticker to the dash that states not to put other keys on a ring with the fob (which, interesting enough would have been acceptable to the NHTSA). 2. Make it so that owner's keys would not cause the problem - and since this was across the entire product line, I think it was a stand-up thing to do that they chose to do a physical modification than to take the 'easy' way out and print up a million or so stickers and mail them out.

1. Buy Gates. 2. No.

You DO realise that it would be just the side rails . . . in the US the units below the Crew don't come with cross rails. In Canada, the 2012 SE+ is a MUCH beter value proposition. It comes with a full rack with cross rails, 17" aluminum wheels, dark tinted glass, leather steering wheel & shifter, carpets, luggage compartment cover, LED tail lights and body color heated mirrors. Grab handles would have been nice, mind you.

I'm glad I don't live in your neighborhood.

I like the integration, but at $700, plus the cost of a backup camera and their navigator? And you can apparently add in a Bluetooth module as well. And who knows about the mapping? For now I am sticking with my 'junky' Garmin 3790, which is an advanced version of the system they have integrated into the 8.4 that has more operating featgures and includes lifetime map updates that cost $175/year and lifetime real time traffic - mine is mounted above the rear view mirror and the wiring is run through the headliner, so it looks more integrated that it would had I just stuck it to the windshield and let the power cord dangle.

Seems like time for the dealer to have a look at my radio

The hiccup is supposedly fixed with a software update (search the board for details) - it has been applied to mine - maybe that's where the iPhone interface broke?

Not for me. I use a Blackberry and have a 'touch' in the armrest.

Tried 2. A 3 and a 4S. It gets stuck on 'reading iPod'.

That's the point. There are no unsightly wires - and the device sits above the rear view mirror- more visible without taking my eyes off the road - no map updates to buy, no subscriptions required for traffic and I saved about $1500 to boot.

The cost of upgrading alone is reason enough not to purchase the nav option - a 3790 comes with lifetime maps and traffic and sells for less than $260 in Costco this week.

1. The seats are different? That's news. 2. There are topics on the subject, but I strongly suspect that it would be cheaper to trade in the vehicle and get a new one. Just hang a navigator from the windshield above the rear view mirror and have someone run the power up into the headliner through the front pillar so there's no hanging wire. Garmin's 3490 or 3790 are both excellent candidates. They come with lifetime map updates ands traffic as well.