GlowBot

I found a major problem with the new CSRT4's and winter driving. I don't know if anyone else has felt this but if snow gets into the two vents next to your fog lights and you drive 100kph or more the whole car will shake very badly. My car shook so bad that I had to get off the highway and find a coin car wash just to melt the snow and ice that was built up in the vents. 45 mins after I cleaned them they were blocked up again and I had the same problem. The car shakes so bad it is hard to keep it on the road let alone control it when changing lanes. This defect is going to get people killed. Dodge should have made blocks for the air vents just for winter driving... Like something we can remove in the summer time because we really dont need them in the winter.

This car is fast and has lots of balls but it is by far a summer car. You should be able to drive it in the winter without any issues like this.

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2008 Caliber SRT4, 2006 Marix XR

GreaseMonkey

You got something else going on there besides the vents. You're probably getting snow packed up into the wheels.

I've been driving mine since January here in Michigan in snow, and the only time I've had a shaking issue is snow packed into the wheels. I've gotten some snow and other stuff into the brake vents, which just caused some noise.

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'08 Caliber SRT-4
'02 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100
I'd rather be on two wheels than four.

GlowBot

there was nothing on the wheels. Only in the vents.

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2008 Caliber SRT4, 2006 Marix XR

GreaseMonkey

I honestly do not see how snow in the vents would cause this issue.

I had mine packed with snow and this did not happen on mine at freeway speeds.

You have something else going on there.

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'08 Caliber SRT-4
'02 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100
I'd rather be on two wheels than four.

GlowBot

There was also alot of ice under the car. But still no matter what a car should not do this. I driven many cars in the winter and never had this problem.

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2008 Caliber SRT4, 2006 Marix XR

GreaseMonkey

There are only two things that could cause your issue.

Ice/snow packed onto the CV shafts, or ice/snow packed into the wheels/brakes/hubs.

If it keeps doing it without the ice/snow, then your tires/wheels could be out of balance or a loose suspension/steering component causing "deathwobble."

Deathwobble is more common with lifted Jeeps and trucks, but can still happen to cars at certain speeds. I very highly doubt this is your issue, but it's still a possibility.

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'08 Caliber SRT-4
'02 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100
I'd rather be on two wheels than four.

GlowBot

Man I dont know but the steering wheel was shaking so bad it was moving about 2 inches back and forth. You could feel it sitting in the passagers seat and you could hear it anywhere in the car. It sounded like the whole front bumper wanted to fly off. I wouldnt even expect this much movment in the wheel going 200 MPH in this car... I was only doing 60 MPH.

This is the first Dodge I have owned. I am a Toyota kinda a guy and before Toyota I would buy Olds. I love my Matrix but its not as good in the snow as the CSRT4 at low speeds. I cant wait for winter to be over with so I can have some real fun with this car.

Could it be possable that they forgot some bolts/screws for the bumper?

Could ice build up on the springs cause this? I did pull off a nice chunk of ice off them.

No matter if its ice in the wheel well or ice on the front windshild a car should not have a problem like this. Now if it was once in a while I would have no problem but I will clean everything in the car wash and then drive it a bit, get something to eat, start driving again and the problem is back just as bad. It does not build up bad... it is there or not there.

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2008 Caliber SRT4, 2006 Marix XR

charliemurfie

I had the same issue with my last car (Also a Dodge (08 Avenger))...My issue was caused by snow/ice build up in the wheel wells, behind the tires against the front of the rocker panel.

No symptoms when cruising below 100kph, but as soon as you kit 100, it stared the shakes...same thing you're describing...I pulled over, knocked out the snow/ice build up and the problem disappeared!

I'm assuming when you get up to that speed and the tires flare up (picture when they show a burnout occuring in slo-mo) the tires begin to scrape the snowy build up, causing grooves and causing the mean shake to occur...

Just my $.02

GreaseMonkey

I'd get it into the dealer. You've got something else going on.

I've had snow packed in my wheel wells, in the springs, in the vents, bumper under the car, you name it and I haven't had a single issue like this. The only time I had this issue is when snow built up on the inside of the rim.

Are your strut spacers removed from the front struts?

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'08 Caliber SRT-4
'02 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100
I'd rather be on two wheels than four.

GlowBot

yah I think I am going to bring it in and have them take a look at it.

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2008 Caliber SRT4, 2006 Marix XR