What problems with the caliber have ya'll had

56501 Views 305 Replies 86 Participants Last post by Harley, Aug 7, 2006

ib2loud

Discussion Starter · Apr 4, 2006

So far the main complaint I have is the noise from the rear fenderwells at highway speed, i got down and tapped and it seems like the fenderwell liners are really loose and rattle around. I may take this in for a look at the dealership

also the sliding arm rest thing, i wish there was a lock to keep it in place, when i just move my arm the thing slides forward, or if i hit the brakes while not resting my arm on it, it slides forward

it's not even my car, but in the few miles i've driven it those are the things that stood out to me most

1 - 20 of 306 Posts

GOT

· #2 · Apr 5, 2006

Haven't notice any probs.

I'm not too keen with the sliding arm-rest thing either. I think if it had some sort of notch system where it didn't slide so easily it would be better.

Amandyke

· #3 · Apr 5, 2006

Car pulls right, slight rattle in the drivers door, paint chip in front passenger door sill, doors don't sit quite flush.

I'll keep an ear open to sound from the rear.

TechMan

· #4 · Apr 5, 2006

Amandyke said:
Car pulls right, slight rattle in the drivers door, paint chip in front passenger door sill, doors don't sit quite flush.

I'll keep an ear open to sound from the rear.

Please elaborate on "doors don't sit quite flush".

Amandyke

· #5 · Apr 5, 2006

They're not far off, but its noticeable.

Silverfox

· #6 · Apr 5, 2006

No problems at all, period.

caliber4whoosh

· #7 · Apr 5, 2006

Amandyke said:
Car pulls right/Nearly all cars from the factory have shit alignment, slight rattle in the drivers door/talk to the dealer, paint chip in front passenger door sill/ditto, doors don't sit quite flush./ditto

I'll keep an ear open to sound from the rear.

Bold is me

Amandyke

· #8 · Apr 6, 2006

So I brought the car into the dealer to get everything fixed up. Since it'd take more than the day to do it, they gave me a rental (why they didn't just give me an overnight "test drive" I'll never know). So I'm driving around in a Chrysler 300 Touring right now. Very nice car.

DodgeGirlKathy

· #9 · Apr 6, 2006

Two *potential* things -- but tell me if this is the same on yours or not. (Who knows if Service knows yet, with the car so new to market. I know someone on this forum will know!)

1) Aren't there supposed to be little indicator lights on the window switches on the driver's door? There are little bumps that look like lamps, but only 1 is lit up (marking the driver's window). Are yours on or off?

2) Power outlet (the cig lighter one, not the AC one). My cell phone batt had conked out so I left it plugged in for a couple of hours while away from the car. When I came back, the power light on the recharge cord was off. It's usually green when the phone is charged; I've never seen it off. Makes me think the power outlet does not work when the car is off....?? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of an accessory outlet?? What have you noticed about the workings of your power outlet?

thanks guys (and girls!)

draed

· #10 · Apr 6, 2006

For the first one, I don't know, I wasn't paying attention to the light switches

For the second one, I don't know the answer, but I was reading around on one of the forums this weekend and saw that the Charger has a fuse that needs to be changed to make the cig outlet on all the time. By default the fuse is in the off position so that the cig outlet is off when the key is off, by moving the fuse to be inline with the others (they were saying its the one thats offset a bit from the others) it makes the outlet on always. It may be the same with the caliber, it should be listed in the manual if it is.

Silverfox

· #11 · Apr 6, 2006

The cigarette lighter's outlet is on or off based on the position of the key in the ignition. If the battery is off, most all of the electrics are off as well in order to preserve battery life. Changing the fuse should help, but all I can suggest is to charge your phone while you're driving and then use a regular outlet when you get to your destination (if you can.)

DodgeGirlKathy

· #12 · Apr 6, 2006

Nah, I don't need to change it. Just good to know it's "working as designed". Thanks!

... And about the marker lamps on the window switches? Only 1 of the 4 on the drivers door is lit. Is that normal, or are you seeing all 4 lit up?

canoenut

· #13 · Apr 6, 2006

... And about the marker lamps on the window switches? Only 1 of the 4 on the drivers door is lit. Is that normal, or are you seeing all 4 lit up?[/quote]

I tried a Caliber at night and what you describe is the way that they are designed (only the driver's window switch is illuminated). One of the things that I liked about the VW Golf was that all the interior switches were softly lit with a red lighting (even the passenger door switches).

Silverfox

· #14 · Apr 6, 2006

My '98 Neon had both driver and passenger switches illuminated. The passenger's switch was also illuminated. In My brother's '01 Neon, both switches on the driver's side and the passenger's side are illuminated. In my '04 Neon, however, no switch was illuminated. The driver's switch being illuminated on the Caliber is a welcome change, although I've found a way to do it blind. I lay my hand down on the door lock switch and slide it back. My index and middle finger will slide into the fingerwells on the switches, and then I press them down.

preludepunk27

· #15 · Apr 6, 2006

canoenut said:
... And about the marker lamps on the window switches? Only 1 of the 4 on the drivers door is lit. Is that normal, or are you seeing all 4 lit up?

I tried a Caliber at night and what you describe is the way that they are designed (only the driver's window switch is illuminated). One of the things that I liked about the VW Golf was that all the interior switches were softly lit with a red lighting (even the passenger door switches).[/quote]

You can definately do that on the Caliber if you go to the nearest auto parts store and just change the bulb with a colored on. I have a blue light in my Prelude and for some reason everyone looooooved it. I just put it in cause i wanted a color that matched my dash but people went crazy...either my friends are really dumb or they liked how unique it was.

DodgeGirlKathy

· #16 · Apr 6, 2006

canoenut said:
I tried a Caliber at night and what you describe is the way that they are designed (only the driver's window switch is illuminated).

Okay, I'm just spoiled then!!

(On my last 3 vehicles, all 4 have been lit.)

Thanks for the feedback!

Amandyke

· #17 · Apr 7, 2006

Little update on my stuff. Apparently they fixed the doors not sitting quite flush. However, they did not fix the door rattle or the allignment. Said they couldn't confirm either. AND that even if they could fix the allignment, they didn't have specs for it yet as the car is so new.

Honestly that sounds like a load of bullshit to me. If you don't know the freaking specs, call the damn factory and REQUEST them! Is that too difficult? I'm sure the factory has the specs. And I'm sure they'd be more than willing to fax over the bit of the repair manual that tells you what the specs should be. Crimany. I don't think I'll be going to the dealer I bought the car from to get service if they're not even going to try and repair the car.

katiescaliber

· #18 · Apr 7, 2006

preludepunk27 said:
You can definately do that on the Caliber if you go to the nearest auto parts store and just change the bulb with a colored one. I have a blue light in my Prelude and for some reason everyone looooooved it. I just put it in cause i wanted a color that matched my dash but people went crazy...either my friends are really dumb or they liked how unique it was.

What do you ask for when you go to the auto parts store? Just say you want the little light bulbs that go inside the window buttons? I never knew they sold these, and in different colors! When I get my Caliber, I definitely want to do this!

CDN-SXT

· #19 · Apr 7, 2006

DodgeGirlKathy said:
Okay, I'm just spoiled then!! (On my last 3 vehicles, all 4 have been lit.)

Thanks for the feedback!

Hey me too! Why would they not light all the switches. In my Focus...I know I know

all 4 are lit, and all passenger switches front and back are lit. It's cool looking in the back seat at night and see these little glowing lights.

Aw well, I'll just have to live with when mine comes in....

preludepunk27

· #20 · Apr 8, 2006

katiescaliber said:
What do you ask for when you go to the auto parts store? Just say you want the little light bulbs that go inside the window buttons? I never knew they sold these, and in different colors! When I get my Caliber, I definitely want to do this!

Usually they tell you what model # the bulb is somewhere in the driver's manual somewhere and you can just go to the bulb section of the auto parts store and look for it over there. Or they'll tell yout he model in one of those Maintenance books they make for cars. I got one for my Prelude that basically shows you diagrams of how EVERYTHING on the car is put together. There are 2 major book brands that make these books but I'm totally blanking right now. They sell them in autoparts stores and book stores and stuff sometimes. I really don't know when a book will come out for the Caliber but they should have one out in 1 year or 2 tops.

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