I GOT MY 2008 DODGE CHALLENGER JULY 11TH AFTER 2 WEEKS I HAD 300 MILES ON IT. ONE MORNING I STARTED THE CAR AND I THOUGHT I WAS HEARING THINGS. THE MOTOR HAD A TICKING NOISE FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS. IT STARTED TO GET WORSE. NOW ITS UP TO 2 MINUTES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WITH 500 MILES ON IT AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CALLED THE STAR TECHS AND THEY TOLD THEM THAT IT HAD TO BE DRIVEN 1500 MILES TO BREAK IT IN.THE SECOND TIME I TOOK IT IN WITH 1100 MILES THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS RESTICTED MOTOR AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO TOUCH THE CAR.AFTER NUMEROUS CALLS TO CHRYLER THE DEALER CALLED BACK.THEY TALKED TO SOME ONE AT STAR TECH AND RECOMENED THAT THEY PULL THE MOTOR AND REPLACE THE PISTONS,RODS,BEARINGS AND LIFTERS. I ASKED FOR A NEW MOTOR FROM THE FACTORY NOT A REBUILD MOTOR FROM SOMEONE AT THE DEALER. THEN I ASKED TO TALK TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER HE TOLD ME THE SAME THING.THE FUNNY THING WAS HE OFFERED ME A 7 YR 100000 MILE WARRANTY FOR THE DRIVE TRAIN FOR FREE. I SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR. FOR A NEW CAR NOT A REBUILT ONE. DID I MENTION THAT I AM A CERTIFIED TECH FOR 30YRS AND OWN MY OWN REPAIR SHOP FOR 20YRS. SO I KNOW THAT THERE IS AN LIFTER OR AN INTERNAL PROBLEM IN THE MOTOR.THEY ARE NOT GOING TO TELL ME THAT IT NEEDS 1500 MILES TO BREAK IN. IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND WHAT SHOULD BE MY NEXT STEP? I ALSO OWN A 1972 CHALLENGER. IF I KNEW I WOULD HAVE ALL THESE PROBLEMS I WOULDNT EVEN HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR. I AM SO DISSCUSTED WITH DODGE. IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN GET ME A DIRECT PHONE NUMBER TO THE SRT PEOPLE.IT SEEMS THERE IS NO HOT LINE OUT THERE. I NEED HELP PLEASE!!!! THANKS

 

I'm pretty sure I can help you with this but since I am not allowed to give you any information (not being a forum sponsor) it is kinda hard. I waanted to help but cannot justify the money for me to be here just to help. Get a hold of the mods and see if they will give you my contact info or process me in here to be able to help you guys when you need it.

Mark Jorgensen

 

Just state your opinion about the motor ticking, you are a forum member. We are here as a group to help each other. I have 900 miles on my 08 which I picked up from the dealer on August 8, 2008. When I start my car the engine also has a ticking sound.

 

same problem for me. the service tech pulled out a broken valve spring and bent valve. hey just got permission from chrysler to pull the head, drop the oil pan, and check for more damage. my car only has 550 miles on it and its already in for major engine work. the engine tech is not happy(neither is the owner) that he has so much work in front of him, considering its a brand new car. at least I get a free oil change.

 

Did you guys do the factory break in or did you drive it hard?
I drove mine like I stole it. Pm me if you dont want every one to know.

 

Didn't even have enough time to drive it hard before it broke. Maybe just my luck to get a bad spring.

 

I drove mine per the factory instructions. 50-60 mph for the first 500 miles, then around 50-70 mph with bursts to 100 mph for a short sprint. I wait till the rpm's drop from 1200 on startup to 700 rpm's then put the car into reverse to back out of my garage. I do not dog the car. Now with 900 miles on the car, I blew away a souped up Mustang, then slowed down to 60 mph. He must of been embarrassed with his friends in the car, cause he never even tried to catch up to me. I'm 59 years old and I love this car. Hopefully the ticking sound will disappear with more miles on the car. When I have 1500 miles on the car I will take back to dealer for my free oil change and take the print out Venthos listed with the tsb's and recalls. I already took it back for the ign module, showed service mgr seat bolts, he filed paperwork with Chrysler. This is my last new car for life, so any gremlins floating around in the car, I hope are minor ones.

 

It does not take 1500 miles to break in an engine!!!! Some-one is pulling a snow job on the guys having issues. Once the rings seat in the cylinders it is broken in. That only takes a few miles. The whole story about lifters and valve trane needing time to break in is complete BS. These components do not get stronger over time. Hopefull a Dodge rep will step up and do the right thing for the guys having trouble. If the motor is ticking now...it is not going to just go away by itself. At the very minimum, the valves probaly need adjusted.

 

You are right on the money !! I talked to a few people in my area with over 40 years of racing mopars. They agree with you 100 %. I started my 08 Chally yesterday and did not hear any ticking sound. I took her out for 2 hours and maintained 70-80 mph with an occasional burst to 100 mph. The Maryland state troopers were out in full force on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I thought my goose was cooked a couple times !!! I now have 1000 miles on the odometer, having owned my car for 3 months, just a fair weather cruiser.

 

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