Chrysler Crossfire
Hood lift support

This is one information page of my collection of what I have repaired on my Crossfire.

Note:
You should not do any repair on your car if you don't have enough experience and knowledge! You use this information at your own risk! Don't blame me if something goes wrong.

Content:

• Main Content Chrysler Crossfire DIY
  1. Hood lift support
  2. New hood lifter (gas spring)

Crossfire share most of it's chassis parts with Mercedes SLK R170 and many other Mercedes C and E class, year from 1997 to 2004.

Hood lift support:

Gas springs ages and you soon or later have to replace them. You notice it when it can hold the hood open.

As usual when you plan to use the car you find something new to repair. This time it was the gas spring to the hood lift support that had got broken during the winter.

There is only one gas spring, it's on the left side seen from back, right here.

In Europe where I live it could be difficult to find spare parts to Chrysler Crossfire. After I have read a lot of information on the internet I understood that even this gas damper are used on the Mercedes SLK (R170), it was not so obvious because the hood and bodies look so different on these two cars.

When knowing this it was much easer to find suppliers of this spare part and at much lower cost, from 20 to 80 Euro. But don't order anything until I have tested that it really fits.

Here how it looks, the gas damper is mounted inside a plastic tube, normally you only replace the gas damper, be carefully to not destroy the plastic tube.

Here is a video how to dismantle the above parts:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWslkIaTTB4 (How to take the plastic house away from the gas damper, YouTube)

This is the upper end. You see the release button, this release button you must also keep and mount on your new gas damper. Be gently, it's plastic and easy to break.

This is the lower end, a ball joint hold it to the chassis of the car. Bent gently to release it

Text info on the gas damper.

Text info on the gas damper, what I know it has the force of 260 Nm (Newton meter).

I will be back when I have replaced it and let you know if the Mercedes SLK gas damper fits correctly.

New hood lifter (gas spring)

It was difficult to find a gas spring for the Crossfire, instead I ordered one for the Mercedes SLK (R170 model), about 1/5 of the cost. A week after I placed the order I got it. It's a bit different, this one doesn't need the surrounding plastic tube, it can be mounted directly. I save the plastic tube for maybe future need. It's about 5 centimeter (2") shorter, but still it work as it should.

Lower attachment point. This gas spring is mounted upside down compared to the older one.

Upper attachment point with its fastening clip.

I'm lucky to have the hood's lift support working again.