New Jeep disaster

[Dennis]

I'm not sure whether this story fits the purpose of the forum, but it seems like the best place for it.

I've been planning to get an Unlimited since they were introduced last year, but I waited for 2005 because I wanted a manual transmission and the timing was better for my personal automotive situation. When the Rubicon edition was announced, and they upgraded the transmission to a six-speed, I was a ecstatic.

The first Unlimited Rubicons didn't start arriving until December, but, for various reasons, it was February by the time my order was in. I evaluated the dealers in the area and finally got a reasonable price from a five-star dealer I actually liked.

The Jeep arrived exactly six weeks after the order was placed. Not impressive, but perfectly acceptable. After a three mile test drive, I took delivery with 8 miles on the clock.

Later that same day, as the odometer hit 50, the check-engine light came on and it started to run poorly. I drove it a little more to see if it would smooth out, but the next morning I was at the dealer with 70 miles on it. That was five days ago (including two weekend days) and they still haven't figured out what is wrong with engine!

They have replaced a sensor or two and been on the hot line with DC, but so far nothing. They took it out for a test drive, but the engine stalled and wouldn't restart. They had to tow it back in. Then it started, of course.

I've been fairly patient, but this is a real black eye for DC and the dealer isn't looking too sharp either. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/td.gif

[Tomster]

Dennis:

Man, I am SO sorry that this has happened to you. This should be a time of pure joy for you. You should be enjoying that brand new Jeep right now and be smiling from ear to ear.

I hope this gets resolved right away.

Please let us know how all of this goes, OK?

Once again, Dennis, I sure am sorry that you are going through this.

Tom

[Don]

Dennis,,, this is my kind of luck. Man am I sorry to hear that this happened. I guess the upside is all the bugs will get worked out early and rest of the Jeep's life will be easy sailing.

[Dennis]

Thanks for the sympathy, guys. It is indeed outrageous.

This afternoon I got word that they had discovered a faulty wiring harness, or perhaps sub-harness. When they grabbed some wires and pulled, the engine stalled. They plan to replace this harness, but it will take 3-4 hours to install and at least another day to get the part. Availability of the replacement harness is still undetermined, but it looks like total time in the shop will be more than one week. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Marlon_JBT]

Sorry to hear that, Dennis. Good to know they found the problem now. It does take them forever to get parts in. The one part of auto repair that I just cannot stand...

[Paul E]

Dennis, this all sucks. But I'd rather them have the vehicle and work on it until they find it rather than take it back countless times. The second route is FAR more frustrating. Had that issue with my WJ's pinion seals... took 4 visits before they got it right (and the dealer was over an hour away).

[azjeeper]

Maybe you should ask if you can just get another jeep ?
At the very least this would be strike one against the vehicle for a lemonLaw .My unlimited rubi has more than 700 miles on her now .Yesterday was the first time i tried to tow a trailer 12x8 .Set the cruz at 60mph and all went well . loaded or empty it felt the same .
You may wish to contact DMV or the attorney general to find out your states lemonlaws and thier details .

[Dennis]

In California, at least, the dealer is required to give buyers a book on the lemon law at the time of delivery. So I have a nice fresh copy. The law might come in handy eventually, but at this point my shortest path to Jeepdom is letting them fix it. If the problem then recurs, I'll get the book back out.

[Don]

Maybe the only major problem that you ever have with this Jeep. FYI, I needed a sub wiring harness for my Wife's Ford...... Dealer's parts Department quoted me just over $1,180.00 JUST FOR THE HARNESS /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/td.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/furious.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/td.gif

I said, no thank you /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tu.gif

[**DONOTDELETE**]

6 weeks is not that bad of a wait but I hope everything works out for you

[Dennis]

Looks like the total wait for my new Wrangler will add up to about eight weeks.

They have located the required wiring harness at a supplier in Milwaukee and it will be sent by two-day air. Should arrive Tuesday, so I hope to get be driving again next Wednesday. That's exactly two weeks after the first happy delivery day.

Of course, this is all assuming they have actually identified the problem correctly.

Thanks again for listening to this tale of woe.

[Tomster]

Poor old Dennis! Man, I sure feel for ya.

I hope they have found the problem and that it will be fixed once and for all, so you can REALLY enjoy that new Jeep.

Let us know how it goes, Dennis. We're all rooting for ya.

Tom

[JeepTales]

http://jeeptales.com/logo.jpg

I have been selling Jeeps in Texas for about 15 years.

I'm so sorry to hear that the first week in your new toy has gone bad.

Over the past few years I’ve delivered thousands of Jeep although I know it’s a drag when this sort of thing happens to you... I can assure you this is not the normal occurrence.

Let me know if you need a few of the Magic Numbers to talk to the right people in working towards a resolution. My email address is greg@JeepTales.com

I hope we cross paths some day, perhaps at a Jeep Jamboree when our Jeep Tales American Tour comes your way.

Here is a link to a few hundred pictures and about 2 1/2 hours of MP3s so you can listen in on Jeepers having a good time at the 2005 Texas Spur Jeep Jamboree in Llano this past March. http://www.JeepTales.com. I hope they make you smile.

When you get your rig back I hope your first dent or scratch comes while your are having a good time and not in the parking lot of your local grocery store.

I’m sure I share the sentiments of all the forum members when I say “Hope to see you on the trial soon”. Best of Luck!

[mawardjr]

[ QUOTE ]
When you get your rig back I hope your first dent or scratch comes while your are having a good time and not in the parking lot of your local grocery store.

[/ QUOTE ]

AMEN!!!! As much as I hate denting my rig on the trail, it is nice to know that I was having fun (at least before the dent) when I got it!!! I see too many cars in parking lots with similiar damage and I bet the stories behind them aren't nearly as cool as ours.

[Dennis]

Thanks again for your encouragement and comiseration.

I'm pleased to report that my Jeep is back in the driveway. I picked it up this afternoon, two weeks (and some hours) after the original delivery. I've only driven about 15 miles, but it still runs.

Although I hope to snap out of it, this incident has really put a damper on my new-car experience. I need to get a lot of miles behind me to feel like I've really got a useful piece of machinery.

[Don]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks again for your encouragement and comiseration.

I'm pleased to report that my Jeep is back in the driveway. I picked it up this afternoon, two weeks (and some hours) after the original delivery. I've only driven about 15 miles, but it still runs.

Although I hope to snap out of it, this incident has really put a damper on my new-car experience. I need to get a lot of miles behind me to feel like I've really got a useful piece of machinery.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dennis, Put the top down, take the doors off,,,, and DRIVE. It won't take long and you will have forgotten all about this setback /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif

[Tomster]

Dennis:

I'm witcha. You are going to be wondering if that puppy is going to lay down on you when you are many miles from home. That should NOT be part of the buying experience, and I am really sorry that you are having to go through this. That new Jeep should have brought nothing but joy to your life.

OK, what's done is done, and as bad as it was, no use in letting it continue to ruin things for you. You have a new Jeep! It's under warranty, so you really can't lose... just maybe be inconvenienced.

Start enjoying that Jeep now. Your confidence will build, and all this crap will be left far behind and will pale in comparison with the pure fun you are having.

GO DRIVE THAT JEEP!

Tom

[Paul E]

I'd rather have these kinds of problems with it new than at 80,000 miles or so. Get em out of the way.

A few years ago, I had just purchased my 2002 sedan, which I LOVE to drive. 1 month after we took delivery, we were driving home from Ontario, CA to near Bakersfield, CA at night. I had serious electrical issues where my dash would not light up, the clock wouldn't work, display adjustments were as bright as could be, blinkers wouldn't work until the key was out, etc. Fortunately, the headlights never faltered. I was driving down a desert road and it was BLACK with NO moon.

I was PISSED. This should not have happened with a 1 month old, custom-ordered car. I was ready to ditch it then and there. But my dealer took care of us, gave us incredible service on a SUNDAY when they didn't have to do that, and had it fixed promptly the next day. Yes, I was fortunate that it was any easy fix (computer controller in the dash), but I wanted to point out that even big marquee names have issues occasionally. It is how they deal with it that stands out.

Yes they took a while to fix it, but they (hopefully) fixed it once and for all for you NOW instead of having to deal with it LATER.

Warranties are there for just this reason so just be glad it happened now. They had it for a while, but it is a much better to have them keep it until it is fixed rather than you having to bring it in 5,6,7 times just to hear them say, "We couldn't replicate the problem." Heard that WAY too much with my Grand Cherokee and it's eternal pinion seal leaks, which got fixed the 5th time it was in (under warranty).

I hope everything from here on out is a smooth (okay, rocky, sandy, muddy, articulating, air in your face, sun on your head) experience!

Happy Jeepin!

[Dennis]

Wow, this board does therapy too. I've put a few miles on, and I'm feeling better. I believe in breaking a new car in without high or constant speeds, so it takes a while.

This weekend I intend to set up my hard top hoist in the garage, so happy days should ensue.

[Don]

Dennis....... how are you and that Jeep doing?

[Dennis]

Don--

I don't how you keep up with all the folks on itsajeep, but thanks for your interest. I've put a couple hundred miles on since I finally got it back, and I'm definitely feeling better.

We're going to the mountains this weekend, and driving our Ruby Red. We'll take it easy on the freeway since it isn't really broken in yet, but I'm eager to get that soft top out from under the hard. Last weekend I installed a hoist in the garage up there, so now I'm ready to use it!

I'll take a brief topless joy ride, but California weather is still pretty winter-like. In Truckee, high temperatures are expected in the 50's and there may even be a little snow Sunday. This has been a wet and cold year here, but nobody is complaining. We're always happy to have water. Summer will be here soon.

[Don]

IF you think you love that Jeep now....... wait until you put the top down and take the doors off....... O'MAN!!! your Wife should be jealous /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dance.gif

[Tomster]

Dennis:

Glad to hear that you are finally getting to enjoy that Jeep! Keep us posted.

Tom

[Dennis]

I'm in the Sierra now, and I've both tops off. It's only 50 degrees outside, so the hard top will go back on for a few weeks. I took that planned joy ride in the cold, though!

Now for the bad news. The check-engine light just came back on. It seems to be running okay, but needless to say I'm unhappy. I hoped I wouldn't be adding any more to this thread, but I'll be back at the dealer next week. Hope the 200 miles to home is not a problem.

[Marlon_JBT]

Check the codes. Codes will read out as a 4 digit number. Whether a "P" will show up in front of it, I can't remember. Either the

On-Off-On-Off-On

or Hold down trip button, turn key to on should get you the codes... one of them, at least. Post them here, I'll look them up.

[JeepTales]

So glad to hear this...

What did the folks at the dealership say to you?

Are you feeling better about it now?

Go get yourself a Pat Green CD and go for a long topless drive.

[Dennis]

Thanks for the offer, Marlon, but I haven't been able to get a code today--the light went out! That's great news, since I have a 200 mile drive tomorrow morning.

When I had the initial problems reported above, I wasn't able to read code for other reasons. The on/off thing didn't work, and the odo button trick started a diagnostic sequence which said "no fault" as the only discernable value. I must add that the dealer had no trouble reading out multiple codes with their scanner, so I must have done something wrong.

[Dennis]

As might be expected, the light came back on. It went out again after I drove home, but I tried the code-check tricks while it was still on. Marlon, if you can do anything with this I'll be amazed.

The on/off trick did nothing. The odometer button trick first tests all the odo digits to be certain they work. Then it displayed, in sequence:

SoF 5.1
360408
BuS 60

After that sequence, it starts the instrument panel diagnostics.

[Marlon_JBT]

Trick worked today for me... my CEL is on... code P 0442 - Loose Gas Cap (I hope). Doh! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eusa_doh.gif

Maybe Autozone can figure the codes out?

[BobA]

Maybe your jeep is just upset that you havn't wheeled it yet. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hee.gif Sink it in a mudhole and see if the light goes out.I hope you do get it sorted out.Sounds like an aggravating thing to have to go through with a brand new vehicle.

[Dennis]

The dealer suggested that it might have come on because of the higher altitude (over 6000 feet). Not that it SHOULD come on at high altitude, but that may be the trigger.

I drove it around at sea level for four days and all was well. Then I took it to the dealer and they pulled the previous code which was P0058: O2 Sensor Heater high. (No way I could get this in the odometer, Marlon. Don't know why.)

They ran the diagnostics on the O2 sensor and it was fine. I think their theory about the high altitude might be right, but unfortunately the dealer is at sea level.

I'll see what happens next week when I head back to the mountains.

[Neal]

welcome to the Jeep world. Mine had been a pain from 15,000 to 75,000 miles. constant problems but will never sell. Sorry bout all the problems though. Maybe one day Daimer/Chrysler will figure it out.

[azjeeper]

SORRY I DO NOT BELIEVE THE 6000' LINE ...
I have a pal here who had the dealer install a 3" lift and 35s .About 2 months later he brought it in for "service " and complained about a bad rattle . He called the accessory guy to get involved . Service dept said they needed to redo the whole susspension and lift , and that was the whole problem . The accessory guy took a look and found the stock tire carrier had cracked "just like mine did " he replaced it and problem solved . I avoid the service dept at all costs now . Funny thing is they sent me a letter for a FREE lube oil filter .I sent back the letter saying i would not let them do so much as put air in my tire . GOOD LUCK and hope all works out for you .