Nothing but problems

[Baranovic]

@JeepCares case# 848712118
I bought my Gladiator in July of 2021, it’s a 2020 but was brand new with only 4 miles on it. Since then anytime the weather gets cold it won’t start or it starts and won’t go into gear. I have had it towed to the dealer twice and driven it to the deal 5/6 times for the same issue. They can’t seem to find the problem. 2 weeks ago they decided the shifter was the problem so they changed it out. Got my Jeep back on Wednesday night drove it Thursday and Friday. Monday I went to leave for work and the Jeep wouldn’t start. Called the tow truck and towed it to the dealership once again. They have had it now for 9 days, I called jeep cares last monday(the day it was towed) got a case number since then I have called them twice and have not heard back.
Over the summer I got a new radio install by Alpine at a jeep show, the dealer is trying to say my radio is causing my problems! Problem with that is the jeep was doing this last winter before the radio was installed and all summer long the jeep was fine. I am so done with my jeep, the dealership, jeep cares and everything to do with the jeep.
While I love my jeep, I can’t keep going through this, I didn’t buy a new jeep to have an unreliable vehicle, I can’t keep ask friends if I can borrow their car to get to work and I don’t know what to do at this point.

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[Maximus Gladius]

This really sucks to have to deal with this. Sometimes for techs to not actually find the root cause is just that the wrong tech or dealership doesn’t chase down these ghosts very well. It’s being lucky to have a tech on it that’s dealt with this before.

Have you tried another dealership?

 

[sharpsicle]

I know this sounds like a pain, but if the claim is that the aftermarket radio is causing issues, then I'd re-install the factory radio and take it back in to eliminate that as a potential cause. It will help move things along. The dealership can test and diagnose a factory radio, they can't do anything for an aftermarket radio, so with the aftermarket in there and a potential reason for the issue, they're kind of hitting a wall for diagnosis. Removing that wall for them will really help because it will allow them to not guess as much.

It sucks, but that's the nature of aftermarket upgrading while in the warranty period; you've got to be prepared to return whatever you changed back to stock for warranty work.

 

[Baranovic]

This really sucks to have to deal with this. Sometimes for techs to not actually find the root cause is just that the wrong tech or dealership doesn’t chase down these ghosts very well. It’s being lucky to have a tech on it that’s dealt with this before.

Have you tried another dealership?

I haven’t tried another deal ship but only because the next closest dealership to me and no better than the one I am using. My friend had a lot of problems with the other dealership.

 

[Baranovic]

I know this sounds like a pain, but if the claim is that the aftermarket radio is causing issues, then I'd re-install the factory radio and take it back in to eliminate that as a potential cause. It will help move things along. The dealership can test and diagnose a factory radio, they can't do anything for an aftermarket radio, so with the aftermarket in there and a potential reason for the issue, they're kind of hitting a wall for diagnosis. Removing that wall for them will really help because it will allow them to not guess as much.

It sucks, but that's the nature of aftermarket upgrading while in the warranty period; you've got to be prepared to return whatever you changed back to stock for warranty work.

The dealer disconnected the radio all together.

 

[sharpsicle]

The dealer disconnected the radio all together.

Okay. But if they're claiming it's the issue, you still should get the OEM one back in there. Otherwise they have no chance to run the problem down any further.

Disconnecting the radio doesn't prove or disprove the radio is the problem. It just shows it's something in that area/along those lines.

It sounds like their suspicion might have some validity to it. Only way to know for sure is return it to stock and do more testing. As a former MECP tech I can tell you step 1 in diagnosing problems like this is always to remove what was added/changed and see if the problem persists.

Also, it helps to return everything to OEM configuration if possible because it gives you the most solid place to start from in terms of troubleshooting and diagnosis. I would still recommend putting the OEM radio back in and keeping it in until the problem is identified and corrected.

 

[Baranovic]

Okay. But if they're claiming it's the issue, you still should get the OEM one back in there. Otherwise they have no chance to run the problem down any further.

Disconnecting the radio doesn't prove or disprove the radio is the problem. It just shows it's something in that area/along those lines.

It sounds like their suspicion might have some validity to it. Only way to know for sure is return it to stock and do more testing. As a former MECP tech I can tell you step 1 in diagnosing problems like this is always to remove what was added/changed and see if the problem persists.

Also, it helps to return everything to OEM configuration if possible because it gives you the most solid place to start from in terms of troubleshooting and diagnosis. I would still recommend putting the OEM radio back in and keeping it in until the problem is identified and corrected.

I can put the ome radio back in not a problem, but why would the new radio all of a sudden cause this problem when the problem started before I got the new radio?

 

[sharpsicle]

I can put the ome radio back in not a problem, but why would the new radio all of a sudden cause this problem when the problem started before I got the new radio?

I hear you, but that's not going to be answered until the OEM radio is back in and the problem can be looked into further.

The radio is a central part of the Jeep systems. A lot goes through it. Electrical warranty work typically hits a wall when an aftermarket component is in the middle of all that.

Think of the aftermarket radio like a curtain in the middle of all those systems. If you are able, remove that curtain, that way the techs can see further and identify the real problem. Until you do, all they see is the 'curtain' that is the radio, and will say the problem is there since they can see no further.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

One point that isn’t clear is when this problem occurred, did you ever take it in before the new radio was put in?

 

[Baranovic]

One point that isn’t clear is when this problem occurred, did you ever take it in before the new radio was put in?

The problem started before I did anything to the Jeep, it started last winter(2021) but in the summer the jeeps fine, so when it got cold again the problem start again.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I hear you, but that's not going to be answered until the OEM radio is back in and the problem can be looked into further.

The radio is a central part of the Jeep systems. A lot goes through it. Electrical warranty work typically hits a wall when an aftermarket component is in the middle of all that.

Think of the aftermarket radio like a curtain in the middle of all those systems. If you are able, remove that curtain, that way the techs can see further and identify the real problem. Until you do, all they see is the 'curtain' that is the radio, and will say the problem is there since they can see no further.

Can’t the radio be taken out of the equation by pulling the fuse? Shouldn’t everything else just fine without that fuse?

 

[WoolyKris]

Definitely put the original radio back, even tough it is most likely not the issue, the dealer will look for any excuse to deny warranty claim since they can’t find the root cause. It looks like you got a lemon bud, I would go ahead and start the process.

 

[Baranovic]

Definitely put the original radio back, even tough it is most likely not the issue, the dealer will look for any excuse to deny warranty claim since they can’t find the root cause. It looks like you got a lemon bud, I would go ahead and start the process.

I wish I could but unfortunately in Maryland your vehicle has to have under 18 thousand miles and mine is it 20. So I am not covered.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

The problem started before I did anything to the Jeep, it started last winter(2021) but in the summer the jeeps fine, so when it got cold again the problem start again.

But when the problem started before you put in the new radio, did it go to the dealership to be diagnosed?

 

[Baranovic]

But when the problem started before you put in the new radio, did it go to the dealership to be diagnosed?

Oh yeah it’s been at the dealership at least 6 times with 4 of them being before the radio was installed.

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