Jeep Service...ugh

[PAULIEWANKENOBI]

So brought my truck into the dealer a week ago for a clunking sound which sounded like something rolling around in the bed but bed is empty. Took service manager for a ride he was able to hear it too.
Fast forward to today. They just got to look at it, and had 3 techs hear the noise but do not know how to fix it! My thought was he's joking right? Nope. So I ask him to give Jeep Corporate a call and have someone there come look at it since his techs can't seem to figure it out.
Very frustrating, any one else have this happen? Any one else on here know where to look since apparently the manufacturers service techs have no clue?
Any input would be appreciated.

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[DylanM]

Check behind and under all the seats for something that's rolling around as you drive. The offending object may alternatively be behind the door or interior cab panels, or possibly even inside the tailgate. It'd help tremendously to have somebody ride along who can move around inside to narrow down exactly what area the noise is coming from.

 

[PAULIEWANKENOBI]

I gave the truck to them with no personal belongings in it. The sound is kind of rotational. Hear it at parking lot speeds going over bumps turning in either direction. I went thru the interior as well, not even a penny in there now. Ty for your input though!

 

[ALT2870]

Bizarre problem to say the least. It sounds like (without hearing the sound itself) that something is in some void somewhere which would be hard to find if you can't replicate it while driving. Could try having someone bounce on the back bumper or bed and see if you can find a potential location.

 

[PAULIEWANKENOBI]

The sound only happens while driving at lower speeds and hitting bumps. I thought maybe rear end gears making noise, or like a loose swaybar link or track bar, or worn wheel bearing...kinda sounds like those sounds. It doesn't make it when bouncing on the bumpers either, only while driving.

 

[sharpsicle]

I guess what are your expectations of the dealership at this point? What are they doing or not doing that's making you upset? I 100% agree that if there's a problem with the truck they should help, but conversely if there isn't and it's something of yours that's rolling around that's not really their problem. If they've done diagnosis and ruled out various components, we're not going to be in a better spot to help than them. And we can't tell you which it is either. Can you give more insight into what's been done on their end?

 

[PAULIEWANKENOBI]

Well I was expecting the Jeep dealer to be able to fix a jeep product. My truck only has 15kmi on it. The dealer has had the truck for a week and just got to look at it today. They were able to do the oil change and tire rotation on day one, but I wasn't looking for a fast lube service, I'm looking for them to fix the abnormal sound coming from the truck. Since they seem inept at troubleshooting I'm just curious if I should tell them to just start throwing parts at it or if any of us forum members would have a better idea of where to look since alot if the members here have way more knowledge than the dealer seems to have.

 

[sharpsicle]

Well I was expecting the Jeep dealer to be able to fix a jeep product. My truck only has 15kmi on it. The dealer has had the truck for a week and just got to look at it today. They were able to do the oil change and tire rotation on day one, but I wasn't looking for a fast lube service, I'm looking for them to fix the abnormal sound coming from the truck. Since they seem inept at troubleshooting I'm just curious if I should tell them to just start throwing parts at it or if any of us forum members would have a better idea of where to look since alot if the members here have way more knowledge than the dealer seems to have.

You kinda sidestepped the big question: what have they done and what have they determined so far? What evidence do you have that it's a Jeep component failure, rather than something that got from the cab or bed into a place it shouldn't be?

You can't just tell them to "throw parts at it" if there's no diagnosed problem. Not how warranty works. They need to diagnose, follow posted procedures, and then perform the approved work. The owner isn't the one who decides what the problem is or what to do; if that's your desired path, I'd suggest you do the work yourself instead. Nobody these days seems to want to give other human beings a chance to do their jobs.

I find to often people come here not because there's an impassable problem at their feet, but rather because they don't want to work with the people doing the work and would rather walk in like they own the place. If things aren't going well and the dealer is throwing their hands up and not interested in continuing to look at it, that's something else. But it sounds like you only gave them one chance and are already calling it a failure. Not sure that's fair. Which brings me back to my question: what have they looked at and determined so far? And what are they suggesting happens next?

 

[Hootbro]

Does it happen at very low parking lot driving speeds and if you feather the throttle, does it clunk?

The rear E-Locker assembly in Rubicon and Mojave models is good for making this clunk sometimes at low speeds. Not much you can do about it if that is the case.

 

[PAULIEWANKENOBI]

Does it happen at very low parking lot driving speeds and if you feather the throttle, does it clunk?

The rear E-Locker assembly in Rubicon and Mojave models is good for making this clunk sometimes at low speeds. Not much you can do about it if that is the case.

It does happen at low speeds yes, throttle doesn't seem to have any effect on it though ..but that is definitely a thought and I'll ask the dealer to investigate that for sure!! Ty!!

 

[PAULIEWANKENOBI]

You kinda sidestepped the big question: what have they done and what have they determined so far? What evidence do you have that it's a Jeep component failure, rather than something that got from the cab or bed into a place it shouldn't be?

You can't just tell them to "throw parts at it" if there's no diagnosed problem. Not how warranty works. They need to diagnose, follow posted procedures, and then perform the approved work. The owner isn't the one who decides what the problem is or what to do; if that's your desired path, I'd suggest you do the work yourself instead. Nobody these days seems to want to give other human beings a chance to do their jobs.

I find to often people come here not because there's an impassable problem at their feet, but rather because they don't want to work with the people doing the work and would rather walk in like they own the place. If things aren't going well and the dealer is throwing their hands up and not interested in continuing to look at it, that's something else. But it sounds like you only gave them one chance and are already calling it a failure. Not sure that's fair. Which brings me back to my question: what have they looked at and determined so far? And what are they suggesting happens next?

To answer your question, this is the second time for this issue. I don't walk in like I own the place. To the contrary I am more flexible than most people would be and that I have had the privilege of working for.
The dealer seems to have thrown thier hands up, almost looking to me for a solution. That's not my job. So very simply they have had my truck for a week, in that week they have driven it 40+ miles, changed the oil and rotated the tires. I had to bring the service manager for a short drive in the parking lot for him to say "oh yeah I heard that just thought that crunching sounds was normal."
They looked at to actually diagnose the issue more than just listening for it today, and after today they said "well we hear it, we don't know what it is."
Now I have looked at the truck both on my own, and my friend who used to be a mechanic and both of us scratching our heads as to what it could be. That's the ONLY reason why it's even at the dealer is because I/we don't know. Isn't that what the dealership is for?
I didn't post on here to look for reasons why the dealer can't perform thier role in my ownership of this truck, or assume Im a stubborn, conceited consumer. I posted here looking for thoughts or ideas about the issue beyond what I've already done.
What I will say is it seems to me the dealer threw up Thier hands after day one and said it's a stumper, come get it you'll have to live with it cause we don't want to figure it out. I'm sorry if after paying this kind of money for a vehicle I'm just not comfortable letting the dealer off the hook that way.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Not really sure what is expected - sounds are among the most difficult things to figure out.
Be ready - if they spend 10 hours on it and either find nothing broken or wrong from the factory and find it's something left under or behind a seat or whatever, it's going to get expensive.
It's not that they don't "want" to figure it out, just that they have to account for every hour on it.
In my case, I'm leaving a clunk alone until it gets bad enough to be obvious - choosing my battles, I guess. Neither I nor the dealership could find it.

 

[Lunentucker]

What trim level?
Mojaves are infamous for the squeak or crunch sounds from the shocks at low speeds and in cooler weather.

Check the rear swaybar end link bolts to the frame. I lost one completely before applying a more permanent fix with a longer bolt and double nutting.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...me-bracket-bolts-mopar-new-bolt-length.57878/

The parking brake cable runs through a hanger near the carrier bearing, and they, including mine, have been known to make a rattling noise when jostled. Easy fix with some zip times and rubber tubing. See video.

Hard top? Colder weather and you may find that your bolts aren't as tight as they were when you put the top back on after Labor Day.

Check the spare. Lower temps equal lower pressure and it may not as tight as it was a few months ago.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

What trim level?
Mojaves are infamous for the squeak or crunch sounds from the shocks at low speeds and in cooler weather.

Check the rear swaybar end link bolts to the frame. I lost one completely before applying a more permanent fix with a longer bolt and double nutting.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...me-bracket-bolts-mopar-new-bolt-length.57878/

The parking brake cable runs through a hanger near the carrier bearing, and they, including mine, have been known to make a rattling noise when jostled. Easy fix with some zip times and rubber tubing. See video.

Hard top? Colder weather and you may find that your bolts aren't as tight as they were when you put the top back on after Labor Day.

Check the spare. Lower temps equal lower pressure and it may not as tight as it was a few months ago.

My sway bar links didn't show signs of being loose, but one time when mine was in for something else, I asked them to check for a clunk under xx conditions - they found one wasn't up to full torque and that took care of it. Normally I check all that stuff but since it was newer, under warranty, and it was in there anyway, let them check - and they did.

 

[PAULIEWANKENOBI]

What trim level?
Mojaves are infamous for the squeak or crunch sounds from the shocks at low speeds and in cooler weather.

Check the rear swaybar end link bolts to the frame. I lost one completely before applying a more permanent fix with a longer bolt and double nutting.
https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/...me-bracket-bolts-mopar-new-bolt-length.57878/

The parking brake cable runs through a hanger near the carrier bearing, and they, including mine, have been known to make a rattling noise when jostled. Easy fix with some zip times and rubber tubing. See video.

Hard top? Colder weather and you may find that your bolts aren't as tight as they were when you put the top back on after Labor Day.

Check the spare. Lower temps equal lower pressure and it may not as tight as it was a few months ago.

Thank you so much!! Going on the list for dealer to check!!

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