HELP! Jeep Dealer Will Not Cover Bad Transfer Case

[FloridaAussie]

I bought a brand new JKU in 2018. A week after I bought it, I noticed rust on the frame. Took it to the dealer and they gave me the run around. Went to FCA they issued a claim then closed it a week later saying not their problem. It was a LOT of rust, by the way.

Went to the forums and included @JeepCares in the threads. I started asking about litigation and reviews, etc. Well they opened up the claim miraculously then sent me a $2K check. They don't like bad publicity, and I never threatened them. I was nice as pie.

Sponsored

 

[MoxiesDad]

Can't fault the dealership for denying warranty coverage. OP said all he did was replace driveshafts and regear. Need to go back to whoever did the gearing and get things checked out. All speculation at this point.

 

[Stan H]

I like the suggestions for replacing the t-case with a used unit.

Then I'd take the old broken one back to the dealership, with it drooling oil, and drop it on the service mangers desk.

As Emeril Lagasse would say after cooking a Great Meal ...BAM!!!

 

[Panthers65]

hate to say it, but it sounds like you'll own this one. You literally wrenched on a part that you are now asking the dealership to warranty, even if it was just what bolts to the yoke. Ever seen those "Warranty void if sticker removed" deals. Doesn't matter what you tell them you did to it, they have no way to verify what is different from the factory

a lot of talk about "Good" mechanics in this thread, back when I turned wrenches I could almost guarantee you we'd charge more to go in behind someone who tried to do it themselves first vs working on something as it came from the factory. Not because I was just an ass but because, more often than not, something was put back to the same way or previous shade-tree guy did something making my job harder.

you can tell the dealership all you want what you actually did, but at the end of the day they have no way to KNOW for sure what was done by you or any independent shop. All you had done was swap gears? Well did someone drive it after changing the rear before changing the front? All you did was change the driveshaft? was a bolt stuck and the mechanic beat on it with a hammer damaging the bearing or apply too much heat and warp something? Maybe, maybe not, but dealerships have too much money invested in their employees to work on "unknowns".

MMW will cover you if you put a lift on your Jeep and the ac compressor goes out. You literally had an unauthorized shop (no matter how good YOU say they are) wrench on a part that your now asking the dealership to warranty. It's just not likely going to come out in your favor, especially if you have no documentation it was grinding before the gear/driveshaft swap.

 

[Minty JL]

I like the suggestions for replacing the t-case with a used unit.

Then I'd take the old broken one back to the dealership, with it drooling oil, and drop it on the service mangers desk.

I like your style

 

[Jteakus]

Have the shop that did the gear swap diag the T-case.

 

[mgw750]

, but at the end of the day they have no way to KNOW for sure what was done by you or any independent shop.

Which is why they shouldn't be able to void the warranty.

 

[DailyMoparGuy]

Like others have said, definitely try another dealer. I have had an FCA dealer deny warranty work on my old 5.7L. I felt like Jack Nicholson pleading my innocence in A Few Good Men.

I went 15 minutes up the road to another dealer that didn’t even question doing the work.

Idk why there’s inconsistency at dealers for these warranty issues, but always try 2 or more dealers.

(Ignore if you’ve already tried multiple dealers)

 

[GIOI24]

@GIOI24
Has anybody gone back to verify since the grinding problem started that the gear ratios in both the front and rear axles match?

Yes, verified.

 

[GIOI24]

So, update is that I purchased an Ultra + Diamond $100K warranty upgrade at the time of purchase. The warranty also stated that the Jeep was lifted and modified to include additional coverage including TCase. Only stipulation was that modifications had to be street legal in the state you reside. Stellantis is the one pushing back, not only on the standard 36,000 mile warranty claim, but also my extended warranty which specifically calls out purchased lifted/modified.

The Regional GM and Dealership GM are now battling on my behalf. They believe me and agree that the work done to my Jeep is above and beyond board...in fact several compliments on their work. The issue is with Stellantis and their refusal. More to come!

 

[GIOI24]

Has anyone verified the transcase is damaged? There will be some fine metals collected on drain magnets just through break in as surface mate together.

Maybe i missed the part where it was said there was large chunks or metal swarf found?

If someone is new to traditional transfercases they do make some whirling noises from the planetary gears and some grinding noises can happen when putting them into gear.

New tcases on jeeps are notoriously stiff and hard to shift when new and the PO may not have gotten the transfercase fully engaged.

I am not saying there isn't a problem but it seems like the pitch forks and torches have come out pretty early without first getting some better info. If the PO's Mohave has the np241 case it's a pretty simple case any driveline shop could repair as long as there is no housing damage, for way less then a new t-case.

Dealer said they cannot take the TCase apart to inspect. Going off the metal shavings argument.

 

[GIOI24]

b

The VIN has likely already been flagged in their system. Then again, he might get lucky

Correct...flagged if I am reading between the lines.

 

[GIOI24]

I'm just curious why you took it to the independent shop, instead of the dealer, since it's under warranty.

Fair question...I had an appointment with my Shop and was sure this was actually a Driveshaft issue. How many TCases fail when it has never been in 4wheel drive?

 

[rharr]

Dealer said they cannot take the TCase apart to inspect. Going off the metal shavings argument.

Correct, dealers don't usually fix bad parts they just repair by replacing. It is not in their financial interests to disassemble something and replace a bearing when they can just charge for whole transfer case, transmission, engine what whatever the case. That is why I suggested going to a different place especially if it's going to cost you out of pocket.

 

[Jefe1018]

Reading the majority of the thread makes me feel bad for OP…

I know I don’t have time or money to deal with something like this at the moment.

Realistically speaking to be back on the road, I’d pull it out of the dealership and either get it in your own bay or in a good independent. A transfer case can be had for a relatively good price, Rubitrux has take off units under $2,000 all the time. A good shop might charge 8 hours of labor... or with buddies, tools and beer, maybe a weekend. You might be out four racks or $2000 and up some experience, but you’ll be back on the road.

It’s threads like this that make me question my sanity in modifying a $60,000 truck I can’t really afford. Maybe I get a nice full size daily driver and a crap box XJ I can fix with WD40 and a hawk tua.

Sponsored