My absolute nightmare Jeep Gladiator Experience over the last 20 months

[adamjedgar]

Here. is a link to an unedited youtube video that i started after topping up the reservoir. You will notice that initially the water in the funnel is clear, then once the thermostat opens, it quickly changes colour to pink.

***please wait about 60 minutes after the time stamp on this post as youtube is still processing my uploaded video***



The really weird thing:

1. the airconditioner blowing only cold air
2. the cycle of rise and fall of water level in the funnel

Strangely enough there's more:

3. the car did not overheat once during the test in this video...even after running the car at idle for over an hour, temperature remained normal.

I shut down vehicle, top up and reinstall radiator/reservoire cap then let the engine cool down for about 2 hours

4. Went back out, started up the engine after the cool down, and within 15minutes its temperature is beginning to rise uncontrollably. I thought perhaps i would try to drive forwards down the road for a few hundred meters to get airflow over the radiator...i quickly gave up and after only 100 metres turned for home, coasted down the driveway and shut it down.

5. Tiltray towed it to Jeep
6. I got in the car at Jeep this morning, started it up, ran the engine at idle for about 20 minutes...it did not overheat once, however, the heater is still blowing cold air.

Before i go on with what I've written below...I'm not trying to nail anyone here...my statements below are simply a record of the dialogue I've had so nothing is missed on this journey. Its about transparency...not blame. Im angry yes, but this has gotten so ridiculous, I'm not trying to knife anyone, its gone way beyond just a single mechanic or workshop...i would argue even they are largely fighting an uphill battle with an overwhelming number of vehicles with problems and dealership numbers in a significant decline here in Victoria. I know that City Jeep has closed down as well as a number of others in the region.

The mechanic who was speaking with me this morning is already saying,

"after you messed around with the car..."

i suspect that the inference is that i might have done something to it.

I responded by saying,

"if i did something, please explain how it is that the road side assist photographed an empty reservoir?"

The next thought was, "oh well city Jeep when they installed the engine didn't purge the air properly"

I said,

"well how then did i manage to drive almost 1,000 km over a few days without even a shred of an issue?"

Mechanic shrugged his shoulders and said,

"well its possible."

I said "have you really ever seen a car travel that far (1,000km) over different trips with air in its system and then suddenly decide to do this?"

I then went on to remind him that i need to drive this car to Sydney when i get it back. I cannot have it break down again in the middle of nowhere on a 900km trip and end up on a tow truck again because the testing doesnt show anything up. Clearly, the reservoir is/was empty and the car overheated...the old engine did the same thing so something is wrong.

I then reminded the mechanic what happened to the old engine...

"driving for 2-3 hours south of Sydney on the way to Melbourne when suddenly, temp hit the roof. The common denominator here seems to be the first engine and the cooling system outside of the engine. I think that perhaps the old engine has either caused the failure and cooling system issue or, the cooling system external to the engine has got a blockage from somewhere that is still in the system!" (radiator, heat exchanger, a valve of some kind, water lines...whatever).

Anyway, this time i will not allow this car out of a mechanics workshop until they can actually show me what the problem is. Im tired of getting my car back with either additional problems (e.g transmission slippage in second gear next morning after its first service) or unresolved ones (e.g the original PCV valve failure that began to carbon up the cylinders in a brand new car with 12,000km on the clock...once again soon after first service, leaking oil cooler being fixed 3 times, timing chain rattle, engine overheating and airconditioner heater not working...)...

I haven't even got to the ongoing diff whine issue that I've been complaining about now for more than a year...there hasn't been the opportunity to even address this because of the catastrophic other failures that have required tow trucks!!!

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[Minty JL]

Can't wait to send mine back to the dealer to have the right rear axle seal done AGAIN, plus the coolant leak again and now the new CEL & Stability control lights.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Here. is a link to an unedited youtube video that i started after topping up the reservoir. You will notice that initially the water in the funnel is clear, then once the thermostat opens, it quickly changes colour to pink.

***please wait about 60 minutes after the time stamp on this post as youtube is still processing my uploaded video***



The really weird thing:

1. the airconditioner blowing only cold air
2. the cycle of rise and fall of water level in the funnel

Strangely enough there's more:

3. the car did not overheat once during the test in this video...even after running the car at idle for over an hour, temperature remained normal.

I shut down vehicle, top up and reinstall radiator/reservoire cap then let the engine cool down for about 2 hours

4. Went back out, started up the engine after the cool down, and within 15minutes its temperature is beginning to rise uncontrollably. I thought perhaps i would try to drive forwards down the road for a few hundred meters to get airflow over the radiator...i quickly gave up and after only 100 metres turned for home, coasted down the driveway and shut it down.

5. Tiltray towed it to Jeep
6. I got in the car at Jeep this morning, started it up, ran the engine at idle for about 20 minutes...it did not overheat once, however, the heater is still blowing cold air.

Before i go on with what I've written below...I'm not trying to nail anyone here...my statements below are simply a record of the dialogue I've had so nothing is missed on this journey. Its about transparency...not blame. Im angry yes, but this has gotten so ridiculous, I'm not trying to knife anyone, its gone way beyond just a single mechanic or workshop...i would argue even they are largely fighting an uphill battle with an overwhelming number of vehicles with problems and dealership numbers in a significant decline here in Victoria. I know that City Jeep has closed down as well as a number of others in the region.

The mechanic who was speaking with me this morning is already saying,

"after you messed around with the car..."

i suspect that the inference is that i might have done something to it.

I responded by saying,

"if i did something, please explain how it is that the road side assist photographed an empty reservoir?"

The next thought was, "oh well city Jeep when they installed the engine didn't purge the air properly"

I said,

"well how then did i manage to drive almost 1,000 km over a few days without even a shred of an issue?"

Mechanic shrugged his shoulders and said,

"well its possible."

I said "have you really ever seen a car travel that far (1,000km) over different trips with air in its system and then suddenly decide to do this?"

I then went on to remind him that i need to drive this car to Sydney when i get it back. I cannot have it break down again in the middle of nowhere on a 900km trip and end up on a tow truck again because the testing doesnt show anything up. Clearly, the reservoir is/was empty and the car overheated...the old engine did the same thing so something is wrong.

I then reminded the mechanic what happened to the old engine...

"driving for 2-3 hours south of Sydney on the way to Melbourne when suddenly, temp hit the roof. The common denominator here seems to be the first engine and the cooling system outside of the engine. I think that perhaps the old engine has either caused the failure and cooling system issue or, the cooling system external to the engine has got a blockage from somewhere that is still in the system!" (radiator, heat exchanger, a valve of some kind, water lines...whatever).

Anyway, this time i will not allow this car out of a mechanics workshop until they can actually show me what the problem is. Im tired of getting my car back with either additional problems (e.g transmission slippage in second gear next morning after its first service) or unresolved ones (e.g the original PCV valve failure that began to carbon up the cylinders in a brand new car with 12,000km on the clock...once again soon after first service, leaking oil cooler being fixed 3 times, timing chain rattle, engine overheating and airconditioner heater not working...)...

I haven't even got to the ongoing diff whine issue that I've been complaining about now for more than a year...there hasn't been the opportunity to even address this because of the catastrophic other failures that have required tow trucks!!!

After watching the vid and remembering the flush and fill I did, I recall the rise and fall of the coolant but there wasnt so much of it like you’re showing, also at the end of all that the coolant didn’t look “pink” enough or the concentration wasnt strong enough. It looked too watered down to me. Without a tool to check it, we wouldn’t know.
Also, the tech could just pull the hoses and stick a camera up and around the cooling system and rad to check for something blocking. Good luck!

 

[adamjedgar]

After watching the vid and remembering the flush and fill I did, I recall the rise and fall of the coolant but there wasnt so much of it like you’re showing, also at the end of all that the coolant didn’t look “pink” enough or the concentration wasnt strong enough. It looked too watered down to me. Without a tool to check it, we wouldn’t know.
Also, the tech could just pull the hoses and stick a camera up and around the cooling system and rad to check for something blocking. Good luck!

it is watered down...i only topped it up (with 2-2.5 litres of water) because i didn't want to waste brand new coolant until i know why the reservoir was empty. I wasn't sure whether or not the system was leaking or ingesting the coolant.

From purely visual observations, it doesnt appear to me to be ingesting or leaking the coolant. So i think its logical to conclude it was air in the system that caused the reservoir to empty.

Anyway, i will update once the Jeep mechanics eventually get around to looking at it. Given they have a heap of cars in at present, it may not be for a while (I'm getting hints it might be this week, however, inferences about being swamped suggest next week).

I think to be honest one of my biggest complaints is waiting for an available Jeep mechanic. Most of the work on my car is reasonably fast...its the sitting around for weeks waiting in the lineup that is taking most of the time.

Lets face it, does it take the best part of 6 months to change a transmission twice and an engine once? I would argue those things only take 2.- 5 days each. Given on each occasion, the transmissions and engines were already in the Australian warehouse and only 1 or 2 days freight to get to dealership...6 months of mostly waiting..

i am responsible for 1 month because i did the front axle seal myself on weekends...however, this was a result of the intermediate shaft outer bearing collapse...its shouldn't have even done that in the first place!

 

[Stan H]

 

[adamjedgar]

Gee this isa bit premature, i havent got the car back yet

 

[adamjedgar]

Might have a the cause for the overheating issue...a kink in one of the heater hoses. Perhaps inadvertantly caused at the time the new engine was installed? (sounds about right given they had trouble bleeding air out of the system at that point in time)

I think the part is on back order though.

This thing is, what caused the original engine to overheat...i must admit...engine had heads off, 2 transmissions...surely it wasnt this same hose?? I wonder

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Might have a the cause for the overheating issue...a kink in one of the heater hoses. Perhaps inadvertantly caused at the time the new engine was installed? (sounds about right given they had trouble bleeding air out of the system at that point in time)

I think the part is on back order though.

This thing is, what caused the original engine to overheat...i must admit...engine had heads off, 2 transmissions...surely it wasnt this same hose?? I wonder

Unreal…. The kinked hose at the heater core? This is why you had no heat coming through I presume. So, also you mentioned the tech was placing blame on you monkeying around?? How on earth could you have possibly gone in there and done that? I hope you’re at least going to get a sorry.

 

[Hootbro]

Might have a the cause for the overheating issue...a kink in one of the heater hoses. Perhaps inadvertantly caused at the time the new engine was installed? (sounds about right given they had trouble bleeding air out of the system at that point in time)

I think the part is on back order though.

This thing is, what caused the original engine to overheat...i must admit...engine had heads off, 2 transmissions...surely it wasnt this same hose?? I wonder

Until you get a replacement hose and depending where the kink is, you may be able to cut at the kink and install a union fitting barb with a couple of screw worm clamps to get by.

 

[adamjedgar]

Until you get a replacement hose and depending where the kink is, you may be able to cut at the kink and install a union fitting barb with a couple of screw worm clamps to get by.

If I had the car at home id do that for sure. Its at the dealership workshop though. Might ask them a second time on Monday if a temp fix can be made. I did ask if a temp hose could be put on and they were not keen to do that...warranty!

 

[adamjedgar]

Until you get a replacement hose and depending where the kink is, you may be able to cut at the kink and install a union fitting barb with a couple of screw worm clamps to get by.

I'm wondering...

given this is a brand new engine...that has clearly been installed incorrectly

Its now overheated at least 3 times:
- 1st time when mechanics installed the engine and couldn't bleed the system
- 2nd time when i drove out of my driveway when this first happened to me
- 3rd time after i topped it up with demineralised water when i tried to drive it after burping the system


What should my expectation be about the longevity. of this engine? Should i be concerned that the engine life is now compromised? Does that warrant further complaint to Stellantis?

I mean lets face it, if it turns out for sure that it is a kinked hose as a result of incorrect engine install, wouldn't that technically void the engine warranty because Jeeps own mechanic at Melbourne City Jeep have incorrectly installed a brand new engine?

Should i demand something in return for this (ie extended engine life guarantee or even another new engine)?

I only ask this because on New Engine installs, jeep only warranty the new engines in my case for 40,000km (25000 miles).

Given i do between 25,000 and 40,000 km per year...this is going to leave me in the shit pretty quickly.

in the past, whenever i have cooked an engine, which when i first started driving i had pretty shit oldish Aussie cars with engines that overheated a few times (old Holden Torana, Mitsubishi gallant, and Holden Commodore)...i had to rebuild all of these cars engines after only a relatively short period of time because of that kind of thing.

I have also just realised...i cannot find even a single email response to any of my communications with any Jeep representative regarding mechanical work under warranty. I was sure i had emails from these guys, but it appears only phone calls.

Has anyone else noticed anything like that? Without emails, we have no proof of communication.

 

[Hootbro]

I'm wondering...

given this is a brand new engine...that has clearly been installed incorrectly

Its now overheated at least 3 times:
- 1st time when mechanics installed the engine and couldn't bleed the system
- 2nd time when i drove out of my driveway when this first happened to me
- 3rd time after i topped it up with demineralised water when i tried to drive it after burping the system


What should my expectation be about the longevity. of this engine? Should i be concerned that the engine life is now compromised? Does that warrant further complaint to Stellantis?

I mean lets face it, if it turns out for sure that it is a kinked hose as a result of incorrect engine install, wouldn't that technically void the engine warranty because Jeeps own mechanic at Melbourne City Jeep have incorrectly installed a brand new engine?

Should i demand something in return for this (ie extended engine life guarantee or even another new engine)?

I only ask this because on New Engine installs, jeep only warranty the new engines in my case for 40,000km (25000 miles).

Given i do between 25,000 and 40,000 km per year...this is going to leave me in the shit pretty quickly.

in the past, whenever i have cooked an engine, which when i first started driving i had pretty shit oldish Aussie cars with engines that overheated a few times (old Holden Torana, Mitsubishi gallant, and Holden Commodore)...i had to rebuild all of these cars engines after only a relatively short period of time because of that kind of thing.

There is no Magic 8 Ball to know what the future holds for that engine. I can only say from experience I have seen of others in like situations here in the USA, not out of the realm of possibility of asking and getting an extension on the motor warranty but that is probably going to rely on your dealer advocating for that. It is not an entitlement though that you will get it.

 

[Stan H]

I'm wondering...

given this is a brand new engine...that has clearly been installed incorrectly

Its now overheated at least 3 times:
- 1st time when mechanics installed the engine and couldn't bleed the system
- 2nd time when i drove out of my driveway when this first happened to me
- 3rd time after i topped it up with demineralised water when i tried to drive it after burping the system


What should my expectation be about the longevity. of this engine? Should i be concerned that the engine life is now compromised? Does that warrant further complaint to Stellantis?

I mean lets face it, if it turns out for sure that it is a kinked hose as a result of incorrect engine install, wouldn't that technically void the engine warranty because Jeeps own mechanic at Melbourne City Jeep have incorrectly installed a brand new engine?

Should i demand something in return for this (ie extended engine life guarantee or even another new engine)?

I only ask this because on New Engine installs, jeep only warranty the new engines in my case for 40,000km (25000 miles).

Given i do between 25,000 and 40,000 km per year...this is going to leave me in the shit pretty quickly.

in the past, whenever i have cooked an engine, which when i first started driving i had pretty shit oldish Aussie cars with engines that overheated a few times (old Holden Torana, Mitsubishi gallant, and Holden Commodore)...i had to rebuild all of these cars engines after only a relatively short period of time because of that kind of thing.

I have also just realised...i cannot find even a single email response to any of my communications with any Jeep representative regarding mechanical work under warranty. I was sure i had emails from these guys, but it appears only phone calls.

Has anyone else noticed anything like that? Without emails, we have no proof of communication.

It may be a Gonner ???




Joking of course . Hope it's okay.

 

[adamjedgar]

guys i just wanted to provide an update on this...

my jeep has been in the workshop for 3 full weeks as of yesterday.

i got a phone call the other day, andfrom the part number i have been given by the dealership, it appears that they have ordered an entire heater hose assembly.

According to Stellantis Australia, the ETA for parts arrival...is first week in February

Given this was sent went on tow truck on the 28th December...i am going to wait a month at least before the parts even arrive in Australia, then however long it takes to install the parts, then i have to hope that that is actually the only problem with the engine that is causing it to overheat.

I also need to remember that the dealership have said that they are not entirely sure the heater hose is the only issue.

They know that is why the airconditioning heating isn't working, however, it may not actually be the cause of the engine overheating.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

guys i just wanted to provide an update on this...

my jeep has been in the workshop for 3 full weeks as of yesterday.

i got a phone call the other day, andfrom the part number i have been given by the dealership, it appears that they have ordered an entire heater hose assembly.

According to Stellantis Australia, the ETA for parts arrival...is first week in February

Given this was sent went on tow truck on the 28th December...i am going to wait a month at least before the parts even arrive in Australia, then however long it takes to install the parts, then i have to hope that that is actually the only problem with the engine that is causing it to overheat.

I also need to remember that the dealership have said that they are not entirely sure the heater hose is the only issue.

They know that is why the airconditioning heating isn't working, however, it may not actually be the cause of the engine overheating.

This is the slowest boot-in-the-ass I have ever read. This is slow-motion on steroids and Stellantis is claiming to make things better for your neck of the woods?

I get there’s a process and they will want to replace what is glaringly obvious but…. What else could possibly go wrong with overheating an engine. I’m on my knees saying a prayer for you.

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