My absolute nightmare Jeep Gladiator Experience over the last 20 months

[Stan H]

There are a couple not far away...a nltable one is Harrop Engineering who are only about 30mins drive away. They are an Eaton superchargers specialist i believe and have been in the performance industry both in Aus and the US for years. We also have The Horsepower Factory close by as well. Between the two i think i have two good options.

I say go for it .. when it pops.. and it will.. we can start another whole thread of tragedy ..duh duh daaa..!

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[adamjedgar]

Guys, I have an update...

Before we get into the comical part of this update..., i thought i take a photo of my broken down Jeep stuck at the dealership, parked alongside her new "better half" (which has already taken over the Jeep parking spot at home)

The short version - a brand new engine with only 700km on it is fucked! (yes that's just over 1 tank of fuel).

A new engine has already been approved and ordered.

Ok so how did this second new engine become necessary?

Well...

1. When the first engine was changed, the mechanics inadvertently crushed a heater hose thus causing problems bleeding the air out of the cooling system.
2. They thought it was thermostat or water pump, so both of those were replaced a few days after the new engine was installed. Somehow, the cooling system managed to function normally and it appeared that all was well.
3. I drive for approx 700km, then suddenly engine overheats without any warning. I cannot take the car back to the dealership who installed the engine...they have gone broke and closed down 3 weeks after installing my engine.
4. The next dealership discover that the original overheating issue was a crushed heater hose due to dodgy engine installation by the other dealership, and a new assembly is ordered...that was installed a few days ago after a 1 month wait for parts.
5. After heater hose is replaced, the current dealership mechanics still have trouble with the car intermittently overheating, so further investigation is undertaken...the thermostat (which is new) was removed and tested.
6. Brand new thermostat fails test...upon closer inspection, the mechanics find its jammed with pieces of metal that have been injested into the system.
7. The water pump is then removed...its fucked. Turns out that when the other dealership installed the new engine and replaced the water pump a few days after, they damaged the brand new water pump...causing pieces to break off it which have gone through the new engine block!

The engine block is now fucked!!!

Can i just say at this point, Im starting to wonder what I'm supposed to be feeling?

If i were to put this in monetary terms using very approximate retail values incl labour...(in Australian Dollars)

2 x $13k transmission = $26,000
2 x $20k engines = $40k
4 tow truck trips...one of which was 7 hours return = $2k? (this is probably way under cost actually)
heads removed and decarboned = $2k?
PCV replacement = $1k?
3 Oil coolers = $2k?

This car has cost approximately $73,000 AUD in mechanics fuckups...it was worth approx $92k AUD as a standard Rubicon off the floor.

Is it any wonder that Jeep are losing shitloads of money and sales?

 

[Hootbro]

Is it any wonder that Jeep are losing shitloads of money and sales?

Your RAM is going to be worked on by the same shit birds should you have a warranty issue.

 

[legacy_etu]

Your RAM is going to be worked on by the same shit birds should you have warranty issue.

Exactly what I was thinking. I guess if they have to replace the 5.7 at least they'll have a lot larger engine bay to manuever around, less chance of crushing a heater hose. LOL........ I think.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Guys, I have an update...

Before we get into the comical part of this update..., i thought i take a photo of my broken down Jeep stuck at the dealership, parked alongside her new "better half" (which has already taken over the Jeep parking spot at home)

The short version - a brand new engine with only 700km on it is fucked! (yes that's just over 1 tank of fuel).

A new engine has already been approved and ordered.

Ok so how did this second new engine become necessary?

Well...

1. When the first engine was changed, the mechanics inadvertently crushed a heater hose thus causing problems bleeding the air out of the cooling system.
2. They thought it was thermostat or water pump, so both of those were replaced a few days after the new engine was installed. Somehow, the cooling system managed to function normally and it appeared that all was well.
3. I drive for approx 700km, then suddenly engine overheats without any warning. I cannot take the car back to the dealership who installed the engine...they have gone broke and closed down 3 weeks after installing my engine.
4. The next dealership discover that the original overheating issue was a crushed heater hose due to dodgy engine installation by the other dealership, and a new assembly is ordered...that was installed a few days ago after a 1 month wait for parts.
5. After heater hose is replaced, the current dealership mechanics still have trouble with the car intermittently overheating, so further investigation is undertaken...the thermostat (which is new) was removed and tested.
6. Brand new thermostat fails test...upon closer inspection, the mechanics find its jammed with pieces of metal that have been injested into the system.
7. The water pump is then removed...its fucked. Turns out that when the other dealership installed the new engine and replaced the water pump a few days after, they damaged the brand new water pump...causing pieces to break off it which have gone through the new engine block!

The engine block is now fucked!!!

Can i just say at this point, Im starting to wonder what I'm supposed to be feeling?

If i were to put this in monetary terms using very approximate retail values incl labour...(in Australian Dollars)

2 x $13k transmission = $26,000
2 x $20k engines = $40k
4 tow truck trips...one of which was 7 hours return = $2k? (this is probably way under cost actually)
heads removed and decarboned = $2k?
PCV replacement = $1k?
3 Oil coolers = $2k?

This car has cost approximately $73,000 AUD in mechanics fuckups...it was worth approx $92k AUD as a standard Rubicon off the floor.

Is it any wonder that Jeep are losing shitloads of money and sales?

Now stuff makes sense! It’s good having closure isn’t it. Looks like after weeding through all the hands and eyes that were all over your engine issues from the start, you finally found someone (or two) that looked close enough to the thermostat and pump to notice little metal bits and could “think process” through it and not blame you. If you got a service order write up on that, you’ll also have that tech’s ID # associated to the work order. YOU NEED THIS GUY/GAL working on your service needs from now on. You found this person, don’t let them go.

 

[adamjedgar]

Now stuff makes sense! It’s good having closure isn’t it. Looks like after weeding through all the hands and eyes that were all over your engine issues from the start, you finally found someone (or two) that looked close enough to the thermostat and pump to notice little metal bits and could “think process” through it and not blame you. If you got a service order write up on that, you’ll also have that tech’s ID # associated to the work order. YOU NEED THIS GUY/GAL working on your service needs from now on. You found this person, don’t let them go.

The dealership he was employed by have gone broke and closed down anyway so there is at least some karma there.

When i reflect on his abilities...if a mechanic cannot tell the difference between grease and diff oil when diagnosing a front rhs leaking axle seal, he wrote it was a split CV boot, what hope have any of us got?

 

[Maximus Gladius]

The dealership he was employed by have gone broke and closed down anyway so there is at least some karma there.

When i reflect on his abilities...if a mechanic cannot tell the difference between grease and diff oil when diagnosing a front rhs leaking axle seal, he wrote it was a split CV boot, what hope have any of us got?

If you want something done right, do it yourself…

 

[Stan H]

Guys, I have an update...

Before we get into the comical part of this update..., i thought i take a photo of my broken down Jeep stuck at the dealership, parked alongside her new "better half" (which has already taken over the Jeep parking spot at home)

The short version - a brand new engine with only 700km on it is fucked! (yes that's just over 1 tank of fuel).

A new engine has already been approved and ordered.

Ok so how did this second new engine become necessary?

Well...

1. When the first engine was changed, the mechanics inadvertently crushed a heater hose thus causing problems bleeding the air out of the cooling system.
2. They thought it was thermostat or water pump, so both of those were replaced a few days after the new engine was installed. Somehow, the cooling system managed to function normally and it appeared that all was well.
3. I drive for approx 700km, then suddenly engine overheats without any warning. I cannot take the car back to the dealership who installed the engine...they have gone broke and closed down 3 weeks after installing my engine.
4. The next dealership discover that the original overheating issue was a crushed heater hose due to dodgy engine installation by the other dealership, and a new assembly is ordered...that was installed a few days ago after a 1 month wait for parts.
5. After heater hose is replaced, the current dealership mechanics still have trouble with the car intermittently overheating, so further investigation is undertaken...the thermostat (which is new) was removed and tested.
6. Brand new thermostat fails test...upon closer inspection, the mechanics find its jammed with pieces of metal that have been injested into the system.
7. The water pump is then removed...its fucked. Turns out that when the other dealership installed the new engine and replaced the water pump a few days after, they damaged the brand new water pump...causing pieces to break off it which have gone through the new engine block!

The engine block is now fucked!!!

Can i just say at this point, Im starting to wonder what I'm supposed to be feeling?

If i were to put this in monetary terms using very approximate retail values incl labour...(in Australian Dollars)

2 x $13k transmission = $26,000
2 x $20k engines = $40k
4 tow truck trips...one of which was 7 hours return = $2k? (this is probably way under cost actually)
heads removed and decarboned = $2k?
PCV replacement = $1k?
3 Oil coolers = $2k?

This car has cost approximately $73,000 AUD in mechanics fuckups...it was worth approx $92k AUD as a standard Rubicon off the floor.

Is it any wonder that Jeep are losing shitloads of money and sales?

I laugh because by the time you get that thing right the mechanics will be experts

 

[adamjedgar]

If you want something done right, do it yourself…

a bit like wanking isn't it

 

[adamjedgar]

Hopefully this will be the last update in this woeful saga...i have finally got my Jeep back after its second new engine was installed approx 700km after the first jew engine install was messed up.

Its break in will be a 1800km interstate round trip from Melbourne to Sydney on Tuesday.

It feels weird to get back behind the wheel again. After having just returned from driving the RAM 1500 on that same trip, the Jeep feels like im in the "Flinstones car" compared with the RAM.

What i can say whej comoaring the two, the Jeep should never have had the Pnetastar engine put in it, these things would sell far better with the 350 hemi (5.7 litre), which is not only a better power option, its absolutely more economical than the v6 in that application.

Ive had both vehicles on the Melbourne Sydney return trip now...the RAM engine is vastly superior and gets better economy. The Jeep is about 13.5 L/100km, the RAM 13 L/100km. Given the RAM is also bigger and heavier...that says a lot about engine choices and emissions preferences i think. Clearly the Pentastar isnt better for the envirlnmental control regulations in the real world on these bigger vehicles.

Anyway, Im glad to finally have it back after another month off the road.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Hopefully this will be the last update in this woeful saga...i have finally got my Jeep back after its second new engine was installed approx 700km after the first jew engine install was messed up.

Its break in will be a 1800km interstate round trip from Melbourne to Sydney on Tuesday.

It feels weird to get back behind the wheel again. After having just returned from driving the RAM 1500 on that same trip, the Jeep feels like im in the "Flinstones car" compared with the RAM.

What i can say whej comoaring the two, the Jeep should never have had the Pnetastar engine put in it, these things would sell far better with the 350 hemi (5.7 litre), which is not only a better power option, its absolutely more economical than the v6 in that application.

Ive had both vehicles on the Melbourne Sydney return trip now...the RAM engine is vastly superior and gets better economy. The Jeep is about 13.5 L/100km, the RAM 13 L/100km. Given the RAM is also bigger and heavier...that says a lot about engine choices and emissions preferences i think. Clearly the Pentastar isnt better for the envirlnmental control regulations in the real world on these bigger vehicles.

Anyway, Im glad to finally have it back after another month off the road.

Finally! Cracked a beer, took a great big mouthful…(holding…) then read the rest of it…and sprayed the beer all over the living room! DUDE, you get it back and you’re not happy with it?! You can’t write all that then your last line says you’re happy…I don’t feel it.

You have to compare apples to apples or Gladiator to Tacoma or Canyon etc.

You’ll be alright mate! Now get in that beast on an adventure and write us another story!

 

[RubiNewbCB]

TLDR...

Give us the BLUF!

 

[Hootbro]

TLDR...

Give us the BLUF!

Cliff Notes: He wants the Big Dick energy that was from the loaner RAM in his Gladiator.

 

[Deleted member 57233]

Ive had both vehicles on the Melbourne Sydney return trip now...the RAM engine is vastly superior and gets better economy. The Jeep is about 13.5 L/100km, the RAM 13 L/100km. Given the RAM is also bigger and heavier...that says a lot about engine choices and emissions preferences i think. Clearly the Pentastar isnt better for the envirlnmental control regulations in the real world on these bigger vehicles.

The Jeep is brick shaped, with a bunch of stuff hanging off it, and pushing big knobby tires. It's kinda impressive it's still close to the highway truck designed to improve fuel economy.

 

[adamjedgar]

The Jeep is brick shaped, with a bunch of stuff hanging off it, and pushing big knobby tires. It's kinda impressive it's still close to the highway truck designed to improve fuel economy.

Yeah but it seems to me that all this environmental hype that appears to have been the downfall of v8's is bollocks.

I also read that mercedes are quite likely to bring back the v8's into some of their AMG stuff because of a large drop in sales due to not using it in recent vehicle production.

Id suggest if stellantis wish to stop losing money they need to open their eyes and give customers what they want. Big 4wds need v8 engine options i think.

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