Do I have a lemon gladiator?

[Boston Bill]

Pg. 439 does expect and authorize the owner to “change the fluid in the tranny IF it becomes contaminated with water etc…” so the owner has to (a) have an oil analysis done to prove contamination and (b) decide if just doing a couple pan drops @ $1700 cad each at the dealership is an effective way to rid the transmission of contamination or does a part clearing just get contaminated with the old …and so on and so on till eventually the contamination is so small it doesn’t matter and you’ve spent how much ($1700 each pan drop) OR is going to a certified and registered transmission technician/shop who can do a complete single flush, the more responsible action to take.

I think there’s other instructions in the manual or warranty information booklet that says something along the lines that if the dealership can’t or is unwilling to perform the repair, the owner has to go elsewhere to get the work done. ??

Why do you have to drop the pan? Can't a flush be done instead?

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[Maximus Gladius]

Why do you have to drop the pan? Can't a flush be done instead?

Dropping the pan changes the filter. Needs to be changed if the oil is being changed from contamination

 

[Gvsukids]

Dropping the pan changes the filter. Needs to be changed if the oil is being changed from contamination

I think the reference was to a transmission fluid flush.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Yes, a flush can be done without dropping the pan. But as Mr_Bill said, a “relearn” or “reflash” must be done.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Why do you have to drop the pan? Can't a flush be done instead?

I feel I need to clarify my specific details as to why I did a pan drop as a pose to just flushing the system and leaving the pan on.
When my transmission developed a whine noise at around 20k kms (12,500 miles), I tried locating the noise myself and even took it in to the dealership to try locating the source. The tech looked at a few components but not the transmission. Service Manager said “Jeeps are whinny vehicles, it’s normal”. I had a gut feeling the whine wasn’t right though and at 24k kms I pulled an oil sample and glycol along with high levels of copper and iron were discovered. Lab ALERT states change the oil and filter. (This requires a flush and pan/filter replacement).
Glycol contamination came from the factory as the cooler is a stand alone system and can not be contaminated by the rad or engine. In my mind just doing a pan drop and leaving the glycol contaminated oil in the torque converter was not an option as it would just recontaminate the new oil. I also went to my dealership and discussed in length the severity of my situation and showed him the oil analysis report and service manager said they don’t do flushes. My only option with him was to do several pan drops at $1700 cad each, my cost as Chrysler would not pay for this. At this time, he didn’t enquire with Tech Line about it nor did I know my owners manual said to change the oil and filter if it’s contaminated. The only way to properly cleanse the system of the contamination is to flush it and I took it to a registered and certified transmission shop to do it.
Also discussed with the service manager in great length my desire to swap out and upgrade from the Mopar ATF with an equivalent, code compliant AMSOIL ATF. He knew the talk well as he grew up in a family that used it, he himself had a history around high performance vehicles and Harley’s and was very supportive but also hesitant as he figured my warranty would be voided, but commended me for my “over the top” concern and mechanical efforts to correct the transmission problem and wished me luck.
So I did just that, had it flushed and put AMSOIL ATF in. I know what upgrading from MOPAR to AMSOIL did and it was amazing. The gear shuddering stopped, it shifted smoother, trans temps were cooler. It was a dream…but the whine was still there. Glycol took its toll and transmission died at 32,800k kms. (20,400k miles) Chrysler voided warranty and now they and the dealership are getting sued for tossing the book that allowed me to do all I did. Lawyer said all I did and documented is correct.

So, to add to this, IF someone else beside me does an oil analysis of their transmission and finds glycol and catastrophic levels of copper and iron…you’ll want to change the pan and filter. There was so much crap and clutch debris on the bottom of the pan, you wouldn’t want to just leave there to gunk up the new oil. The other option I guess would be to just leave it alone and let it die. If you find glycol in there like I did, your tranny is done and just maybe the dealership’s stance of Do nothing, deny and defer was the correct path.

 

[Boston Bill]

I was a gm service advisor for over 30 years. We didn't do it this way in my garage. Ir it was bad and warranty we fixed it. Done. From what I am hearing today it seems like all the $tealerships are trying their hardest to weasel out of warranty repairs. I just don't understand it.
And thank you for the clarification. I hope your lawyer gets triple damages. You deserve it! Please keep us in the loop if possible. BB

 

[Brahmajoe]

So do the 22’s come with a different antifreeze?

 

[Boston Bill]

My 2022 that was built last November 2021 has the pinkish orangish coolant.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

I was a gm service advisor for over 30 years. We didn't do it this way in my garage. Ir it was bad and warranty we fixed it. Done. From what I am hearing today it seems like all the $tealerships are trying their hardest to weasel out of warranty repairs. I just don't understand it.
And thank you for the clarification. I hope your lawyer gets triple damages. You deserve it! Please keep us in the loop if possible. BB

Sounds like you ran a tight ship. How many warranty repairs was decided on what the owners manual said? Was the dealership safe doing a warranty repair if it fell in line with the book? I know it’s a ludicrous question and it feels dumb to ask but in my case for the DSM to axe my warranty then make me pay for their investigation with no intent to decide in my favour and for the dealership to “sign on to go along” ??? This is all done outside the manual. There’s another set of rules at play here and the powers that be are moving the goal posts as they see fit and the dealership plays the “our hands are tied” card however, isn’t EVERYONE bound to the owners manual and warranty information booklet to follow its instructions?? What do you call it if the DSM and dealership toss those manuals to do something else?

 

[Boston Bill]

lol, it was a different time. By the time I left about 5 years ago it was starting to morph into what we have today. We didn’t always succeed but we did try to help people. And yes back then if we fell in line with the book there were no repercussions. Owners manual didn’t have a lot to do with a decision. Unlike today if it was a factory defect we just fixed it. And yes our hands could be tied back in the day but it was pretty rare. Our hands are tied means the dealership would have to pay for the repair.
If the DSM and dealership throws out the rules the state consumer division will be more than happy to help you. At least here in MA they will.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

lol, it was a different time. By the time I left about 5 years ago it was starting to morph into what we have today. We didn’t always succeed but we did try to help people. And yes back then if we fell in line with the book there were no repercussions. Owners manual didn’t have a lot to do with a decision. Unlike today if it was a factory defect we just fixed it. And yes our hands could be tied back in the day but it was pretty rare. Our hands are tied means the dealership would have to pay for the repair.
If the DSM and dealership throws out the rules the state consumer division will be more than happy to help you. At least here in MA they will.

When it comes to Chrysler, when they were sold to the Netherlands, they pulled out of the Federal Arbitration Plan. “They are not a participant” -CAMVAP (Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan - Federal)
The Alberta provincial arbitration group is no better (AMVIC - Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Counsel) as they don’t investigate manufacture defects or warranty issues and too bad for me my sales person wasn’t slimy so no help there.

 

[Boston Bill]

I wonder how good Mopar extended warranty is in this regard. Tho I would never buy an extended warranty that starts at the in service date. That is such a fraud especially since the slime balls don’t tell you it does.

 

[Mr._Bill]

I wonder how good Mopar extended warranty is in this regard. Tho I would never buy an extended warranty that starts at the in service date. That is such a fraud especially since the slime balls don’t tell you it does.

It's more than an extended warranty. It's supposed to cover FOB replacement, and a few other things. The dealer wasn't clear on those items, but I knew the time that it covered it started when the vehicle was sold.

 

[Boston Bill]

Ya, they keep adding things to the warranties over the years. Used to amaze me how many Enterprise rental cars were towed in for lost keys. Boy, people really don't give a crap about someone elses property. Can't remember ever having lost a key or a fob. How about you all?
We used to sell the JMA Group Fidelity extended warranty plans. Had really good luck with those claims! And got along well with the adjuster. They were definitely not a scam.

 

[Gvsukids]

Can't remember ever having lost a key or a fob. How about you all?

Our fob is so big it has its own zip code... and some more fun https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/key-fob-follies.33741/

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