God-Awful Stupid Nanny Sensors - How Long Before Someone Dies in the Wilderness?

[Vtur]

And you guys be saying gen Z are soft? What happened to going on adventures, off roading, getting lost in the wilderness and stuffs? Can't do that with all those gps gadgets

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[Zachanadandy]

The crank shaft position sensor on the 4.0L was a common failure point and the thing wouldn't start or run without one. I even had a pcm fail on an XJ. The idea that a failure that leaves your vehicle undriveable is a new thing is flat wrong. Parts fail, and some aren't bush fixable. As others have said, be prepared to survive and/or make it out without the vehicle because you never know. We've left Jeeps on the trail multiple times and hiked out. Come back the next day or even next weekend with parts. Failures can happen anywhere and if you're wheeling hard they are more likely.

 

[bd100]

After the initial cost of the hardware, a satellite SOS plan can be around $15 a month or so. Plus they're fun for contacting camp while out of cell service.

And check out
https://offroadportal.org/
where you can text them a non-SOS satellite or cell phone text message asking for help and volunteers come to save the day. Put their number in your sat transmitter and cell phone contacts.

A FRS or GMRS radio can be useful to talk to rescuers when they get close, even if they're a helicopter. Also an emergency whistle to help find you in a dense area where they are close but can't see you. And a signal mirror to flag down someone from a distance if there is sunlight. Has a little hole in the middle of the mirror to help you aim the beam from the ground up to the target.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The crank shaft position sensor on the 4.0L was a common failure point and the thing wouldn't start or run without one. I even had a pcm fail on an XJ. The idea that a failure that leaves your vehicle undriveable is a new thing is flat wrong. Parts fail, and some aren't bush fixable. As others have said, be prepared to survive and/or make it out without the vehicle because you never know. We've left Jeeps on the trail multiple times and hiked out. Come back the next day or even next weekend with parts. Failures can happen anywhere and if you're wheeling hard they are more likely.

Of all of the 4.0s I've had, I've been lucky.
I know it's not uncommon for them to fail - I've just not personally had one strand me....however.......
A Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0 with automatic we had in the very early 1990s - we've be driving along for the several mile stretch that was 45 limit, typically going 45-50 and all of a sudden it would act like we hit a patch of black ice - then take hold again. Periodically, no real pattern to it other than when it did happen, it was along that stretch of back-highway.
Took it to the dealer and they couldn't find a thing wrong. Of course not, kid to the dentist, dad, I feel fine, honest.
It did this off and on for a couple of weeks. I finally took it back and told them - please keep it, give it to a tech to drive as his own, to and from work, out for lunch, I don't care, whatever. (I didn't have a garage at that point, and my tools were all in storage after a move).
Finally, a couple of days later they caught it in the act. Yeah, that sensor. It was weird as heck - it would literally act as if you were on ice, then go again. It was very sporadic. They caught a code for that sensor (never stored a code! It was transient). They got lucky and caught it in the act and found the transient code and replaced the sensor, all was well.
The engine in my car had 100,000 miles on it when I rebuilt it and put it in my car. Original sensors - all of them, including that one. It now has something like 136,000 miles on it, been in two bell housings (I drilled my T5 bell housing and made a bracket to hold it in the factory position) in two vehicles, 31 years old and still working.
Heaven help me if that ever goes as there is no clearance at all to get that bugger out of the bell housing in this car. There was barely enough room for the wires exiting the top of the sensor - it will mean an engine drop to swap it out.
I've heard a number of stories on those sensors - I've just not been one of them. I probably just jinxed myself.

 

[AustyPosty]

what rear bumper is on that JL. I want to see if it fits JTs

Its a completely custom bumper build by a fab shop for him, however it would be easy enough to replicate with some C channel steel.

 

[professorkx]

And you guys be saying gen Z are soft? What happened to going on adventures, off roading, getting lost in the wilderness and stuffs? Can't do that with all those gps gadgets

Over the last 40 years, I have spent a lot of time in the mountains and desert on dirt bikes and in Jeeps, long before the emergence of electronics. During that time, I have been first on scene for 19 motorcycle riders who have been put on Life Flight. In addition, I have stumbled on a host of others in 4 wheeled vehicles who are lost, stuck or broken down and in need of help.

The advent of GPS has virtually eliminated finding folks who have lost their way, so I look at the electronics as a good thing from a safety perspective. Heck, I doubt many of them could navigate using a map and a compass, so would be hopelessly lost without electronics.

I carry a couple personal locator beacons, one that allows texting, in case I find folks who are in need of medical support. For example, on one occasion, a bee sting would have ended one persons life if not for Life Flight, so for medical emergencies, I see the electronics as something all should consider when in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Minty JL]

In this day and age, if you're not carrying some kind of GPS rescue beacon when you go far enough out that you could die if stuck, then your death is solely on you.

Equipment failure is a risk in every outdoor activity. It up to you to be prepared

Also, don't let a sole piece of equipment be your savior, redundancy in systems is key

 

[Vtur]

Fyi, Iphone now has satellite text feature.

 

[Averagehuman]

Haha this is perfect

 

[Apuszczalowski]

I was always taught that you never go out wheeling alone, always have another vehicle or group with you just in case you get stuck or stranded. First time I had a Jeep (old '90 YJ) I went up into an area off the side of a road into some hills and got stuck. Wasn't middle of nowhere type thing, but pretty tough to get a recovery vehicle up there or a bit of a walk to get back to the main roads. Ended up spending a few hours searching around for stuff to help get the stock jeep out of some mud. After that I joined a local group and went wheeling with others

 

[ScottBeach]

I wheel alone more often than in a group
How is wheel changes.

Is that mud hole really really needed to be traversed or can I skirt around it?
If I have to go though do I have trees or other hard points in reach to winch?
I never "just send it" alone.
I wade into it on foot first alone (even if I was there last week. Because often some Yahoo with 50s dug it out since I was last thru)

And always have a call for help method. Sat phone if u r really remote. Mostly I track where I last had cell coverage. More than 3 miles back to cell service... no bogs for me. I don't want to walk that far

 

[ShastaJT6]

In this day and age, if you're not carrying some kind of GPS rescue beacon when you go far enough out that you could die if stuck, then your death is solely on you.

Equipment failure is a risk in every outdoor activity. It up to you to be prepared

This right here. A Garmin w/ satellite messaging and SOS capability is dirt cheap compared to a Jeep. Last I checked, Im paying something like 15/month for comms and 30/year for medical airlift insurance through Garmin.

If people get lost or die in the wilderness in this day and age, its simple negligence on their part. There are tons of resources and tools available to make sure that DOESNT happen.

That said, I agree with OP that being stranded on a trail because something stupid caused the vehicle to go into limp mode would NOT be a good time and potentially expensive situation to get out of.

 

[dajudge]

The crank shaft position sensor on the 4.0L was a common failure point and the thing wouldn't start or run without one. I even had a pcm fail on an XJ. The idea that a failure that leaves your vehicle undriveable is a new thing is flat wrong. Parts fail, and some aren't bush fixable. As others have said, be prepared to survive and/or make it out without the vehicle because you never know. We've left Jeeps on the trail multiple times and hiked out. Come back the next day or even next weekend with parts. Failures can happen anywhere and if you're wheeling hard they are more likely.

Mine failed on the XJ but it was in my driveway. Drove home from work, the next day it wouldn't start.
I am sort of with the OP on this though. We know the the crank sensor on a 4.0 can fail, I always carry a spare. But the new ones have 100 things that can strand you. Filing the bed with spare parts kind of defeats the purpose of the bed.
I did learn something new with this thread. I didn't realize you could defeat a bunch of the things. Time to update what I carry with me.

 

[professorkx]

I wheel alone more often than in a group
How is wheel changes.

Is that mud hole really really needed to be traversed or can I skirt around it?
If I have to go though do I have trees or other hard points in reach to winch?
I never "just send it" alone.
I wade into it on foot first alone (even if I was there last week. Because often some Yahoo with 50s dug it out since I was last thru)

And always have a call for help method. Sat phone if u r really remote. Mostly I track where I last had cell coverage. More than 3 miles back to cell service... no bogs for me. I don't want to walk that far

Agree, Always be prepared to self rescue…

 

[Cansberry]

Like what's already been said, Tazer or some other OBD plug in thing with software to defeat most things and your right as rain. Even, as is the case here, you can't defeat that particular thing you can get the code and figure out what's wrong. The tow driver knew just off intuition.

And thile thing you probably used to type this post (your phone) has access to all sorts of technical information and fixes, both formal and informal. It's sheer laziness to sit there for hours just cause you can't be bothered to try and learn on the fly. Guy in the video obviously has more money than sense.

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