Hi Ho, Hi Ho, its off to the dealer I go

[jbehrn]

I’m on my 4th Gladiator (don’t ask) and have been experiencing intermittent CEL/UConnect warnings since I bought it in late June. After the purchase, the truck’s CEL came on at 150 miles and stayed light. My local dealer diagnosed the issue as misfire on cylinders 2, 3, and 4; the dealer advisor reported issues with the Cam phasers, cleared the codes and scheduled a future drop off date. Between that date and the scheduled drop-off repair date, the CEL came on, stayed light for a few minutes and went away. The UConnect app briefly displayed a warning message which then cleared after the CEL went off. I mentioned this to the dealer a the drop off day for the warranty work. The dealer performed the Z37 update, checked for issues, ran the truck about 60 miles and reported no issues. I picked up the truck and a few days later the same thing occurred. The truck’s CEL illuminated and the UConnect app reported a warning and then both cleared. This has been occurring since then (with the exception that UConnect no longer reports the issue ?)

Fast forward a couple of months (earlier this week) and I finally brought it in again. Jeep Customer Service stepped in and worked with the local dealer but they were never been able to reproduce the issue…. I was advised to drive it until it happened again (awesome advice, what else am I going to do? ?) and report it.

Cut to today… I’m at ~8000 miles and I’m thinking that I’ll just have to live with it and then this happens. I’m sitting at a stop sign, when my old friend CEL appeared, and went away about 15 seconds later, when the truck started vibrating and making a horrible knocking sound (see attached video) with an accompanying loud ticking/pinging. You can’t tell by the video, but the truck was shaking quite a bit. I made it back home, parked and took a video of the engine with the hood open. Sounds terrible… what do y’all think? The truck ran fine on the way home and it’s not shaking - but sounds terrible. Bad cams? Bad rockers? Possessed by the spirit of an angry Ford Pinto? ?‍

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[ScottBeach]

Rocks in the gas. That is my guess

 

[22EcoDs]

If it's the 3.6 the cams prob shot. Probably took rollers with it, hopefully not too much more damage. I would have it towed. Maybe you get a new head out of it. Based on how many you've owned(don't ask?)lol, maybe you should find a different brand.

 

[jbehrn]

If it's the 3.6 the cams prob shot. Probably took rollers with it, hopefully not too much more damage. I would have it towed. Maybe you get a new head out of it. Based on how many you've owned(don't ask?)lol, maybe you should find a different brand.

I’m driving to the dealer tomorrow- fingers crossed the engine blows! I’d prefer that over a constant back and forth with the dealer…

I tried to quit Jeep… It’s loud, wanders - but man is it fun to drive!

 

[22EcoDs]

I've come to know jeep owners are masochists alike.

 

[joeym7]

Sorry to hear this that really sucks...I hope they fix it or give you a new Jeep.

 

[Lunentucker]

It sounds like it identifies as a diesel.
Post back when you get answers.

 

[Rahkmalla]

I’m driving to the dealer tomorrow- fingers crossed the engine blows! I’d prefer that over a constant back and forth with the dealer

My guess is the dealer would prefer that too. Jeep corporate like most mnfrs is stingy paying for diagnostic time, but have no issues paying for a new engine when it blows.

I'm sure it's calculated. They probably commissioned a study into how much letting dealers have more leeway with charging back diagnostics would cost, vs how much abject failure replacements cost, and determined that they (like end users) also don't trust car dealerships.

 

[jbehrn]

I started it this morning to drive it to the dealer. Started fine, ran fine, sounded a little rougher; but not like last night

Dealer scanned it and found a bad wiring harness on one of my rear tail lights. I showed the Service advisor the video and he didn’t know what to make of it. Next step is to wait for a loaner so they can repair the harness and inspect the engine.

 

[Charles 236]

If it is a case of demon possession, as in Ford Pinto demons, all is not lost. The liberal use of holy water in the common 87 octane will drive out the Ford Pinto demons. Five gallons ought to be enough to get rid of them, if applied carefully with a match from a safe distance. Or you could just trade it.

 

[PlayfulBird]

I know you said not to,... but my wife sits next to me and dared me to ask. So here we go. Why are you on your 4rth JT?


(Throwing the wife under the bus here)?

 

[jbehrn]

I know you said not to,... but my wife sits next to me and dared me to ask. So here we go. Why are you on your 4rth JT?


(Throwing the wife under the bus here)?

It’s a tale as old as time:

1st - Overland trim, traded for 2nd one (crazy trade in value helped seal the deal)
2nd - Rubicon, dealer caused $13k in damages by detailing it for free post purchase. They swapped it out for new one (#3)
3rd - Rubicon, totaled when rear ended by EMS flight supervisor on interstate (he was on his phone and hit me without braking)
4th - current

 

[jbehrn]

If it is a case of demon possession, as in Ford Pinto demons, all is not lost. The liberal use of holy water in the common 87 octane will drive out the Ford Pinto demons. Five gallons ought to be enough to get rid of them, if applied carefully with a match from a safe distance. Or you could just trade it.

I’m seriously tempted to trade it for a diesel rubicon

 

[BourbonRunner]

I've come to know jeep owners are masochists alike.

They're just as bad if not worse than BMW owners.

And as a BMW owner who's about to buy a Gladiator... clearly I hate my money.

 

[Rusty PW]

My diesel sounds better then that on a cold morning.

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