My Sport S took a dump today…

[ShadowsPapa]

90% sure it's alternator. Voltage fluctuations makes computers do weird things.

Are you talking voltage or ripple?
Voltage will be regulation, unless you mean the buzz of ripple,
ripple will be alternator - diode and filtering issues.
Mine goes to some crazy high voltages - maybe it's normal for THESE batteries, but used to be if I saw 14.7 or 14.8 I'd look for hot or overcharged batteries.

In the early days of PCMs and EFI ripple caused more than one mechanic to swap out PCMs and injectors and do crazy parts swapping, because no one knew to scope the bloody alternator. Even most repair shops don't scope them. I had a guy tell me "I can hear if a diode is bad" - yeah, if it's REALLY bad, you can, but what if it's leaking, weak? Can't hear that and it only shows on a scope. I scope them. (well, until my last scope blew, looking for a modern replacement now so I can resume checking output with a scope. I've resorted to using a portable tune-up scope to get the job done.)

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[ShadowsPapa]

Had something similar happen in a different vehicle. Turned out that a rodent had chewed through several wires. Display lit up like a christmas tree!

Peppermint oil..

 

[Kilroy1941]

2021 Gladiator Sport S, 3.6 with auto transmission, 9700 miles. No mods other than new tires. Driving along on a cruise with my wife today when all of a sudden the screen starts going crazy! Luckily I was on back roads because I also lost steering control, it was shifting funny or not shifting at all, the wipers were going on their own, everything was nuts. Shut down it down and restarted it a few times, but it was still crazy. I tried manual shifting, still bonkers. All I could do was limp to a place I could safely park, I unhooked the battery and re-hooked it up to see if things would re-set. Unhooking the battery at least got it to drive normal but with a “Service Transmission” warning and check engine light. I'm so upset right now. I'm hoping my dealer can tow it in and find out what’s wrong. ?

Sadly parting gifts from Fiat, I hope they get it resolved quickly for you. Push Jeep cares to get involved if the dealership is one of the bad ones.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

Loose battery terminal. First place to start.

These late model vehicles are run on computers. Watch what happens when you unplug your home computer or you cut the power mid stream.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yeah but your home computer is a switching power supply....... not like anything else out there.

The "computers" in pre-2000 vehicles are typically +12, -12, +5 and -5 volts so they'll usually be ok until things dip below those numbers. And perhaps CURRENT tech doesn't use the + and - 12v any more.

I'd hope that the alternator would maintain clean and level system voltage in event of any battery issues.
But don't go testing it like some idiots out there do by removing a battery connection while the thing is running. That's a great way to fry things.
I've got pics of an alternator sent to me after someone tested to see if it was charging by disconnecting the battery to see if the engine kept running. Blew 3 diodes to pieces.
I know - these are very different animals, different rules, they'll behave differently, but still - the battery presents a load to the charging system and when that's gone..........

 

[GP1770SC]

I have been burned by mopar ATs so many times…hence I’m driving a MT JT.

 

[dcmdon]

I have been burned by mopar ATs so many times…hence I’m driving a MT JT.

I thought the AT in the Gladiator was a ZF 8HP? One of the best ATs in the business.

 

[911brad]

I get what you’re saying, and I’d argue semantics for the most part especially when it catches you by surprise on the road.

Besides being a farm kid, I’m 42 and drove old school Deuce and a Half M35’s in the Army, so I’m quite familiar with “Armstrong” steering.

Jeep went away to the dealer today. God help anyone that actually needs to use Mopar Roadside Assistance in a real emergency. Took them seven hours total to move my truck 30 miles.

Just a clarification. The steering doesn't "fail" or "stick".

The power assist goes away. This is certainly dangerous enough but its vastly different from the steering failing.

Generally accidents happen when the power steering stops working right in the first few seconds. When the driver is trying to figure out what is happening. Once you realize what is happening, you can drive quite adequately by using what a friend calls "Armstrong" steering.

If you are old enough to have driven a carbureted car, you've probably had it stall when you stepped on the clutch and the engine at idle. The power steering goes away and you just deal with it.

This is in no way a criticism of the OP. It just seems like what he said may have been misinterpreted by some young people who have never had a car stall and lose power steering on them before.

 

[jimbom]

I thought the AT in the Gladiator was a ZF 8HP? One of the best ATs in the business.

I agree with the above statement. But I think the point is that the MT isn't so dependent on electronics.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I agree with the above statement. But I think the point is that the MT isn't so dependent on electronics.

But I question the factory clutch...........

 

[jimbom]

But I question the factory clutch...........

Yea, it doesn't have a stellar reputation. My 6-speed clutch has been one of the smoothest and easiest clutches I've owned. But the latest recall does link the clutch and engine performance with electronics, and a lot of us are wary of that. (I haven't done that recall yet and I'm not sure what the fail-safe mode is if the electronics go crazy.)

 

[Riccochet]

I thought the AT in the Gladiator was a ZF 8HP? One of the best ATs in the business.

Yup, best AT in the business right now.

 

[dcmdon]

Yup, best AT in the business right now.

The only variable is that it is not an actual German ZF. Its made under license by Chrysler in the US.

That introduces variables such as machining tolerances, quality of metallurgy, etc.

 

[redrider]

The only variable is that it is not an actual German ZF. Its made under license by Chrysler in the US.

That introduces variables such as machining tolerances, quality of metallurgy, etc.

I'll take "etc" for a thousand, Alex. (you know-the human/union variable)

 

[911brad]

Update posted in OP.

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