Suspected Rocker Arm Issues

[Bigdave]

Hello, thanks for letting me join the forum! I have a 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon that was a Canadian truck (did not know that at the time of purchase, and definitely wasn't told that the factory warranty was void because of that). It had a tick that I thought was coming from the valve train, but 2 dealers said it was purge valve solenoid. While driving the other day I suddenly lost almost all power, and truck was really struggling to stay running. Well I took the valve covers off and there's metal all over the magnets at the rear of all 4 cams. Where I'm stumped is, there is no standout signs of wear on any of the lobes. Is it possible that the rocker arms are being chewed up without eating into the cams as well? I'm waiting on my timing tools to come in the mail so I can't take the cams out just yet. Also, I sent a sample into Blackstone labs but won't know anything from them for ~10 more days. Truck only has 20k miles, so I'm pretty disappointed in Jeep obviously. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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[Lunentucker]

I believe the most common failure is for the roller bearings to let go, and then the sloppy rollers wear down the lobes over time.

 

[Bigdave]

I believe the most common failure is for the roller bearings to let go, and then the sloppy rollers wear down the lobes over time.

Could worn roller bearings cause sudden loss in power like I was experiencing? (Sorry I've never really worked on the valvetrain on an engine)

 

[Lunentucker]

Could worn roller bearings cause sudden loss in power like I was experiencing? (Sorry I've never really worked on the valvetrain on an engine)

Did you get any error codes?

 

[Bigdave]

Did you get any error codes?

Yes, I was showing p0016 and p0018.

 

[Hootbro]

Who did you buy the used Gladiator from? If a licensed dealership of any kind, there should have been a Federal Used Buyers guide sticker on it and if so, was the box checked for any factory warranty remaining? May have some recourse with your state Attorney General office that handles consumer affair issues. Did you get a CarFax run on it before purchase?

Your issue may be why they chucked it over the border to wash it down here.

 

[Bigdave]

Who did you buy the used Gladiator from? If a licensed dealership of any kind, there should have been a Federal Used Buyers guide sticker on it and if so, was the box checked for any factory warranty remaining? May have some recourse with your state Attorney General office that handles consumer affair issues. Did you get a CarFax run on it before purchase?

I purchased it from a tiny family owned dealer in Ohio. There was no window sticker on the truck. I really hope they weren't trying to shaft me on it, they did seem like good people. Also, did not get a Carfax report like an idiot. This was my first vehicle purchase from a dealership and obviously I didn't know what I was doing

 

[Lunentucker]

Yes, I was showing p0016 and p0018.

Crankshaft position.
So it went into "limp mode" is what it sounds like.

 

[Hootbro]

I purchased it from a tiny family owned dealer in Ohio. There was no window sticker on the truck. I really hope they weren't trying to shaft me on it, they did seem like good people. Also, did not get a Carfax report like an idiot. This was my first vehicle purchase from a dealership and obviously I didn't know what I was doing

Well, they were in violation of Federal Law then.

https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/used-car-rule

Good people or not, you got a bag of shit handed to you. Did you sign any paperwork accepting the vehicle "as-is"?

We could internet shit house lawyer this to death, but I would suggest having a frank discussion with a consumer related lawyer in your state on any remedies you may have to exercise.

 

[Bigdave]

Crankshaft position.
So it went into "limp mode" is what it sounds like.

That would make sense. I guess if some of the rockers aren't working like they should, that could cause the corresponding valves to not operate as well. Just visually inspecting the rocker arms, none of them appear broken but there is lots of slop in 7 or 8 of them. Could just sloppy bearings alone cause the valves to not open or close?

 

[Bigdave]

Well, they were in violation of Federal Law then.

https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/used-car-rule

Good people or not, you got a bag of shit handed to you. Did you sign any paperwork accepting the vehicle "as-is"?

We could internet shit house lawyer this to death, but I would suggest having a frank discussion with a consumer related lawyer in your state on any remedies you may have to exercise.

Thank you for the link. Unfortunately I already have the engine tore down and I'm prepared to fix it, but I'm gonna look into this law and then contact the dealership with my findings and see if they are willing to remedy the issue before I speak with an attorney.

 

[Hootbro]

Thank you for the link. Unfortunately I already have the engine tore down and I'm prepared to fix it, but I'm gonna look into this law and then contact the dealership with my findings and see if they are willing to remedy the issue before I speak with an attorney.

The FTC administers the law but the reality is they are not going to parachute lawyers in on your behalf. You have to sue in Federal Civil court on your dime to enforce it which is cost prohibitive for most. It does give ammo to a local attorney that may write a letter of demand to see if the selling dealership will cover the costs.

I do agree with your path of contacting the dealership first to discuss it before invoking an attorney.

 

[Bigdave]

Looking at the camshafts, there are no signs of wear whatsoever on any of the lobes. I bought the wrong timing chain tools so I can't get the cams out until the right one shows up. Since I was throwing P0016 and P0018 does anyone think it could be my phasers going bad? All 4 timing marks on the phasers are in the correct position and chain is taught, so I don't really think that it jumped time... Could phasers or position sensors cause the extremely loud ticking and limp mode I was experiencing? I'm really at a loss here. There's metal paste on the rear of cams but a friend of mine thinks it's a normal amount of wear metal.

 

[Bigdave]

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