Worrisome...sudden engine issues (51K) miles

[WVUeer99]

Hey y'all. Got a 2020 JTR...ordered it and got it delivered in SEP 2019. Love it, even took the trek from FL to UT to ride around Moab trails. Entering 2022, at 45K miles the fun starts...

In MAR, my main battery died. I replaced it at AutoZone with the best they had. Early APR, the auto start/stop disables every day. Mid-APR, the CEL light comes on and I take it to a dealership (Lakeland). Diagnostic says it was a cylinder 3 misfire but couldn't replicate. I chalked it to a gas burp. They did a service and gave it back. Next week getting onto an interstate onramp, gears slip and I don't have any power in lower gears, only higher ones. No engine light. Next day, CEL comes on and I drive to dealership (Lakeland). They hold for 10 days, check plugs, coils, open heart surgery and check cam, valves, pressure check, leak check, etc. Nothing...give it back. Next weekend while moving daughter into college, CEL comes on and Rear Axle Lock light comes on at full speed on highway. I'm thinking electrical...but on way home (Mother's Day), axle locks and tires chirp at 70 mph on I-10. I limped Jeep to nearest dealership (Starke). They took 11 days but replaced Rear Axle Lock sensor and actuator. Couldn't replicate CEL issue, but surmised electrical. As I drove it home, CEL came on as I got onto another onramp...dealership said it was auxiliary battery and I drove it to my local dealership (Ferman) to replace. They took a day and did that. That weekend CEL comes on and flashes. Take it to dealership (Ferman) where I discover all signs point to camshaft issue. They argue with Lakeland on what actually was done diagnostically. I get jeep back after 3 weeks with new cam - driver's side. Yesterday...CEL comes on in traffic near Orlando. Engine shutters, lights flash, I pull over and get it towed to dealership (Ferman). FInd out today it was both upstream and downstream O2 sensors died at same time. This last one is not covered by warranty...$1200.

Because I'm over 24 months with the JTR, I'm not covered under FL Lemon Law. I'm covered by powertrain warranty for another 9K miles, then I have to make a decision. I'm a lifelong Jeeper, and don't want to leave that lifestyle, but concerned the root cause of the issues isn't being addressed. I feel it has something to do with the computer, especially around the signals to shift gears. Crazy as it may seem, I've heard from a trusted source that Chrysler has issues with computer sent messages to the automatic transmission because it goes through the radio where there are frequency interruptions at times. My radio glitches and cuts on and off all the time and it has me wondering. Especially because I can cut off the JTR and shift manually with little issues when needed.

At this point, I've been without the JTR for 43 days in last four months. Any thoughts or discoveries from this great bunch that may help where I go or what my next steps should be?

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[chorky]

there seems to be some interesting issues with the pre '22 glad's. My .02 is 1) consider the extended warranty before it is outside your purchase window, or 2) trade it in for a new one. With concerns like that, honestly, I would be looking to remove all the accessories and just get rid of it in favor of a new 22 or 23 version. Especially as right now the buy back value or trade in value of a used rig is still insanely high. Actually, I know people at the dealer that I bought mine from that openly told me they had XX vehicle for 2 years, traded it in for a new vehicle, and made money. Its kinda disgusting to think about that. But that can work in your favor in this situation. I know one thing is for sure, if I had problems like that I would be looking to get rid of it asap because that is far too low of miles to feel comfortable with it being reliable. Computer issues or not.

The other thing to consider, is if that dealer that is servicing it will not give you a reasonable and fair trade in value, then I would be contacting Jeep Cares immediately because that tells me they know there is a problem, but they aren't trying hard enough to fix it and make it right. Warranty work sucks. But the fact is it is under contract to be repaired. Obviously it is not working right.

 

[wv_gladiator]

I thought your O2 sensor would fall under your emissions category. 6yrs 100k

 

[WVUeer99]

i didn't opt for any additional warranty. so all i got was everything to 36k and power train to 60k

 

[ZoMojave]

With concerns like that, honestly, I would be looking to remove all the accessories and just get rid of it in favor of a new 22 or 23 version. Especially as right now the buy back value or trade in value of a used rig is still insanely high.

I agree with this statement.

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

Any chance something happened like reversed jumper cables or a backwards battery? It really sounds like electrical gremlins.

 

[DAVECS2]

Unfortunately, you have managed to get most of the known issues in one vehicle.

I don't believe your O2s went out. When the cam fails it takes out the catalytic converter with it. It takes a while longer for that to show up. When the first dealership did the diagnostic, did they actually remove the valve covers. A compression or leak down test will not catch it because almost 100 percent of the time the low lift cams are fine. It is the highlift lobes that are wiped. Usually the drivers side cam fails about 5-8k later.

Your transmission will shift weird with the highlift loves wiped because it is programmed to smooth out the torque spike when your engine e goes into highlift. With out that spike, it will feel like it is holding gears to long, and not downshifting fast enough.

As for the rear axle, I have not heard of many success stories just replacing components for the locking function. The best results are from replacing the the axle, or using the Z-Automotive fix.

 

[WVUeer99]

Thanks all. Picked up the JTR yesterday and chatted with the service tech. He looked me straight in the eyes and said if he were me, he would hit the eject button. Lol...gonna talk to a sales guy to begin the process of what the trade-in would be to determine fair value.

 

[NachoRuby]

i didn't opt for any additional warranty. so all i got was everything to 36k and power train to 60k

I think emissions stuff is federal, and required to be 100k by law.

 

[Gren71]

Thanks all. Picked up the JTR yesterday and chatted with the service tech. He looked me straight in the eyes and said if he were me, he would hit the eject button. Lol...gonna talk to a sales guy to begin the process of what the trade-in would be to determine fair value.

definitely a good choice brotha.

if you get into another Jt id reach out to the fella everyone recommends on this forum for an extended warranty. Gupton maybe? I can’t remember but he was awesome and got me a warranty on a used JLU for an amazing price.

if you cant pay for that extended warranty outright, i would NOT roll it in to a payment. Take a look at affirm and just pay for it over a year. I did this with both mine and my wifes and it actually makes the extended warranty cost effective.

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