Here's an odd little quirk with my 2007 Latitude. I'm taking it to the dealership probably in a month or so for various other quirks/issues, but I'm just wondering what you all think this could be. Here goes:

This issue happens at any given low-speed idle (in gear) situation. Lights on, lights off, heater on/off, forward, reverse, etc.

I typically back into my parking space at work. A lot of times, the spot is on a ever-so-slight incline (backing mildly up hill). If I put it in reverse, cut the wheel all the way, and let off the brake to idle it backwards into the spot, if I cut the wheel against the 'lock' or 'stop' the jeep just smoothly shuts off. Throw it in Neutral, hit the key, she fires right up like nothing happened.

That is the common means to which the problem occurs. I've also had it happen while turning using somebody's driveway (go down a street, pull in the driveway, reverse to back out, and it shuts off). I also went to back into a parking spot at my college last summer and it too stalled then. It also did it in drive while pulling into my driveway once when there was a lot of snow recently. I had the jeep in Low (automatic) and in 4WD Part Time. I slid on some ice slowing down on my street, and came to a stop. Cut the wheel to pull in, idled it forward, hit a big pile of snow at the base of the driveway from the city snow plow, hit the gas harder to move, and found the Jeep was, once again, shut off.

What are your thoughts on this issue? The wheel is almost always (if not always) turned one way or another. The Jeep is also at idle in gear (typically, but not limited to reverse). Electronic (POS) throttle control issue? Power steering issue? PS steering fluid is at the proper level, by the way.

Thanks!

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2007 Jeep Liberty Latitude
Midnight Blue

Take my answers with a grain of salt, I’m sure you will get a lot more answers after me.


I’m thinking that your idle speed might be set to low for some reason. The reverse gearing in the Liberties with the 42RLE (I think that’s the one) is too low in reverse to begin with but I’ve never had a problem in Drive. In reverse with the wheels locked one way or the other and backing up a light incline I’ll get a shutter like it’ll stall but it’s never gone all the way out. After fully warmed up I stay around 600 RPMs at idle. If yours is much below that I would start looking there.

However, I think I also read that you had the same issue while in 4L. If that’s the case there must be another issue. Using 4L should more than double your gearing negating any previous issues I mentioned above b/c you’ll have much more torque.

So if it is also happening in 4L then I would first check your air intake for any clogs (large leaf stuck over air filter) and your fuel lines. Did you use any bad gas? Do you have a pinch in the gas line? This was an issue on an old motorcycle I had but I’ve never head of it happening in a car/truck. If all that fails maybe you have a computer issue sending the wrong fuel/air mix to the engine or maybe the spark plugs are not firing in the correct order? If you recently had your car jumped or you jumped another car and did it incorrectly I’ve head it can screw things ups. Try disconnecting your battery and then reconnecting it, I’m pretty sure that will reset the computer and hopefully that will do.

But again, take my words with a grain of salt. I’ve worked on carbureted motorcycle engines but never a computer controlled car engine before.

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'04 Liberty Limited - 245/70/16 Firestone Destination AT's, Mopar tow hooks, Draw-Tite Class IV hitch, Skid Row Engine & Transmission Skids, Mopar T-Case & Gas Tank Skids, Extended Breather Tubes, Red Top Optima, Sylvania Silver Star head lights, Hella 500FF bumper mounted driving lights

Not to mislead, but the issue I mentioned happened in 4WD PART TIME. Not 4-Low. Just to clarify.

I like your info about the reverse gearing in the 42RLE trans. That makes sense. I've had it shudder a few times as you mention, but it doesn't stall during those times. lol.

I wonder if it is as simple as the gearing issue you mention, in conjunction with buggy (first year) drive-by-wire electronic throttle calibration. I bet that's all it is. Maybe the shudder is common on all the 42RLE Liberties, but the new computer/throttle control simply doesn't have any signal to slightly bump the throttle up.

Hmm...

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2007 Jeep Liberty Latitude
Midnight Blue