Broken hearted last night... (edit: pics)

DynoPax · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:12 am

Yep... 'Got involved in an accident with my significant other aboard the Libby yesterday evening :banghead:

Most important, everyone was OK, including the lady and her young child in the other vehicle. Emergency services were swift to respond and did their duty in a very professional way, as expected... I could not avoid her, as she took the left turn to a perpendicular street while I was coming opposite on the main road. Green light for me meant she had to obviously yield before turning, which she did not...

Now my Jeep has its front end all squashed up to the engine (which still turns, BTW), front subframe and everything else is either twisted or broken into pieces, with airbags deployed as well (1st experience :shock:

). My insurance company told me not to put too much faith into having it salvaged and repaired, and start looking for another vehicle while evaluation is under way. That option leaves me pensive, as I am not sure what to get next. I do not believe I can go back and walk the long road to re$$$tore another Liberty CRD to the best of its capacities, though I really love the lil' Jeep

. Like many of you, I invested time, money & efforts into transforming the vehicle so it performs to the best of its abilities, which it did admirably, and this made me proud, hence the broken heart today...

I'll try to post pictures later and will keep an update on how things evolved... Fingers (and toes) crossed!

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2012 10:18 am

Sorry to hear about your beloved CRD but more important part is your loved ones :BANANA:

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2012 6:48 pm

Glad to hear people are Okay
- Jeeps can be replaced

SLS · **Posted:** Thu Nov 01, 2012 7:21 pm

Maybe connecting with this guy would help to keep another CRD on the road. http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=72328

DynoPax · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:16 am

SLS wrote:

Maybe connecting with this guy would help to keep another CRD on the road. http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=72328

Though it`d be nice, that would prove very difficult, with me being on the north side of the border, and insurance company that takes "ownership" of the vehicle when a claim is filed. if evaluation says "totalled", it`s off to the scrapyard for parts...

I am now considering to go GC CRD, but these are even more rare and I need to build my knowledge base about this vehicle, its capacities & quirks, what to look for and expect... On another note, I re-read my original post and started laughing after I kinda reminded myself as being like that crazy mechanic in a Seinfeld episode, where he runs off with Jerry`s SAAB :-)r

Maybe I needed that link severed and have to get professional help and consult, with the withdrawal effect and void feeling :ALONE:

DynoPax · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 1:40 pm

Here are some pics... Does not look that bad after all (IMHO):

DynoPax · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 2:42 pm

Well, 'just got an update from the insurance company: totalled :dead:

That s...ks!

I think my days as a CRD Liberty owner are done, no more for me. Maybe a GC CRD if the price is reasonable, otherwise it's going to be an AWD type like Subaru or similar. Anyhow, I still have the weekend to think things over real hard before making a choice, preferably the right one this time ($$$) :mrgreen:

!

papaindigo · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 3:31 pm

Gotta love insurance companies as that's certainly fixable. That said glad all of you are ok and hope they give you a decent settlement.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Nov 02, 2012 4:46 pm

Thats not a bad fixer, would be about $1500 for me to repair.

EDIT:

Less if I used some parts from my parts KJ.

pdudley42 · **Joined:** Thu May 19, 2011 6:15 pm **Posts:** 16

In the US our insurance companies do something quite similar, they take ownership of a vehicle once it is totaled. However, the owner then has the right to buy it back from them at "Salvage Value", which is quite a reduction. I totaled a 6 year-old Celica once and bought it back from the insurance company for $400!!! The whole drivetrain was still good.
It is worth looking into whether that is an option for you. They may not offer the information up front, as stated earlier "gotta love insurance companies".
We all know how rare these rigs are and it would be a shame to give up a well-loved example without a fight...especially to an insurance company. Just my .021.
By the way, glad everyone was okay. Airbag dust tastes weird.

naturist · **Posted:** Sat Nov 03, 2012 9:50 am

So sorry to hear of the wreck, but really glad nobody is injured. Best of luck with whatever your final course of action turns out to be.

racertracer · **Posted:** Sat Nov 03, 2012 1:58 pm

That'll buff right out.

Glend · **Posted:** Sat Nov 03, 2012 6:51 pm

Sorry to hear about your accident.

That is what we call a "repairable writeoff", where the insurance company deems it too expensive to fix but allows a buy back or auction sale to others who may have the expertise and labour to either part it out or return it to the road. Returning it to the road would require a "Blue Slip" inspection where the Road authority engineers go over it carefully, verifying engine numbers, chassis alignment, etc etc. to avoid cut and shut rebirthing operations.

BTW if you considering a Grand Cherokee CRD, avoid the ones with the Mercedes engine, (which is all of them prior to the VM 3.0L V6) as these Mercedes engines have shown (at least down here) to be crap, they have constant swirl motor problems due to EGR (think of the swirl motor as the flow control valve in a KJ CRD), they have oil seal leaks, and the heads are composite build so nothing can simply be repaired - the whole head assembly would need to be sourced; and one other thing they can't be rebuilt - no wet liners and the cylinder walls are to thin to rebore. The new series with the VM engine is the choice, and they sell like hotcakes down here.

Good luck with your decision.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:23 pm

Glend wrote:

BTW if you considering a Grand Cherokee CRD

The only grand cherokees to consider are the ones with the Mercedes OM642, there are no other diesel jeeps here in NA. 05/06 for the KJ. 07/08 for the WK.

DynoPax · **Posted:** Sun Nov 04, 2012 9:37 am

Glend wrote:

Sorry to hear about your accident.

That is what we call a "repairable writeoff", where the insurance company deems it too expensive to fix but allows a buy back or auction sale to others who may have the expertise and labour to either part it out or return it to the road. Returning it to the road would require a "Blue Slip" inspection where the Road authority engineers go over it carefully, verifying engine numbers, chassis alignment, etc etc. to avoid cut and shut rebirthing operations.

BTW if you considering a Grand Cherokee CRD, avoid the ones with the Mercedes engine, (which is all of them prior to the VM 3.0L V6) as these Mercedes engines have shown (at least down here) to be crap, they have constant swirl motor problems due to EGR (think of the swirl motor as the flow control valve in a KJ CRD), they have oil seal leaks, and the heads are composite build so nothing can simply be repaired - the whole head assembly would need to be sourced; and one other thing they can't be rebuilt - no wet liners and the cylinder walls are to thin to rebore. The new series with the VM engine is the choice, and they sell like hotcakes down here.

Good luck with your decision.

Hmmmmm... Interesting feedback! The thing though is, here in NA, the only engine choice was the OM642 from MB, for years 2007 & 2008. Are they to be considered suspect reliability-wise? I know GDE produces a tune for these engines, may vastly improve drivability and overall performance, if its anything similar to what was done to the KJ. Any good knowledge base source for the WK CRD?

BTW, thanks everyone for your kind words & support but then again, what do you expect from such a mighty fine bunch here at LOST? Thumbs up to you all, gentlemen (and the ladies too!)

jinstall · **Posted:** Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:02 pm

Sorry to hear this a s you KJ CRD looked to be in great shape.

So much so I'd love to have your seats.

striperman36 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2012 4:08 pm

If you want to sell some parts, if they let you. I'm interested. Those leather seats would be nice.

salden77 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:42 pm **Posts:** 271

this happened in winter 2 years ago a guy hit me head on when i was right in front of my work, i know the damage looks minimal. the insurance company didnt total it, the bill when i picked up the jeep was 4400 dollars.

Miyanovich · **Posted:** Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:30 am

Glad everyone is alright. I fear this same thing, daily. After we,ve just put well over $5000 into the Jeep to get it running again, some goof makes a bad move, and I total my ride.

But now that you have the chance, I say RUN! Escape while you still can!!! Run from the CRD, and never look back!!

No, no...it's okay! SAVE YOURSELF!!!

:SOMBRERO:

DynoPax · **Posted:** Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:20 am

Well, gentlemen, my days as a Liberty CRD owner are gone for good... I just purchased a 2013 RAM 1500 with the new Pentastar V6 and 8-speed tranny, but will have to wait a few months for delivery. In the meanwhile, I'll probably rely on a small 'UTE, either Vitara or X-90. It will actually make a great project in the future. Who knows, might even convert it to diesel, as they are easy to work on.

I just could not stomach the idea of going the same road again with the Jeep, either it be a Liberty or GC CRD. They cost too much to maintain and a major failure is always lurking at the moment you expect the least, or at the worst possible time. With this said though, it is not a case of "fountain, I will never drink your water again" (french proverb), as Chrysler is going back to diesel in NA with the upcoming GC with 3.0 VM engine. That could prove interesting in the long run, if all goes well :BANANA:

I'll keep in touch with this mostly excellent forum and wish all of you the best and most fun out of your Jeeps!

Thx!

Eric Stewart

Broken hearted last night... (edit: pics)

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