lfhoward wrote:
Wow, that sucks!
Do you have all your fan speeds? I was thinking maybe the blower motor resistor was cooking itself and needs replacing. It’s behind the glove box. That would be something I would check before taking it in for service, since it’s easy and inexpensive.
OK.. change of plans. Unless you live in the DETROIT area, DISREGARD. But anyway, had jeep hauled to Parkway Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/RAM.. First off, it was to go to the service department but it ended up in the body shop because of the "smoke" and if there's smoke, could be fire damage, insurance could be involved. Ok, no time to deal with it so left jeep, went to work.
Later, after talking to insurance, figured no need to wait weeks for body shop so had service go ahead and take over the case. Get a call from a VERY pleasant service adviser, lets call him "Joe". So, "Joe" says, $950 to take off dash and look into it. OK. What's my choice? Go ahead. End of the day, "Joe" calls and said "Oh, you have LOTS of after market accessories on your jeep. Tech says 14 hours to work on, he won't be able to hook it all back up, so, $1625. WTF? I have wires running through the main driver side "grommet" for my LED lights that are controlled by 3 switches. So, what "other"accessories are we talking about? I went over a list before he could answer. Non OEM items, front steel bumper, sliders, taller tires. A bracket for a Midland MXT115 radio. OEM heated front seats what failed after 2 years and replaced with after market heated seat elements but the push button switch was left in place. So, not sure what OTHER after market items the tech was looking at. I'm pretty good at "wiring" and all my wires are heavy duty, runs from the switches right out to under the hood relays. But they have been there for 2 years and don't feel that's my "burning wire" issue (I checked and they are intact).
Now, I wouldn't think anything bad about Parkway had it not been for the time(s) they left my breather cover off on my Chrysler minivan which I drove around for a week with it off so the van sucked RAW air into the intake. Thats why I heard that "low moaning" sound when accelerating. Like back when I was a teen and I'd turn the breather top cover upside down. I did complain about it, a "sorry, we will talk to the tech". Later own, took jeep in for oil change, 4x4 service and throttle body clearing. Left the lot, got home, raised the hood look things over. The air intake was completely off the intake. Not the air filter area, but the pipe running directly into the intake, OFF! Sent pic to service manger. Again, he apologized and said he would talk to the tech.
So, needless to say, I went against my better judgement, had the rig dropped off but went back and picked it up yesterday, drove it (it didn't go up in flames) and took it to my local mech who has worked on both my Jeeps in the past and does great work. Just his "electrical" guy was out all week and won't be back till next week.
Lessons learned, listen to you gut and MEGA dealerships are NOT, IMO, a good place to deal with if you want it done and done right. $1600 to just take off the dash and figure out the problem a little over the top.