Thinking of buying a CRD - worrying about parts availability

wolverine 00 xj · **Joined:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:08 am **Posts:** 4

Hello:
I'm new to this forum. I have driven an XJ for 8 years, but it looks like it will need to have the engine replaced. Yesterday I looked at an '05 CRD w/ 80k miles, for sale for 9,500. I really liked the Jeep, and it looks like it has been well maintained. I've learned to work on my XJ and have done some stuff I never thought I could do on my own - SYE, Aussie locker install, etc. My concern w/ the CRD is that since so few were made, the parts will be hard to come by and expensive. I also admit I know just about nothing about diesel rigs.
Can anyone comment on the parts cost and availability? Is the stealership the only option? One thing I love about the XJ is parts availability and aftermarket support.
Thanks!

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 10:05 am

tons of CRDs were made over a decade in Ohio.... just not many stayed here.... FYI, my CRD that's for sale is cooler that the one you're looking at... just sayin'

wolverine 00 xj · **Joined:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:08 am **Posts:** 4

JL Rockies wrote:

tons of CRDs were made over a decade in Ohio.... just not many stayed here.... FYI, my CRD that's for sale is cooler that the one you're looking at... just sayin'

Thanks for the response. Not sure I follow you here. Is there a link to one for sale?

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 11:58 am

Be aware at 100K miles the timing belt needs replaced and the water pump should be changed also along with supporting rollers.

Yes parts are pricey like $100+ for a thermostat :2cents:

Turbo's are on back order and there are many CRD parts that are different from the gassers.
I sold my 99 XJ when I bought my CRD new in 06

I missed having an XJ so much that three years ago I found and bought a perfect condition 00 XJ Classic for my wife :roll:

That's a good price if it's in nice condition :SOMBRERO:

wolverine 00 xj · **Joined:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:08 am **Posts:** 4

Wow - $100 for a t-stat! They're about $10 for an XJ thermostat. Is the timing belt issue just with the CRD's, or all KJ's?

papaindigo · **Posted:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 12:56 pm

OEM parts tend to be pricey although there are a number of online options that are better than your local dealer. In some cases there are options to OEM parts. For example Gates makes the needed belts and hoses which sell at any parts store for way less than OEM. FYI the timing belt replacement is not unique to even Jeep; any vehicle with a timing belt needs it replaced at some interval. When they first came out it was like 75,000 miles and even timing chains on steel gears have a live span. The OEM tstat is a rather complicated housing with an unremovable tstat buried inside; not like a housing with a disposable tstat inside. Some have reported good success with an inline replacement (leave the OEM inplace as it tends to fail open and install an inline tstat housing with tstat between it and the radiator) or there is kap's redo of the OEM tstat that will accept a standard drop in tstat but production in on hold until he gets back from training and then long term production is an issue as he is headed to Australia in late summer or early fall.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:48 am

No, gasoline liberties don't have a timing belt, just the Liberty CRD's :jester:

What papa didn't mention is that diesel engines, including the crd, are an "interference" engine :SOMBRERO:

That means if the valves get out of time from a broken belt or other failure the valves will contact the pistons and two items can't occupy the same space at the same time and your wallet will be relieved of vast amounts of $$'s :BANANA:

dirtmover · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 8:29 am

Anything that is CRD specific (engine/emissions related) will cost you $$$-$$$$. Most other parts are shared with the 3.7 KJ or other vehicles and there is often aftermarket alternatives. There are a number of high ticket, dealer only, parts on the CRD the cost of which may be enough to scare you off e.g. fuel pump, injectors, turbo, EGR valve, CAC hoses, viscous heater etc. Browse the forum, see what is failing and look up the prices of a few parts.

To compound the problem many of the CRD specific parts are just not available or have an indefinite lead time for example I placed an order for a thermostat a month ago and the gasket is still on back order with no ETA

papaindigo · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 10:48 am

I'll certainly concur that CRD unique parts that are dealer only can be pricey although as I mentioned earlier online shopping helps some. dirtmove mentions some where we are clearly stuck with OEM but for others on his list I'd have to somewhat disagree. Turbo's short of a catastophic failure can and have been rebuilt, yes I know some don't like rebuilt parts, and GDE sells (not cheap) a new later generation turbo. EGR valve is almost cut out of the system from a functional perspective by the GDE tune and some have inserted a base plate that renders it totally unused. CAC hoses are not dealer only and the SAMCO alternative, while pricey, is or should be good forever. If my viscous heater ever fails it's not being replaced as IMHO it serves no useful purpose so I'd be inclined to simply bypass the water flow that goes to it and throw on a new bearing like Roostre has done, see viewtopic.php?f=5&t=60567. As to the tstat gasket it's nothing special and others have cut their own from normal gasket material or just used some form of RTV gasket maker. Heck even the inline tstat seems to be a functional replacement for the horrible complex OEM unit.

As to the engine being an interference engine; it certainly is but as far as I know all or virtually all diesels are interference so that's not a unique CRD issue.

dirtmover · **Posted:** Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:15 pm

Your comments are correct but only apply to those who are prepared to do the research, read the forums, enjoy tinkering, modding and upgrading their vehicles, have the competence to do their own maintenance and are out of warranty. How many mechanics do you know that are prepared to disable the emissions controls? For the other 95% of the population they are stuck with the dealership or an independent mechanic using expensive OEM parts.

I'm sure there are some great deals to be had on the used market with sufficient margin in the price to cover the cost of the required modifications for long term durability and driving pleasure.

If you're prepared to throw money at it, this is a great vehicle for the enthusiast but for the general public it's a lemon.

wolverine 00 xj · **Joined:** Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:08 am **Posts:** 4

Thanks guys! I appreciate the input. I really like my XJ, and I'm probably going to fix it. Not sure about getting the KJ. With some help I've tackled some projects I never thought I could on the XJ - put in Aussie locker, rear disc brake conversion, installed lift, etc. Not sure if I have the skills to keep a CRD in top shape. Still doing research.

geordi · **Posted:** Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:19 am

Welcome to the forum, Wolverine. If you happen to see Jean Grey wandering around, tell her I'd love to see her in the next movie... And in my apartment after. :jester:

As far as the CRD goes, you have been handed the stark reality. This is good, but I believe you DO have the experience and skills if you are making mods like that to an XJ.
Check out lots of threads on here, and understand this: This is the BEST and largest collection of brains and knowledge about the KJ CRD, anywhere.
Want to know about doing your own belt? Try a thread like this: http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=61253

Doing the belt is important, and depending on your level of bravery (stupidity, in my case) if the other parts are inspected thoroughly, you might decide to change only the belt. This is possibly a bad idea because of the reasons the others here mentioned... BUT the engine has a built-in safety if that catastrophic fail happens - The valves will NOT bend, the rocker arms will break. This is the designed-in failure point, and recovery from that costs $1200 in parts. Not a happy price, but far less than the $8000 a new engine will get you for.

Replacement turbos (BETTER than stock) are available from Green Diesel Engineering, who is an active member of this forum. They also have GREAT engine tunes and transmission tunes that make the CRD MUCH more reliable the way it should have been originally. Killing the EGR is easy with a GDE tune, a little harder with an SEGR device... But both will add YEARS of reliability to the CRD lifespan. And contrary to popular opinion, a local mechanic will NOT care what you have done with the EGR... He just won't do it FOR you. If you want to get your hands dirty... There isn't anything that you can't do with a CRD, and you will have a huge grin and amount of satisfaction of doing it yourself and CORRECTLY.

I have over 112000 miles on mine currently, and I would be happy to discuss the long list of mods listed just below this line. All are a good idea, and none are terribly difficult to do, if you follow the directions.

jinstall · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2011 11:49 am

Well coming from a CRD owner that had to replace their engine due to many things, one major reason, dealers that do not know about the CRD. I will offer up this one import piece of advice, find yourself a mechanic that UNDERSTANDS what a CRD is. This will help you out and keep your wallet in your pocket. I know of one now and I will probably do all my own work now as the KJ was the first vehicle I took to the dealer to be worked on, this mistake have now cost me over $18,000 since July 2010. I will not ever let this happen again. Do your homework, buy some tools you will need for your CRD and enjoy it. Once this is all paid off I will be searching ebay for more tools to buy for the CRD.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2011 2:38 pm

I manage a Chevy/Cadillac dealership and my techs have been wrenching on my CRD since 2009; it's not so esoteric as people believe. You will find that if you do decide to join this community, there's a tendency to over-think things. It has all the same systems as any other vehicle on the road, just cause it's a CRD doesn't mean you need to reverse-engineer strange alien technology. That being said, I'd avoid the 2005.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Fri Jul 01, 2011 4:41 pm

JL Rockies wrote:

I manage a Chevy/Cadillac dealership and my techs have been wrenching on my CRD since 2009; it's not so esoteric as people believe. You will find that if you do decide to join this community, there's a tendency to over-think things. It has all the same systems as any other vehicle on the road, just cause it's a CRD doesn't mean you need to reverse-engineer strange alien technology. That being said, I'd avoid the 2005.

Just make sure the timing belt is not one tooth off after your "chevy" techs work on it :-)r

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:41 pm

I owned 2 Jeep KJ CRDs between May 2005 (was the first person around this area to have one) and May 2011. I never had a single issue ever getting parts.

What I did have a problem with was how expensive all the parts were. And MORE importantly...I was always worried about what would happen IF the engine popped on me. The guys that have suffered catastrophic failures have seen $2,000 turbo replacements to $4,000 head jobs to $7,000 total engine replacements. With 100K miles on the clock, 48 months of payments to go, and zero warranty...there was simply NO WAY that I could afford to handle a costly repair like that on the CRD if something in that engine ever decided to let go. Every day I turned the key and drove to work was more and more of a gamble.

So, I found a solution to my concerns and traded it for a 2011 Wrangler Unlimited. I went from $307/month with 48 months to go... to $357/month for 38 months on a BRAND NEW vehicle with a lifetime powertrain warranty and more interior room. It was a no-brainer.

Sure, I'm getting 19 MPG instead of 25 MPG now. But if the engine lets go on this one I don't have to sweat because it's covered... FOREVER. Oh, and I can fit 33s on it without hammering any pinchwelds, cutting any fenders, or adding any lifts. :2cents:

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2011 6:58 pm

Yep.

My deler had no trouble at all getting a new power steering rack for mine.

But it only took 3 months :dizzy:

Thinking of buying a CRD - worrying about parts availability

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