Debating buying a CRD. Would you or woudn't you?

its1louder · **Posted:** Mon Jul 08, 2013 8:05 pm

ATXKJ wrote:

???? Do you know about a 12 cylinder E-Type??????

Where?????

How much do they want??

Just the sort of irrational exuberance I expect from a car enthusiast who owns a CRD. Look buddy I am not gonna enable your disease. If I tell you where to get your e-type, you are gonna have to certify that you have a three car garage and the third car is not a 1976 alfa.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:21 pm

its1louder wrote:

This is an interesting thread for me. I wish I had seen something like it a year ago before I convinced my wife to give her reasonably reliable suburu forrester to her brother and buy a 2006 Liberty CRD. If this were my daily driver I could handle the maintenance and constant attention it needs. My wife is less sensitive to signs of trouble and has gotten stranded a few times. Every single time it has been something well known on these fora e.g., I can find a thread about it that starts "The Dreaded ... Problem". "The dreaded ..." is like a meme around here because these jeeps have so many known weaknesses that will fail like clockwork at certain number of miles.

The first time my wife got stranded was when the thing threw a code that caused it to go into limp mode. This just happens sometimes - suddenly no power. You go park it for a few minutes, then you can turn it on and drive away normally. This happened once when I was driving too, There is nothing to do but wait for the code to clear. Go get a cup a joe or something, the car will run fine when you get back. I think this is some kind of over boost/turbo hiccup, anyway, its "the dreaded limp mode".
The second and third times were when the boost hose just blew completely off at the EGR. This happened every 1000-5000 miles or so and one time left my wife stranded with baby and two dogs 200 miles from home and needing a tow - nightmare. My guess is that some sort of over boost situation would happen when the EGR would open inappropriately, like during a high boost situation. The high pressure from Boost and exhaust would just blow the hose clamp off. This was almost a deal breaker, wife wanted to ditch the jeep (her word was lemon), but I did the GDE eco tune with EGR delete and it hasn't happened again in something like 10k miles, so hopefully its "fixed". I kept the flasher device because I think I will have to flashback the first time I go to get it smogged.
Most recent stranding happened to my wife and child last week. The car died, luckily this time about a mile from home and I was there to help so she didn't instantly demand we dump it. The battery was flat - turns out the clutch pulley on the alternator had failed. This is known as "the dreaded clutch pulley problem".
After owning this thing a year, I am trying to lean forward. Most recent warning sign is the transmission shudder we occasionally feel going over the mountain we live on at ~55-60 mph. AKA "The Dreaded Transmission shudder". It looks like I need to replace the chronically flimsy torque converter with the beefier aftermarket one, although reading these fora, that doesn't always help.
But first we are saving up for the Dreaded Timing belt replacement since we are at 97K miles. "Wait, what? This is a diesel engine, waddyamean timing belt?" Exactly.
Funny story: the first time we parked it in winter outside the garage, it wouldn't start the next morning. Turns out we had "the dreaded OEM fuel pump crack". Actually not that much dread, I bought my wife an 8mm wrench to keep in the glove box and taught her how to bleed the fuel line. Eventually, we just replaced the fuel pump with the one Daimler Chrysler meant to use.

To OP I would suggest the following gedankenexperiment: Would you consider a 12 cylinder Jag E-type a reliable grocery getter? Do you believe the maintenance demands of a 76 alfa romeo are totally reasonable for a daily driver? If so then the Jeep Liberty CRD is perfect for you. It is a unique car that has some things to really love about it. When it runs well it pulls like a freight train and the 4wd is tractor like. Its unique, people stop at intersections and want to talk to you about it. Contractors and other manly men are hopelessly bewitched by my wife (and her low end grunt) in the Home Depot parking lot. But its kind of a toy, the "other car" that the other car license plate frame on your toyota camry is referring to (you do have another car, right?). If you rely too heavily on it, it will break your heart. I think it is some kind of cosmic karma that VM Motori and Jeep are both owned by FIAT now, it is just like, bringing balance to the force.

Wittiest and most well written post I've read in a long time! Welcome to the group!

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 08, 2013 9:53 pm

I have a 1967 Alfa Romeo GTV, (2) 1970 Hawke DL2As, (3) Elden Mk10s (2 Falconer bodied), 1999 VW Passat 1.8T, 2001 4WD 7.3 Ford Excursion, 2005 Toyota Camry, 2008 Nissan Versa AND a 2005 KJ CRD.

Fits right in, don't you think?

DOC

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

Ya I couldn't say it any better!

CATCRD wrote:

its1louder wrote:

This is an interesting thread for me. I wish I had seen something like it a year ago before I convinced my wife to give her reasonably reliable suburu forrester to her brother and buy a 2006 Liberty CRD. If this were my daily driver I could handle the maintenance and constant attention it needs. My wife is less sensitive to signs of trouble and has gotten stranded a few times. Every single time it has been something well known on these fora e.g., I can find a thread about it that starts "The Dreaded ... Problem". "The dreaded ..." is like a meme around here because these jeeps have so many known weaknesses that will fail like clockwork at certain number of miles.

The first time my wife got stranded was when the thing threw a code that caused it to go into limp mode. This just happens sometimes - suddenly no power. You go park it for a few minutes, then you can turn it on and drive away normally. This happened once when I was driving too, There is nothing to do but wait for the code to clear. Go get a cup a joe or something, the car will run fine when you get back. I think this is some kind of over boost/turbo hiccup, anyway, its "the dreaded limp mode".
The second and third times were when the boost hose just blew completely off at the EGR. This happened every 1000-5000 miles or so and one time left my wife stranded with baby and two dogs 200 miles from home and needing a tow - nightmare. My guess is that some sort of over boost situation would happen when the EGR would open inappropriately, like during a high boost situation. The high pressure from Boost and exhaust would just blow the hose clamp off. This was almost a deal breaker, wife wanted to ditch the jeep (her word was lemon), but I did the GDE eco tune with EGR delete and it hasn't happened again in something like 10k miles, so hopefully its "fixed". I kept the flasher device because I think I will have to flashback the first time I go to get it smogged.
Most recent stranding happened to my wife and child last week. The car died, luckily this time about a mile from home and I was there to help so she didn't instantly demand we dump it. The battery was flat - turns out the clutch pulley on the alternator had failed. This is known as "the dreaded clutch pulley problem".
After owning this thing a year, I am trying to lean forward. Most recent warning sign is the transmission shudder we occasionally feel going over the mountain we live on at ~55-60 mph. AKA "The Dreaded Transmission shudder". It looks like I need to replace the chronically flimsy torque converter with the beefier aftermarket one, although reading these fora, that doesn't always help.
But first we are saving up for the Dreaded Timing belt replacement since we are at 97K miles. "Wait, what? This is a diesel engine, waddyamean timing belt?" Exactly.
Funny story: the first time we parked it in winter outside the garage, it wouldn't start the next morning. Turns out we had "the dreaded OEM fuel pump crack". Actually not that much dread, I bought my wife an 8mm wrench to keep in the glove box and taught her how to bleed the fuel line. Eventually, we just replaced the fuel pump with the one Daimler Chrysler meant to use.

To OP I would suggest the following gedankenexperiment: Would you consider a 12 cylinder Jag E-type a reliable grocery getter? Do you believe the maintenance demands of a 76 alfa romeo are totally reasonable for a daily driver? If so then the Jeep Liberty CRD is perfect for you. It is a unique car that has some things to really love about it. When it runs well it pulls like a freight train and the 4wd is tractor like. Its unique, people stop at intersections and want to talk to you about it. Contractors and other manly men are hopelessly bewitched by my wife (and her low end grunt) in the Home Depot parking lot. But its kind of a toy, the "other car" that the other car license plate frame on your toyota camry is referring to (you do have another car, right?). If you rely too heavily on it, it will break your heart. I think it is some kind of cosmic karma that VM Motori and Jeep are both owned by FIAT now, it is just like, bringing balance to the force.

Wittiest and most well written post I've read in a long time! Welcome to the group!

its1louder · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 2:31 am

I feel so welcome! This isn't a forum, its a support group. It takes a village to own a CRD.

I also want to let the OP know that despite my whining, I freaken love my wife's Liberty CRD. Like thermorex said, its the only game in town for a small diesel suv which seems like an obvious market niche that no one is filling. But this one is a possession for your heart not your head. When it is in top tune it is a torquey monster and feels really good. We have some acreage in the mountains, and I have used the thing like a tractor - in 4wd low I hook chains to the tow hooks and yank root balls out, no problem. It positively crawls over the steep sandy slopes, at idle. But "practical" and "sound" are not the first things to spring to mind if I start free associating. I really think its nature is defined by the italian motor: sexy, brutish and raw under the stylish veneer, but like zee woman she is capricious and cruel.

I wish Chrysler had put the cummins 4bt in it instead of that italian tractor motor. The 6 cyl cummins in the dodge ram pickup is a full-on post apocalyptic, rad-hard, road warrior. I really believe it could survive the emp from a 20 Mton airburst. And it has timing gears like God intended. A diesel with a timing belt just reeks of planned obsolescence.

Another good thing I will say about the CRD, though, is we often drive to Socal from the bay area and we get an honest 30mpg on 101 through central cali at 70-80 mph fully loaded including bags on the roof rack which I think is damned impressive. And with 500 mile range we can almost go there and back on one tank.

its1louder · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 2:45 am

DOC4444 wrote:

I have a 1967 Alfa Romeo GTV, (2) 1970 Hawke DL2As, (3) Elden Mk10s (2 Falconer bodied), 1999 VW Passat 1.8T, 2001 4WD 7.3 Ford Excursion, 2005 Toyota Camry, 2008 Nissan Versa AND a 2005 KJ CRD.

Fits right in, don't you think?

DOC

I had to google half the items in your list, but its funny that a 67 alfa, jeep crd, AND toyota camry were in the list. Congratulations you passed the test, I'll tell YOU where to get the e-type.

(But don't tell ATXKJ - unlike us, I think he has a problem...)

racertracer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:10 am

DOC4444 wrote:

I have a 1967 Alfa Romeo GTV, DOC

Wow.... a classic European racer.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:49 am

GTA was the racing version. This is just a touring car.

DOC

geordi · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:45 pm

DOC4444 wrote:

GTA was the racing version. This is just a touring car.

DOC

That doesn't mean that you don't have a problem. The first step toward recovery is...

:wink:

DadsDiesel · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:26 pm

At the risk of making the CRD gods angry....

I have had little trouble with my Liberty. I have owned it since Jan of '07 and she is a late build '06. She had 14K on the clock when I got her and the odo just turned 90K

Little trouble for a Chrysler product that is.

My total list of repairs:

Tires - 2 sets with alignment.
Brakes - one set (4) including rotors and parking brake pads.
Left rear window regulator
Fuel filter head (new oem style)
New alternator (clutch was the issue)
oil/filter changed every 5K with Mobil 1
fuel filter changed every 25K
MAP sensor cleaned with each oil change

Mods:

ORM

Issues that need addressed:

I think the EGR is bad, not sure, ORM keeps the CEL on.
At 90K the timing belt change keeps me up at night.
She has a little black smoke at WOT and when I "punch it".

Worries:

Rocker arm issues (How do I know if I have one?)
Timing belt replacement (see above)
Glow plug issues (haven't had any)

Wants:

GDE Hot Tune.
Suncoast Torque converter.
SAMCO intercooler hoses.
In-tank lift pump.
(did I miss anything?)

I hate to say it, but I havent had as much trouble as most have had I guess.

BTW, if I haven't listed it, I don't think I have replaced it... Have I hit the CRD Lotto or what?!?

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:56 pm

its1louder wrote:

I had to google half the items in your list, but its funny that a 67 alfa, jeep crd, AND toyota camry were in the list. Congratulations you passed the test, I'll tell YOU where to get the e-type.

(But don't tell ATXKJ - unlike us, I think he has a problem...)

Hey - at least my stuff is street legal, I don't think the Hawke or the Elden can get there.
The 67 Camaro, the 82 Honda CBX, an 89 Mercedes and the CRD - licensed legal running.....

Although I could use a bigger garage..... and the good V12's on ebay are buy it now at 66K.... I'd need to get the cheaper one and spend some time rebuilding....... while V12's are awesome - they don't necessarily make a great car - not enough improvement over the 6 but a lot more weight .... however they're still V12's and yes they can get the groceries.
(might take a couple of trips - but who's complaining)

Debating buying a CRD. Would you or woudn't you?

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