Is it worth it?

hegel · **Joined:** Thu Aug 08, 2013 6:56 pm **Posts:** 13

I've been so hell bent on doing research on these little vm motori engines and the aftermarket support for the CRD libby platform i've lost sight of what my original intent was. a secondary 4x4 to use during winter or as a backup incase my jetta craps out on me. the CRD models command a premium but they are very maintenance heavy (i can do it all). it might be nice to have something i could push the easy button on.

so here's my question. those of you who have the CRD liberty.

Would you buy a 2nd or replacement if your current rig was not feasible to repair?

thermorex · **Posted:** Mon Aug 12, 2013 10:43 pm

This jeep CRD is higher maintenance than any other Jeep I know, and also more prone to minor annoyances. There are must do's (like Noob guide stuff) and once you're done with those mods, you may have more peace of mind. If you don't mind getting your hands dirty, way more than with your Jetta, then get a CRD. Considering the price, if my crd dies, I'd either fix it or get another one, right now, there is no equivalent or similar diesel in the same class as Liberty and the price for a Diesel Touareg or Grand Cherokee (which both are upper as class and value) is way too big for me to worth the investment.

Greasey Bob · **Joined:** Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:34 am **Posts:** 228

Minor annoyances next to a VW diesel. 5 generation of annoyances. 1981 dasher, 1986 Jetta, 1991 Jetta, 2001 bettle tdi, 05 Passat. Just one messed up car after the other. Just little things like the transmission, wiring harness, oil pans, throttle cables, blowing up (81 and 91)...

I purchased my Jeep so I could convert it to run on Veg. I did the norb stuff, easy and cheap! Timing Belt sucked, and ball joints were hard for a professional mechanic. I always was told that Jeeps are 50/50 if you get a good one it is usually really good. If you get a bad one it burns you regularly. I call mine the best grease vehicle ever. Good power, easy to park, holds lots of stuff, comfortable,, and this might not apply to most but an easy conversion to grease vehicle. I got a really god one.

hegel · **Joined:** Thu Aug 08, 2013 6:56 pm **Posts:** 13

I guess i am putting too much weight on the problems i've found. I allready own the tools to do the timing belt on the vw tdi cars so i could just use those for this engine.

thank you.

dirtmover · **Posted:** Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:11 am

hegel wrote:

Would you buy a 2nd or replacement if your current rig was not feasible to repair?

My initial reaction was not a chance but thinking about it some more if it was an accident write-off that the engine survived and I found another at a great price I may consider it.

tech57 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:25 am

I'm at 9 months of CRD ownership and about 15,000.
The two failures experienced were ignition switch and driver's rear window regulator, which could happen to any 107,000 mile vehicle. However, both are documented as weak points of the gas or diesel Liberty.
Other than those repairs, just routine maintenance per the manufacturer schedule published in owner's manual. I am a motorhead and always seek to "improve" my vehicles so I've proactively spent money, GDE tune, silicone intercooler hoses, etc. Don't ask about the money I've spent "improving" my Camaro...
I'm happy with the Liberty CRD purchase and would buy another.

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

I would only buy a used KJ CRD with >10k miles if it had following:
(a) 5w40 or thicker oil changed every 5k miles

(b) EGR delete or reduced since tuning for most of life

(c) Provent or equivalent crank case ventilation filter

(d) Lift pump

(e) Upgraded fuel filter

(f) Owner mentions turbo cooldowns.

naturist · **Posted:** Tue Aug 13, 2013 7:49 pm

hegel wrote:

Would you buy a 2nd or replacement if your current rig was not feasible to repair?

I like the little tractor, BUT it has been the most unreliable vehicle I've ever owned in the half-century since I got my driver's license. So, no, if it bit the big one and was not feasible to fix, I would not buy another one. I think I'd look around for a used BMW X5.

CATCRD · **Posted:** Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:12 pm

I liked mine so much I bought another one. Now I have two. I tell ya, you either love them or you don't. There are a lot of sob stories on this board because they have no one else to turn to. Dealers are mostly clueless. If you want one, keep in mind you will be your own mechanic for that reason. If you are capable of that, you'll be fine.

user113 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:30 pm

hegel wrote:

so here's my question. those of you who have the CRD liberty.

Would you buy a 2nd or replacement if your current rig was not feasible to repair?

I really like my CRD. No, I really LOVE my CRD. I do a lot of the maintenance myself, it has a certain mystique, totally neat clack-clack sound and tons of torque. I am very glad to have it and the experience it taught me. I really would like to keep it for many more years, so it is not for sale. But, if it were to get totaled tomorrow, there's no way I would replace it with another one. Absolutely not. Particularly when I compare the long term maintenance costs and peace of mind to that of other vehicles I have owned (5 Fords, 3 Mercedes Benz, 1 Volvo, 1 VW, 1 Oldsmobile, 1 AMC). And, my truck has not been particularly problematic by the standards of some on this forum.

camo · **Posted:** Tue Aug 13, 2013 10:35 pm

I had 2, a sport and a limited, and my wife made me sell the sport

and in three years of ownership I have not had a single engine problem. the failures had only been things that regularly happened to the liberty gas model.

MRausch82 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 13, 2013 11:57 pm

Would I buy another? Probably. In fact, I have owned mine more than once. Long story there... I did have an '05 that I sold due to a layoff back in 2008. I did not like that one as much because the dealers kept screwing it up while under warranty, so I sold it. I particularly like mine because it was exactly what I would have, and wanted to order brand new in 2006... the color, options, etc. I have been thinking about another one at some point, but not right now. I am very happy with mine, and now that I have done the timing belt service, I am even happier since I have one less worry. I bought mine used around 47K, and did the ORM immediately. I have 91K and I still get excellent fuel economy, great power and the capability to go pretty much anywhere at anytime (I live in a rural mountainous area), and it suites my needs perfectly. Also, I am very comfortable in it. A lot of folks do not like the "Sport" seats, but for whatever reason I find them very comfortable. I am pleased with it. I cannot remember the last vehicle I had that I really liked... and I have had a lot of vehicles...

barley00 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 14, 2013 6:46 am

I just submitted a post for the guy asking "how's your CRD holding up" so I don't want to repeat that here. However, I've had a great time with my CRD, I do most of the repairs myself. I agree with some of the VW people that my CRD is better than my tdi VW was by far! I love this thing and would buy a second for sure.

dirtmover · **Posted:** Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:08 am

CATCRD wrote:

...If you want one, keep in mind you will be your own mechanic for that reason. If you are capable of that, you'll be fine.

Being capable and wanting to be your own mechanic are two different things. Personally, I've got better things to do with my time.

...and don't forget that's only part of the equation. Can you afford to be off the road for 6 weeks waiting for a backordered part? Are you prepared to pay inflated prices for parts?

Is it worth it?

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