New to the forum. A KJ wheeler friend recommended the site. I have spent several days going through many posts. However, I did not see a general discussion for the potential buyer like myself. If this is a re-hash of an another tread please point me to it. I am looking for a vehicle that I can used to do some medium level towing, loading up with brickes now and again and just general abuse. Many of the small SUVs on car frames don’t fit that bill. I may also get into some wheeling.

I have been looking at 05 and 06 KJ. I test drove a Patriot and although it is a nice little machine I found the power lacking and the CVT transmission sluggish. I also need something that can tow and while the Patriot is rated to tow 2000# I don’t picture that going all that well. I also have tested the 06 and 07 Grand Cherokees and I pretty much melted. But they are a little too refined for me (ie I ain’t spending that much). So on to the KJs. I have looked at a few 05 and 06 Limiteds. I like the heated seats and other creature comforts. Not much of the car like ride I was hoping to find (more for my wife’s sake) but suits me fine. A little smallish interior as well. My biggest complaint has been the mileage. So I started looking at CRDs. I like them and the whole concept fits well with the Liberty. I like the way they run. Unfortunately, the CRDs add a good $2-3000 to the price. Sure you save on fuel cost and the engine should never die (in theory) but $3000 buys a lot of gas.

Looking for advice and answers. The 05 have a better warrenty (7/70k transferable down to two owners). Is there a break in period for the CRD? If I find one that has 60K miles or so what issues should I be looking for.

The 06s have the electronic stability program (ESP) but I don’t think the 05s do. Do I want this?

I like the idea of the Select track as well. Thoughts?

Well as I said any advice is great.

Thanks for the info. I will keep digging in the forum. I did see a few issues in threads in the CDR section. I have also spoken to the better Jeep service shop in my area to see what they know about the CDR. They said that they see more problems with the 3.7's than the CDRs but the CDR problems can be fairly extensive.

Having never worked on a diesel engine I was wondering how diffcult it is to wrench on one of these.

Thanks for the info. I will keep digging in the forum. I did see a few issues in threads in the CDR section. I have also spoken to the better Jeep service shop in my area to see what they know about the CDR. They said that they see more problems with the 3.7's than the CDRs but the CDR problems can be fairly extensive.

Having never worked on a diesel engine I was wondering how diffcult it is to wrench on one of these.

Don't let anyone imply that we are "discouraging" you from buying a CRD as the post stated above erroneously (a couple up). Just giving pertinent information on some foreseeable problems that can crop up...for information sake only. Also there were over 11,000 made and sold in the US so you should be able to find a good used CRD.

If he has read posts and threads here, he will be able to make up his own mind as to "if" there are discouraging words being said about the CRD's.

His post was to find out "information" about buying a KJ. Your post was obviously dismissing or ignoring "known issues" that "some" are having with thier CRDs. You should maybe speak for yourself and try not to talk for the rest of the members on L.O.S.T. I have no problem with your post on it's own...but "I" do not feel it gives a complete picture of very possible issues that are "known" to happen with CRDs.

Your Words were the ones that brought up the "discourage" context:

Don't let a few discourage you from the CRD. [/i][/b]

BVCRD: I, on the other hand, would have thought it was the post a few up from mine, (the one above your original post) that had a negative ring to it.

Nothing wrong with someone pointing out negatives...based on thier own experiences

BVCRD: The point we need to make is "some" may mean "few" and "few" if any 2006 CRD's built after Oct 2005 have had the TC issues

I didn't place "any" build dates in my post

BVCRD: , most will have the CAC hose issue, be that from design OR turbo leakage.

Now, where did these figures of "most" come from? Is it because "you" had an issue with the CAC hose it becomes "most"? By that criteria I would have to post that 'most" CRD engine will "BLOW UP" since mine did...


BVCRD: That by itself isn't a "death spiral" to these engines.

So dramatic...never mentioned anything about "terminal" or "death spiral"


BVCRD: LBJ failure is common on many makes upside down or not.

And I mentioned it because it is a Big Issue with nearly ALL KJs ever produced

BVCRD: I speak for myself and my own experiences. I wish "others" would do the same instead of generalizing.

Seems to me that until this post in this thread, you were generalizing about opinions of others concerning the CRD. I don't think my original answer in this thread was "generalizing" at all. Exactly the opposite.


BVCRD: Let me ask you straight out DW, do you personally know of a TC failure with a build date of 11/05 or later?

Let me think? Humm, my intials are "DW" not "DC". Seems to be that others have had the F37 recall done, which is supposed to update things to the later 2006 specs and are still having problems...MrMopar64 has from a position of more direct knowledge than most here that the 545RFE and TC in the CRDs is not sufficient or thier best work might come to mind...like I said, I am not DC and I am sure that they would not divulge that info freely

BVCRD: If so, please give the post/thread. I took your post to mean that these issues are sure to happen. Not so IMHO.

Where do you see me say anywhere, in any post, previous or current, that these things are carved in stone and will definitely happen with any and all CRDs. Again, a little dramatic I think.

You said in a post several days ago, that you believed ALL 2006 and 2005 were affected by the TC issues. That it wasn't just limited to 2005 models. I meant that "most" CAC hoses will be affected at some point because of design. There has been too many off them replaced to discredit this on this and other forums. You seem to bad mouth these things, then when someone like me defends the 2006 CRD, you want to know book, chapter and verse. I speak from my own accounts and am intitled to my own opinion. Am I not entitled to that? I never make claims that I speak for ALL on here. How'd you come up with that? I wish however that "some" who have had difficulties with the CRD (2005 or later) would keep an open mind and know that they don't speak for ALL CRD owners because there are "some" of us out here that have had nothing but great success with them. They don't speak for me, and I don't speak for them, or you.