'07 Assembly quirks

dalcarls · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:52 pm

New owners, if you haven't yet changed your oil, go check the level. Mine was overfilled from the factory. I didn't measure the quantity, but it was about 1/8" over the "full" mark. I just let enough out to get to the right level.

Don't get me wrong, I still like the KJ. But thus far, assembly "quirks" have included:

• Overfilled crankcase
• No lube on all but one door tensioner (the plastic thing that slows the door as you open it)
• Two bolts and one trim screw rolling around under the carpet
• Overinflated tires (+5 lbs ea, except the spare, which was spot on)
• Driver's side headliner/b-pillar trim incorrectly installed, exposing roof panel
• Rear interior tailgate trim (where carpet meets weatherstripping) not fastened down on driver's side
• Missing rubber o-ring type gasket for fuse panel door
• Bad front power outlet fuse
• Tread on top of rear bumper not snapped in place/fused on on driver's side

<soapbox>
For the record, it was assembled on a Thursday (2/15), so it's not the mythical "Friday car", but I'm seriously put off by the lack of craftsmanship. I've never worked on an auto assembly line, so I can't pretend to understand what their experiences are, but stuff like this isn't going to win over buyers. Taking a couple of seconds to do it right would go a long way to improving quality methinks.
</soapbox>

Someone make me feel better and tell me mine's unique. :wink:

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:13 pm

First Heep? We love 'em for other reasons...

The report, which was issued by independent automotive extended-warranty specialists, Warranty Direct, looked at the reliability of more than 450,000 vehicles from 33 manufacturers, across the United States and United Kingdom. The resulting ‘Reliability League Table’ shows the number of failures reported for every 100 vehicles covered by Warranty Direct’s policies. Mazda was rated number one with a failure rate of just 8.04 percent of vehicles aged between three and nine years old.

1. Mazda - 8.04%
2. Honda - 8.90%
3. Toyota - 15.78%
4. Mitsubishi - 17.04%
5. Kia - 17.39%
6. Subaru - 18.46%
7. Nissan - 18.86%
8. Lexus - 20.05%
9. Mini - 21.90%
10. Citroen - 25.98%
11. Daewoo - 26.30%
12. Hyundai - 26.36%
13. Peugeot - 26.59%
14. Ford - 26.76%
15. Suzuki - 27.20%
16. Porsche - 27.48%
17. Fiat - 28.49%
18. BMW - 28.64%
19. Vauxhall - 28.77%
20. Mercedes - 29.90%
21. Rover - 30.12%
22. Volvo - 31.28%
23. Volkswagen - 31.44%
24. Jaguar - 32.05%
25. Skoda - 32.12%
26. Chrysler - 34.90%
27. Audi - 36.74%
28. Seat - 36.87%
29. Renault - 36.87%
30. Alfa Romeo - 39.13%
31. Saab - 41.59%
32. Land Rover - 44.21%
33. Jeep - 46.36%

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:19 pm

The factory may not have anything to do with tire PSI. Dealers like to mess with things.

Also, if the dealer "added" things to the KJ after arrival, they could be responsible for those errors.

Otherwise.....your KJ came off the "Gung Ho" factory line.

dalcarls · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:37 pm

Quote:

First Heep?

Heh - no way. Had two TJs, an XJ, folks had ZJs, currently have a KJ, brother had an XJ and now a WK (I'm very familiar with "quirks"). Just Empty Every Pocket, right? :wink:

No, I just have to wonder if the line workers understand the impact they have on their brand.

I suppose it's possible the dealer added air and oil, but they couldn't even fasten the license plate screws all the way (hand tight), so I don't think they went the extra mile and did much beyond wash/tire goop it.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Apr 30, 2007 10:48 pm

Tires would be premounted and so no one on the line would of checked them, just be glad you got everything that was suppose to be on it. Plus you got some free stuff also! :wink:

I have seen Fords roll off the car carriers with flat tires, no oil filters, shocks missing, different size tires, all kinds of crazy things. I will start watching better, I can see the plant from my office , its about 3/4 miles away but hey I will be watching so that people dont think bad things about Toledo! :lol:

JohnnyCash · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 1:14 am

This was my first weekend driving my new Liberty without hearing any new noises.
All noises have now been accounted for.
I've only been worrying about the major things, so I'll have to check out all the stuff you mentioned, not that I really know what to look for since I'm not too mechanically inclined.
But thanks a lot for giving me more things to worry about ! :roll:

They wonder why people have such bad opinions about American vehicles. Maybe a buyout of Chrysler would be the best thing at this point.

Guest · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 1:30 am

dalcarls wrote:

Heh - no way. Had two TJs, an XJ, folks had ZJs, currently have a KJ, brother had an XJ and now a WK (I'm very familiar with "quirks"). Just Empty Every Pocket, right? :wink:

No, I just have to wonder if the line workers understand the impact they have on their brand.

I suppose it's possible the dealer added air and oil, but they couldn't even fasten the license plate screws all the way (hand tight), so I don't think they went the extra mile and did much beyond wash/tire goop it.

What impact?!? We keep going back!!! :roll:

The Tire pressure is probably seasonal change. If they were checked in February, when it's cold & not checked again until April, when it's warm, there will be an increase because the air expands with heat. 5psi sounds within that possibility. As for the rest of it, you have a Thursday car... Imagine what the Friday car looks like!

jcphoto20 · **Joined:** Sun Nov 19, 2006 1:36 am **Posts:** 507

[quote="dalcarls"]New owners, if you haven't yet changed your oil, go check the level. Mine was overfilled from the factory. I didn't measure the quantity, but it was about 1/8" over the "full" mark. I just let enough out to get to the right level.

Don't get me wrong, I still like the KJ. But thus far, assembly "quirks" have included:

• Overfilled crankcase
• No lube on all but one door tensioner (the plastic thing that slows the door as you open it)
• Two bolts and one trim screw rolling around under the carpet
• Overinflated tires (+5 lbs ea, except the spare, which was spot on)
• Driver's side headliner/b-pillar trim incorrectly installed, exposing roof panel
• Rear interior tailgate trim (where carpet meets weatherstripping) not fastened down on driver's side
• Missing rubber o-ring type gasket for fuse panel door
• Bad front power outlet fuse
• Tread on top of rear bumper not snapped in place/fused on on driver's side

<soapbox>
For the record, it was assembled on a Thursday (2/15), so it's not the mythical "Friday car", but I'm seriously put off by the lack of craftsmanship. I've never worked on an auto assembly line, so I can't pretend to understand what their experiences are, but stuff like this isn't going to win over buyers. Taking a couple of seconds to do it right would go a long way to improving quality methinks.
</soapbox>

Someone make me feel better and tell me mine's unique. :wink:

[/quote]

just wondering, any aircraft maintanence in your past? ive never seen someone write up stuff like that that hadnt done a post-flight inspection. ive done the same thing on vehicles of mine, just makes you feel worse about the people that put your car together. at least you didnt find a big huge bolt hanging out of a major mounting point for your front diff like i did.

dalcarls · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 10:47 pm

Quote:

ust wondering, any aircraft maintanence in your past? ive never seen someone write up stuff like that that hadnt done a post-flight inspection. ive done the same thing on vehicles of mine, just makes you feel worse about the people that put your car together.

Haha, nah. Just like to give things a good once-over. I carry the family in it, so it's worth the few minutes checking it out to make sure things are as they should be. Not that I can check everything, but certainly the easy stuff.

So circling back to my original point - newbies, check the oil and simple stuff like tire pressure. It's not necessarily right when it rolls off the dealer's lot. Could save you some trouble down the road.

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 11:12 pm

As thorough as you seem to be, I am curious that you didn't catch most of this stuff when you went to pick it up at the dealer.

dalcarls · **Posted:** Tue May 01, 2007 11:20 pm

I (perhaps foolishly) assumed things were largely in order. The only other time I've had something be not quite right from the dealer lot was with my '98 Passat. Driving home I heard a clunking in the front end. Got home, put it up on stands, found that the shipping blocks were still on the struts. Don't know about other makes, but VW apparently puts these large plastic spacers on the shaft of the strut to keep it from bottoming out during shipping. Popped those off, problem solved. Outside of that, never had much wrong from the get-go. Sure issues pop up, but usually not the goofy stuff like this.

I usually go over things the first time I wash a new vehicle, but the discovery of the loose license plate screws and bolts rolling around under the carpet inspired me to do it sooner.

Video Guy · **Posted:** Wed May 02, 2007 10:09 am

DaveKJ02 wrote:

:lol: First Heep? We love 'em for other reasons...

The report, which was issued by independent automotive extended-warranty specialists, Warranty Direct, looked at the reliability of more than 450,000 vehicles from 33 manufacturers, across the United States and United Kingdom. The resulting ‘Reliability League Table’ shows the number of failures reported for every 100 vehicles covered by Warranty Direct’s policies. Mazda was rated number one with a failure rate of just 8.04 percent of vehicles aged between three and nine years old.

1. Mazda - 8.04%

Gotta gloat

My wife and I love our 2006 Mazda6 V6! It's the first car we've bought that we both like. With child #3 coming, I hope we can trade up to the CX9 instead of a minivan.

'07 Assembly quirks

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