We almost lost Liberty CRD #3 to fire...

kcfoxie · **Joined:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:27 am **Posts:** 113

Ok, so I'm being overdramatic. But it might have happened.

For those who question the need for the lift pump upgrade (or at the least an in-line fuel pump pre-filter housing), take note of this embarrassing story.

I was selling our old and beloved iBook G3 to a guy who has a 3.7L Liberty. We met at Starbucks, and me not thinking left the truck on accessory. Had I shut it off, or left it running this never would have happened... I get out, having had the truck running on accessory for nearly 10 minutes, and take the laptop to the guy and we talk Jeeps for a moment. Suddenly we notice white smoke that smells kind of like diesel fuel. I flip out seeing it emit from the grille of my Jeep. Rushing over I turn the key off and pop the hood. As expected, the culprit was the newly replaced MOPAR fuel filter housing, specifically the plug for the heater element. I promptly disconnected it and told the Liberty's owner that if he dare plug it back in he'll lose a testicle. It didn't dawn on me until later, as the Jeep lost fuel pressure going up a hill and I had to pull over and pump the filter housing to reprime the system.

So, word to the wise... don't leave the car in accessory, and either UNPLUG the filter heater element, REPLACE the crappy design with a RACOR or similar, or install a lift pump in the tank and/or in the engine bay powered off the Heater element's wiring and located before the filter housing.

We've had two jeeps burn to my knowledge, lets not make it three or four. The sad part is I'm one of those people who usually thinks he's too smart to have things like this happen. Well, it can happen to anyone. Be careful. Fix Chrysler's messy engineering and enjoy a brilliant vehicle with great power and economy.

fatweasel · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:32 pm

Did you report to NTSB?

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:44 pm

Was this the new and improved filter head?

msilbernagel · **Posted:** Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:05 pm

Seriously, they run the fuel heater with the key in ACCESSORY? That seems... unwise.

Can we confirm that?

Mark

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:30 am

msilbernagel wrote:

Seriously, they run the fuel heater with the key in ACCESSORY? That seems... unwise.

Can we confirm that?

Mark

Sure, use a volt meter.

Terry

kcfoxie · **Joined:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:27 am **Posts:** 113

I did not report it (how does one do that?)

I have a voltmeter. I'd be happy to test the electrical connections. I'll make that a priority for tonight (simple enough to do) and report my finding.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:52 am

Cowcatcher wrote:

Was this the new and improved filter head?

x2 ??

you said "newly replaced MOPAR fuel filter housing"

but new design or old? the difference

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=381161#381161

chadhargis · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:58 am

PLEASE report it to the NTSB.

You can do so at their website http://www.ntsb.gov/

I had my fuel head spring a leak too. I took pictures, and filed a report with the NTSB. Nothing has come of it, but if more people report the issue, then perhaps we'll see a recall. Just maybe! (wishful thinking).

Here's what mine looked like. You can see where it was starting to burn the connector.

kcfoxie · **Joined:** Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:27 am **Posts:** 113

Here is what I know:

When we picked the Jeep up I saw the warnings about the fuel filter and sure enough there was diesel fuel in the electical plug for the heater element. They (carmax) replaced the entire assembly. The photo is really poor, but given this was done like 6 months ago I want to say this is the new part (they ordered all new parts -- filter head, filter, oil pan).

edit: looking at the connections, and noting that they used the partially scorched plug on the new filter head, I guess we have the older revision still.

I will report this; however I have little faith anything will come of it. Look at the failed lawsuits against ford for the older mustangs with drop in, Pinto-style, gas tanks. Known problem, over a million still registered (as of the mid 90s), nothing done except after market industries that fix Ford's mistakes and bank off it.

The world we live in.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Tue Jan 13, 2009 6:49 pm

I ran without the heater plugged in for a long time but it got real cold in Nov so I plugged it in for the winter. Now I have been getting a few start problems or stall problems. During my last start problem I lifted the hood and pumped the primer. I heard air so I am figuring that the heater plug is shot. I did not want to hear that the new filter head was failing also!

Thanks for the update.

dtempler · **Posted:** Wed Jan 21, 2009 2:36 am

So after reading this thread, I wonder how many of us are considering leaving there key in accessory next time they are parked in an open parking lot

I really like the idea of my CRD; great diesel power and fuel efficiency available in an affordable SUV, but all these problems really make wonder if I should just get rid of the unit now to cut my losses. In buying the CRDs, so much of the price goes toward the engineering and design of things like EGR and CCV systems that have been developed to meet our own government designed regulations. Then we bring them home, pull the plugs and find that the motors run better, use less fuel, and require less maintenance. Thus, leaving hundreds to of dollars in parts sitting under he hood doing nothing while we end up with products that are not much different then the old stinky, loud, black smoke diesels from the 70's and 80's.

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:12 am

Are they REALLY "not much different than the old loud stinky..." as you said? I've had PLENTY of people express shock that my Jeep is a diesel, and the next comment from them is usually "But it's so QUIET!" or Hmm, doesn't smell like a diesel.

If you really do want out of it, send me a PM. I've got a friend who is looking and seriously thinking about picking one up.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:29 am

How does Local Law Enforcement know when the NTSB has shown up?

Toilet paper fragments inside the gopher holes :lol:

Another worthless Government Organization :!:

BTW: My lift pump has a check valve that prevents fuel drain back to the tank and helps keep out big enough air bubbles to cause a problem.

We almost lost Liberty CRD #3 to fire...

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