BOUGHT A JEEP, MAYBE A BIG MISTAKE

jeepdaddy65 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:03 am

I just bought a 2005 liberty renegade/rocky mountain. one owner, carfax checked 58000mi. very very clean. I have a vibration at around 50 or 55 mph. Now I have noticed that when I accelerate moderately to hard from a red light or stop sign my whole jeep shutters and vibrates and makes a loud clicking noise that sounds like it's coming from the trans, until I let off the gas. I know it's not a drag car, but this is definately not cool. I should have kept my PT Cruiser. Anybody have a similar problem or any ideas as to what this is. I have all new tires and balanced, CV Joints are good, and U joints are also good. I'm thinking transmission. Why did they put those balancers on the drive shaft, I also noticed a type of counter weight on the rear differential. What is that for, many questions. I would be grateful for any help or advice. :?:

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Guest · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:29 am

pop the hood, and check the transmission fluid. at 60k miles i doubt you ahve a toasted transmission...but it wouldn't hurt to look at the condition.

jeepdaddy65 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:47 am

Trans fluid is very clean and doesn't smell burnt. I plan on changing that and the front and rear diff. lube soon. The bad vibration and shaking after going from a complete stop is what scares me the most. Any idea what all the balancers and conterweights are for on the drive shaft and rear end. I still have a 30 day 1000mi. warranty from the dealer, but I bought it used from a toyota dealer, and it would be a hassle to take it back. Do Toyota mechanics know anything about Jeeps.

DryBones · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 1:06 am

while you are at it you might as well check the Jeep website and see if your lower ball joints have been done under the recall. Don't give up on it so soon, they are too much fun!

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

Is the diff shot? You never know what the last owner did to it. If it got water in the diff and they did not change the fluids-- it could be on the way out.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:46 am

could be something as simple as new rotors and breaks. you should pop off your wheels and take off the break pads ane see the wear patterns.

I am just saying insted of going the hard and expensive way to find your problem, take baby steps first.

I have an 03 sport and I just changed my break pads at 115k (first time). still using the oem rotors, never replaced them yet.

On my wife's 04 sport, I replaced breaks and rotors for the same problem that you are having but it was at 20 something K.

Grape · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:40 am

If it has a warranty, take it in. If the toyota dealer does not know what it needs more than likely they will send it out to a jeep or other shop.

moose · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:57 am

OK, where in Ohio are you??!? We have lots of members around the state who might be able to help. The shot on the drive line is standard issue. The one back by the Diff is too. It keeps everything running smooth. You really need to ask the toyota dealer to have his mechs look at it. In their training, they should have seen a lot of american cars (hum, toyota's are made in Georgetown, KY now, but you get the idea).

Anyways, the diff fluid should be changed within the next month, but the ATF can wait until you figure out what's going on. And ditto on the ball joints - check with Jeep, and also find the thread on hear that tells how to check them yourself. You should do that every time you rotat tires (every other oil change with regular oil (3k), or every one with synthetic (7.5k))

post up in the midwest forum too (unless you have already) and see if anyone is local to you.

bugnout · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:58 am

Check the rear drive shaft, one of my U joints froze, caused vibration like that.

Fairly easy fix.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:00 am

My u-joints were dried out at 25,000 miles, replaced w/HD. joints w/grease fittings.

The front drive shaft CV is known to go bad at the rear of the front D-shaft, rubber boot splits and wears away. Check it!
Problem is, you have to relpace the whole D-shaft, can't just replace cv and boot.

jeepdaddy65 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:11 am

Thanks for all the replies. There are no open recalls on this jeep, so I assume the ball joints have already been done. The dealer installed new brake pads and Michelin tires, the pads all around are new I checked them out. I live in Northeast Ohio, around the Elyria/ Lorain area, so if anyone is close by I would like to have you check it out. I am now wondering if the motor mounts are bad, as that would account for the shuddering and noise under acceleration from a dead stop. This Jeep is so clean it's unbelievable, the original stickers and marks are still underneath and readable from the factory, so I really don't think this thing has been abused. The lady that turned it in, drove from Amherst to Cleveland everyday to work, around 80mi. a day. that acounts for the 58000mi. on a three year old jeep. I don't think this jeep has ever seen the offroad. Thanks for the help, I'm still open for suggestions.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 10:45 am

I would strongly suggest taking it back right away to where you purchased it from and have them at least check the U-joints and the front drive shaft before you run out of time with their warranty :!:

Also check on the warranty transfer, in case you have no luck with them fixing the problem.

Then come back to us and post your results and we can go from there to help you out further.

hatu · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:12 pm

Either take it back to the seller and have them check it out or I recommend Brunswick Auto Mart Jeep Service. I've been to them a couple of times and have gotten great service. Will cost ya 'bout 50.00 for them to look, but at least they work on them everyday verses your Toy dealer.....

jeepdaddy65 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:36 pm

I will probably take it to Brunswick, I have dealt with them before and they treated me well. The Toyota dealer is willing to take a look but can't get me in when my schedule permits. I just had the tires re-balanced again, all OK there. so off I go to another dealer. Thanks. If anyone has a fix that they know off please let me know.

KJ04 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 3:26 pm

jeepdaddy65 wrote:

I will probably take it to Brunswick, I have dealt with them before and they treated me well. The Toyota dealer is willing to take a look but can't get me in when my schedule permits. I just had the tires re-balanced again, all OK there. so off I go to another dealer. Thanks. If anyone has a fix that they know off please let me know.

The u-joints or the front drive shaft are the likely problems areas for the vibrations you describe, but first you need to get the problem confirmed by a mechanic.

InCommando · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:11 pm

Only driven by a little old lady every 4th Sunday... :lol:

LostEddie · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:37 pm

jeepdaddy65 wrote:

I still have a 30 day 1000mi. warranty from the dealer, but I bought it used from a toyota dealer, and it would be a hassle to take it back. Do Toyota mechanics know anything about Jeeps.

You had better take it back to Toyata (and quick), the 30 day/1000 mi. will go fast and this could turn into big $$$. Let them work with jeep. A rental car is a small price to pay to avoide the possible big cost. Jeep will not honor the 30 day/1000 mi.

jeepdaddy65 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:52 pm

I can go with the front U-Joints being bad, but the noise and vibration go away when I have it 4Wheel Drive. I have the selec-trac transfer case and I have tried it in all 4WD modes, and the noise stops. So I'm thinking its the trans or the rear end. Trans fluid is very clean and doesn't smell burnt. So maybe something with the rear end

KW AV8R · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:09 pm

trust me when I say this is a total shot in the dark but .... since it goes away when in 4wd, could it be the transfer or some slop in one of the front end components that is tightened up when torque is applied to it? What I mean is ... is there a little room for wiggle when the tires are driving the components but when power is applied through the drive shaft does the torque force something to line up differently?

Am I making sense or can someone who understands what I'm trying to say re-word it so it makes sense?

It's 3am in Iraq and nothing makes sense right now

jeepdaddy65 · **Posted:** Wed Mar 26, 2008 9:50 pm

Your shot in the dark is exactly what I was thinking. I went underneath and with the jeep in 2WD and in Nuetral, there was just a little slop in the driveline. did the same thing in 4WD and it seemed like everything locked and tightened up. Maybe this is just normal play in the driveline. I have heard other people on some forums saying they had a vibration at certain speeds, but they didn't mention the shuddering and noise under heavy acceleration from a stop. Thanks for the input.

BOUGHT A JEEP, MAYBE A BIG MISTAKE

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