Weak Jeep!

PoorMtnKid · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:49 pm

so this weekend I went snowboarding in Brian Head UT. On the way up the mountain the Rene just took a dive in power. I had it floored and all it would do is stay in second gear and would only do about 30 mph. It would not drop into 1st it just stayed there barley putting up the mtn. I have taken it to big bear before cumming up the backside from lucern valley and never had that problem. Since then I have lifted and put bigger tires but I dont think that would make much of a difference. I have changed the spark plugs also but that was months ago. Could it be that the jeep is just the weak? or is there something wrong. Also I just hit 31k should I change my Transmission fluids? I already did the differentials.

mrkake · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 8:08 pm

I would change the tranny fluid and air filter just out of practice but I don't think that's it. The other thing I would do is change your fuel filter. They have a tendency to clog when the gas stations switch to winter blend fuels (I heard the additive clears our come of the crud from the system). Those are all relatively easy and inexpensive. I'm no expert here but I suspect it's a fuel supply issue. Could be the fuel pump too.

Others with more expertise should chime in here and help a brutha out.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:13 pm

I would hope it would go faster than 30mph up a hill if it were on the floor.

Does it seem to be driving ok everywhere else? Maybe the hill was just that steep!

Tokyojoe · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 9:14 pm

Bigger tires do play a role. The lift only does due to additional weight. Are you carrying more than normal also? Add armor also? More people in the vehicle? We get that here in the mountains when we are towing a trailer. Also with bigger tires comes more power loss..hence the reason to switch to 4.10 gears. mrkake could also be right. Low grade fuel stinks for power.

RkyMtnKJ · **Posted:** Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:25 pm

Sometimes my jeep does the same thing, i find taking out of overdrive helps and if it gets stuck in a gear like that then i let entirely off the gas and then reapply, usually does the trick...its a jeep its stubborn :lol:

BostonJohn · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:59 am

I swear this happened to me Thanksgiving weekend after we finished a trail run. Got back out on the road and floored it, but she just stayed in 2nd about 25mph. I figured I had messed up my transmission or something. Anyhow, once I stopped and turned the engine off and then started her back up, things were fine.

trailman · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:25 am

I have the 45 RFE in mine and it shifts like it's supposed to all of the time. I've got a franky I installed and bigger tires. I never have a problem going up hills. It's pretty nice, I never have to manually downshift. It just knows when I want to.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:31 am

does this sound a little bit like the problem moose was having with his kj a few years ago? anyone remember that?

Jeepman56 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:20 am

Just a thought but when the tires on my '07 Sport spin the power to them is cut by the ESP resulting in virtually no power to the drive wheels (I hate this by the way), you could floor it and go no faster. Is it possible you were on snow pack and spinning? Just a thought and I doubt you would have been spinning the whole trip up.

jerbacher · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:30 am

Jeepman56 wrote:

Just a thought but when the tires on my '07 Sport spin the power to them is cut by the ESP resulting in virtually no power to the drive wheels (I hate this by the way), you could floor it and go no faster. Is it possible you were on snow pack and spinning? Just a thought and I doubt you would have been spinning the whole trip up.

thats the problem moose was having. he would gun it to pull out in front of a truck or something and have no power resulting in almost getting creamed.

KJ Taz · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:10 am

Jeepman56 wrote:

Just a thought but when the tires on my '07 Sport spin the power to them is cut by the ESP resulting in virtually no power to the drive wheels (I hate this by the way), you could floor it and go no faster. Is it possible you were on snow pack and spinning? Just a thought and I doubt you would have been spinning the whole trip up.

This very well could be it, but the ESP light would be turning on if it was.

PoorMtnKid · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:05 pm

I did have more than the normal in my car. Had 3 adult males and 1 adult female. 4 snowboards and all of our boots and gear what not. was not the esp due to the fact that there was NO snow on the roads. It was a sunny day. Iam thinking it could possibly be the fuel filter or the trani fluids might be needed for a change. But the jeep book does state that its only needs to be changed every 60k so thats why I just checked my levels when I did the 30k maintance. I will check my air filter later on today and see if its dirty but I did change that not too long ago. Has not been more than 9k since then. I will be going to big bear soon to board so I will see how it does then and see if it was just the grade of the hill. It siad 13% grade on a sign on the way up the mtn but it just seemed odd like it was in a spot where 1st gear would be too close to red line but in 2nd it had now power. Not sure.

PoorMtnKid · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:06 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

I would hope it would go faster than 30mph up a hill if it were on the floor.

Does it seem to be driving ok everywhere else? Maybe the hill was just that steep!

Drives fine everywhere else around town.

PoorMtnKid · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 2:48 pm

what about that PVC or PCV? I never have changed that? Could that create a loss of power ?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:30 pm

I wouldnt think that it would cause that much of a loss.

Maybe it was just a fluke since you said you were right on the edge of red-line in 1st but 2nd wasnt enough. You probably had around 600-700lbs+ of people then what ever else you had in cargo. With a lift, armor, and bigger tires its possible you were right on the limit of the Jeep. Maximum payload is something like 1125lbs(dont know the exact number).

Youve got to remember, this is a heavy Jeep with a V-6 engine.

jeepmedic · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:27 pm

Isn't brians head about 11000 FT, and a super steap climb up to the top ? I was there a few years ago mountain biking....

Long shot but would the super steap climb and elevation have any influence ?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Dec 10, 2008 10:26 pm

Yes, higher elevations will reduce HP.

PoorMtnKid · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 12:59 am

I know the peak of the lift is just above 12. So that is possible. Iam really just thinking it was the weight plus the climb of the hill.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:02 am

Have you cahnged the plugs yet? I'd do a fuel injection cleaning(Seafoam) first,change plugs,and change the PCV valve($5 a Napa).

PoorMtnKid · **Posted:** Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:08 am

I have done everything but the PCV. I cant figure out how to take that out.

Weak Jeep!

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