New to CRD. Problem already. Please Help

kegan · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 8:58 pm **Posts:** 38

So, Long story short. I found a great deal on a 2006 KJ CRD at carmax. After I signed all the paper work, they are cleaning it up, and as they try and bring it around to me so I can drive it home, they can't get it started. It drove fine on my test drive, nice and smooth no issues what so ever. They keep it for a day trying to find the issue, but they couldn't duplicate the no start. So I pick it up. As soon as I get it home, it won't start again. So I get it back up to there service department, and show the service manager that it won't start. They didn't know how to fix it, so they sent it to a Jeep dealership. They have now had it for about a week. Stating they can't duplicate the no start. At this point I'm so frustrated with the whole deal, and I am searching for answers. They say its not throwing any codes, battery is fine, and everything seems like its in working order.

Can anyone shed some light?
Thanks,

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

How about some info.

Where are you located? I've had glow plugs fail without a warning light. Replacing them fixed my hard start problem. It may be cold enough where you are for glow plugs to help the start sequence.

Did some smart previous CRD ownder install a lift pump? Relying on manual cp3 pump is poor engineering and an aftermarket lift pump really make a difference in how fast vehicle starts..especially if you are using the stock fuel filter head which is notorious for leaking air.

Does vehicle have older style OEM fuel filter head? Its dangerous (can result in a fire) and it being on highest point in fuel system easily traps air that leaks into the system. I use a RACOR in mine and have retained all OEM features.

I'm pretty sure if you have trapped air in system. Use the little hand pump on the fuel filter head assembly to pump out air from system and it should start quicker. If its cold outside, plug your block heater in overnight and see what happens and if makes your start easier.

PS: I love today's "so called" mechanics. If a vehicle doesn't throw a code, it means nothing is wrong so it can't be fixed. My vehicle pulls the right but there is no code thrown for needing a wheel alignment so I suffer ;-0

Drewd · **Joined:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 12:24 pm **Posts:** 902

Oh, almost forgot. Please remove the fuel cap and take a whiff of the odor emanting from the gas tank. It should not smell like gasoline. Many a dealership has ruined a vehicle by topping it off with gasoline prior to delivery. It happend to my 07 GC CRD at the factory necessiting about 7 grand in repairs.

WolverineFW · **Posted:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:13 pm

Does it crank and not start? Or does it not crank and do nothing?

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 12:33 am

It almost sounds like the fuel system having issues make them replace the filter head with then new upgraded unit plus a new filter. Then work from there that is the ussual weak leak that will not show a light. My next guess will be the starter solenoid. But how did you get it to restart the first time or did it just turn over eventually on its own?

kegan · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 8:58 pm **Posts:** 38

Sorry here is a little more info. It doesn't crank at all. All the lights come on radio works, etc. They tried to tell me it was a key issue, but its not. Sounds like the starter is going bad to me. I'm in Orlando, i've checked the service records and the glow plugs have been replaced in the last 20k miles. When it works its it starts right up, no hesitation at all, and it runs nice and smooth. I filled it up with diesel myself, so I know there is no gas in it. I've tried running the starter, fuel pump/filter issue's with the "service manager".. He just kind of ignored my ideas by saying it doesn't throw any codes and everything else checks out.. kind of putting a bad taste in my mouth about this whole adventure.

dkenny · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 7:20 am

Have the battery load tested..sound some like what happened to my wife's jeep.
she drove home one day not problems. next morning went to leave and nothing. no cranking. the lights/radio worked but no crack..note the lights go out with you try to crack(this is normal). then I check the battery..not good enough the voltage was too low to crank the motor. new battery and all is fine.

after you get this fix..don't go back to that service manager. he sounds like someone who doesn't have clue on how to fix anything.

-dkenny

reka12 · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 9:26 am

Welcome to CRD ownership. I have bought several cars from Carmax in Orlando. With non routine vehicles like my Audi, the Land Rover D2 and a Volvo 960, the service department usually starts encouraging you to take the vehicle directly to the dealership and they will waive the extra $50 deductable. Curious: Did you get the extended warranty? It paid for iteself with the Audi (transmission) and the Land Rover (head gasket, common in this model) but the 960 never had any problems. Interestingly, they quit selling the LR D2s probably because of abs and head gasket issues.

X2 with dkenny on the battery. The Audi did some intermittant strange things as the battery was going bad. Cheapest place to start.

I know that there are at least 3 of us now in the Orlando area.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:56 pm

X3 on the battery. Sounds like a classic short between cells. That's happened to me on other vehicles, starts just fine to drive to work, won't crank to leave, try again after a bit and it cranks just fine. In between lights and radio work. Battery load test should identify the problem but may not.

bakersoil · **Joined:** Fri Jul 23, 2010 5:43 am **Posts:** 68

X4 on the battery. Mine did the same thing.

kegan · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 8:58 pm **Posts:** 38

Thanks, they called today to say it might be the starter relay. So they are gonna replace that, and I guess I'll just go pick it up Monday and hope for the best. Seems like they would have load tested the battery. I'll be pissed if I have to do that my self and fix the problem, when these idiots should know what there doing. Can I just go to say.. .Autozone and have them load test it? It has an optima red top, not sure how old it is. I had a yellow top in my old wrangler for about 4 years, still working when I sold it.

Big Montana · **Posted:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 11:15 am

kegan wrote:

Thanks, they called today to say it might be the starter relay. So they are gonna replace that, and I guess I'll just go pick it up Monday and hope for the best. Seems like they would have load tested the battery. I'll be pissed if I have to do that my self and fix the problem, when these idiots should know what there doing. Can I just go to say.. .Autozone and have them load test it? It has an optima red top, not sure how old it is. I had a yellow top in my old wrangler for about 4 years, still working when I sold it.

My Jeep did this twice during the first week of ownership. It was towed back the first time and they replaced the keyfob thingy. It worked for two days then did the same thing. No noise, all power worked, but no starting noise at all. The second tow got me a new battery and it has never been a problem since.

geordi · **Posted:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:30 pm

If it still has the Red Top - That is the ORIGINAL BATTERY. Get a new one. That is the service department for you, they can't actually diagnose ANYTHING anymore. 95% certain that your starter relay is FINE, as is the starter.

Yes, Advance Auto can load test the battery for you, but consider this: I'm from Florida too (West Palm Beach area) and I travel between there and Savannah constantly. I have YET to have any battery last more than 3 years, and the Red Top was the 3-year battery. It died on me in Virginia over the winter. All my other batteries are from Costco, wet cells with the 3 year full replacement - I'm running one of those in the CRD now, and it loves it.

kegan · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 8:58 pm **Posts:** 38

So, got the CRD back today, after the replacement of the new starter relay. Drove for about 30min. ran great. Stopped for some lunch. Guess what, no start after lunch. Had AAA come out, tried to jump start it. No luck, battery tested good. Jumped the starter directly from the battery, started right up. Took it back to carmax, they sent it to the dealer again.. They are going to replace the ECM. Is this a common thing? Should I be worried?

geordi · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 9:17 pm

Yes, they are idiots. Did AAA load-test the battery? If not, it could STILL be the battery. 12 volts and zero amps is STILL 12 volts.

Bypassing everything and going direct to the battery, did you jump the ground too, or just the hot? It could be that the terminal tab inside the battery has broken, and messing with it causes it to connect just enough. I've had that happen to me a couple times. Could also be the grounding strap. Had that bad between the block and frame on one car, and frame-battery on another.

This could also easily be the keyswitch causing this. No contact = no start. The ECM is NOT THE PROBLEM. The computer isnt that flexible, it either works, or it doesn't. All the time.

kegan · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 8:58 pm **Posts:** 38

Ok, here is the update. Dealership still has the jeep, they have replaced the ECM already, and once they did that it threw some codes, which the old one was not doing. The codes it through had something the key/modulator. So they are putting in a new modulator and reprogramming the keys.. They are doing this all on Carmax's dime. So, I guess if they want to throw $1500+ of there money at it I don't care, as long as its working.. Should be done this afternoon as long as everything works after the reprogramming..

oh, and I had the battery load tested with AAA, and Autozone. Checked out fine. I jumped the starter both ways, I bridged the 2 posts on the starter, and I jumped the hot to the battery. Both times it started right up.

kegan · **Joined:** Thu Oct 07, 2010 8:58 pm **Posts:** 38

After all that its still not starting consistently. They said they are having trouble getting the computers to communicate and are going to have to contact Chrysler for help.. I'm ready to give up on this vehicle.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Wed Oct 13, 2010 7:52 pm

I guess we know why it was traded in :jester:

Poorly trained mechanics have been a problem since day one for CRD owners.

Big Montana · **Posted:** Wed Oct 13, 2010 9:37 pm

kegan wrote:

Ok, here is the update. Dealership still has the jeep, they have replaced the ECM already, and once they did that it threw some codes, which the old one was not doing. The codes it through had something the key/modulator. So they are putting in a new modulator and reprogramming the keys.. They are doing this all on Carmax's dime. So, I guess if they want to throw $1500+ of there money at it I don't care, as long as its working.. Should be done this afternoon as long as everything works after the reprogramming..

oh, and I had the battery load tested with AAA, and Autozone. Checked out fine. I jumped the starter both ways, I bridged the 2 posts on the starter, and I jumped the hot to the battery. Both times it started right up.

I'll try to look more into my notes. Like I said before, they did the key modulator step first and then it failed to start two days later. The new battery fixed it... I think. That was five years ago. I've never had a problem since. I'm still on the new mopar battery after five years of Michigan winters.

GreenDieselEngineering · **Joined:** Sun Jun 07, 2009 5:10 pm **Posts:** 1111

Kegan,

Ask them to replace the TIPM (power module with all relays and fuses). We have had issues with strange electrical behavior that tended to be heat related and changing that unit fixed the issue. Might be worth a try.

New to CRD. Problem already. Please Help

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