Salsa Red '05-'07 KJ???

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 24, 2012 9:00 pm

So I was driving to Moms after leaving a Chinese buffet. I saw something that made me turn around. It was this...It may look red but it's like the older salsa red KJ color...how rare is this color on this type of KJ???

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 12:56 am

That should be Flame Red Clearcoat. That would make it a 2005, the last year they made the KJ in that color:

http://www.carsdirect.com/2005/jeep/liberty/colors

Salsa Red Pearlcoat was only supposed to be available for the KJ in 2002:

http://www.carsdirect.com/2002/jeep/liberty/colors

Unless this was a custom order paint job from the factory (or the dealer). But yes, it does look like Salsa Red.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:55 pm

I think it looks pretty cool myself

m_volyrakis · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 3:41 pm

One of those lives near by.. I was also stunned first time I saw it and just had to pull over and have a closer look!
Really nice and rare color!

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 3:57 pm

The Salsa Red is nice, but I think my favorite limited edition KJ color was the 2004-only Timberline Green Pearlcoat (only available for that year on Sport and Limited models, not the Renegade):

Still, you have a pic there of something even rarer (and is not supposed to exist), a 2005-07 Salsa Red KJ. Nice find and good eye!!!

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 6:50 pm

Lol thanks Colin...I had to do a double take and make sure I saw what I saw. Pretty sure there is a timberline green KJ for sale at the wrecking yard. Front end damage only and 70k-ish miles...auto too :-)

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:55 pm

Many of the colors seen in 2002-2004 were never seen again in the KJ/KK line. Most of the paint colors chosen for the Liberty did not come from the TJ or WJ line of Jeeps but from the Dodge Dakota/Durango/Ram line of trucks.

Year specific colors were (supposedly until Sarah's find):

2002
====
Salsa Red
Woodland Brown
Steel Blue

2004
====
Deep Molten Red
(actually I misspoke Timberline Green way available 2003-04)

Many other colors were available for 2 years too -- Dark Garnet Red (2002-03), Shale Green (2002-2003), Timberline Green 2003-04), and Deep Beryl Green (2005-06).

Other colors, Like Atlantic Blue, went for 3 years, but by 2007 (the last year of the KJ), all the "bright" (read, "non-manly") colors were gone and the only colors offered in that year were:

Black
White
Silver
Inferno Red
Dark Green
Light Khaki
Midnight Blue

(which is hysterically funny to me because this is the same year that they started pushing Dodge Dakotas/Durangos in those SAME bright colors!!!)

The 2008 KK color-palette was even darker, and it was not until 2009 that the KK was available in Sunburst Orange (though personally I have never seen one in this color as it was only available that year); with 2010 bringing back Salsa Red (KK Renegade only) and introducing Natural Green; 2011 brought out Bronze Star (which I have seen) and Blackberry (which I have not); and 2012 brought out Rescue Green (KK Sport only), True Blue, and Winter Chill (none of which I have ever seen).

AFAIK, unlike the YJ/TJ/JK Wranglers, the KJ/KK Liberty has never been produced in Yellow, and was only produced in Orange for one year (2009).

Chrysler is known for using one color as their "primary" advertising and sales color for a specific year. I was happy to buy a Atlantic Blue KJ in 2004 (the second 4 years it was available) because it had been a rare color in 2003 and a fairly uncommon one in 2004. Unfortunately in 2005, it became the "model year color" for the "new" (updated) 2005 KJ Liberty. All of the sudden I had a hard time finding mine in the parking lot. :lol:

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:26 pm

I wish that Salsa Red KJ I saw was for sale. Wouldnt mind having another KJ in a rare color, like what I saw. :-)

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 1:32 am

So is this Timberline Green?
This KJ has 70k miles and is a rebuilt.

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:40 am

Yes, it is. See the 2003 color chart here:

http://www.carsdirect.com/2003/jeep/liberty/colors

If it is early enough in 2003 to have the 45RFE A/T transmission, it is worth it weight in gold (that is assuming it is a 3.7L 4x4 A/T combination). 2003 model year was the year that they switched from rear drum to rear disc brakes as well. Luckily the 2003 only came with the Chrysler 8.25" rear axle, so there is no worry , like in 2002, that it might have a Dana 35C in the rear.

What does "rebuilt" mean? That it has a "rebuilt engine" and that there is 70K miles on the rebuilt engine? Or that it a "rebuilt" vehicle (i.e., salvage title)?

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:16 pm

Cobolt-60 wrote:

Yes, it is. See the 2003 color chart here:

http://www.carsdirect.com/2003/jeep/liberty/colors

If it is early enough in 2003 to have the 45RFE A/T transmission, it is worth it weight in gold (that is assuming it is a 3.7L 4x4 A/T combination). 2003 model year was the year that they switched from rear drum to rear disc brakes as well. Luckily the 2003 only came with the Chrysler 8.25" rear axle, so there is no worry , like in 2002, that it might have a Dana 35C in the rear.

What does "rebuilt" mean? That it has a "rebuilt engine" and that there is 70K miles on the rebuilt engine? Or that it a "rebuilt" vehicle (i.e., salvage title)?

I was thinking the same thing. It could have the 45RFE tranny. :-)

The color alone is gorgeous!!!
Will have to go take a closer look at it...
Rebuilt means it has a rebuilt title... i.e. salvage title...I remember when they had this KJ and it was still wrecked. I think if it has the 45RFE tranny it would be worth giving up my KJ for it...even if it has a rebuilt title...

I did find a 2002 KJ with 99k miles auto tranny

Would this be worth getting? And how would I look to see if the 03 KJ has the 45RFE tranny? Do all 2002 KJs have the 45RFE tranny?

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:25 pm

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

Would this be worth getting? And how would I look to see if the 03 KJ has the 45RFE tranny? Do all 2002 KJs have the 45RFE tranny?

All 2002 KJs had the 45RFEs. But they also had rear drum breaks and some had Dana 35C rear axles (both bad IMHO). All 2003 KJs had rear disc breaks and some of the early ones had 45RFEs. No 2003 got a Dana 45C.

Ask Aaron about how to visually determine the 45RFE.

cgass · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:40 pm

If you have the VIN you could run it through a decoder, that might tell you what transmission it has. Or just call a dealer and ask for a build sheet.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:08 pm

Cobolt-60 wrote:

Ask Aaron about how to visually determine the 45RFE.

Are you trying to be funny or be serious? Because you could be trying to play a joke or not...lol
It's hard to tell...

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:09 pm

cgass wrote:

If you have the VIN you could run it through a decoder, that might tell you what transmission it has. Or just call a dealer and ask for a build sheet.

On the inside of the driver door, it usually says what month and year the Jeep was built. Mine is an 06 but built in 05.

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:19 pm

blackwidowkj06 wrote:

Cobolt-60 wrote:

Ask Aaron about how to visually determine the 45RFE.

Are you trying to be funny or be serious? Because you could be trying to play a joke or not...lol
It's hard to tell...

Actually, I am completely serious. I have never actually looked at one so I could not tell you the differences. Aaron has worked on both.

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 5:17 pm

Okay thanks

blackwidowkj06 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:44 pm

yellocoyote wrote:

It has to do with the number of bolts in the transmission pan... they differ between the 45RFE (15 bolts) and the 42RLE (13 bolts).

I might be the only one that dig my drum brakes - the drums certainly make it easy to keep the mud and crap out of the shoes.

I feel like an idiot now. Lol
I forgot the different # of bolts in the tranny pan.
Going to try to keep my KJ. But would love to have another one! :-)

Liberty02sport · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:43 pm

The REAL PITA with the salsa red color is trying to find touch-up paint for little chips and scratches that happen. Nothing matches and there is no aftermaket that I know of that offers a single stage touch-up paint for it. Just had the local bodyshop mix up a small bottle and it's still darker than the original paint. Tried the little bottles from the stealership but those have been sitting on the shelf too long and paint has thickened considerably. Think about it before wishing too hard for a custom color...

Cobalt-60 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2012 1:58 pm

Same problem with the Atlantic Blue Pearlcoat, and I imagine any of the custom colors.

Salsa Red '05-'07 KJ???

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