Sold The Diesel

DieselsRule · **Posted:** Thu Apr 11, 2013 12:24 pm

I had the diesel Liberty for five years and would never have been able to keep it going, at a modest expense, without the help of all the members of this site. Keep up the great work and hopefully the new owner of my Jeep will find his way to your website.
Goodbye,
Ron

geordi · **Posted:** Thu Apr 11, 2013 3:10 pm

If I had sold mine to anyone OTHER than a member of this site, I would have made sure the URL was in his hands before I left. Heck, with the CRD and all it's foibles... I probably would have insisted that he tattoo the address inside his eyelids, along with a message of DO NOT GO TO THE STEALERSHIP.

Lol

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

papaindigo · **Posted:** Thu Apr 11, 2013 3:47 pm

Chuckle. Nothing of any note has broken on mine or stoutdog's other than a window regulator on his but a) that's not a CRD problem, b) I'm only at 48K miles and he is at 52k miles in the later case with a new TB based on age, and c) generally we have relied on the forum for a heads up on what breaks and why so we can fix it before it breaks hence GDE tune, Samcos, proper oil and change interval, HOAT coolant only, etc. For whatever that's worth. Heck I rarely get the benefit of the GDE Stage II turbo but it's nice to have as a retirement gift to myself, thanks to geordi's able assistance.

bentstrider83 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:43 am **Posts:** 42

Got a call from the Lubbock AAMCO in regards to my Libertys transmission.
Apparently the warranty isn't going to cover some sensors due to them supposedly being external and some additional issues I still have yet to be told about.
Will find out some more things by morning, but after four months of owning and already this, it makes me wonder.
Some have said to get rid of it somehow and go for a gasoline-only, or a Diesel tank like a Cummins or Powestroke.
The way I see it, the size and capabilities of this vehicle far exceed the numerous gripes.
So in order to avoid switching to a vehicle I neither want, nor need, I'm sizing up the damage on this one first.
If push comes to shove, I'll just get a motorcycle as a backup motor vehicle.

geordi · **Posted:** Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:42 am

Some have had decent luck... I suspect by not incrementing the odometer much at all. I used mine every day, and not for extraordinary service each day either. Most of the miles were on the highway.

I didn't have more than 30k miles continuously without a major repair, and only one of those repairs could be considered a freak accident.

Bought it at 30k.
Lost the turbo, then engine #1 at 60k.
Lost the transmission and transfer case (due to the freak accident) of TC re-engaging itself while being towed... at 90k.
Lost turbo #2 at 110k. Thankfully didn't take engine.
Lost engine #2 in exactly the same way as engine #1 (bottom end rod bearing failure) at 134k. Bailed out... Having spent close to $15,000 in repairs on a $15,000 purchase, and staring down ANOTHER $8000 engine job. No. Not ever again.

Will your experience be similar? I don't know, and nobody can know. But the design is still the same it was, and it is still a Chrysler.

CGman · **Posted:** Wed Apr 17, 2013 8:28 am

fyi, there seems to be a plethora of CRDs for sale on eBay and craigslist right now...including several that look like LOST members...

bentstrider83 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:43 am **Posts:** 42

geordi wrote:

Some have had decent luck... I suspect by not incrementing the odometer much at all. I used mine every day, and not for extraordinary service each day either. Most of the miles were on the highway.

I didn't have more than 30k miles continuously without a major repair, and only one of those repairs could be considered a freak accident.

Bought it at 30k.
Lost the turbo, then engine #1 at 60k.
Lost the transmission and transfer case (due to the freak accident) of TC re-engaging itself while being towed... at 90k.
Lost turbo #2 at 110k. Thankfully didn't take engine.
Lost engine #2 in exactly the same way as engine #1 (bottom end rod bearing failure) at 134k. Bailed out... Having spent close to $15,000 in repairs on a $15,000 purchase, and staring down ANOTHER $8000 engine job. No. Not ever again.

Will your experience be similar? I don't know, and nobody can know. But the design is still the same it was, and it is still a Chrysler.

Mine has about 45,000 miles on it and this is the first vehicle I've owned in any capacity since 2006.
The shop said the issues were mainly electronic on the transmission and the extended warranty I got with the vehicle wasn't going to cover any of that.
$3800 repair bill for this entire thing and still making payments.
Not trying to sound like a further-griper, but this sort of experience once again not only turns me off of certain brands, but motor vehicles in general.

Some hate cars/trucks for environmental/political reasons, I tend to be hating of them due to budgetary reasons and adapted to the "car-free" lifestyle quite easily.
We'll see how it goes during the time I get it paid off.

If there's any more problems down the next 2-3 years I finish paying it off, then I'm backing out altogether once credit's been fixed(ie,. vehicle paid off) and going back to strict bicycle/rental car/Greyhound mode.

ChesterCRD · **Posted:** Wed Apr 17, 2013 3:38 pm

Mine is still chugging along with a little over 120K on it and going 400/week. I'm particularly worried by Geordi's experience, but I've decided to stick it out. So far I haven't had to take it into a shop for anything, but I have had some minor issues. It hasn't left me anywhere yet and it's paid for...so I guess I'll keep driving it for now.

Point is, I think there are some owners who have had a decent experience with their vehicles. I'm at a loss for what the common thread is. It seems to me that people who drive them regularly have fewer problems, but that isn't perfectly consistent. I've seen several reported to have over 200K on them, so I'm hoping to get close to that.

bentstrider83 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:43 am **Posts:** 42

ChesterCRD wrote:

Mine is still chugging along with a little over 120K on it and going 400/week. I'm particularly worried by Geordi's experience, but I've decided to stick it out. So far I haven't had to take it into a shop for anything, but I have had some minor issues. It hasn't left me anywhere yet and it's paid for...so I guess I'll keep driving it for now.

Point is, I think there are some owners who have had a decent experience with their vehicles. I'm at a loss for what the common thread is. It seems to me that people who drive them regularly have fewer problems, but that isn't perfectly consistent. I've seen several reported to have over 200K on them, so I'm hoping to get close to that.

Once I'm done paying it off(almost $19,000 final price after getting financed), it's highly likely that I'll keep it and a future motorcycle around as back-up.
Every motor vehicle is going to have its "day in the shop", so I figure deal with that or take the auto-tech certificate courses at the local college despite what the "you're wasting time/money" camp likes to cry about.

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

$3800 repair bill? Bummer. I bought a low mileage CRD 545RFE tranny with xfer case attached for less than $800 and then spent a couple hundred more for new TC and a Transgo shift kit.

I would have gladly sold you all of the spare parts off of my old tranny that are still good (valve body, sensors, etc..etc).

I wish you luck and hope the repairs you paid for hold.

TJ2 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:15 pm

Well, I guess I'm with ChesterCRD. I've logged @38k miles with a blown fuse being my biggest problem.

I've taken two trips to SoCal. . . Death Valley and Mohave areas within the last 6 weeks and rang up just under 4000 miles. I was way too far off the beaten track to walk out.

It's time for Moab as soon as it hits 80 F there. Will be making several trips along with Telluride, Imogene Pass, etc in the San Juans after snow melt.

I used to love to shoot craps. Apparently I still do.

I love the freedom each of us has to keep or sell. . . or burn this unpredictable vehicle to the ground.

PS Total mileage @ 105K miles.

LMWatBullRun · **Posted:** Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:51 pm

the notable OEM issues that come to mind are:

-Excess soot causing premature wear;
-Poor oil spec by Chrysler contrary to VM Motori recommendations, ditto;
-Bean counter engineering of the head fastener selection resulting in HG failures;
-Bad valve selection on the transmission body;
-poor TC selection.

GDE tunes or SEGR and/or supplemental filtration solve the soot issues;
TransGo kit and TC replacement solve the transmission issues;
Good oil and/or Oil supplements solve the oil problem;
ARP studs solve the head and HG problems.

Folks, this is all normal product development stuff. We are unfortunate in that the maker bailed two years into the process, and we've had to figure this stuff out with no manufacturer support. Once you do that, you have a reliable ride that is really fun to drive and will go just about anywhere anything with 4 wheels can go. :2cents:

xhizzous · **Posted:** Fri Apr 19, 2013 12:26 am

I purchased mine with 94k on it for $14,300 including GAP insurance and tax. Found this forum while doing research and learned about some of the mods that it requires.

I have had it just over a year and have 115,500 miles on it now. timing belt was done between 109 and 110k (I cannot thank jeepdan enough for the help and hospitality)

oil changes every 5-6k with mobil1 5w40 turbo diesel truck oil and m1-301 filter. I hope it keeps on working like it should. I love driving it and hope it lasts

if it can last until i pay it completely off I will probably keep it until it dies or pass it to another member of the family that has respect for it and can and will do the maintenance.

other thoughts.......Need to get the GDE Tune ASAP.....

TJ2 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 19, 2013 2:26 am

xhizzous wrote:

I purchased mine with 94k on it for $14,300 including GAP insurance and tax. Found this forum while doing research and learned about some of the mods that it requires.

I have had it just over a year and have 115,500 miles on it now. timing belt was done between 109 and 110k (I cannot thank jeepdan enough for the help and hospitality)

oil changes every 5-6k with mobil1 5w40 turbo diesel truck oil and m1-301 filter. I hope it keeps on working like it should. I love driving it and hope it lasts

if it can last until i pay it completely off I will probably keep it until it dies or pass it to another member of the family that has respect for it and can and will do the maintenance.

other thoughts.......Need to get the GDE Tune ASAP.....

Good oil and filter choice (IMHO). I got a GDE tune first. Keith has a 100% approval rating. His tunes are the ONE thing guys on this board agree on. Worth every penny. . . maybe more.

The fact that you've gone 115K is good news for us who got a tune at half that mileage.

Buena Suerte

bentstrider83 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:43 am **Posts:** 42

Drewd wrote:

$3800 repair bill? Bummer. I bought a low mileage CRD 545RFE tranny with xfer case attached for less than $800 and then spent a couple hundred more for new TC and a Transgo shift kit.

I would have gladly sold you all of the spare parts off of my old tranny that are still good (valve body, sensors, etc..etc).

I wish you luck and hope the repairs you paid for hold.

Studio apartment living and nowhere to really fix it myself(without getting b----ed at) kind of had me locked into a corner.
They better hold up, or it's back to two wheels for me.
I've had a lot of faith in this model before I bought it, now it feels like that's all in some sort of limbo.
Nonetheless, it's being kept until it's paid off.
Cross the other bridges when I come to them.

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Fri Apr 19, 2013 7:46 am

Mine has right at 140K on it and is down for a head gasket leak so while it is down i am doing some polishing on my spare head that will go on it. Also sourced a good used turbo(40K) that will go on it also hopefully once that is all done i will be able to go like i used to. Mine pulled right at a 15K jouerny from SC to CO to UT to NV to SC and i wheeled it in utah for 4 days. The only issue i had was one of my cheap replacement clamps for my Turbo to Intercooler hoses blowing off other then that she ran flawless even full loaded.

bentstrider83 · **Joined:** Sat Jan 05, 2013 1:43 am **Posts:** 42

audiboy86 wrote:

Mine has right at 140K on it and is down for a head gasket leak so while it is down i am doing some polishing on my spare head that will go on it. Also sourced a good used turbo(40K) that will go on it also hopefully once that is all done i will be able to go like i used to. Mine pulled right at a 15K jouerny from SC to CO to UT to NV to SC and i wheeled it in utah for 4 days. The only issue i had was one of my cheap replacement clamps for my Turbo to Intercooler hoses blowing off other then that she ran flawless even full loaded.

Sounds like some things to consider for the future.
Talked to Aamco again yesterday and more parts had to be ordered.
It's been there almost three weeks now due to some issues with the extended service plan I added to it when purchased.
Big waste of time that was.
They say it could be done by Monday, but then that means having to round up a rental car and an additional body to go out there and get it.
If they actually finished the thing by yesterday, I would've just rode my bicycle the 100 miles to Lubbock to save money.

Another thing that really gets me to wanting to knock someone out are these service dept guys that talk all cheerful when they say things like "we just ordered the parts today!!"
Decisions been made to keep it until I pay it off.
By then I'll probably consider selling it to someone here.
The Liberty CRD's an excellent vehicle, IF you've got the tools and space to give it the added attention it requires.

Sold The Diesel

Who is online