This Week In Jeep

Stellantis To Halt Jeep Plant In Italy Again Due To Chip Shortage

Stellantis will again stop operations at its key Melfi plant in southern Italy next week, a union representative said, citing shortages of various parts, including semiconductors.

Marco Lomio, local head of the UILM metalworkers union, said chip shortage was the main problem. Fortunately, the plant has worked regularly all throughout May, but when chips are not shipped you can’t build cars. Stellantis confirmed the plant would stop operations between June 6-11 due to a chip shortage, a spokesman for the carmaker told Reuters. The new stoppage, which affects almost all of the plant’s more than 7,000 workers, adds to a holiday period already scheduled for most of Stellantis’ operations in the country starting on Thursday with Italy’s Republic Day. Stellantis currently builds the Fiat 500X small crossover, Jeep Renegade small SUV, and Jeep Compass compact SUV in Melfi.

Say Goodbye To Jeep’s Gas Engines 

By the end of this year, 2022, Jeep will stop selling vehicles powered only by internal combustion engines. Yes, that means no matter the Jeep is made, it will no longer have JUST a gasoline engine in it. The good news is, that this nonsense is happening only in major European countries, according to Jeep’s CEO Christian Meunier. That means starting in 2023, Jeep will only have available hybrid models in those countries. The Jeep brand also will launch its first all-electric vehicle next year, which it has teased as a two-door crossover. “Oh boy. Can’t Wait.”    :-/

Jeep plans to have a battery-electric model in each of its segments by 2025. As for the United States, when we will have to suffer the abolishment of conventional powertrains has yet to be determined. For now, at least, we know that it’s not happening here, at least not yet. Meunier said as much during a virtual news briefing on the new “Jurassic World” themed ad campaign. He does however think, we’re only a few years away. It’s just a matter of market timing, and the demand does not meet the need for it here in the U.S. And that’s because to over 75% of us, it’s like the old adage of having to tie a porkchop around the neck of the ugly kid to just make the dog play with him.
If we wanted electric vehicles so bad, the automakers wouldn’t have to drown them in incentives just to move units. Jeep only has plug-in hybrid options on the Wrangler and newly launched Grand Cherokee here in North America. And for most of us, that’s just fine.  The $53,795 Wrangler 4xe, the U.S.’s most popular plug-in hybrid right now, represents about 25% of Wrangler’s North American sales mix. A combination of component shortages, including battery components, and supply chain issues are limiting the production of the Wrangler 4xe in Toledo, Ohio. The Grand Cherokee, whose 4xe model starts at $58,095, is built in Detroit. The automaker sold almost 46,000 Wranglers and more than 75,000 Grand Cherokees in the first three months of 2022 in the United States alone. Not bad Jeep. It will report second-quarter sales next month… and I bet you’re just dripping with anticipation to hear those numbers aren’t you!?

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Spring Swapping The Easy Way

Whether it’s to lift the Jeep or improve what you’ve already got, a spring swap usually happens in every Jeepers life. 

Spring swaps are a pain in the butt. They take time, and specialty tools most of the time, and the process can be dangerous too. Today I’ve got a quick tip that will make the process safer and quicker. Jeep coil springs, like any automotive spring, are made from high tensile steel and have the potential to hold a significant amount of energy when compressed. In other words, they’re beefy, and they need to be respected. Especially when compressed. That said, the only way you can compress springs is with spring compressors. Spring compressors are a specialty tool that has a specific purpose and the name kinda gives it away. The reason these are necessary is that any time spring is already ON the Jeep, it is under load, and under some compression. After all, the springs are what hold the Jeep up. And anytime you want to swap a spring, the old ones (usually) have to be compressed to pull them out. And more times than not, new springs need to be compressed before they go in. There are other steps involved of course, and this usually entails disconnecting the sway bar, shock, and sometimes even some of the steering components too, to get the axle to drop as much as possible to allow the spring to come out just that much easier. Using spring compressors can be dangerous. If not placed correctly, and they slip off the spring while it’s compressed, the sudden release of that energy is enough to kill you. So what if I told you that I’ve got a trick that can reduce the amount you have to use a spring compressor by 50 percent? Here’s how it works.

Using a jack, you’ll lift the axle on the side where you’re swapping out the spring. It is so much easier to remove coil springs by using spring compressors while the jack and the vehicle weight have compressed the springs. Once the compressors are in place, you’ll lower the axle, and the spring will just fall right out. Reverse the process by using the tools to shrink the new springs, raise the axle back up, and remove the spring compressors. If you are mechanically inclined, know tools, …and your Jeep, you can swap out a spring in about 30 mins or less using this trick.

Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma

Off-Road Prep

http://www.jeepmomma.com/p/basic-tips-always-travel-in-groups-of-2.html

Since the summer weather is here and folks are getting out on the trails I thought I would share my Jeep Momma prep information I have collected over the years.  So before you guys hit the trails make sure you have the proper gear and pre-departure checklists completed.  There is a link to all of this from my blog in the show notes.

 Pre-departure Maintenance Checklist

Check engine oil, transmission oil, brake fluid, radiator coolant, windshield wiper fluid, fan belts, hoses, air cleaner, seat belts, tire air pressure, and tire wear or damage, Tighten drive shaft u-bolts, tighten lug bolts, frame cracks, brake pads/shoes, loose bolts or nuts, Grease all fittings – u-joints, steering, driveshaft, Check gear oils: transfer case/differentials,    Check Winch for proper operation, winch cable for kinks, frays/damage straighten, shocks

The Basic, Minimal Offroad Checklist

The minimal list is the basics that you should always carry in your vehicle when offroad.  These items are good to have in the vehicle at all times.

First Aid Kit – on my blog is a list of first items. Another to think about is if you have a Jeep Dog you might want to get a specific Canine first aid kid. That tip is from a JTS listener. Thanks for that tip.

Basic Personal Essentials on those hot days bring triple the amount of water you normally would

Water – At least one Gallon per person, per day, if not more.  Drier, hotter climates may require more.  Remember: Alcohol doesn’t hydrate.  In fact, alcoholic beverages dehydrate since it takes more water to metabolize alcohol than the beverage contains.

Food – Bring food for twice the amount of time you are planning on being gone. Should you be delayed and have to spend a night out on the trail, you won’t have to worry about going hungry. Good ideas for trail food: trail mix, beef jerky, fruits, dry/canned food, etc.

Extra Clothes – Nobody likes to sit in wet clothes for an extended period of time.

Personal items – This includes toilet paper, anti-microbial hand cleaner, Sunblock, Rain Jacket Spare Tire, Full Size, Fire Extinguisher, Jumper Cable, Fire Extinguisher/Mount, Road Safety reflectors/Flare, jack, and tire iron to change your tire

Recovery Gear – Tow strap, Recovery Strap **Make sure these items are rated for the proper load. Tree saver, D-ring or Soft Shackles, Come-along,  Colby Valves, Leather/Work Gloves, shovel, Spare Key for the vehicle, what I do on the trail never takes my keys out of my vehicle, I may turn off my Jeep but put my keys on the dash. Shovel

There are so many more items that can be in an Off-road Recovery Kit, but this will give you a great start. Make sure you check all your items for warnings and load ratings. And keep your gear in good condition. Cleaning it after you use it on the trail.  This will help with the safety off-road.

Communication devices – Cell Phone, CB Radio, Power inverter if necessary (e.g. Cell phone recharger, battery recharger for communication devices and camera) Trash bags – Keep your trails clean

Optional – Portable Compressor, Hi-lift jack, Chainsaw, and bar oil, 2 cycle engine oil, spare chain (can be handy in recovery situations, as well as for trail clearing on wooded trails)

My Top 10 Must-Have Tools for the Trails

#1 BFH – Hammer, #2 Adjustable Wrench, #3 Big Screwdriver or Pry Bar, #4 Socket Set and Ratchet, #5 Vice Grip Pliers, #6 Screwdriver, #7 Zip Ties, #8 Duct Tape, #9 Bottle Jack, #10 Flashlight

Complete Socket Set – Standard) & Metric w/ 3/8″& 1/2″ drives.  Deep and standard sockets. Crescent, open-end combination box wrenches Standard & Metric, Allen Wrenches, Torx sockets (especially if you own a Jeep), Standard & Phillips screwdrivers, large, medium, small

Versatile Tools – Large Hammer (a.k.a. the “BFH”), Pliers, Vice Grips, Large channel-lock Pliers,  Pipe wrenches – having 2 medium of these can be useful for tie-rods, Utility knife or razor blades, Crescent wrenches,  BIG pry bar or length of strong metal pipe, inside diameter of pipe large enough to slip over a wrench or socket drive for extra leverage.

Additional Items – Baling wire, wood blocks – Useful as chock blocks, jacking platforms, ramps, suspension supports (for broken torsion bars), Bungee cords, several in multiple sizes – good for securing gear, temporary repairs, etc., Rope lengths, Super glue, Epoxy, Tie wraps, and rags

Must-Have Fluids #1 Oil #2 Coolant #3 Water #4 Brake  #5 Differential (gear oil) #5 Transmission #5 Gas Brake Fluid – Power steering fluid – Bearing Grease, WD-40 – Starter Fluid – Funnel, siphon hose

Spare Parts / Repair Items

Lug Wrench, Extra Fan / serpentine belts, Hoses, fuel line, coolant hoses, Tire repair kits, plugs, Extra Lug nuts, Cotter pins, Nuts & bolts assorted standard and metric sizes, RTV, Spare Universal Joints (U-joints for drive shaft & axles), Spare Drive Shaft (rear and front)

Electronics Repair Kit

Volt ohms meter (multimeter), Wire cutters/wire connectors/wire strippers,  Spare fuses, Electrical tape,     Spare wire, Spare switches, Flux core solder for repairs

Parts that have broken twice before (if you can’t carry it, you should have upgraded it)

What have you forgotten when you went on a trail ride? How did you deal without having it?

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com

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Founded in 2017, Invictus Off Road is a UTV /JEEP accessory manufacturer based out of a rural area of central New Hampshire.

At the company’s helm are a pair of off road enthusiasts and dynamic husband and wife team, better known as Dave and Kayla. Avid off-roaders themselves, Dave and Kayla recognized a need for dependable and functional gear storage and organization while out on the trails.

Invictus Off Road product designs are inspired by the MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) systems used by the US military, international armed forces, and in all kinds of tactical applications.

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This Week In Jeep

Consumer Reports Gets IT WRONG

The Jeep Gladiator is arguably one of Jeeps best production vehicles it has ever made. But when the team at Consumer Reports took a closer look at the new Gladiator, there were three things they didn’t like about it. And I for one have several theories as to why, but we’ll save that for discussions behind closed doors to avoid things like libel and defamation of character and such. According to the fun hating team that reviewed the Gladiator, they have at least three major complaints. The first is poor handling

According to Consumer Reports, handling leaves a lot to be desired. They found the steering slow and lacking in feedback, explaining it takes a lot of elbow grease to turn the truck. When they pushed the truck on their test track, it kept control, but they described it as entirely out of its element. You don’t say? You mean an off road focused midsize pickup truck didn’t perform like a sports car on the track?! Well, someone should write a sternly worded letter to the design teams at Jeep and tell them this truck needs to handle more like a luxury sport-touring sedan. Cornering apparently isn’t one of the Gladiator’s good qualities, even on the milder curves of the daily route. Thankfully, its stability control kept it from straying beyond the chosen lines. It also has minimal body roll, which did  give it an edge over other pickup trucks in its segment.

The rear axle also helps Gladiator stay grounded even on rougher surfaces for a more confident driving experience. Yes, because it’s a hybrid system pulled off the Ram 1500 pickup truck and adapted for the Jeep. So in other words, it’s a truck that handles like a truck. Strike one for Consumer Reports. Their second issue was cabin noise.

With the 2022 Jeep Gladiator, you can get a soft-top or an optional removable hardtop, just like you can with the Wrangler. If you want to go on an open-air adventure, you can remove the doors, the top and even fold down the windshield. The problem is all the wind noise in the cabin when traveling at highway speeds, even with the hardtop still on. When driving at any speed over 50 mph, the interior is very noisy. The roof panels are thin and can’t help keep the noise out. According to Consumer Reports, with the optional headliner, there’s a small measure of noise reduction but not enough to make a real difference. When they rented an Overland model, they found the wind noise troublesome. They did note that the V6 engine doesn’t sound obnoxious, and the road noise is low. Wait a minute, so the cabin noise is high, but the road noise is low. That’s a direct contradiction, as one is the same as the other. Either way, Jeeps have always been a bit noisier than any other SUV, but that’s part of their utilitarian draw and built into the long standing heritage of where the Jeep comes from. Do you think the soldiers in WWII gave two shits about how noisy the Jeep was or how well it cornered on the roads?  Puh-leez! Strike two Consumer Reports! Rounding things out was consumer reports’ worst complaint yet. The third problem they had was with accessibility.

According to Consumer Reports there are no running boards to make entry into the truck easier. This is because such things are ridiculous to have on an off road inspired truck, and would be entirely in the way and likely ripped off the truck on the first trail ride. There are good reasons both functionally and aesthetically that explain why this (again midsize) truck doesn’t have a flight of stairs built into the side of it so that lazy columnists don’t have to lift their foot off the ground any higher than what it would take to walk over a curb. This is by no means a Bro-Dozer, and rides arguably lower than any full size truck, so I’m not sure where they’re coming up with this crap. There are, by design, handles at each of the four doors to help you climb in if the testers bothered to use the effort required to look around. Climbing into the rear was even more challenging for the feckless testers, because the rear doors have a narrower opening, much like every other single vehicle on the road today, not to mention virtually every Jeep ever made. But common knowledge like this and any degree of common sense or use of logic of any kind, apparently was not on site during this review. Oh, as a side note, Consumer Reports also made it a point to mention that in their opinion, any woman should avoid trying to climb into the Gladiator in a skirt. That’s strike three!…and consumer reports, you can Eff-right-off to the showers. The testers also had mixed reviews about the Gladiators interior, stating that once in the cab, the seats are initially soft, but they don’t offer a lot of support for longer hauls. I rode in a Gladiator for the better part of a couple hours, and even spent some time off road in one, and as a 6 foot 3 inch man of 200 pounds, I had no problem with ingress, egress, or comfort on or off road. They complained about the seat adjustments and how it’s unfair that only the driver seat has a lumbar adjustment. But I dare you to look at 90 percent of production cars on the road in the last 30 years and you’ll see that across a half dozen automakers or more, the driver’s seat always has more adjustability. They also complained about the back seats, claiming they were flat and offered little support. They complained that the  driving position is compromised a bit because there’s no left footrest. There’s also a claim that there was friction from rubbing against the hinges of the door. Last I checked, the hinges for every single Gladiator are on the OUTSIDE of the Jeep…. So just what the actual fudge was this tester doing to the Jeep to experience ANY degree of friction from the door hinges…?  All in all, Consumer Reports gave the 2022 Jeep Gladiator an overall score of 38 out of 100. 

I think somebody needs to be beaten with a length of rubber hose. 

Once a High School, Now a Plant For Jeep

The coronavirus pandemic delayed its grand opening, but on Thursday, Dakkota Integrated Systems, a major supplier to Chrysler-parent Stellantis’ Detroit assembly plants, got to showcase its 375,000-square-foot facility on the site of Detroit’s former Kettering High School. A large blue letter “K,” a restored symbol of the former school, connects the location to its past life and the surrounding neighborhood while providing a recognizable landmark for the location on the city’s east side, a short drive south on Van Dyke from Interstate 94. On the site of a high school that had been abandoned for a decade, this facility is now employing more than 500 people in good UAW jobs.

The workers themselves, many of whom are Detroiters, will be building the instrument panels that will be installed in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango, which are assembled at Stellantis’ Mack and Jefferson North plants. A news release noted that Dakkota, which has 14 plants in total, plans to add 75 jobs to its workforce in the coming months. Dakkota’s founder, chair and CEO, noted, however, that the Kettering site has the ability to expand and could add as many as 700 jobs if conditions are right. This is going to be a big boon to the local area, and will usher in a new level of production capability and support for the two Jeep assembly plants nearby.

An Amazing Jeeper Doing Amazing Things With Modified Jeep

Out of hundreds of nominees, a Cumberland County woman’s work with area veterans secured her a spot among dozens of volunteers in the state to be recognized by Gov. Roy Cooper recently. Since 2005, Stacey Buckner has provided mobile showers, food and toiletries to Cumberland County’s homeless veterans through her specially equipped Jeep and nonprofit known as Off-Road Outreach. The Jeep is a heavily modified 4-door Wrangler, that has a pop-out mobile shower stall and onboard hot water heater and storage tank. And of course it has all the off-road goodies too, lift, tires, armor, lighting, and winch. Buckner was named a recipient of the Governor’s Medallion Award for Volunteer Service during an April 20th virtual ceremony hosted by the Volunteer NC Commission.  According to the commission, only one medallion nomination is permitted per county. A statewide panel reviews all the nominations.  

Buckner said she wants to share the award with all who have volunteered in Cumberland County and those who continue to serve. 

Gov. Roy Cooper said all the volunteers have ((QUOTE))  “gone above and beyond to help their communities.  Stacey Buckner in particular is living out our state motto” he said — esse quam videri — which means, ‘To be, rather than to seem.’” Despite having a stroke a few years ago that left her with a traumatic brain injury, Buckner has not let that stop her from helping thousands of veterans a year. 

Must Have Stuff Pick-of-the-Week for your Jeep!

Z Automotive Tazer Mini Programmer for JL and JT   – $329

https://amzn.to/3sxYhGk

All the new off-roading vehicles on the market today come with all sorts of fancy little party tricks they can do with the unprecedented level of computerization that is incorporated into these machines.

While some are a little silly, like the Hummer EV’s Watts to Freedom launch control, others are legitimately useful; think about the Hummer’s Crab Walk function or Rivian’s Tank Turn.

While not quite on the same level, Ford decided to bake a similar feature into its Bronco called Trail Turn Assist, which allows the truck to pull some rather tight 180s. That left the Jeep Wrangler to fend for itself. Thanks to a plug-and-play accessory, though, owners of modern Wranglers and Gladiators can now have something similar, even long after leaving the factory or showroom floor. Aftermarket performance company Z Automotive designed the Tazer Mini as a simple solution to make JL Wranglers and JT Gladiators even more customizable. The tiny dongle enables owners to quickly tweak software features on their vehicle, all while being updatable to add more functionality later on. The latest round of updates includes a new quirk that allows for quick turns, just like the Ford Bronco. Jeep owners with the Tazer installed can enable the feature by using buttons on their truck’s steering wheel. When active, it uses the factory anti-lock brake components to lock the inside rear wheel to drag the tire and create a significantly tighter turning radius. The functionality of this has been confirmed by many online, including youtubers and forum users. However, I need to warn anyone listening to this, that this particular feature of the Tazer Mini should be used extremely sparingly, all in the name of trail etiquette. 

Dragging the inside tire of your Jeep as you go around a tree or obstacle could easily result in a huge rut being made in the soft earth. Obviously, if you’re on rocks or sand, this would be less of a concern, but still. There’s also the fact there may be issues with your warranty, for those who worry about the dealer denying service due to potential misuse or abuse of the vehicle. We’ve talked about stories here in the show of Jeepers being denied service under warranty because of nothing more than mud. I’m sure it could also be argued that this little party trick alone might be worth the $329 price tag for the device to at least some of you Jeep owners, even if you didn’t count all the other tricks the Tazer can do. Now, if you have a Tazer, and this feature isn’t enabled or available in your menu of options, you probably just need to update the firmware in the device, and there are plenty of videos online that can show you how to do this.

Tony himself has one of these and absolutely loves it, as do several of our listeners, who claim that this device is a necessity for anyone owning a 2019 or newer Jeep Wrangler or Gladiator. 

Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma

Soft Top Care 

With the upcoming Jeep Talk Show Wheeling Event in Texas not too far away, I just wanted to throw out a reminder there for everyone going. On episode 501 during Jeep Life I shared the “Whys of Campfire Smoke following you around” and how to stop it. A common myth is the smoke follows beauty, I like to believe that one cause is it always seems to follow me. But there is science behind it.  Then on Episode 503 I shared Jeep Momma’s Tips on getting rid of the campfire smoke. Just thought maybe it might come in handy.

 I know I have said this on the show before. Jeeps are meant to get dirty…. but not stay dirty. There are lots of tips on cost saving cleaning techniques. But you know we spend thousands, tens of thousands of dollars on our Jeeps, So when it comes to our soft tops why not spend a couple extra bucks to buy the products made for keeping the soft top clean and long lasting.  And take a few extra hours to make sure your Jeep is clean… Especially that soft top.

The three areas of the Jeep Soft Top you should concentrate on are the fabric, the windows, and the Zippers.

Many of us don’t notice our soft top until we can’t see out the windows, the zippers break, or we rip the canvas. Last winter I got a crack in my rear vinyl window. I found a furniture upholster and was quoted $250 to repair it. I decided to go ahead and reach out to BestTop to see if I could buy a rear window replacement. I was very pleasantly surprised at the price. I got the rear replacement window for my specific soft top for about $100, including shipping.

Keeping your soft top clean, and making frequent inspections, will help prolong the life of it.

Like I said, there are lots of tips on cost saving cleaning techniques for the soft tops. But why not spend a couple extra bucks to buy the products made for keeping the soft top clean and long lasting…?

There are several trusted brands out there you could use: Bestop, Raggtop and Mopar. I have used the Bestop products on my Jeep and found they are simple and easy to use. –They have a Cleaner, Protectant, Polisher – When I can’t get  these products I just use water. Chemicals on the soft top are not a good idea.

I found five other really good tips that will help increase the life of my soft top – which is one of the main reasons I love my Jeep so much. The ability to go topless!

Number 1. Reduce the exposure to the elements by parking in the garage. if you can.  Even though we love the outdoors and the sun, and the Jeep is the most rugged vehicle for the great outdoors, we still need to pamper our Jeeps to keep them lasting a long time. The sun causes the fabric to fade, threads to fail and our vinyl windows to yellow, crack and fade. Spending quality time and hard work on our soft tops can make it last plenty of years.

Number 2. Never use bleach, detergents, ammonia or alcohol-based products, stick with the products specifically made for the soft top. Clean it monthly, and don’t forget the inside.

If you don’t want to buy special products to clean your Jeep soft top and vinyl windows, then your safest option is to simply use warm water and maybe mild dishwashing detergent.

Don’t forget to clean those zippers too. Regular ‘ol soap and water will keep dirt from building up on your Jeep’s zippers as well. If you let dirt and grime build up on your Jeep’s soft top and vinyl windows and zippers, it will ultimately lessen the life of your soft top.

 Avoid window cleaners like Windex or Formula 409. They tend to dry out the plastic and eventually can lead to cracking and discoloration.

Number 3. You hear a lot of people recommending the Pledge spray polish the regular not lemon on Jeep Windows. I suggest you avoid this tip. I hear over time it will cause your windows to turn yellow.

Number 4. You hear this question all the time on social media. Can I take my Jeep through the car wash? First if you have a lifted Jeep with bigger tires some car washes will refuse you. Those automatic car washes work but are not a good idea because the high-pressure sprays and rotating brushes will force water into the vehicle and cause leaks. Taking your Jeep soft top through an automatic car wash will scratch the Jeep’s windows and might even tear the seams. Plus, some of the chemicals can cause irreversible damage to the vinyl itself.

Number 5. Zipper care is very important as well. Sometimes those zippers can be tough to zip on and off. I have used a zipper lube in the past, but some say that lubrication attracts dirt and grime. Some Jeep owners carry a small bar of soap in the glove box and  rub the bar of soap directly onto the zipper itself; it will lubricate the zipper without attracting as much dirt & grime as the spray lubricants do.

A must for your zippers…. is zipper pulls on  your Jeep’s windows. This allows for easy grasping and pulling. There are several places online you can purchase paracord zipper pulls or if you are crafty you can make your own. And the cool thing about this is you can make them in a color to match your accessory color. My purple paracord zipper pulls allow me to work the zipper much easier now.

Pampering your Jeep is so important. If you are going to name your Jeep you better take care of it. Next week on Jeep Life with Jeep Momma. How to bring the life back into those faded plastic OEM Jeep Fenders. I have tested so many products and homemade Do it Yourself remedies I will let you know what worked and what didn’t.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com

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This Week In Jeep

Jeep Only Dealerships?

With the mighty house of Stellantis constantly exploring the upper limits of what customers are willing to pay for a rig with a Jeep badge on its nose, it seems that placing six-figure Grand Wagoneer L models next to entry-level Ram work trucks and Chrysler minivans is a dying strategy. If some super-stuffy-execs have their way, Jeeps – or at least the high-end ones – could earn a place in their own dedicated showroom.

It’s a trick as old as the auto industry itself, of course. Take for instance the way Lincoln showrooms started encroaching on the most valuable floor space of their Ford dealers.

Separating the wheat from the chaff is a common way of catering to customers planning on splashing out the big bucks – especially if they are new to the brand and trading out of a legacy luxury brand. Showcasing the best of the best of what you can offer them with the top-of-the-line models featuring every conceivable option, is a strategy that Jeep’s parent company is willing to bet on. Jeep wants in on this action, and to be honest it’s a solid move. The only question will be at what cost and how long will it take?

According to Automotive News, brand CEO Christian Meunier expects that more than 300 dealers will be adding Jeep-only sections to their premises over the next two calendar years. 

He anticipates these spaces will house top-of-the-line, more expensive Jeeps like the Grand Wagoneer L, plus the forthcoming all-electric SUVs from the off-road brand. 

Some, like the Michigan-based LaFontaine dealer, jumped on the idea way back in pre-pandemic times, reserving (and branding) an entire wing of their new facility solely for the purposes of showcasing Jeeps. Now a lot of us conspiracy theorists may want to see this as the writing on the wall for Jeep finally becoming its own brand with its own dedicated dealers. As of right now, that may or may not be part of the plan, and we as the general public may never know until it’s too late. GM went down that road with the Hummer brand 15 years ago, leaving many of the eye-catching, intricately designed buildings completely vacant when GM went through bankruptcy. Still, there’s a definitive desire here to start separating Jeep from the typical Stellantis dealer hive. Will both the entirety of the dealer network and its customer base be on board with this idea? 

Only time will tell. It’ll be interesting to see which dealers decide to go down the trail of separation versus those who continue to pack six-figure Grand Wagoneers right next to stripped-down minivans and work trucks.

Only Superman Was Faster Than a Speeding Locomotive

Jeeps are incredible vehicles. They are nimble, strong, and incredibly capable machines. But they aren’t indestructible. Sure, they make versions that are bulletproof, but that doesn’t mean the Jeep off the showroom floor is train proof.  That is a lesson one Jeeper is learning the hard way. The incident occurred in the area of North Dixie Highway and Garfield Street in Hollywood California. Witnesses told local news reporters that the driver of the Jeep was racing south and attempted to cut in front of the train as the crossing arms were in the downed position. That’s when (they say) the train struck the vehicle. The impact was so severe, that it caused the white 4-door Jeep Wrangler to flip over several times ejecting the driver in the process. Nearby drivers pulled over to flip the driver of the Jeep off before he was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.

“They said he was chasing the train and he must have seen that the arms were down and he tried to zig-zag around them,” said one witness who was one of the first people to rush over to help the driver.

This incident comes a day after a man was killed in a crash involving another Brightline train, that time in Pompano Beach. Brightline officials say that at least 64 people have died in collisions with their trains since 2018. The driver of the Jeep, in this case, was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition, and it is unsure of the extent of his injuries or if he will live to understand the idiocy of his decisions.

It’s Not All Bad News For Wrangler

Car sales are struggling due to various factors, including supply chain issues and price surges. Even the beloved Jeep Wrangler, which recently won Vincentric’s Best Value Compact SUV award, saw lower sales in the first quarter of 2022. Nevertheless, the Wrangler’s sales haven’t been as poor as other models. Read on to learn more about how the Wrangler stacks up to the competition.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting supply chain issues have plagued the auto industry in recent years. A serious problem affecting car manufacturers, for example, has been a shortage of semiconductor chips.

Manufacturers’ inability to produce sufficient numbers of cars has led to an imbalance in supply and demand and a surge in vehicle prices. That has driven down car sales in the United States as consumers struggle to find affordable vehicles.

Stellantis, which owns Jeep, recently reported that its overall car sales stateside were down in Q1 2022 compared with the same period last year. Though the news isn’t necessarily a surprise, it’s still not good news for the industry. 

Despite the industry’s struggles, Stellantis found a silver lining when it came to Jeep sales in Q1 2022. For starters, though Jeep Wrangler sales were down 8% compared with Q1 2021, that’s still better than the national average, which saw an overall decline of 14%. 

Stellantis also notes another feather in the Wrangler’s cap: the 4xe was named Best 4×4 in the Women’s World Car of the Year Awards. 

Jeep had even better luck with some of its other models, such as the Grand Cherokee. The popular SUV’s sales were the best they’d ever been for the quarter, with total Q1 2021 sales increasing 36% and retail sales increasing 44% in Q1 2022.

The Jeep Compass also performed remarkably well in the first quarter of 2022. Its total U.S. sales were up 22%, and retail sales increased 23%. 

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler offers numerous trims and models, ranging from the basic Sport which starts at roughly $33k and comes with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 285 hp and six-speed manual transmission. 

Of course at the other end of the spectrum lies the pricey Rubicon 392, which Jeep says is the only Wrangler that comes stock with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 boasting a whopping 470 hp. This Jeep with this engine is one of the more powerful on the market, and it can take you from 0 to 60 in just 4.5 seconds. Of course, all of that power and luxury will cost you. The Rubicon 392 starts at $77,390. So it’s certainly not a purchase to take lightly if you’re considering helping Jeep with its sales figures for the next quarter. 

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Lubricating Without a Funnel

Have you ever struggled to fill a transfer case, a differential, or some other hard-to-reach something on your Jeep that requires lubrication? Since space is so tight under our Jeeps, especially in areas like where the transfer case fill port is, in some areas funnels are all but useless. Try this: Fill a quart or gallon zip-lock freezer bag with lube, gear oil, transmission fluid, or whatever you are needed to use to fill things up. Seal it up real good, and then cut a quarter-inch off one corner, making sure to hold it upright while doing so. This will ensure you’re cutting where there’s air, and not where there’s fluid, spilling it all over the place. You’ve just made the automotive equivalent of a pastry bag, …you know…that thing that you see on those cooking shows used for decorating cakes. Now you can squeeze lube up or over and into the fill hole from almost any angle. In fact, you won’t really need to squeeze much at all, as the contents of your Jeep fluid pastry bag will drain right into wherever it is you’re trying to get lubrication.  The only thing you need to pay attention to is keeping the little cut end of the bag in the hole, and ensuring you don’t overfill. 

Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma

Top 10 Topless Tips

To be Topless — is what inspired me to buy my Jeep spontaneously one day in the Spring of 2013. It wasn’t too off-road but to be topless. Since though Off-roading and being topless is my form of Jeep Therapy. I was at a point in my life when I realized time goes by too quickly to wait for the right moment to do the things you want to do. So my life motto is to “Live Life”.  Live means to “be alive” and when I’m in my Jeep — with the top down — feeling the warm sun on my face — and the wind blowing through my hair that’s what I feel — ALIVE! Topless in my Jeep is also therapeutic. I am in major need of some #JeepTherapy right now.  I feel like old man winter is over-staying his welcome this year. At least for us folks up in the north.  I am so excited that Spring will be arriving soon. I can see the blooms coming out on the trees. I miss the sun in my face and wind in my hair days.

With Spring arriving that means I can start driving with my top-down, but there are always precautions you must take. Now that I am out of the high desert I don’t need to worry about all that dust as much.

When you have a Jeep Wrangler you can’t just put your top-down, hop in, and hit the road. Well… if you get prepared, you can do just that. But it takes some thought to “Be Prepared”. Here are some tips I learned in “Going Topless in My Jeep“. Topless Jeep Driving DOs & DON’T There are 10 not 5  but 10.

1. For the Jk and JKU owners Make sure your top folds back into the perfect Jeep”W”. This keeps the soft top lasting longer. If you don’t know how to do this I have a how-to video on YouTube. I am guessing the JLs would be the same as well. Not sure though.
2. Don’t park under trees that are shedding their blooms or under trees with lots of birds hanging out in them.
3. When you are going 65 mph down the interstate, and you have long hair, tie it back, or put on a hat. There is a high potential you will go blind momentarily, and crash.
4. Leave No Trace is definitely a principle you should use for the inside of your Jeep.  You don’t want that”litter fine” when trash goes sailing out the top of your Wrangler.
5. Anything you want to keep in your Jeep make sure it’s tied down.
6. When you bring your drink in the Jeep make sure it has a lid. Those Jeep rides become very bumpy. I suggest staying away from anything carbonated. The bumpy Jeep rides take the fizz right out of the drink.
7. When you have kids you will want to have a blanket for each of them.  Even when it’s warm outside the back seats tend to get a little chilly for the little ones.
8. Spray your floor mats with bug spray.  Some say spiders like to spin their web inside your Jeep.  Fingers Crossed — I haven’t had this issue yet. I did have an ant invasion the summer I went to Texas though.
9. When it’s sunny out, keep sunscreen handy. Especially for your face.
10. Don’t leave valuables lying around. Leave ’em home or lock ’em up in the glove box or console.

 My last tip… number 11

Music can is a great therapy along with a Topless Jeep. We all have those songs that provoke excitement and invigorate us. Add that music while driving a Jeep with the top down — those favorite songs blaring from the speakers at full blast and you are at the pinnacle of feeling alive.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com 

Share this to your Social Media!

This Week In Jeep

 

It May Never Exist Though

A patent filed to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on May 19, 2021, and published on September 2, 2021, shows a diagram of a JT Jeep Gladiator with multiple hard top components being removed from the roof and locked into position atop of the truck bed onto a solid tonneau cover. The roof panels are locked into position manually with a rotating lever. While we may never see this patent go into production, there’s a good chance that we may see something similar to this from Mopar by the 2022 SEMA Show happening the first week of November. Although it could just as easily be one of the Overland Expo events, Detroit 4Fest, or another event that celebrates the modularity of the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator. I would have thought that this year’s Easter Jeep Safari would have been the ideal place to do so, especially with the D-Coder Gladiator all gussied up with every possible option from JPP in that hideous maraschino cherry red.

Is The Jeep V8 Officially Dead?

At the recent New York Auto Show, Jim Morrison, head of the Jeep Brand for the US, was hit with some hard questions about Jeep’s future. Now that the Hurricane inline-six is official, the writing is on the wall for the demise of the Hellcat and Chrysler’s family of Hemi V8s. Jeep has basically announced the end of V8s in the Grand Cherokee. Especially with the soon-to-be-released 4xe model. What this means is likely the end of the Trackhawk label as we currently know it. Jim was asked about this very topic, and his answer doesn’t leave a lot of faith. When Motor Authority asked Morrison about future Trackhawks, he replied, “I don’t know. Could there be a variant of Trackhawk? Electrichawk? Who knows…”….…sorry, I just threw up in my mouth a little there. Electrichawk? Really Jim? Dammit, I miss Mike Manley. 

Morrison also pretty much put to bed any chance of the Jeep Gladiator enjoying a V8 or some of the factory-fit off-road upgrades bestowed on the Wrangler. 

So for now, The Gladiator’s fractional sales compared to the Wrangler can’t justify the development spend, despite the truck outperforming expectations. Those who tow won’t be sacrificed by the removal of two cylinders and the move to electrification, either. 

Morrison also revealed, ((QUOTE)) “We might have a different solution for them (those who tow), though.” I think that almost guarantees we’ll see the new Hurricane Inline Six slapped into the Gladiator in one form or another. It likely won’t have the tune that the Hurricane H.O. variant that the Wagoneer line has, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a pay-to-play option later down the road. But seriously, imagine if it did have the same tune. 500 HP and 500-pound feet of torque or even in the mid 400s on both… if you can’t tow a load with that, then you’re doing something wrong.

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Wins Top Honors In NW Event

The Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) is a professional organization of automotive journalists and media members from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Southwest Canada. Founded in 1991, NWAPA includes members representing newspapers, magazines, radio stations, media groups, and the internet. Members of the organization have been testing SUVs and crossovers since the advent of the modern sport-utility vehicle in the mid-1990s, and for the last ten years, they have rejected my podcaster, voice-over, and DJ credentials to become a part of their secret society.

But I digress. Members of NWAPA spent two days testing vehicles on paved and off-road routes at the 27th annual Mudfest competition, hosted by the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA). The testing took place at “The Ridge” Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington just under three hours away from where I’m sitting right now. Journalists tested 20 vehicles from 17 manufacturers to select winners in eight categories. And you better believe Jeep was there. They brought the all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe – the first-ever electrified Grand Cherokee.

The Grand utterly dominated the field winning three of the eight vehicle categories, including taking home top honors. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was voted Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year by the automotive journalist members of NWAPA. The Grand Cherokee, a nameplate that has been around for over a quarter-century, and holds the unique distinction of being the most awarded SUV of all time, is now apparently leading the Jeep brand toward its vision of Zero Emission Freedom. Either way, congrats to the Grand Cherokee once again for winning awards.

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Unit Bearings 101

If you wheel your Jeep, then it’s only a matter of time until a wheel bearing on your front axle goes out. But unless your Jeep has aftermarket hubs, it doesn’t have wheel bearings at all. What it has instead are called unit bearings. Unlike the traditional spindle and bearing combo as most trucks have, Jeeps have a unit bearing that is bolted into the knuckle. A unit bearing is a completely sealed, non-serviceable unit. 

When the bearings wear out, you have to replace the entire thing. If we compare the spindle type to the unit bearing assemblies, the advantage of a unit bearing is that you never need to pack the wheel-bearings with grease or replace bearing seals. In addition, unit bearings will generally last longer too.
BUT, they are not undefeatable.

The most stresses you put on them from things like larger tires, rough terrain, offset wheels, and the additional load of armor and other accessories essential to Jeeping, well… as you can see the stressors add up pretty quickly. The stock unit bearings are up to the task just fine, but they won’t last as long as they were intended to by the manufacturer.

For decades, the Dana axles under our Jeeps have used Spicer bearings to roll on, and still today these are considered one of the best replacements. In this segment, I’ll cover what a unit bearing is, which I believe we just did, and go over what the symptoms are of a unit bearing on its way out. I’ll go in depth about replacements and even provide a tip or two for those who can tackle this job themselves. Ok, so now that you know what a unit bearing is, and how it differs from normal wheel bearings, let’s look closer at why they fail. Typically when you see a Jeep with aftermarket wheels, that Jeep will have a wider stance than a stock one with the same size tires. Why? Because a wider Jeep is more stable on the trail and in off-camber situations. The best way to achieve a wider stance is by swapping out the axles, but that’s a bit extreme and way out of reach for most Jeepers. The second best way would be to buy wheels with less backspacing. Backspacing is simply the distance from the back of the mounting surface of the wheel to the back lip of the wheel. It is measured by laying the wheel on its face, placing a straight edge across the wheel, and then measuring down to the mounting surface. Obviously the less the number, the more the wheel will protrude from the axle. This is great for looks and offroad performance but adds a considerable amount of shear force on the bearing. All the vehicle’s weight, the engine, all that armor, the bumper, the winch, everything you add to your Jeep, adds to the weight that is amplifying the already present amount of shear force the unit bearing is fighting.

Again, the bearing is up to the task, it can do it, and do it well, but only for so long. This doesn’t mean a narrow track Jeep is a way to go. The bearing will still wear out over time, no matter what. If you got 100k miles out of your stock ones, consider yourself ahead of the game. Unit bearing on average only lasts about 100k miles, if that. Less, on built Jeeps that wheel hard. So what happens when a unit bearing fails? The bearing no longer has tight tolerances, it has been worn and over-exerted, and is in need of replacement. You may hear a groaning, or a hum, sometimes only around corners or as you come to a stop. This is because of something called weight shift. As the Jeep’s inertia changes, so do the weight distribution. As you turn, the weight is shifted to the outside wheels. As you brake that weight is shifted forward, so even more stress on the front bearings. As a bearing starts to go, the symptoms will build, multiply, and get worse. So if you’re at the groaning stage, things haven’t gotten as bad as they CAN get. Aside from an audible change, there may be handling changes as well as things progress. You may start to see a worsening in fuel economy as the Jeep is now not rolling as smoothly down the road. You may hear clunks and feel a sudden shift in the front end as you go around a corner. Eventually, this will all turn to a grinding noise worse than any worn brake pad could produce, and it will eventually lock up. I don’t have to tell you that you never want to let things go this long, and regular testing should help keep the gremlins away. And speaking of tests here’s the best physical test to determine if your front unit bearing is going out. With one of the front wheels in the air, grab the tire at the 6 and 12-o-clock positions, and really put some effort into trying to rock it back and forth. Don’t strain yourself so much you can’t hear, see, or feel what’s going on. You’ll be looking for any amount of play as you try and force the wheel to rock. You may feel the rubber give, or even some tie-rod play, so that’s why you need to really focus on where you’re putting the force. If you do feel play, then the bearing is bad. You should be able to confirm this by removing the wheel, and the brakes. With all that removed, try to spin the bearing. It should spin very smoothly, with little resistance. It likely won’t free spin like a fidget spinner, but it should feel smooth. If it’s rough, if you hear grinding, or there are points where it is easier or more difficult to spin than others, then this is confirmation that you have a bad bearing.

So how hard of a job is this? Well if doing your own brakes is something you can tackle with ease, then this will be too. They’re usually held in by only 3 bolts, and to get to them, all you have to do is remove the wheel, rotor, and the brake caliper. No specialty tools outside of a large wheel nut socket, and you can generally swap out a pair in an afternoon. Here’s a rule of thumb… always replace both the driver’s side and the passenger side at the same time. They both came from the same place, and out of the same batch, so if one went, then chances are the other is not far behind. Trust me I speak from experience here. Unit bearings are oftentimes press-fitted into the knuckle, so they may not want to come right out, even when no longer bolted in. Hammering in them isn’t always easy, so here’s a trick I’ve found that works like a charm. 

Using the Jeep’s power steering to act as a ram to press it out. To do this, your Jeep needs to be secure, and on a jack stand. The engine will need to be running, and you will need a short 3/8″ socket extension.

Place the socket extension between the back of the bearing and the inside of the knuckle. And just steer into it. Now there is still a chance that depending on where you live, the bearing may be rusted in place. In which case, you’ll need to remove the entire knuckle and take it into a shop to have it pressed out. The good news is that installing the new one will be much easier. Especially when you wire brush the living you know what out of the race the bearing sits in. I also like to put the tiniest bit of anti-seize on the surface before installation to ensure when it comes time to replace this one, it’ll go much easier. As far as brands go, well the OEM one lasted this long, and it’s a good choice for a replacement. Don’t get sucked into the parts store’s heavy-duty option. I tried the NAPA HD ones and they didn’t even make it a year. Timken is about the only other one I would trust outside of a Spicer unit. Those two brands seem to hold up the best for Jeeps who wheel. Ok, so let’s say you don’t have the tools, the know-how, or the space to do a job like this, but you know for sure now that you have a wheel bearing issue. No problem. This is a same-day turn for many shops, and the average price of parts and labor is about $350 per side. Obviously, at that kind of a price, you may have to do one side at a time, but I wouldn’t go longer than a month between the two to ensure even wear and longevity. Now before we go much further, I do have to address the super high-end specialty type of Jeep unit bearings. You know the ones, like from Currie Enterprises, Spidertrax, Yukon, and more. These are the ones that start at like $550 and go all the way up to like $700 or more EACH. I don’t know about you, but I doubt I will EVER go through $1500 or more in unit bearings for as long as I own this Jeep. 

And like you, I’m surely not going to pay nearly a grand to replace a single bearing. Are they worth it? I honestly don’t know. But that seems like a huge price to pay to get something that may still fail at some point. Unit bearings are a cornerstone to our Jeeps rolling down the road, and they need some attention, so don’t forget to take a look at yours, at least at every other oil change. 

Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma

I am now on Tik Tok @ The Jeep Momma.  Tik Tok is a social media site where you post short videos from your phone. YouTube has now started something similar to compete with Tik Tok. They are called YouTube Shorts. I started a Jeep Momma Question of the Week on my Tik Tok and YouTube shorts where I ask you the question and you comment on your response. My question this past week is about the Jeep Badge of Honor and who gets the badge the Jeep or the driver. The funny thing is most people have been saying the Jeep, but someone claims they were told by the Jeep Badge of Honor Program it’s the driver. So I have put out my calls to Jeep to verify that. I will keep you posted on what I find out.

Share you answers with me on YouTube or Tik Tok  –  Subscribe

Jeep Life with Jeep Momma’s topic is going to be a little upsetting for some. My apologies in advance for hurting your feelings or bringing up a topic that might trigger you.

We see the questions all the time on social media. For some, we jump right in and help with our suggestions and answers. For others, we scream at our computer monitors at the person posting the question. It’s an age-old debate where there are three different views.

What should I name my Jeep? There seem to be 3 corners you could fit into. Naming your Jeep is stupid, You don’t name your Jeep it names itself or by others or You pick your own name. Whatever your corner you are in and how you feel the question, it will never stop being asked.  Why do we feel the need to name our vehicles anyway?

https://axleaddict.com/cars/car-names

For Some people, their Jeep is their second home, a best friend, a pet, and an alter ego all in one. Some folks getting behind the wheel of a jeep gives them a whole new personality or like me, it rejuvenated my whole life.

“We share the milestones of our lives with our cars,” says David Bennett from AAA  “Maybe you drive it to your wedding, or to the birth of your child. There are so many things that connect us to the cars we drive.”

Naming your Jeep, in a sense, gives it a personality; it’s a way for Jeepers to form some kind of bond with their Jeep.

“People name their car because of the emotional connections they have with it,” Bennett says. “For the majority of people, the purchase of their first car is a rite of passage. They become akin to a parent to the car — cleaning, maintaining, and repairing it.” That as well transfers over to any purchase of a jeep whether it’s the first Jeep or fifth Jeep.

 My Jeep friend in Australia says his Jeep is an extension of himself. He feels no one else can name it for him or it’s no longer a personal thing. His Jeep’s name ranga cause its Red. Ranga in Australia is another name for Redhead and also a twist on Wrangler. It becomes an extension of his personality.

There are many ways that people choose to name their Jeep. And it’s become trendy, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing! Some people choose to name the name after themselves or things they enjoy. I know a Star Wars fan who has a white Jeep and the name is clone trooper.

Then there are those who wait for the name to pick the Jeep. A nickname of sorts from someone else or because of something they did in their Jeep. Sometimes when the right name comes along it sticks like glue.

Then there’s the group that doesn’t believe in names at all. It’s true some Jeeps just go nameless. Honestly, that’s my Jeep. My Jeep to me is just MY Jeep. Some people have decided to name my Jeep for me. School Bus. I really don’t think that fits me, but I go with it sometimes.  The next time someone asks to help name their Jeep you could send them a few internet links. Yes, there are websites on the internet to help you name your Jeep or car.  There are car name generators as well.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) www.nwapa.org

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com

Share this to your Social Media!

This Week In Jeep

Time To Get That Luxury Tow-Rig!!!

If you’re looking to get the best possible deal on a new Jeep Wagoneer, we found a potential loophole worth knowing about. Based on dealer incentive bulletins, Chrysler Capital’s 72-month financing rate is actually lower than its 60-month interest rate, providing a way to lower both your overall cost and monthly payment. Through May 2nd, the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series II and Series III offer 0% APR financing for 72 months. At the same time, the 60-month rate on the same SUVs is 0.9% APR. If you assumed a shorter loan would be more affordable (which in most instances happens to be the case), you could end up paying more money. On a $70,000 SUV, this difference in financing incentives could have a major effect on your potential bottom-line costs. First, the total estimated cost of a loan is over $1,600 cheaper than the 6-year loan. Second, there’s a massive price difference in the projected monthly payments when comparing both financing options. With the 5-year loan, the estimated payment would come out to $1,194 per month before taxes & fees. With the 6-year option, the same SUV would cost $972 per month. That’s a difference of $222 per month, with a lower overall cost, simply for choosing the 6-year financing deal. It’s not every day that we see a quirk like this. Longer loans typically entail higher interest rates, but that isn’t the case here. While it’s tempting to decry the prevalence of longer (and more expensive) car loans these days, this could present an opportunity to get a great deal. Having said that, there are a few downsides worth knowing about if you decide this is right for you.

Like most financing deals, this requires top-tier credit to qualify. There’s also another important catch in that the more luxurious Grand Wagoneer is completely excluded. The same goes for the more affordable Wagoneer Series I. Still, for a buyer looking to buy now, it could be a surprisingly good time to do so.

Jeep Has Reason To Celebrate Q1 of 2022

Over the years I’ve occasionally reported on annual or quarterly sales figures for the Jeep brand. It’s dry material, and I’m sure there’s only about a 1% cross-section of our lister base that even pays attention to that sort of stuff. So instead of going over the numbers of how many Jeeps were sold in what segments and what percentage growth or loss it is compared to years prior, I thought it might be fun to focus on the only numbers that matter. Now you may or may not know this, but I’m not a huge electrification fan. Not for Jeeps, and certainly not yet anyway. That being said, I can appreciate the technology and I can appreciate it, even more, when it beats up other vehicles in its segment. For the first quarter of 2022, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe was the best-selling hybrid vehicle in the US. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe outsold the next best-selling hybrid SUV, the Toyota Rav4 Prime by a huge margin. Obviously, if you had to choose between the two, well… it’s not really a choice is it?  Clearly, the Toyota Rav4 is completely outclassed by the Wrangler, even in 4xe trim. Either way, congratulations to Jeep for once again beating the sales numbers of Toyota. 

Some of The Three Best Things In The World

So in looking for news surrounding the world-famous Jeep Beach event happening this weekend at the iconic Daytona Beach, I stumbled across another event I can’t believe I’ve never heard of. It combines three of my favorite things in the world; Jeeps, Beaches, and Smoked Meat! “Smoke On The Beach” is what it is called, and this annual BBQ competition and Jeep show are hosted by the Myrtle Beach Shriners Club and The Myrtle Beach Jeep Club. They’ve got dozens if not hundreds of food vendors and BBQ competitors, live music, and of course… Jeeps, all on Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. And if memory serves me right, the Carolinas know a lil’ sumpthin’ about BBQ.

Unfortunately, the event is already over. It happened Easter Weekend, April 15th – 16th.

This event is now on my bucket list…. as in, I’ll need to carry a bucket with me if I’m going to have a chance of eating all the food I want. Jeeps, Beaches, and Smoked Meat… I could die a happy man there. Myrtle Beach!… I’m comin for you!

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

What To Do If Your Jeep Has Poor Departure Angles

Ok, in this segment I’m going to focus on your big ass.

Ok, not yours specifically, but if you have a Jeep Gladiator, or pretty much any non-Wrangler Jeep and you’ve taken it offroad, well… you know what I’m talking about.

The Jeep JT Gladiator pickup truck is a great rig, it really is, but the bed overhang is a bit much. The same goes for the back end of a Cherokee or Grand Cherokee, or even the old Wagoneers for that matter. Jeep did this by design in order to maximize the truck’s hauling capacities. That’s all well and good for when you want to transport a load of bricks, but I bet most of these Jeeps would like to hit the trails more than they carry masonry. With all that body hanging out past the rear axle, it makes for very poor departure angles. Departure angle is the maximum ramp angle from which the vehicle can descend without taking on damage, and is defined as the angle between the ground and the line drawn between the rear tire and the lowest-hanging part of the vehicle at the rear overhang. In the case of the JT, XJ, ZJ, WJ, or any other long Jeep, this would be the tow hitch. Check out some wheeling videos of longer wheelbase Jeeps and you’ll see they drag that ass on the ground as they climb up something, and slam it down hard as they come down shelves or off rocks. The only way around this?… Get the body as high in the air as you can, big lift, big tires. Either that, or start moving the rear axle back, or start shaving the rear end. And honestly, who likes shaving ass? Seriously though, this would include things like moving the rear bumper inward and upward, comp cutting the body, or chopping the body and moving the whole rear end. Essentially a whole lot of real nasty bodywork, that you definitely don’t want to do yourself without a lot of prior fabrication experience, and will cost a fortune to have a shop do. Jeep really had it right with this year’s concept Jeep “Bob” which had a bobbed pickup bed, making it less functional for hauling, but incredibly more capable off-road with exponentially better departure angles. Regardless, if you plan on using that hitch for what it was intended for someday, maybe it might be a good idea to keep it out of harm’s way a bit more. And as per usual, we have a whole plethora of aftermarket solutions. But… they are not all created equal. And here is where this segment is going to have a crossover episode with the must-have pick of the week for your Jeep, and I talk about a specific product.

Curt makes one, and you’d think that a major hitch manufacturer would be able to get something like trailer hitch armor right, but no, theirs looks like the only way it would work is if you were going in reverse. It’s just a six-inch square piece of steel bent slightly and welded to a tube that would go into your receiver. Draw-Tite has virtually the same design as theirs, and they want more for it. In fact, there are at least a half dozen manufacturers that will sell you this same design with a different name on it for about $50. Rock Slide Engineering sells something called a Rear Hitch Slider, and this is basically just a backward shovel you mount to your Jeep. I mean if you want to snag, catch, and get hung up on virtually everything, or plow the most amazing channel behind you in the snow, then this unit is for you. It looks kinda cool, I’ll give ’em that, but it’s got to weigh a ton, and it looks horrible to try and attach or remove. 

A company called Body Armor sells another reverse shovel design, that is just a much larger bent plate type attached to a tube. Oh sure, it has a nice functional step incorporated into the upper half of the design, but all that does is add weight.

On top of that, none of these units look like anything that could be used in any kind of recovery outside of pulling a go-kart across a parking lot.

Screw all that nonsense. What does the situation really call for? If you wheel, and you wheel hard, you play in the rocks, or your terrain has more steps than it does mud, then you need some hitch armor. Something low profile but highly functional.

Obviously, it’s going to need to be extremely tough, but easy to use, remove, and store.

So it has to be small then right? It would be a bonus if you didn’t have to take it out to exchange it for a recovery point too… Whatever image you have in your head, I bet it closely resembles the product made by a company called 41 Twenty Two. 

https://41twentytwo.com/product/hitch-slider/

The 4122  Hitch Slider protects your hitch receiver from damage.  

Its one-piece design has a ramped underside skid that allows you to smoothly glide over obstacles instead of catching up on a plate or damaging your receiver.

The 4122 Hitch Slider also incorporates a generous 1″ soft shackle or D-ring tow point into the design for added functionality. The Hitch Slider is available in five different Ceramic Coated finishes; Armor Black, Desert Orange, Electric Blue, Stealth Gray,
…and red. They also have an unfinished version for that raw machined look.

Every unit is precision machined from a solid billet of 6061-T6 Aircraft grade aluminum for a lifetime of rust-free use. They are 100% MADE IN THE USA in Southern California. 

I’ve seen these things in use, and yes they definitely can take the beating. All that vehicle weight, slamming down on the rocks, time and time again. The only thing that happens is a little scratching of the ceramic coating on the underside.

But these are made of aluminum, and aluminum does not rust. And those scratches and gouges? …that’s just a real badge of honor to show just how hard you really wheel. The price point is a little steep, I’ll give you that. For now, they cost $189 and come with free shipping. But being able to use that hitch for something else down the road without rust, or a bent tube, and having a little extra armor to boot… priceless.

Jeep Talk Show Interview

Sam Herren – Offroad Airbuddy

https://www.offroadairbuddy.com/

Coming up next week… Keri and Paul Porter, from www.discover4x4adventures.com

Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma

Protecting Yourself and Your Jeep from a ConMan Mechanic

I want to share a news story out of Colorado from about a month ago. There was an investigation underway into a Colorado Springs Auto Shop after engines disappeared out of customers’ cars and the business appeared to close.  More than a dozen people say the business took their money and didn’t do the work that was promised. Then when some went to get their cars they found their engines were gone. Colorado Springs police confirmed they opened an investigation but wouldn’t elaborate when asked questions by a local news station. Customers shared they felt the owner was running a great business but recently stopped returning their calls. One customer said he was out $16,000, another stated, he has nothing, no engine, no parts no nothing. One customer paid the owner about $28,000.  Many people have taken their concerns to the police, but now they’re playing the waiting game.  I want to clarify this wasn’t a Jeep or 4×4 shop but it looks like most Subarus. From comments on a local Jeep Group on Facebook, this man has done this before and just skips town and disappears. This happens more than you may realize. There are a lot of scammers, swindlers, and grifters out there taking advantage of people. These con men are good at what they do and can fool you.  There are some ways you can protect yourself from this happening to you. It’s not foolproof because these types of con men are good…. have many years of practice and they usually move from town to town.

Top 5 Things to Look for when picking a mechanic

1. Make sure they have the necessary Paperwork for Business License/ Sales Tax Permit/Certifications/insurance. This is not a guarantee all are legit but it’s a start. You can look up the business name at the Secretary of State’s office in each state to at least see if they are a business in Good Standing. This doesn’t really mean a whole lot just means they paid their fee to the state.
2. Get online and look for reviews. Google is your friend. Search for the mechanic’s name and the business name. You might be surprised by what you find.  Ask around town to see how long they have been in business in that town. When did they set up shop, and how long have they been at that location?
3. Check out your Local County Courthouse to see if there have been any lawsuits filed. Some states have online court records you can search. The court records are public information. You don’t need to be a journalist to get the information. Just call the clerk and ask if there are any civil cases with the name of the business or owner.
4. If you do find a shop to work on your vehicle make sure you get everything in writing. Everything. Even ask for receipts of parts purchased. Getting an invoice with signatures is a contract and is very important if you do have to go to civil court.  An invoice or quote is like a contract.
5. If at all possible DO NOT hand over thousands of dollars for restoration work or repairs. If you have to make sure you get a detailed list of what that money is for, make sure the mechanic signs it. And don’t just leave your vehicle at the shop for days, or weeks or even months on end. Check on your vehicle. Call, ask for pictures or just randomly stop by.

 These conmen are good at what they do. They have been doing it for a long time and have lots of practice so you need to be on your toes. Have you ever been ripped off? I want you to call in and share your story with me! Go to Jeep Talk Show dot com on the contacts page and give us a call on the voicemail line. The more we stand up and share our stories the more educated we can be to stop this kind of abuse of the innocent.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com

Share this to your Social Media!

This Week In Jeep

Do you Want That Super-Sized?

As if the return of full-sized Jeeps to the lineup wasn’t news enough, there are now even bigger Jeeps coming. For the 2023 model year, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer are getting super-sized with the introduction of new long-wheelbase variants.

For many Stretched “L” versions of Jeep’s three-row SUVs felt like an inevitability after the regular models were revealed last year, mainly because all of Jeep’s domestic rivals in this segment offer extended-wheelbase versions. Not to mention all the attention the stretched wheelbase Grand Cherokee has received. Both the 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L see their wheelbase grow by an identical 7 inches to 130 inches. Likewise, their overall length is extended by an entire foot to 226.7 inches overall. While this growth spurt doesn’t really affect their interior passenger volume, it does contribute to considerably more cargo space. I won’t bore you with the numbers, but all that extra body means literally dozens of cubic feet more cargo volume. 

Not only do the elongated Wagoneers have more space in the back for storing stuff, but they also come standard with that new Stellantis twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six we’ve talked about here on the show before. Dubbed the Hurricane, the 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L mark the formal debut of this engine. It pairs exclusively with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-, all-, or four-wheel drive, but output varies between the Wagoneer L and Grand Wagoneer L.

The former model has the standard-output (S.O.) version that makes 420 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque, while the latter has the high-output (H.O.) version with 510 horses and 500 pound-feet of torque. The 510-hp version is also currently available in limited quantities as a $2000 upgrade on 2022 Grand Wagoneers. As with the standard wheelbase, the stretched variant can tow up to 10,000 pounds.

…with an in-line six!! We all wanted to know about the MPG so here we go.

The S.O. Hurricane engine is rated at 19 mpg combined, while the H.O. Hurricane engine is rated at 16 mpg combined. Jeep says long-wheelbase Wagoneers come with fuel tanks that are four gallons bigger, and the company says the stretched models weigh about 200 pounds more than their shorter counterparts. A distinct blacked-out appearance will be available only on Wagoneer models as part of the new “Carbide” package. The kit coats the wheels, grille elements, mirrors, and more in gloss black paint, and the interior features black seats and special trim on the dashboard. It’ll be available on the regular 2022 Wagoneer this spring and join the 2023 Wagoneer L lineup when it goes on sale in the second half of this year. The 2023 Grand Wagoneer will also hit showrooms at that time, but Jeep hasn’t yet announced pricing for either of the new long-wheelbase models as of the time of this recording.

Jeep Parts Used To Hide Drugs

A traffic stop on Interstate 20/59 in west Alabama led to the seizure of 4 kilograms of heroin hidden in the tire well of a Jeep Cherokee. It is becoming a trend, according to federal court records, for criminal organizations to conceal drugs in the tire wells of Jeeps for transport. That is apparent, records state, based on recent interdiction seizures of vehicles traveling from Mexico through the Northern District of Alabama.

The traffic stop – for following too close – was made on March 25 in Sumter County by 17th Judicial Drug Task Force Interdiction officers. The driver, via a translator, gave authorities permission to search the Jeep, and officers quickly spotted tamper marks in the tire well near the driver’s side of the vehicle.

Officers also noticed that rivets had been replaced with after-market screws that were not consistent with the rest of the vehicle. Officers were aware based on prior training and experience, according to a Homeland Security Investigations special agent, that vehicles with tamper marks and after-market screws are common indicators of vehicles being used by drug trafficking organizations. The driver was traveling with multiple young children, federal court documents state. Everyone was removed from the vehicle, and the children were turned over to the Alabama Department of Human Resources.

He is charged with possession with the intent to distribute more than 1 kilogram of a substance containing a detectable amount of heroin. AL.com is not identifying the suspect because authorities said their life would be placed in danger. At a safe location, officers removed the vehicle part in a question and drilled it into it.

“When drilling into it, they observed a powder on the drill bit,’’ the special agent wrote. Officers broke open the vehicle part and found multiple packages wrapped in cellophane. The packages were consistent with the way drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine are commonly wrapped for transport. The weight was approximately 4 kilos – or 8.8 pounds. A field test was positive for an opiate and authorities believed the drug to be heroin. Investigators determined the driver crossed into the U.S. on March 24 and was stopped in Alabama the following day.

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Fan/Serpentine Belt – Maintenance/Replacement

Over the years I’ve covered a lot of topics in our Tech Talk segment. Everything from electrical and audio tips, to in-depth knowledge about a particular topic, like shocks, or fuel systems. From top to bottom, I’ve covered so many aspects of so many Jeeps over the years that I’m surprised I can still find topics to cover that will not only be helpful and educational but also at least someone relevant and interesting to your listener.

So this week, I thought I’d cover something I’ve never really given much thought to, and chances are, neither have you. A version of this part is on every Jeep ever manufactured from the first Willy’s to the ones rolling off the line right now. We don’t give it much thought until it starts making noise, and by then we realize we have neglected the maintenance on such a critical part of our Jeep’s engine. The neglect is done at that point and all that’s left is to do is replace it. It is a part that goes out overtime after all, and if hasn’t happened to you yet, it still might. Have you figured it out yet? I’m talking about your fan belt, or in more modern Jeeps, a serpentine belt.

They are the same thing really, just different geometry. Now there is however a difference between a timing belt and a fan belt or serpentine belt. Timing belts are a whole different beast, and we’ll get into those in another show. Serpentine belts are designed to transfer the rotational movement of the engine to multiple peripheral accessories in your Jeep. The belts themselves are relatively inexpensive and in most cases are relatively easy to change. Belts turn the pulleys for things like the power steering pump, the alternator, and the air conditioning compressor. Belts also turn the water pump to circulate coolant from the engine to the radiator, and yes, in some cases, they still turn a fan. These accessories have very little to do with engine combustion, but in many cases, the work performed by the belt is critical to maintaining the engine and keeping it running. So like with anything else that is critical to your Jeep’s performance, it’s a good idea to do what you can to maintain it. So in this installment of Tech Talk, we’re going to go over some basic maintenance tips, cover some of the most common symptoms of a belt going out, and give you an idea of what you might be looking at to replace it. Ok, so no matter the age of the Jeep, the belt it needs will be made from rubber, and over time belts will stretch, dry out, glaze over, and eventually start to crack and split. The first thing you should know about taking care of this is to know where the belt is located. Now I know this is a “well duh” moment for a lot of you, but you’d be surprised how many Jeepers there are out there that don’t know the difference between throttle body and carburetor, let alone where certain parts may be located. The exact location of the serpentine belt may vary depending on the vehicle. But for Jeeps, the belt will be located at the front of the engine. When checking any belt on any vehicle, always make sure the vehicle is switched off and cooled down. Here’s what you’ll be looking for, and it’s important to look at both sides of the belt, not just the side you can see from one angle. You’ll first want to make sure the belt is aligned on the pulleys correctly. If the belt slips off the pulleys, your Jeep may not run properly or important components may lose power. This directly correlates to the belt’s tension, and its tensioner. Not all Jeeps have a tensioner, and in this case, the tension applied to the belt is done by the movement of the alternator. The tensioner is a spring-loaded pulley, and its job is to regulate the amount of tension placed on the belt to make sure it stays on the pulleys.

There is also a difference between a tensioner pulley and an idler pulley.  An idler pulley is just a static location, meaning it’s just a pulley that sits there and does nothing, but is there to aid in the routing of the belt.

Now if the tension on the belt is too loose, the belt can slip off the pulleys and cause components powered by the belt to lose power. Checking the tension of a belt is pretty easy, look for the longest span between two pulleys, and press from the outside to the inside of the belt. It shouldn’t move more than about 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch. The less the better, but too much can cause strain on the engine and the bearings of the shafts that hold the pulleys. Now you’ll want to look for any signs of degradation. A common problem of older belts is called glazing. This glazing happens as the belt is polished from slipping on the pulleys. This is usually due to a lack of grip from the belt being over-worn, or from a belt tension problem. Once a belt glazes, it will usually never grip properly, no matter how tight it is adjusted. A glazed belt is not the only telltale that you may need a new belt. If your belt is showing signs of chapping, cracking, splitting, or fraying, then it’s pretty clear something needs to be done. Here’s a rule of thumb that you need to remember when looking at a belt…  If there are more than three cracks in a one-inch space on the belt, it’s time to replace it. It’s that simple. Belts don’t need to be changed often unless they are getting old or have sustained damage. So good news for you, right? Your belt should be inspected with each oil change. Mechanics will normally check the belt to ensure no significant damage has occurred. However, checking it yourself is fairly straightforward.

So aside from regular visual inspections, there are no products that can extend your serpentine belts life. There may be stuff you can find on a shelf called belt dressing, but this is more or less snake oil, and with the low cost of a new belt, why prolong the inevitable? The visual cues that a belt is going bad are only one side of the equation. Before you inspect it visually, you may hear something that may give you a clue that the belt is bad. A high-pitched squeal when starting the Jeep or during a hard turn or when the air conditioning is turned on, are all indications that a belt may be glazed or stretched, and a replacement should be planned as soon as possible. Now here’s a worst case scenario. Failure to replace a worn serpentine belt will result in poor engine performance and, eventually, no performance at all. A glazed or stretched belt does not grip and turn the pulleys; instead it slips across them, leading to fewer turns of the pulley than it should have for the RPM of the engine. Water pumps will not circulate coolant as well, leading to a higher running temperatures and inefficient engine performance. Alternators will not supply as much electricity, which will shorten battery life or cause weak spark and poor fuel economy. Air conditioner compressors will not turn as fast and the interior of the Jeep will not be as cool as expected. A frayed, cracked or squealing belt will eventually break, and none of the accessories will function. Your steering will become very difficult, the air conditioner will blow warm air, and the Jeep will only run until the stored power of the battery is depleted or you overheat and are forced to pull over or the engine will just seize. So as you can see, staying on top of your serpentine belt’s condition is pretty important. Ok, so how hard of a job is this? In most cases it’s relatively straightforward. Using a long breaker bar, you’ll get a socket on the tensioner pulley, for 4.0L the tensioner is controlled by a threaded rod, whose adjustment is controlled by a bolt that is on top of the power steering pulley.

Either way, you’ll relieve the tension of the belt as you slide it off the nearest pulley.

Note how the belt is routed, (take a picture before hand if you have to, or if you don’t have a sticker somewhere that shows you the routing of the belt for reference,) remove the belt from the engine, and the engine bay. Putting on the new belt is as easy as routing it to where it needs to go, in the same way the old one was, save for the last pulley, where you will once again, disengage the tensioner and slip the belt over the last pulley, usually the same one that you pulled the belt off of in the beginning. If your Jeep doesnt have a tensioner pulley, then that likely means you’ll have to loosen up the alternator adjustment bracket. Same as before, remove tension, remove belt, replace belt, apply tension. One other note here, it’s a good idea while the belt is off to inspect the pulley’s too. Look for gouges, bends, and get your hands on each and every one. Really reef on it from all angles, and if you feel any play at all, you’re looking at replacing that part. Sometimes it’ll just be a pulley replacement, and sometimes, the whole unit like the water pump, alternator, or power steering pump will have to be replaced. But that’s it, no special tools required aside from a long pry bar. Yes there are special serpentine belt tools, but these are not required for this kind of a job on most Jeeps.

A serpentine belt tool is basically in most cases, just a skinnier version of a breaker bar and socket together, giving you a little more room to work with, making the job a little easier. Again, not required, but if you’re into tools, it’s good to have one around.

The average cost of a belt replacement varies on the engine in your Jeep, but you can expect to pay between $25 and $75 for a belt. If you were to take your Jeep to have this done at a shop, the average labor rate will usually be about one solid hour. Depending on the shop this could be as little as $50 or as much as $120 or more. 

Compare the cost of a socket set and a breaker bar against a $200 repair. Uh-huh. The sooner you take care of a bad belt, the cheaper it will be in the long run. Now I suppose some of you may want to know about the “While you’re in there’s” for this. Oddly enough there aren’t too many, but here are a couple that comes to mind. While you have the belt off, consider an overdrive pulley for your power steering pump. These are oftentimes frowned upon as they make your power steering pump work harder than it was intended to. But the principle is simple. At lower RPM a smaller pulley will spin faster, giving you better steering response under load at a lower engine speed. This kind of job usually requires a special tool called a pulley puller, and they oftentimes can be rented from your local parts stores for next to nothing. You may also want to consider swapping out the fan clutch or going to an electric fan and freeing up some engine space and horsepower. Note that if you change any pulley, or remove one from the equation with something like an air conditioner delete, then you’ll need to change your belt length. Well Jeeper, I hope this helps, I know I just gave you something else that you have to worry about on your Jeep, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Jeep Talk Show Interview

Jerry Huber

The Man Behind The Toledo Jeep Fest!

Don’t forget, if you want more info about the Toledo Jeep Fest, just go to https://www.toledojeepfest.com/

Coming up next week… Sam Herren from Offroad Airbuddy

Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma

Well, I got my Jeep back finally. It feels good. My Jeep was in the shop for an oil leak. It was weird getting back in the drivers’ seat though. I felt like I was driving a semi. I took my son to Mt. Rushmore this past weekend and I rented a Toyota Camry so I was used to being down low to the road. It took a while to get readjusted to driving my lifted Jeep. The oil leak is fixed which is good news.

What happened was I started to see oil spots on the driveway and in the garage. So I got under my Jeep and looked. UGH!!! I was quite sad. I wasn’t exactly sure what happened. I shared the problem and pictures with a Jeep friend of mine and now a new fan of the Jeep Talk Show, he said it looked like the oil filter housing adapter needs to be replaced. I took it to a mechanic here in Minnesota and my friend was right.  The mechanic that is helping me says he sees this type of leak a lot because people over-torque the plastic part and it cracks, plus cold temperatures make it worse. And we got below zero a few times here in Minnesota. Plus it looks like this issue is a design flaw….The Chrysler Pentastar V6 oil filter housing and cooler assembly for 3.2L and 3.6L engines can become warped, brittle, and crack over time with constant exposure to engine bay heat. They say this serious flaw in the design of the Pentastar oil filter housing and cooler assembly often results in severe oil and coolant leaks and can have catastrophic consequences. Over the years there has been speculation that Chrysler cut a few corners with the Pentastar V6 and the original equipment parts. The plastic oil filter housing and cooler assembly are one example. The number of complaints about this part is staggering.  There have been so many complaints – with the OE replacements even, that Chrysler has discontinued the manufacturing of the Pentastar oil filter housing and cooler assembly. Even more surprising is that Chrysler has known about this problem for a long time and has never issued a recall.

I called around and three major auto parts stores shared, that the factory part is no longer available and claimed it hasn’t been available for a year and a half. So I tried to go with the Dorman Aluminum upgrade. That part is not available right now.  If you suspect this problem in your Jeep you better start hunting for the part now. The Dorman aluminum aftermarket part is very, very hard to get. If one does come in it doesn’t stay in the store for more than a day.

I found the aftermarket part. $259.99. You need to buy the manifold set too, $51.99 is easy to get. It’s still plastic but not the OEM part Standard Autos Part which will also work.

I was informed by a friend who works for a garage that Jeep shows the OEM part is in stock. which I don’t believe it’s truly in stock, but I never checked.

The OEM part is listed at $424 WOW!!! $160 more for the c

OEM. I am hoping my oil leak woes are solved because I still have some work to do on my Jeep fixing unfinished work from the previous garage I was using. Installing aftermarket lower control arm brackets and the one shock mount. Plus, finishing the work on the axle truss.

https://www.ecogard.com/chryslers-problem-pentastar-v6-oil-filter-housing-cooler-assembly-what-means-oil-filter-installers/

Links Mentioned in this Episode

NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/

Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver

The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/

Interact With The Show! https://jeeptalkshow.com/contact

Jeep Talk Show on Facebook https://facebook.com/jeeptalkshow

Rat Bastards Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/ratbastard

Rat Bastards Webpage https://ratbastard.lol

Looking for Amazon products we’ve talked about on the show? https://jeeptalkshow.com/amazon

You are invited to our Discord Server!  https://discord.gg/txeYMs45sm

Show notes powered by sevenslats.com

Share this to your Social Media!

This Week In Jeep

Another Teaser (#5) From Jeep About EJS Concepts

In Episode 583 we went over the four teaser photos Jeep has released regarding what sort of concept vehicles they might be bringing to this year’s Easter Jeep Safari happening in MOAB Utah April April 9-17. Historically Jeep has brought some incredible works of automotive engineering combined with next-level imaginative bodywork and offroading technology. Real works of art in some cases. But they are after all just concepts. Examples of what could be, and what may be, with the sole intention of impressing those who are lucky enough to see them. The four teaser pics released so far don’t give us much, but we’ve got a pretty good idea of what they might represent. The fifth pic, released just this week, is again, cryptic at best. In the background, we see what looks like the same kind of virtually mountainous rock formations found in Moab, with an orangish Jeep Wrangler in the foreground. The Jeep is pointing away from us. The perspective is from about 8 feet off the drivers’ side rear corner. The entire back end of the Jeep is hidden with the fade to black of the image, highlighted with the JPP gear logo in the lower right corner. This tells us this Jeep will be showcasing new or soon to come to market Jeep Performance Parts. We’re not sure what kind of wrangler this is, as we can’t make out just how many doors this one might have. What we do see is a very prominent roof rack, and other amenities like a possible B-pillar storage pod, and A-pillar grab handles. The Jeep is topless, for the most part, it may have a top but no sides, or at least paint matched factory half doors, another new product for Jeep. The sides are completely open as are the possibilities of what this picture is supposed to mean. If I were to read between the lines, I’d say that this will likely be a rock crawling-focused Wrangler for the masses. Specifically engineered for the kind of terrain and wheeling experiences you see when off-roading in Moab Utah. OR perhaps an Overlanding themed build with expedition-inspired accessories and upgrades from JPP. Time will tell as by the time we record this, the Easter Jeep Safari is just a couple of weeks away.

The H.O. Hurricane I-6 Will Be Avail As An Option For The New Waggy

Back in episode 548, I had a story of what was then just a rumor of the return of the in-line six-cylinder engine to Jeep. And in Episode 578 the rumor was confirmed to be true. What we know is that this new variant of the venerable 4.0L I-6 will be a 3-liter in-line six with as many as two turbos giving this new powerplant the potential of over 500 HP. It will be called Hurricane, but you can call it a hurricane… sorry, it couldn’t be helped. Well, there is some interesting news surrounding this new engine, and they say this new high output version of the Hurricane will debut as a $2000 option in the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. A screengrab from the online configurator supports this and confirms earlier rumors of the full-size Jeeps getting a new drivetrain option. The Hurricane engine’s claimed 500 some-odd hp and 475 pound-feet of torque beat out the big V-8’s 471 hp and 455 pound-feet of torque. The less expensive Wagoneer will use the lower-output version of the new inline-six, which claims 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. The Wagoneer currently offers a 392-hp 5.7-liter V-8 engine with an eTorque hybrid system. Online specs show that the 3.0L Hurricane equipped Wagoneer will offer a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds when equipped with rear-wheel drive and a towing package. This matches the current 5.7L V8 Wagoneer’s max rating. This won’t be the only platform we are likely to see with the new in-line six. Stellantis has repeatedly said that the Hurricane will likely make its way into many of its products. So this is probably just the start of this new powertrain’s prevalence across the automaker’s lineup. I think it is probable that we will eventually see this replace the Hemi V-8s currently found in Ram trucks, and Jeep SUVs. Consider this the start of a new generation of inline-six engine dominance in Jeep.

Tech Talk with Jeep Talk

TOPIC/QUESTION: Identifying Your Jeep’s Fluids

We as people have some pretty unique fluids flowing through our bodies, and despite our best efforts, sometimes they leak out. If it’s red its blood, clear, it probably spits tears or sweat, and if it’s yellow or brown, well you get the idea. The same goes for your Jeep. There are all kinds of fluids in all parts of that rig, and they may sometimes leak out. So if you have a mystery spot in the driveway or garage, and aren’t quite sure what it is or where it may be coming from, I’m here to help you out. From top to bottom, and front to back, we’ll go through all the different kinds of fluids found in all parts of your Jeep. I’ll tell you what they’re supposed to look like, where they might be coming from and some possibilities as to why you’re seeing these fluids too. And I’ll also be talking about how to tell if something may be wrong with your Jeep by the color, smell, or texture of these fluids. Ok first off let’s talk about water. Not coolant, and yes there is a huge difference. Occasionally you may see a small puddle of water under your Jeep. Plain old crystal clear water. Dipping a finger into the puddle, it will feel and even smell like water, albeit with a touch of pavement I’m guessing… but where did it come from? If your Jeep has AC then this is likely condensation from the evaporator. It is entirely normal, nothing to be worried about, and will be more common the more the AC is used, especially in hotter temps. There could be other reasons too, like trapped water in the cowell or frame even, so it never hurts to do a quick visual inspection anytime you see any fluid under the Jeep and see if you can’t pinpoint the source. More on that later. If that water-like substance has a color to it, like purple, orange, or yellowish-green, then this is likely coolant, and it should feel slightly oily or slimy, but not thick. Coolant is always very water-like when it is in good condition. The more color it has to it, the better condition it is generally in. The smell may be a bit fishy to some but will generally have a sweet-ish undertone to it. The reason you may see this under your Jeep is that it simply got hot and some escaped out through the overflow hose. This kind of condition is more common than other reasons like a broken radiator, cracked radiator hose, or a failing water pump. Again, a visual inspection will likely show the source if it is indeed the coolant you’re seeing. 

Now if that coolant is milky, and looks more like a smoothie or a milkshake, then you have more serious problems, and this is a sign of a head gasket failure, allowing oil and coolant to mix with air to create the milky nastiness you’re seeing. Another near water-like substance that could be found under a Jeep may look orange or sometimes blue as well, and (depending on how fresh it is,) may even be accompanied by bubbles. What we’re seeing here is windshield washer fluid, the smell should give it away instantly. It will smell soapy, maybe even a bit of a chemical bleachy smell depending on the brand. Why you would see this is rare, but it could be something as simple as a hose getting disconnected from one of the spray tips, or perhaps there’s a crack in the washer fluid reservoir. Now if the fluid you’re seeing under your Jeep is reddish or pinkish in color this is almost always going to be transmission fluid. Transmission fluid is also used in the transfer case as well as the transmission, so it could be coming from either or both. Transmission fluid when brand new is a rich kool-aid see-through red color. It will be slightly thick, similar to motor oil. As this fluid ages, it loses some of its red colors and will turn light red to pink in color. 

Although too pink and that’s a sign of water in the transmission fluid. When this fluid has been exposed to excessive heat or overuse, it turns brownish in color and will take on a burnt type of smell to it. If you ever check your transmission fluid and it’s black, well, let’s just say you never want to see black transmission fluid.

Another fluid that has the ability to be burnt is oil, and this is oftentimes the most common fluid found under Jeeps. Oil on the ground is almost always black or brownish-black. If you’re seeing oil on the ground it’s because there is a seal that has failed somewhere. Different Jeep engines all have their own typical or common oil leak sources, and a quick search will help you narrow down your inspection. I suppose it should go without saying, but obviously, your Jeep shouldn’t leak oil, of any amount, or any color, at any time. Any oil leak should be repaired as soon as possible to avoid further damage…. And that nasty oil stain in the driveway. If the oil you’re seeing is a much lighter color, if it’s goldish brown in color, this too could be oil, but not motor oil. You’re likely looking at gear oil. It’s going to be very thick, and it’s going to stink really bad. Luckily for you, the sources of this fluid are your differentials. Easy to see, easy to get to, and easy to tell if they’re leaking. This too is an oil that can froth up and become milky as well. Overheated gear oil or oil in a leaky differential can aerate and become frothy like a milkshake. Although it might look kinda cool, it’s really bad on your gears, and this is a sign that it could be time for a differential overhaul depending on what is causing the leak. Another fluid that is just as stinky as gear oil but not as thick is the power steering fluid. This too is typically goldish in color, maybe slightly brown, and also stinks. It will have about the same consistency as motor oil, but it has a very pungent petroleum-like smell to it. On most Jeeps, the power steering, its pump, hoses, and gearbox are all on the same side of the motor, and within a short distance of each other, so tracking down where this leak may be coming from shouldn’t be too hard. Just a note though, sometimes power steering fluid leaks only present themselves when the system is under load, so having someone inside the Jeep to work the wheel while you look may be critical to finding where the leak is coming from. And to throw more confusion at you here’s another goldish-colored fluid that can leak out of your Jeep. Brake fluid. Brake fluid is basically hydraulic oil. It too will have a slightly strong smell to it. It will be slippery between the fingers and have the same consistency as fresh motor oil. Luckily for you, if you see this fluid on the ground it is more than likely coming from one corner of your Jeep and a sign of a worn, failing, or broken brake component. Likely a caliper or a soft line. This too is likely going to be a leak that can only be seen when there is pressure on the system unless there is a tell-tale sign of a leak by the inside of your tire being wet. So make sure the reservoir is full, and have someone pump the brakes while you see where the problem may be coming from. Regardless of what the leak is, and what fluid you may be seeing there is nothing more important than using your senses.

Feel the fluid, smell it. Look at it, look for signs of metal debris by feeling for grit, or metal shavings. See if it has microscopic amounts of metal in it by looking for any amount of a glitter-like appearance. Smell it for signs of burning or overheating.  Familiarize yourself with what the fluid is, and you’ll be better off for it. And so will your Jeep. Here’s a pro tip I want to leave you with. Sometimes it is hard to tell the color of a vehicle’s fluid judging by just what is on your finger, the ground or a dipstick. So smearing some on a small piece of white paper gives you some contrast to see what the color really is. Notebook paper, newspaper even, paper towels, napkins, the back of an envelope, or business card. Really any kind of white paper that isn’t waxy like butcher paper or magazine paper will work just fine for this. So here’s some homework for you, go out to your Jeep, and take a small sample of each of the fluids of your Jeep, smear a little dab of each one on a piece of white paper, and label the smears. Keep this for reference, and as you go, be sure to feel and smell each one. And the next time your Jeep marks its territory, you’ll know what it is it did it with. 

 

 

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