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

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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

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