For those that trust your Jeep, how did you get there?

[twisted-pixel]

I bought my jeep (2006, 4.0 Auto) with 109,500 miles on it in February

The oil pump imploded and destroyed the engine - got towed home by AAA. New engine fitted
Then the transmission pump seal failed (we think) and sprayed ATF everywhere - got towed home by AAA. New Transmission and cooler fitted
Then a transmission hose failed and sprayed ATF everywhere - got towed home by AAA. Hoses fixed

it now has 110,600 on it. Yes all the above happened within 1,000 miles!

Love this thing, and how I feel when driving it, but I want to take it on a camping trip this weekend (100 miles each way) and my faith in it getting me there and back is wavering. It's done about 150 miles since the last issue and all going well....but at the back of my mind is the niggling thought that it's going to leave me abandoned again. How do you build trust in something that has let you down catastrophically 3 times in the last 4 months?

 

[JMT]

Time of seeing reliability is the only way to build trust. In your case there could only be very little trust, 150 miles worth! Sorry, that sucks. For the record I’ve had good reliability with my TJ. Occasional fixes, but usually pretty cheap and easy.

 

[Chris]

You seem to have very bad luck. The 4.0 engine is arguably one of the most reliable engines ever made.

Most likely you bought your TJ from someone who didn't take very good care of it. It's a combination of that and whoever is doing the work (installing the new engine, etc.) is clearly not a very good mechanic.

These engines can go half-a-million miles before needed a rebuild.

 

[lBasket]

A little luck and a lot of maintenance

 

[twisted-pixel]

the previous owner did NOT look after it at all.

I'm hoping that with the work done (new engine, new transmission, new cooler, new cooler lines, new OPDA, new shocks, new track bar, new tie rod ends, fully overhauled rear brakes) I have something that is at least semi-reliable. My mechanic (who did the engine and trans swap is amazing), but often you don't know that something is going to fail, until it fails.

 

[macleanflood]

From Oregon drove mine to the Rubicon Trail and back last summer. Then drove it to Moab and back just a bit ago. Plus the 1600 mile road trip to Canada and back on the WABDR three years ago.

I'm still pretty hypersensitive to noises and that can be stressful and exhausting but it's slowly fading.

-Mac

 

[L J]

How do you build trust in something that has let you down catastrophically 3 times in the last 4 months?

Did you buy the TJ new? Did you do all of the maintenance? Were the issues caused by prior owners and lack of proper maintenence? If you've had it competently repaired you should be able to drive with confidence. If not, sell it. However, I can't relate as my LJ has never left me stranded in 17 years and ~125,000 miles of service. I bought it low miles used and have done all maintenence myself and conduct routine inspections.

 

[twisted-pixel]

From Oregon drove mine to the Rubicon Trail and back last summer. Then drove it to Moab and back just a bit ago. Plus the 1600 mile road trip to Canada and back on the WABDR three years ago.

I'm still pretty hypersensitive to noises and that can be stressful and exhausting but it's slowly fading.

-Mac

yup...every time I hear a bump, or smell something hot...I start to panic (I know they run hot...the smell is supposed to be there...it's not a well-insulated modern car..it's a tractor!). I just have to build trust somehow.

 

[InOmaha]

That sucks.

I had a key issue that let me pull the key out while in the accessory position that left me stranded a couple times at work until I figured it out.

I had a tire come off on the interstate after a couple hours but I was going slow merging on and was able to control it and stop off to the side. 3 lug nuts backed off the front left until the last 2 broke. I check them before trips and park inside. Some crap kids took the lugnuts off one of my daughter's tires when she was in high school. So my issue was either my fault for not torquing down properly or some shithead's idea of a prank.

AAA towed me to a hotel parking lot I slept in until parts stores opened the next morning.

I drove 1000 miles through South Dakota last year.

I will not comment further as the Jeep is in the garage below my office and I don't want it getting any negative vibes to piss it off and throw a code on me tomorrow.

 

[Jack_Stefan]

Purchased at 102k miles.
125k miles mine blew a piston. Cracked pistons are super common on these things, check out DexJeeps on youtube.
New engine from ATk and that had a ticking at start up.
Got another reman enging from ATK
Now my transmission blew its bearing at like 126k
New Transmission

Now its time to test it from there.
My experience is these jeeps have not been reliable to me or my circle of friends with their JK's and JL. All of them had new engines swapped under warranty luckily.

All that being said i plan to put about 500 miles come 4th of july. Because fuck it.

 

[BlueC]

Years of experience has taught me to familiarize myself with a particular vehicle and learn what common issues to look for before buying. After I buy it, it's all about staying on top of general maintenance and knowing what preventative maintenance to do. When I buy something (I always buy used) I know right off the bat I'll be spending about another $500 + my time on maintenance stuff.

Speaking of my Jeep specifically, I bought it from a family member, so I had a really good idea of what had and more importantly what had not been done to it. Within the first week I changed/flushed all fluids (oil, trans, diffs, brake, etc.) then flushed/cleaned the cooling system and did a serp belt & water pump job. Then I moved on to suspension parts and an alignment within the first month.

 

[Duck Doctor]

AAA 200 mile towing is mandatory when you own a 20-30 year old vehicle.

 

[InOmaha]

If you look at the Moab thread, I think the guys there were breaking them on purpose. I do much lighter wheeling and daily drive mine.

I'd need to look for a beater someone modified if I ever go with that crowd. And toss on a rollbar upgrade.

You could always consider adding a truck and trailer option.

 

[JMT]

If you look at the Moab thread, I think the guys there were breaking them on purpose. I do much lighter wheeling and daily drive mine.

I'd need to look for a beater someone modified if I ever go with that crowd. And toss on a rollbar upgrade.

You could always consider adding a truck and trailer option.

Are you talking about me! LOL

 

[InOmaha]

It seems like everyone broke something or bent a panel. I started showing my wife the photos and videos and she got a funny look.

My brother has a dealers license and his Jeep is a repaired salvage. I may have him look for something built up but pre rolled before I hang out with you guys.

 

[alittleoff]

If you're not solo camping, take a second vehicle.
What area or trail in CA are you going to?

 

[DaveC]

Get it up to the manufacturer's specs for maintenance. If you're at all unsure how it was maintained, replace every fluid, check/replace plugs, etc. to establish a new baseline. For wear items like belts, hoses, bushings, etc., if the PO doesn't have records showing when they were replaced, get in, inspect and replace any that aren't clearly new. For me, it's basically bringing all maintenance items up to where they would be if I'd bought the vehicle new and followed the factory maintenance schedule since day 1.

 

[Apparition]

It seems like everyone broke something or bent a panel. I started showing my wife the photos and videos and she got a funny look.

My brother has a dealers license and his Jeep is a repaired salvage. I may have him look for something built up but pre rolled before I hang out with you guys.

We have fun for all levels.

 

[taylormade73]

I got to a place of confidence after I started listening to a famous fellow forum member who said repeatedly, “stop paying other people to fuck your shit up.”

I do my own work now so that I know it’s right or at least I know what I fucked up. Since then, I’ve driven it from Ohio to Florida and back, from Ohio to Michigan and back several times, from Ohio to Pennsylvania and back several times, to New Jersey and back, to Virginia and back, you get the point, all without issue.

 

[Moglocker]

I got to a place of confidence after I started listening to a famous fellow forum member who said repeatedly, “stop paying other people to fuck your shit up.”

I do my own work now so that I know it’s right or at least I know what I fucked up. Since then, I’ve driven it from Ohio to Florida and back, from Ohio to Michigan and back several times, from Ohio to Pennsylvania and back several times, to New Jersey and back, to Virginia and back, you get the point, all without issue.

Yup,do the work yourself,that’s why I buy old vehicles ,my2002 had a sticky valve guide,I replaced to a tupy head drive a couple small trips here in Florida and sent it (lol)drove 4000 miles to Colorado,up and down mountains with a tent on top,the tractor did damn good!