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1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo
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Comments
Thanks
~Jay
I replaced the battery three times in 1 year. I have been having a vibration in the front end of my car when accelerating at around 60 MPH. They have replaced oxygen sensors, reset computers and flushed the heating system several times. My AS light comes on and I had a problem with my engine overhearing.
Within the last year, my AC developed a stuttering engine, which seems to be exacerbated when using the AC or heat. Four dealerships have not been able to come up with a problem. It jumps out of gear and violently jumps into a higher gear. It also appears that the gas mileage has decreased.
I am utterly amazed that I have been told so often that there doesn't seem to be a problem. What are the mechanics doing? The only reason that I have kept my Jeep is because I still owe on it and would take a hit when trading it in. The only people willing to make a fair deal are other Jeep dealers, and I do not want another dip, I mean JEEP. I know at least four other people with the same problems.
Toyota is supposed to be great but my uncles was turned in after 37 repairs in 6 months. He got a lemon law refund.
My friends blazer made all kinds of crazy noises and frequented the service dept.
My wifes mitshuibishi was a piece of junk.
My neighbor offered me his bmw because he was sick of dealing with it.
My friends wife's altima does great on a good day. He thought he was buying a worry free car for his wife.
I won't even mention ford suv's and chrysler cars!
It seems that some get good and some don't.
I seem to be one of the lucky ones. 2 chevys, 1 mazda and 4 jeeps all over 200k miles on them. My current jeep recently went over 100k and has had only maintainence. I buy Jeeps now because I use them otherwise I would drive a more street bias vehicle.
Main problem: the vehicle "surges" intermittently - very annoying, vehicle "rocks" side to side (when stopped), more importantly though is that it has resulted in very dangerous (entering traffic) stalling 3-4 times.
Particulars: most noticeable when stopped w/engine running, see 330 rpm swing at worst, seems to "build up", does it in all gears R, D, N, L, does it in warm weather, cold weather, rain, no rain, engine warm, engine cold. Have replaced fuel pump (very expensive), Air Idle Speed Motor (Jeep dealer diagnosis), been tuned, etc.
I, like others w/postings here, have other issues also, but thank God, these have not cost me...yet - 1) rear end makes a grinding noise but it has since I've owned it (one year/15k miles) & I haven't had anything go wrong; 2) sometimes get a "rock tumbler" sound from the driver's side rear after stopping & shutting off the engine, I think it's the fuel pump (replaced it once, hope it's not going bad again); 3) mysterious sound (sounds like a piece of styrofoam is being blown around an enclosed area, how strange is that description???) from the driver's side rear when traveling at high speed (75 mph) & it's windy outside; 4) put one of those bug shields on the front of the hood & the subsequent change of air flow & the sound it makes when hitting the windshield was enough to drive one crazy (am removing it this weekend).
Any insight anyone has for any of these "issues" would be appreciated, but especially the surging problem, it really has me frustrated. Thanks.
The rear differential was making noise, had the bearings replaced. From what I understand is that Jeep wanted to save on weight and had part of the differential case made of aluminum which has a different heat dispersment than iron. So after driving the metal expands and contracts which causes the bearing to tighten up beyond the specifications and ultimately fail. Sounds like a design error and that Jeep is at fault. I think it should become a recall item. What needs to happen at Jeep before the company will recall a defective part?
The AC lines are severely corroded (just like with message #55). These have not failed yet but I'm pretty sure that it will not be long before these lines start leaking.
Transmission growl, after fixing the rear end noise, I now hear a growl from the transmission when coasting. Is this common, anybody else have similar problems?
Wind noise: When driving on the freeway I hear the wind blowing in through the rear doors. Checked the seals and they look good. Anybody else noticing wind noise? What can be done to fix it?
My milage is ~12mpg in town is this about average?
And the doggone brakes will never stop squeaking! I had new brakes front and back put on after I bought it (bought it used). And they still squeak! Isn't there something that can be done to stop this noise?
And the a/c is a joke. It feels great if you are sitting up in the front, but try sitting in the back hoping to get air! Better bring a hand fan. Why did Jeep not put rear a/c vents in a big vehicle like this truck?? I felt so sorry for my kids last summer. They were sweating in the back seat while I was 'chillin' in the front. I'm now looking for something decent that has rear a/c and will not cost me a couple of knee caps in repairs.
Anybody, any suggestions??
A year back when I was in Nashville, I had taken it to a few dealerships for repairs to this (almost 6-7 times). At first, they said that there's nothing wrong with the transmission. When I went again and again, they said "okay, we found out the problem, some cable in the transmission was faulty, it needed some adjustments". I happily started driving home and found no improvement (or maybe neglegible). The problem was still there. Then I took it for repairs a few more times and every time this same thing happened, they would adjust some cable and say it's alright now and it won't be any better.
Sept 2000, I moved to Minneapolis. Took it to a dealership. They found the problem and fixed it. I was so happy that it's gone. Drove my jeep thru the winter without any kinda problem, but now this transmission problem has reappeared. This Jeep dealership charged me around $70 for adjusting some pressure cable, said it wasn't covered in the Chrysler Service Contract (Max Care) which I have till 60k miles. I dint dispute this charge with DC, 'coz I was happy at least my jeep drives fine. But now that it has started again, I dont want to spend money on fixing it. After all, why did I spend a grand on buying the Service Contract?
Anyway, this is the story so far. I know many people have had this problem before (saw it on edmunds' townhall itself). Can someone explain what exactly is wrong and how it has to be fixed... permanently? If some part, such as torque converter and/or some cables, have to be changed, I'd like to tell the dealership to do that. I dont want my Jeep to have any problem when it goes out of that Service Contract period in Feb 2002.
(I'm sure, the explaination/solution to this problem will benefit many.) Thanks in advance.
Your company should start bringing some standard of integrity to it's communications and business practices.
BEFORE I bought my jeep I called your customer assistance and inquired about the BRAKE ROTOR WARPING problem being reported by 1999,2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee owners.
One of your customer assistance "specialists" told me the problem had been fixed by a TSB that had the rotor replaced with a newly designed rotor to replace the weak one which was warping as early as 3000 miles.
All I can say is thank God I didnt buy your 4 wheel drive model (It's got lots of problems too from what weve seen)
My rotors warped on my 2000 JGC at 11,000 miles.
There is no way I will buy MOPAR parts to fix my brakes because,in fact, your company hasn't redesigned the rotor!
I WAS LIED TO BY YOUR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND I DON'T LIKE BEING LIED TO.
Why should I put another set of "Mopar" brake rotors on my jeep when they will fail between 3000 and 12000 miles? Why can't you build a better brake rotor?
Another thing I don't like about your company is the fact that your dealers tried to sell me replacement brake pads (just the parts) at a ridiculous price of around $300 (front and rear)
300 dollars for just brake pads is a little bit (no kidding) excessive.
I ended up installing after market rotors and pads (Stillens) which are far superior to your Mopar junk and cost a hell of a lot less. Bottom line is, I walk with my money and you lose DC.
Your company's relationship with it's customers and the public stinks.
Your probably going to end up like Firestone/ bridgestone.
DC lacks integrity, excellence, world class products and service.
You can't build and fix cars until you first fix your companies "anti customer" practices.
xxxxxxx
also...when I spoke with your customer assistance folks and a local dealership (Vacaville Jeep, Ca) both the service adviser and your people in Auburn Hills were the rudest and snottiest customer service people I've ever seen.
I suppose this is "world class 5 star" treatment and service too!
THIS LETTER IS BEING POSTED ON THE INTERNET (EDMUNDS / JEEPS UNLIMITED) AND AT DEALERSHIP SERVICE CUSTOMER WAITING LOUNGES AND OTHER PUBLIC AREAS. I WANT AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO SEE HOW DC TREATS ITS CUSTOMERS.
It is easily fixed by using carb cleaner ("gumout") on the pintle every 2-3 months. DO NOT do this with a HOT engine!! Remove air intake, IAM pintle is within the throttle body joint with the low-profile air intake fitting that you just removed. This is at the rear side of the 6"-7" diameter opening under the air intake.
Spray it good, work the pintle a few times with your fingers, put the air intake back on, and you're ready to go.
NOTE: The tech's experience was not so much with JEEPS but with the Chrysler "318" (5.2L) V8. He said this 20-yr old engine design that all the techs know how to baby & tweak is being discontinued in favor of the new 4.7L.
I did not think much of it until it happened 4 mores times. Sometimes it happens when I turn the car on. I noticed that my digital trip meter that tells me how far I can drive has the same problem.
Has any one else had this problem? Does any one know what the problem is or how to fix it?
Thanks in advance.