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Comments
Thanks guys
I've been running tires at max pressure (35 psi for P-series tires) for over 30 years with no ill effects. I get a darn sight better fuel mileage than at the factory recommended pressure.
Frankly, I wasn't referring to P-metric rim protectors, but rather LT and flotation tires such as I've dealt with on my TJ and my early Pathfinder. If you inflate those tires to 40-45 psi. you will wear out the center of the tread and alter the shape of the contact patch to your detriment. The remainder of my tire experience deals with V,W, and Z rated tires on RWD sedans, which-in a track or auto-x environment-will often benefit from increased or decreased pressures in order to increase or decrease understeer/oversteer. To blithely state that running tires at the maximum sidewall psi is always A Good Thing on any vehicle is both irresponsible and incorrect.
My question was concerning the change of trajectory in the 2wd and 4wd modes.
Less than 6-months ago we traded in our 2002 Jeep Liberty Limited and it had a unexplained "crack" at the base that started just off the center (looking at the vehicle from the front). It came up about two-three inches then curved right and went across toward the driver side just above the windshield wiper.
Now we have a 2005 Jeep Liberty Limited and it has done the exact same thing in almost the exact location. All of a sudden it's there... and no rock hit it. Your input is appreciated.
Driving Jeep Concepts (Inside Line)
Steve, Host
I have a 2005 Liberty and I want to put a tow package on it.. and I had the same concerns about the supposed extra cooling that is supposed to come with the tow package. I called three dealers in different states, and while I was in my dealership I floated this question to them as well.
They all (in a roundabout way) told me the same thing.. there is only one size transmission cooler. I have a 2005 Sport and I did not pay for the tow package, and I don't have a hitch or wiring, but there is definitely a transmission cooler on there. If your vehicle has a transmission cooler, then it already has the extra cooling necessary for the towing. Surprisingly they didn't try to sell me an extra cooler or the whole "towing package", just quoted me the price for the hitch and labor to install it.
For those of you who don't know what to look for, you can see it through the grille, it sits low, in front of and at the bottom of the radiator and A/C condenser, with two lines running under it to the transmission. It's a shorty and probably only about 4" high or so but it runs approximately the length of the radiator.
There is no "engine oil cooler" and you wouldn't need one anyway, the engine is water cooled and as the oil circulates through the engine it's getting cooled as well.
As far as a higher capacity radiator fan or whatever, I'm not entirely sure on that one. It seems unlikely to me, but I dont' know for sure. If there is one, it stands to reason that it would have been installed with the transmission cooler. Then again, that might make too much sense, and just for that reason I'm not going to say that with 100% certainty..
But if it's a problem, you would see the engine temperature gauge climbing if it's going to overheat, and you do have time to pull over and let it cool a bit.. I would imagine this would only be a problem on hills. Most cars have very efficient radiators.. I've seen vehicles with half their coolant leaked out that don't run hot. And if you're barreling down the freeway at 55 it's going to cool just fine, the fan doesn't do anything at cruising speed, the wind pushes through the radiator.
Maybe older Libertys didn't have the transmission cooler installed by default but mine certainly does have it. Long as you have the trans cooler you should be fine. So if you have the trans cooler, buy whatever hitch you want, and get the wiring harness (it just snaps into the wiring for the lights) and either put it in yourself, or go to a jeep dealer who isn't going to try and rip you off, and buy the mopar hitch (~$180 or so plus labor) and have them put it in.
I have found that synthetic transmission fluid helps transmission run cooler as well.
Hope this helps you all..
Eric
I don't know if my Liberty already has THIS package like the original poster stated, but the bad thing is I'd need to special order it to find out, and I doubt they'd take it back if it turned out I didn't need it.
I'll probably order it and check it out, when I find out for sure I"ll post it if anyone's interested.. If nothing else I'll sell it on ebay or something.
Dose anyone have an up date on MPG's after having one for long peroid of time.
High way and city driving.
Thanks..
OK, I have been beaten up for a year or so for calling the Liberty a "Girley looking Jeep.
See the quote above! It's taken directly from Edmund itself. Enough said!
Drive what you like.
Steve, Host
JY
Well, I'm here to say that a week from now I will driving my wife's Liberty to Moab for four days to go 4wheelin with some friends that are coming in for a visit. A few of the guys in our group will be renting a modified Rubicon so we will have a really great vehicle to do comparisons with. As I said, this is my wife's Jeep. I don't drive it much but that's not to say that I don't like it. It has been a reliable vehicle thus far with about 18 months ownership and a little over 10,000 miles. But this is not to say much for it's off road capability. We have only been into the mountains with it a few times and never on anything too serious. We live just west of Denver near Boulder. Anyhow, I am 6'2" and the vehicle is just a little too tight for me to call it a comfortable ride. This of course is with the seat fully extended. But I digress.
My point was that I was going to say I will write again when I get back and give you guys an honest review of the Liberty's performance in some extreme off road environments. If any of you are wondering, I am taking her Jeep because I own a quadcab Dodge Ram 1500 that, although a great truck, is obviously not the right choice for an outing to Moab. I hope some of you will find this useful, or atleast informative.
Trying to keep it real,
snoboardz
Steve, Host
I have a 2004 Jeep Liberty Sport. I live in Germany and regularly drive my Liberty on the Autobahn (okay, at fairly high speeds). The problem that I have is with those pesky bugs that want to commit suicide on my windshield. I was thinking of buying a BUG SHIELD, but wanted to know if they really do work (especially at speeds ranging from 75-100 MPH). Would I benefit from a BUG SHIELD or would I simply be wasting my time/money? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I had to take my car to the shop every 3-4 months for major fixes that cost around $400-700 each visit and I have been doing this for 4 years! I'm gonna sell this piece of rubbish and get a japanese car instead! :mad: :mad: :mad:
1. How much total weight can the Liberty safely tow?
2. When towing, should I take off the Overdrive or should I drive in a lower gear altogether?
Thanks!!
>1. How much total weight can the Liberty safely tow?
>
>2. When towing, should I take off the Overdrive or should I drive in a lower gear altogether?
>
>Thanks!!
The liberty is rated for up to 5000 pounds tow capacity, with the optional "heavy duty cooling kit" which I think we have established is just some mechanical fan that bolts onto the water pump pully and is probably really not needed in most cases .. as long as your vehicle has a transmission oil cooler in front of the radiator you should be ok, as long as you're not towing the maximum capacity up hills a lot..
I only put it in overdrive if I'm on the freeway, and if I'm not towing something really heavy, and it's not hilly. Because if any of these conditions exist, it starts to shift in and out of overdrive a lot. That overdrive makes a big difference in fuel mileage so if I can leave it on, I will, but if it starts shifting excessively, I take it out of overdrive and leave it off.
I leave overdrive off when towing in town because when you're travelling slower with not a lot of throttle, like maybe coasting at 45 MPH, it likes to kick into overdrive, and then I give it a little gas and it has to downshift. Too much shifting.. :P
We have nearly 15,000 miles on our car and they want to do a C level service on our 2004 Jeep Liberty. Next week we are going to do a 1,000 mile drive and we are wondering if we need to spend over $500.00 on a service that supposedly takes 6 hours at the dealership. I realize the dealership recommends this, but I realize they are in business to make money.
The service encompassed oil and all fluids as well as transmission and differential fluids. I know next to nothing about cars, but I am wondering if what Jeep recommends ir if what the dealership recommends is legitimate for the mileasge as well as the money. Thanks in advance to anyone who answers.
David
Personally, I think you're being ripped off. 15k miles isn't really that much at all.. none of the fluids except oil should be changed in that amount of miles, not with today's cars and modern day lubricants. And it really doesn't have enough miles on it for any of the emissions stuff to go bad.
As long as there's nothing obviously wrong with the liberty, if it seems to run ok and everything, just do a few things before you go...
Make sure you have changed the oil recently and check the level of the transmission fluid, and the coolant overflow tank, and look underneath it and make sure there's nothing leaking anywhere, and just look at the rubber CV joint boots on the front axles make sure they're not torn or cracked. Make sure the air filter isn't real dirty, maybe go to the auto parts store and pick another one up (they're fairly cheap).
There, you just saved yourself from being ripped off for $500. If you can't do this yourself, take it somewhere other than that rip off Jeep dealer and have them look at it.. even the quick lube oil change places will check all your fluids for you most of the time, and they'll even replace the air filter for you (they like to sell you on that even if you don't need it but it never hurts to put a new one in).
The differential fluid does not need to be changed, unless you went offroad and forded a stream or something (water might have gotten inside the axle), and the transmission fluid doean't need to be changed unless you did a lot of towing or something in that 15,000 miles.
If you just drive it to work or around town you don't need to do that stuff for a while yet.
Eric
thanks for your help! after some research, i have found that jeep dealers have different levels of service. i would have thought there was a Jeep standard but the three dealerships, all within 10 miles or so charge different amounts for the service i mentioned. one is $475.00, the other is $385.00, and the third is $395.00. the one that charges $385.00 says that we don't need any of the things i mentioned until 30,000 miles.
i have to tell you i was really surprised with all the different info. we love the liberty, but never realized what gas guzzlers they are. additionally, i think we were poor consumers in that we never looked into maintenance costs either...anyhow we love the car. my friend actually mentioned that there were a lot of costs with owning a jeep product. now he owns an audi tt, which i don't really like, but they cover all costs for maintence for 4 ears, including wiper blades as well as bulbs and oil. nice!
next week we will drive from ny to maine and back the following week. i figure with an oil change and new air filter we are good to go. off roading to us means driving up and down the driveway.
thanks again and have a great summer.
david kane
I went to nhtsa & only found one recall notice on control arm/lower ball joints.
Thanks-
Jeep's Recall Webpage for Owners
can anyone tell me what the latest MPG is on their jeep also how is the power going up steep hills??
:shades:
tidester, host
Liberty Renegade 4x4 = $22,144
Trailer Tow Group = $329
4-Speed Auto = $743
Selec-Trac = $356
Trac-Lok = $257
SIRIUS Radio = $176
Loyalty Mailing = $25
5 gallons gas = $8
Customer Preferred Package 28Y = $392
Detroit Outstate DAA = $205
Detroit Outer PPA/EB-PF = $210
Destination = $660
Total Invoice = $25,505
Employee Price Before Rebates = $24,355
Price After Rebates and Military Discount = $21,855
Total Delivered Priced (incl. 6% MI Sales Tax on $24,355 and $23 title transfer)
= $25,839.30
Total Delivered Price After Rebates and Military Discount = $23,339.30
Very Helpful