Jeep Liberty Diesel

11441 messages,  Last post on Mar 24, 2013 at 6:40 AM

You are in the Jeep Liberty and Jeep Liberty Diesel Forum.

What is this discussion about? Jeep Liberty, Biodiesel, Diesel, SUV

#11376 of 11441 so winter2 never did post his letter, pics or results by gimmestdtranny

Jan 26, 2013 (11:14 am)

So.. after many many pages ( a few hundred posts) I see that winter2 never did end up posting his letter to Sergio, pics or end results of what finally happened with is troublesome Liberty in FL.
 
I would have loved to see the (probably corporate) reply.
 
I think it is appalling that Chrysler is allowed to import and use an engine that... after they are done making the engine emission friendly, basically screws the engine up to the point it doesn't have a chance in hell of any normal expectation of longevity, especially when you factor in the premium you pay for a diesel upgrade in the first place. To add insult to injury, they sell you this piece of crap, supposedly warranty it, yet universally across the board don't supply to us mechanics that know a single thing about it! Only in America do we spend huge bucks for junk, then are forced to research and solve at out own expense, the fixes. Or bandaids..depending on your perspective or mechanical abilities.
 
I feel for all on this thread, but moreso for the ones who lack the ability/time/garage/tools etc to create fixes for what was a poor and inferior design in the first place. But I also appreciated reading of the regular's (uncle bob, caribou1,elder1 etc) experiences and fixes and helpful hints.
 
I would have liked to learn more about the Cummins BT ? was it? swap in order to transform the Liberty in a good ride for many miles instead of a troublesome part-life. I assume that the swap must include a different transmission..maybe there are manual and auto options out there. I'm going to Google it right now I think..
 
Does anyone know if the VM engine had a cast iron or aluminum block? If the Cummins is cast iron and probably is without a doubt, and if the VM was aluminum, then the weight difference might make the Liberty a real handful in the handling department...especially in the wet and winter..
I think would be a more drastic swap than putting a VW TDI in a Samurai. The VW swap in a long wheel base Samurai was the way to go (cuz the LWB made the heavier front end less inclined to swap ends in the wet). Air suspension was needed for the total package success, which is not surprising.

#11377 of 11441 Re: Oil Capacity and other issues [caribou1] by gimmestdtranny

Jan 26, 2013 (11:21 am)

Replying to: caribou1 (May 04, 2012 3:17 pm)
"I remember the dealer telling me that the VM engine and transmission were not designed for driving long distances at 1,800 rpm with a locked converter. "
 
What could possibly be their explanation for this?
 
Also, I think one reason you seem to have had less overall trouble with yours, is that in the UK you guys simply don't have the nasty temp swings that we have in America..especially the way below zero feh ones and short trips to the corner store or work. Diesels do not do well in those circs..even well designed/emissioned ones, which of course we now know the VM in the Liberty was not.

#11378 of 11441 Motori diesel by warren9

Jan 26, 2013 (12:14 pm)

The engine itself is great, made in northern Italy. It's Chrysler idiot engineers that don't have a clue, they screwed it up. A company in Calif.. Green something a a control that does the Liberty justice.

#11379 of 11441 Re: Motori diesel [warren9] by unclebob9

Jan 26, 2013 (1:39 pm)

Replying to: warren9 (Jan 26, 2013 12:14 pm)
It's green diesel engineering, I believe it was $450 to re-program the computer. They have 2 (or 3) programs for it. One, the ECO tune is for Liberties that have the stock Torque Converters. Then later IF you want to create a real Beast, they have the HOT Tune (a $50 upgrade), for those who have rebuilt their transmission and gone with a Heavy Duty Torque converter.
  It seems that most stock transmissions in Diesels just cannot handle the power of engine upgrades. I am currently rebuilding the transmission in my 92 Dodge Ram 250 with a Cummins 5.9L, they seem to last about 150k to 180k from normal use before the transmissions start slipping, and if (as most have done) you have made engine up-grades, the stock transmission cannot handle the power. I bought my 92 Dodge new and intend to keep it for life, so I am putting close to $4k into the transmission to make it Bullet proof and able to pull 40 foot trailers with no porblems.
  Within a year I will most likely do the same to my Liberty CRD, since I plan to keep it for many years and will useit to tow my boat and quad trailer.
  On the CRD, I feel the most important up-grade is a Provent system ($200, or many have made their own for under $20). this removes most of the oily sludge that the smog control system forces back into your Turbo and causes expensive repairs.
The CRD is not a car for a person who just wants a turn key vehicle out the gate. But IF you are willing to do some research and make the recommended changes to bring it back to how it was designed to be in the first place it is a mini beast, and can easily go 300,000 miles. It is a German designed Itallian diesel that was butchered to cut production costs and meet USA smog requirements. There is nothing in it's weight class that can match it's towing abilities. In Europe it is rated at 7,000#'s towing capacity.
It gets better MPG than any similiar vehicle. It turns so well it can almost run into it's own rear end! It is rare and will hold it's value better than gasoline Liberties. Those that are not loved will be disappearing and those that remain will increase in value due to supply and demand.

#11380 of 11441 Re: so winter2 never did post his letter, pics or results [gimmestdtranny] by steve_ HOST

Jan 26, 2013 (3:35 pm)

Replying to: gimmestdtranny (Jan 26, 2013 11:14 am)
Winter2 is occasionally posting over in the Outback discussions. Maybe he'll see this thread.
 
Or maybe part of a settlement with Chrysler was not to say anything.

#11381 of 11441 Re: so winter2 never did post his letter, pics or results [gimmestdtranny] by tired_old_dave

Jan 26, 2013 (3:35 pm)

Replying to: gimmestdtranny (Jan 26, 2013 11:14 am)
Me too. Curious about winter2 and wonder if farout is still checking in. My guess based on silence, even though he was fighting mad and burned by dealership(s), that he may finally have taken the hit. Caribou keeps chiming in with how great his 2.5 Euro spec diesel is but his dealership service payments, if memory serves me well, were substantial. True cost of ownership is horrific. Desmog the engine out of federal law, buy a suncoast torque converter, buy the Green tuner, buy good ball joints, hope the motor does go south for the heck of it like Darby and Winter. The list is endless. Penske GM Daimler/Chrysler who else owned or owns VM and who cares. For some the diesel is dead but some writers keep insisting the diesel hybrid is the next solution for the auto world. Some say the last gasp like the horse and buggy in 1890.
 
One of my mags mentioned that the 3.0 VM Panther engine better be a success for the jeep grand cherokee or kiss Fiat Jeep diesels good bye.

#11382 of 11441 Re: so winter2 never did post his letter, pics or results [steve_] by tired_old_dave

Jan 26, 2013 (3:54 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jan 26, 2013 3:35 pm)
Thanks. Knew about the Mercury but the Subaru is news to me. Guess we know now. Guessing he got the H6 and turbo. Need to go find winter2.
 
Edit:
Mercury is gone and he had a Liberty. Now he has a Subaru Outback Premium 2.5. Good Luck winter2.

#11383 of 11441 Re: so winter2 never did post his letter, pics or results [steve_] by gimmestdtranny

Jan 27, 2013 (6:38 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jan 26, 2013 3:35 pm)
Good point, never thought of that. Except that if they did the right thing in the end I would think they would want him to tell the rest of the saga in some futile attempt for them to redeem themselves. Poor guy, no matter what they ended up doing, even if he got a new engine (one that they emissioned to last) he still has a pile of patience. Tons more than I could have mustered.

#11384 of 11441 Re: Oil Capacity and other issues [gimmestdtranny] by caribou1

Jan 27, 2013 (1:06 pm)

Replying to: gimmestdtranny (Jan 26, 2013 11:21 am)
Hi gimmestdtranny,
 
The (central) stator coupled to the 45RFE was incriminated on the higher Torque / HP engines.
My engine is a de-rated 2.8L producing only 150HP , but flawlessly during the past 10 years.
 
I live in the Alps (in France) where temperatures vary between -20°C and +35°C at 450mt altitude. When we ski we have -25°C at night; I only check my antifreeze (-37°C) and sufficient tire pressure.
 
My shortest drive with the Jeep is 20 miles, I prefer to use my vintage Corolla 2.0D for short trips and city driving.

#11385 of 11441 Re: so winter2 never did post his letter, pics or results [tired_old_dave] by caribou1

Jan 27, 2013 (1:28 pm)

Replying to: tired_old_dave (Jan 26, 2013 3:35 pm)
Hi tired old dave,
My engine came from the very first batch to equip the Jeep 2.8L CRD; it had been successfully tested on the Alfa Romeo Giulia.
 
My dealership had a wonderful head technician in 2003, but promotion moved him to Mercedes Benz vehicles. They've not seen me since the ball joint recall that wasn't needed for my truck because it already had the PTFE lining.
 
Radio silence since then ...
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