Already heard it from two mechanics local to me who've said the same thing: "the weakness of these Jeeps in the valve train" and, "I get these all the time."
Yeah. And I use internet research and experience a lot too. But people also get into "ive seen it 100 times" and don't properly diagnose. If a subaru comes in amd the heater is blowing cold or antifreeze is low they start pulling a head for a head gasket. And yeah there is a 90% chance thats it. But still have to look at clues and diagnose. A Dealership should be able to diagnose it pretty easily regardless. They have specialized tools just for that make that those of us with shops don't have. The fact that Jeep has been owned and swapped by so many companies and engines and such likely doesn't help getting one properly fixed. Which factory trained tech do you need for your model... Daimler Benz, Fiat Chrysler, Stellantis.... I think that's a lot of the "bad Mopar service department" problem.
If a late 90s early 00s ford truck has electrical issues people automatically assume GEM module (similar to TIPM) because they did go bad. Especially with a truck with clearance lights. They leaked water down onto the GEM. I saw one guy change three because of a couple issues he had. Window not working light flickering and heater blower dead. I told him it wasn't his GEM. Blower motor is independent of the GEM. He wouldn't listen. Eventually I changed his window switch, interior light bulb and the resistor on his blower motor. After several hundred dollars in gem modules (and a lot of standing on his head to change it lol) he was fixed for 50 bucks
Another one this week was a tri-axle I had that the owner had watched a few youtube video and diagnosed his turn switch. I changed it. No fix. Then his module...again no fix. 500 dollars spent because of internet "its usually this" videos. They are only a starting point. And very helpful at that.
Common issues are a good starting point but people make the mistakes of throwing the parts that the internet said to throw.
Just this week in my shop I had a 100k mile jeep wrangler that had a P0128 code. Internet said temp sensor and thermostat. Owner bought both. No diagnosis at all. Temp sensor was fine.
Valve train issues (the mechanical part) do not intermittently cause issues. If you can clear the code and it is fine for one drive, you aren't actually fixing anything mechanical yet its ok. Id look toward what you are changing wuth clearing the code which is the computer/learned values/ electrical portion.
When you see a list of parts and "still not fixed" then people aren't diagnosing. They are just doing what someone else did.
And I have commercial accounts at the box parts stores. I'm telling you that every part you pulled and changed with those parts that was still good..... you put on a very inferior part.
As far as emissions that was my point. On many states there is no inspection. In some there is no emissions, only safety. My state is actually split. Half has emissions half has only safety.
Even more stupid than that is a vehicle 30 years old or older is exempt....so your 2021 Ferrari has to come to us to check your headlights and such... but your 1980s chevette or cressida is deemed "safe" by the state. Lol
Which I just did.
www.wranglerforum.com
