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Five Jeep recalls from NHTSA this month.
13V-175: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Jeep Grand Cherokees manufactured February 11, 2004, through March 9, 2010; and 2006-2010 Jeep Commanders manufactured January 31, 2005, through March 10, 2010. A transfer case electrical failure may result in an unintentional shifting of the transfer case into the neutral position. If the vehicle shifts into neutral, it may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the final drive controller which governs the transfer case, with new software, free of charge. The recall was expected to begin in June 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at (800) 247-9753. Chrysler’s recall campaign number is N23.

13V-176: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Jeep Wrangler right-hand-steering vehicles manufactured February 1, 2007, through October 10, 2011. The affected vehicles have airbag clockspring assemblies that could experience broken airbag circuits. In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, a broken electrical circuit in the airbag clockspring wiring assembly can lead to non-deployment of the driver-side frontal airbag and will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring and add a steering wheel dust shield, free of charge. The recall was expected to begin during June 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at (800) 247-9753. This recall supersedes NHTSA recall 11V-528. Chrysler’s recall campaign number is M31.

13V-233: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Jeep Compass and Patriot vehicles manufactured May 6, 2008, through July 20, 2012. The affected vehicles have a software error which may result in a delayed deployment or non-deployment of the seatbelt pre-tensioners and/or side airbags. In the event of a rollover necessitating airbag deployment, the software error can lead to a delayed deployment or nondeployment of the side curtain airbag and/or seatbelt pre-tensioners. As a result, vehicle occupants have an increased risk of injury in a crash. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will correct the software free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in July 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at (800) 247-9753. Chrysler’s recall number is N01.

13V-234: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Jeep Wrangler vehicles equipped with a 3.6L engine and an automatic transmission and manufactured January 23, 2011, through February 23, 2013. The power steering line may contact and wear a hole in the transmission oil cooler line resulting in a loss of transmission fluid. A loss of transmission fluid may result in a loss of transmission function which may increase the risk of a crash. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering return tube assembly free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during July 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at (800) 247- 9753. Chrysler’s recall campaign number is N28.

13V-252: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 1993-1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2002- 2007 Jeep Liberty vehicles. The fuel tanks in these vehicles are at risk of failure and leakage in certain rear impacts. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire. Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear structure. On vehicles in the recall that are not equipped with a tow hitch, Chrysler will install a Chrysler-designed tow hitch free of charge, provided the condition of the vehicle can support proper installation. On vehicles in the recall that are equipped with an aftermarket tow hitch, Chrysler will assess whether the hitch and surrounding areas show evidence of sharp edges or other puncture risks. If so, Chrysler will replace the tow hitch with a Chrysler-designed tow hitch free of charge, provided the condition of the vehicle can support proper installation. On vehicles already equipped with a Chrysler-designed tow hitch, Chrysler will inspect the area around the tow hitch installation, and if any installation issues are identified, they will be repaired free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in July 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at (800) 247-9753. Chrysler’s recall campaign numbers are N45 (for the Grand Cherokee vehicles) and N46 (for the Liberty vehicles).

JK Modular Snorkel System
I was wondering if the XDH modular snorkel system fits onto a right-hand drive Jeep?
Matt

Matt, I used the above photo to show that a snorkel system isn’t usually needed for most water crossings. It works best with a diesel since no electrical ignition protection is required. Also, your entire driveline—engine, transmission, transfer case, both differentials, and all axle seals—must be sealed and vented properly if you’re going to be driving in water deep enough to require a snorkel. That being said, I see no reason why a snorkel wouldn’t fit on a right-hand steer Jeep, since Australia is where the modern snorkel systems were developed.

Two-Piece Doors for JK
I would really like to know how to fix soft doors so they don’t leak. I bought the doors and they suck at keeping water out. I had to remove all the carpet from the Jeep due to it being full of water after a rainstorm.
Monica

Well, Monica, you didn’t give me a lot of information with which I can work. You didn’t mention whether you’re using the soft doors with a hardtop or a soft top, but I’m assuming you have a soft top—a hardtop would really look weird with soft doors. I’ve been using soft doors on Jeeps for more than 40 years now and have little problems with them except at high speed (above 60 MPH they tend to flutter). I was even using them on my JK Unlimited last year on a trip over the Rubicon when I hit some severe thunderstorms on the way home. I experienced a little leakage and seepage but nothing like you describe. There are several ways to attempt to seal the doors, however, starting with bending the framework so the doors fit their openings better. You can use Velcro to add thick gaskets to the door openings. Glue one side of the Velcro to the metal of the door frames and the other side to the gasket material. That way you can remove the gaskets when you return to using the hard doors during winter (the Velcro won’t interfere with the hard doors opening and closing and sealing).

Willys ID
I have a Willys Jeep. I am not sure of its year of production or its model, but I found these numbers, Eng. No. 807895, serial 8405-26572NR, Jeep MA 502. Is there any way of finding year of manufacture and model?
Arturo Cuturi

Again, not a lot of information, Arturo. If you’d submitted a photo I can tell you in a minute what model you have, which would aid in pinning down the year. However, the numbers you’ve sent do not compute into a model year, so I’m giving you a link that might help you find your model year if you have the vehicle right there to consult - http://www.jeepfan.com/.

Blazerkee
I put a ‘95 Jeep Cherokee tub on a Blazer frame with a built SBC, and I’m trying to figure out if I can hook up the Jeep gauges to the SBC. Or is it a waste of time trying?
Benjamin R Burger

Use the Jeep sending units from the ‘95 Cherokee. Use whatever adapters you need to attach them to the SBC.

TJ Engine Swap
I have a 2006 6-speed manual Wrangler TJ. I crashed into a barrier at an angle pretty hard and bent my bumper. The Jeep turned on after that and ran but it was cracked where the left motor mount screws into the engine. My stick shift was also out of place, along with the transmission, so I got a 2004 Wrangler TJ engine. Both are 4.0L 6-cylinder engines but the 2004 engine came from an automatic Jeep. The guy who sold me the engine told me it would fit. So we did the switch and the transmission and stick went back into place. We switched the distributor from the 2006 engine and put it on the 2004 engine because the 2004 distributor connection did not fit. We took it to a mechanic to set the distributor right. When he set it and turned on the engine, it ran for a bit and just shut off. Should I have switched the distributor or is it just the 2004 engine not being a 2006?
Hugo Sandoval

Hugo, you should have kept the ’04 distributor and made it fit. I could have used more information about how the engine acted when it quit and less about the conversion. However, the first thing to check is the fuel pressure. You may also have to reset the accident fuel safety shutoff switch. Or you may have to find the ’04 computer. Did you have the mechanic check for error codes? Does the ’06 Jeep have an OEM security system that may have been triggered? If so, check it to make sure it’s okay.

Relay Problems
I removed my starter relay and put a new one in. Now my Jeep won’t start. The battery and starter are good. I also changed the ignition tumbler auscultator.
Robert

Too bad you didn’t include the year and model of the Jeep, Robert. It may have made answering your questions easier. First, did it start before you replaced the relay? If so, put the old one back in. If not, check for power at the starter. It should have battery power on big terminal.

Funky Carb
I would like to know if any of you are having issues with the stock carb off an ‘89 Jeep Wrangler 4.2L Laredo automatic? Is there any way of fixing this or any other suggestions? And does anyone know how to remove the speakers out of the dash without removing everything?
Jason Jones

Jason, you didn’t mention what kind of “issues” you are experiencing with your carburetor, but as I recall before switching my ’84 CJ7’s carb to a Howell EFI unit, I had all kinds of problems with it. We had one man in our club who was a master with tuning the OEM carb, but any change in altitude would throw it out of kilter again. You didn’t mention where you live or how high it is, but I highly recommend any of the several electronic fuel injection systems now available to replace the OEM carburetor. You’ll have more power, less altitude sickness, and much better reliability with EFI. And removing the speakers is tough, and you’ll have to remove several items to get to them.

As usual, each month, I’m shouting out a huge THANK YOU to Paul Schupp at Rock Lizard 4x4 in Kingman, Arizona, for his invaluable assistance in answering many of the Jeep Creep questions.

Previous Jeep Creep Columns
June 2013

May 2013

April 2013