Considering a Jeep Liberty

[Dieselnut59]

Hello yall. A friend of mine and I are each considering a Jeep Liberty as a "commuter vehicle". I am tired of having to buy 6 tires at a time and there is no sense in 18-20 mpg when I could be getting 25-35. I will be getting this simply as a daily driver, while keeping the '96 and '03 for work and towing. A car is out of the question and after test driving and checking out a Liberty, I really like it. The possible purchase would not happen till after the first of the year. I am just curious. Have any of yall heard if there is going to be a manual transmission offered? I want fuel economy, as well as fun. I have never owned an automatic transmission vehicle. I honestly don't want one, but would rather have a diesel/auto than gasser/manual. Perfect combination would be diesel/manual. Will they soon offer a manual trans behind the diesel in the Liberty? It just makes sense if they are doing this thing for fuel economy purpose... .

 

[jwgary]

Both my wife and my mom have liberties and they are both very happy with them. I think they are fairly nice vehicles although a little small for long trips. Of course both of these are gassers and I have not driven one of the diesels yet. I would think that the driveability would be better in the diesel since it has more torque to tackle hills and stuff like that without needing to downshift. My wife's gasser gets about 20 mpg (about the same I get in my CTD) so we always take her car places when we go together since it costs much less (~$. 035/mi. ) to drive her car with prices these days. I think it would be cool to have one of the diesel liberties and that's what I am leaning toward when it's time to get my wife a new one. We almost decided to just bite it and trade up, but it didn't make sense at the time.

 

[SRadke]

I'm interested in reading a little Liberty bombing info. What can you make these things do?



-Scott

 

[DKarvwnaris]

I'm interested in reading a little Liberty bombing info. What can you make these things do?



-Scott

Bomb a liberty and it will blow up. The trannies are designed to protect both the engine and itself from overzealous gear heads. The engine is an italian produced Mercedes mill. Not something I would jump at buying, let alone hot rodding. Give them a few years to see the reliability reports. They have been running the cherokee in europe with a diesel, but its a different model engine than the US liberty import version.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Hello yall. A friend of mine and I are each considering a Jeep Liberty as a "commuter vehicle". I am tired of having to buy 6 tires at a time and there is no sense in 18-20 mpg when I could be getting 25-35. I will be getting this simply as a daily driver, while keeping the '96 and '03 for work and towing. A car is out of the question and after test driving and checking out a Liberty, I really like it. The possible purchase would not happen till after the first of the year. I am just curious. Have any of yall heard if there is going to be a manual transmission offered? I want fuel economy, as well as fun. I have never owned an automatic transmission vehicle. I honestly don't want one, but would rather have a diesel/auto than gasser/manual. Perfect combination would be diesel/manual. Will they soon offer a manual trans behind the diesel in the Liberty? It just makes sense if they are doing this thing for fuel economy purpose... .

I test drove a liberty diesel for weekend. I put 1000 miles on it. It was too small for me (6'3" tall) The transmission slipped more than I expected, and had good power, but lagged when prompted to downshift/ pass). We're waiting for Diaper Chrysler to put the engine in the Wrangler unlimited, or at least offer a manual for the liberty before we'll consider looking at one again.



For the money of a liberty diesel, you can just about pick up a dodge/freightliner/mercedes sprinter van with the 5 cylinder mercedes diesel. UPS has good luck with them as their next generation brown race trucks. They will not last on gravel or rough terrain, trannies fail and rear ends are weak for that, but then most of us don't drive like delivery drivers on meth. If you plan to run up and down asphalt though, you will be pleasantly surprised with their mileage, almost as high as the liberty unloaded. There is also a cab and chassis model available, neat little rig in the 2500 version. Looks like a cab over pickup from long ago. (kind of reminds me of the jeep cab forward with refined and aerodynamic styling).



We're looking at a sprinter for replacing my wifes ranger pickup. I'm hoping for a crew cab chassis cab model as I have seen in Muniche. We want the low roof, short wheel base 2500 model.

 

[KLockliear]

Bomb a liberty and it will blow up.

Hmmm, just over 3800 miles on ours right now, making 40% more power than stock to the wheels.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

Hmmm, just over 3800 miles on ours right now, making 40% more power than stock to the wheels.

I should clarify that the transmission is the the weak link from the articles I have read, and spoke with friends of ours in Muniche who are familier with the powertrain.

 

[KLockliear]

I should clarify that the transmission is the the weak link from the articles I have read, and spoke with friends of ours in Muniche who are familier with the powertrain.

So you have no first hand knowledge? How can you make a statement that it will blow up then? How many have you blown up to qualify that statement?

The engine is an italian produced Mercedes mill. Not something I would jump at buying, let alone hot rodding.

I agree that the trans is the weak link, but the trans doesn't cause the motor to blow up either.



Not trying to jump down your neck here, but I think this is one of the big problems with this (and many other) message boards. People that HAVEN'T tested or done something, typing out their OPINION of what MIGHT happen as if it were fact. It's all disinformation. If you don't know, don't speculate and type it in a manner where it is perceived as fact. No one is going to fault you for not knowing.



I hope that doesn't come off as a rant - because it isn't. Just friendly criticism.

 

[SRadke]

What have you done to yours Kieth? Any major (or minor) issues? We can start another thread to prevent another TDR hi-jack.

 

[DKarvwnaris]

So you have no first hand knowledge? How can you make a statement that it will blow up then? How many have you blown up to qualify that statement?







A agree that the trans is the weak link, but the trans doesn't cause the motor to blow up either.



Not trying to jump down your neck here, but I think this is one of the big problems with this (and many other) message boards. People that HAVEN'T tested or done something, typing out their OPINION of what MIGHT happen as if it were fact. It's all disinformation. If you don't know, don't speculate and type it in a manner where it is perceived as fact. No one is going to fault you for not knowing.



I hope that doesn't come off as a rant - because it isn't. Just friendly criticism.

I could offer you owner written articles in German text, but I doubt it will do any good for you. German diesel freaks are just as prevalent as here, more from what I have seen. The transmissions in the liberties is a "revision" model of an existing transmission in Europe, it has not done well when subjected to towing, excessive power upgrades, or typical "bombing". This is not opinion, this is a track record. Ther reference was to a liberty's survivability, not just the engine. Doesn't matter what part of the drivetrain is weak to me, when its dead, its dead. Engine, transmission, axle, all are substantial items to repair without dealer intervention through warrantee. (especially since the drivetrain is so new in the US market, few chances of getting a recon unit except through the dealer).

We travel to Muniche yearly to visit family, We rent vehicles each trip. We were not impressed with the Liberties European sister platform cherokee. The engine and transmission are one in the same, with small revisions to meet EPA and red tape bureacracy hurdles.

With this in mind, don't ASSUME all you read here is opinion either, There are many who give unresearched info and advice out all the time, no doubt. ( owner reports with less than 4,000 miles is one of my favorites :-laf )

Relax, enjoy your rig, and report back when you have a more positions in the odometer filled than 4. I hope you have better news for us than what I heard elsewhere. I want a factory diesel Jeep, but not unless there is a manual available, I despise the lag and wasteful shifting of automatics. (look at the ratings for a VW TDI between auto and manual) The VW LUPO 3 litre TDI had to be equipped with an electronically controlled manual transmission to get the 3 litre per 100 kilometer rating it was produced for. The Automatics are just not efficient enough for me when looking at MPG considerations.

 

[KLockliear]

SR, we put injectors in it and an Edge prototype rail pressure box. Like an EZ would be. I'm driving it as my daily driver while my Dodge is out of commission. I have put 3000 miles on it since the middle of September. It makes 200rwhp now, vs. 143rwhp stock. Nothing else has been done. It will shudder the TCC in lockup at 1800rpm in 4th with the power turned all the way up.



I have towed a 2500# boat with it for about 600 of those 3000 miles. Did OK, but I also unhooked the EZ and ran it on injectors only, at about 170rwhp. I posted graphs in another thread.



DK, on this website, I'm sure you will find plenty of people that do not equate "blows up" to mean the trans when talking about a vehicle in general. The Dodge trannies are some of the worst out there in stock form, and no one knows better than these guys that mod the heck out of the trucks to pull/tow/race/daily drive, etc. Anything can be fixed if someone wants to. I'm sure DTT could do the trans to not break, as they have to in the Rams.



I realize, as you pointed out, that I don't have many miles on the Liberty, but I certainly have more miles with MUCH MORE power than anyone else in this thread. When speaking directly about mods/power increases, I would imagine no one has done what is done to the Liberty I am driving, so not many can comment other than me. If I am wrong, so be it. Please post dyno graphs and list mods of what has been done and please get that trucks' driver in here to talk about it with us.

 

[SRadke]

Thanks for the info kieth!

 

[WMonroe]

Isn't the transmission behind the diesel the 5-45rfe? Which is the same transmission that behind the hemi 1/2 and 3/4 ton rams.

Will

 

[Neibe]

with the cost of diesel fuel buying a diesel anything over a gas right now just doesn't make any sense.

 

[Dieselnut59]

I will most likely wait and see if a manual transmission is offered. I have never driven and automatic transmission vehicle I like, no matter how good or bad the transmission is. I want the thing for fuel economy, but also want power and torque, all of which are best utilized with a manual transmission. As for the engine, I think it is exactly what I want. I also like the Liberty vehicle and would jump right on ordering one if a manual transmission were available. I will not be buying until sometime next year and maybe more choices will be available by then. A Wrangler with the CRD engine and manual transmission would be my first chioce but I would buy a Liberty/CRD/Manual transmission in a heartbeat!

I am sticking with diesel. Fuel prices will come back down because diesel moves this country (ships, trains, transfer trucks, farm and industrial machinery) and the market will moderate back out soon. I like diesel power for reliability, fuel economy (more distance or work done on the same amount of fuel) and because it is just my preference personally.

I hope D/C fulfills our requests by mating the CRD engine with a manual transmission!

 

[Bob4x4]

Bomb a liberty and it will blow up. The trannies are designed to protect both the engine and itself from overzealous gear heads. The engine is an italian produced Mercedes mill. Not something I would jump at buying, let alone hot rodding. Give them a few years to see the reliability reports. They have been running the cherokee in europe with a diesel, but its a different model engine than the US liberty import version.

The engine is also not an Itallion produced Mercedes The engine company is owned by Detroit diesel... ... ..... owned by D/C



Bob

 

[DieselLady]

SR, we put injectors in it and an Edge prototype rail pressure box. Like an EZ would be. I'm driving it as my daily driver while my Dodge is out of commission. I have put 3000 miles on it since the middle of September. It makes 200rwhp now, vs. 143rwhp stock. Nothing else has been done. It will shudder the TCC in lockup at 1800rpm in 4th with the power turned all the way up.



I have towed a 2500# boat with it for about 600 of those 3000 miles. Did OK, but I also unhooked the EZ and ran it on injectors only, at about 170rwhp. I posted graphs in another thread.



DK, on this website, I'm sure you will find plenty of people that do not equate "blows up" to mean the trans when talking about a vehicle in general. The Dodge trannies are some of the worst out there in stock form, and no one knows better than these guys that mod the heck out of the trucks to pull/tow/race/daily drive, etc. Anything can be fixed if someone wants to. I'm sure DTT could do the trans to not break, as they have to in the Rams.



I realize, as you pointed out, that I don't have many miles on the Liberty, but I certainly have more miles with MUCH MORE power than anyone else in this thread. When speaking directly about mods/power increases, I would imagine no one has done what is done to the Liberty I am driving, so not many can comment other than me. If I am wrong, so be it. Please post dyno graphs and list mods of what has been done and please get that trucks' driver in here to talk about it with us.

I have a Diesel Liberty and have about 3500 miles on it and seriously want to do mods to it. I don't like the turbo lag compared to my Dodge and feel that with some mods and opening up the exhaust and trashing the EGR I could make some great improvements. Don't get me wrong, I really like it and get 25. 5 mpg doing 70+ on the highway. I just want to unleash the real potential that I know it has.

Keith, have you done any exhaust or EGR mods and if so what??? How are your EGTs with the Edge prototype and how much of an increase in injector size did you go. Sounds like something I would like to do. I plan to do an ATS torque converter and valve body eventually too. Right now I drive it mostly in Calif. Shhhhhh, don't tell any body. I have a part time residence in AZ and can't bring it here until it has at least 7500 miles on it. So I can't rip off the cat or EGR just yet. But I noticed it warms up seriously fast so I know it has to be cooking in there. Can't wait to "Bomb" it.

Here are the facts for those who wish. 2. 8L VM Motori, (division of Detroit) 165 HP stock with 295 ft lbs torque at 1800 rpm. Comes with a Cat and EGR :{ Actually scoots pretty good once the turbo spools up. Pulls the Sea Doos quite well although it got pretty hot coming up the Grapevine on I-5 on a 100 degree day with the Skis on the back. All in all I have to say if it comes even close to the performance and durability of my Cummins I will be satisfied. Betty

 

[monkeyman]

My wife has the Liberty Diesel and loves it. The thing is quick! She drives fast and it has low miles (under 5000) so she gets about 25 mpg. However I don't understand why they put synthetic oil in from the factory I don't know. Unless they are broken in on a stand.

Rick