Questions about the Liberty CRD

[tmacc]

One of our clients has a Liberty CRD that he leases. He's turning it back in next summer ('08) because of his concern about the TC. He's pretty satisfied w/ the fuel milage and power, but the TC worries him. I'm think about approaching him to try and purchase it, but I'd like some feed back from folks on TDR about their experience w/ the CRD. W/ 209K miles on my '01, it would be nice to have a fuel effecient vehicle to do all of the running around that I do (we're contractors) when I don't need the truck. This would also extend the useful life of the CTD.

If the TC is the only issue, I'm sure someone has an after market TC that would do the trick, but I don't have the time to deal w/ a headache vehicle. One of our neighbors bought his wife a gas Liberty about 6 months ago and 2 months after they bought it, it spent over a month in the dealer's shop w/ a transmission problem. I don't know the details. So I'm a little leary of these Libertys. We live in the mtns of northen UT, so 4WD is pretty much a requirement around here. Otherwise a Jetta etc. would do the trick.

Thanks in advance

Tom

 

[DAN V]

no worries

Don't be to concerned about the TC on the Liberty CRD. Just have it done at the dealer if it is still under warranty. We had ours done under warranty about a year ago and has ran fine since then. Gets 23 to 25 mpg weekly.

 

[Tinman]

I don't think the TC is too big of an issue. It has it's problems, but I don't think the number of failures are that high. There was a "costumer satifaction recall" of the TC awhile back, but it made the stall speed higher. Our Libby is doing just fine and we didn't do the recall. Suncoast is, thus far, the only aftermarket vendor with a CRD specfic fix. A good TC and a shift kit. If you are worried, do the recall TC. I my opinion, no US auto manufactor has ever made a good diesel auto trans, none. Not even the Allison. So this is par for the course. Fortuantely, you don't have to fork over $5 or $6K to DTT, ATS, etc. to fix the little libby. I'm just gonna wait until ours pukes and then Suncoast it.



Try this for a good discussion forum - L. O. S. T KJs Offical Web Site - For Jeep Liberty KJ Owners. It's the best CRD forum I've found. There is lots of discussion about the TC. There is some good info here also. Search titles for CRD.



Here's a list of other issue to look for:



CCV is bad design. I will let oily goo into the intercooler. If you want this liberty then check the inside of the intercooler intake hose for junk. Fix is to make it an open vent. Very easy. This is called the Elephant hose mod. (EHM)



EGR gums up everything beyond the intercooler, but don't they all. Easy fix, unplug the MAF sensor. CEL comes on but there is a fix out now for this. It's a plug and play box but you have to build it yourself. A LOST member sells a kit of parts ready to assemble. I have one but gonna wait to spice it into the wiring until the warrenty is up. For now, the CEL is on. Runs a lot better with the EGR off. This is called the ORM (off road mod)



Fuel system prone to suck air. Filteration is inadequate. Again, once warrenty is up, I'll put on a Standadyne FM100/ lift pump and be done with it.



Ball joints recalled on all LIberty's



I think that's about it. We've had no problems in 25K miles and love ours.

 

[Dieselnut59]

I love mine! It pulls my 16' trailer (8000#gvw, dual axle, electric brakes) fine, although I have never had over about 2000# on it. I have done the mods Tinman mentioned. I get 25-27 mpg out of mine and the thing I LOVE is I can get 27mpg on the interstate going 80-90mph! It does not shift into 5th gear until around 55-60 mph, so I leave overdrive off running around town. I do wish they offered the diesel with a 6 speed, but not because the 5 speed auto is a bad unit (my TC recall was done when I got mine, stickers are under the hood), but I just prefer to shift my own gears. The engine is plenty powerful, but "crippled" by the automatic. A manual trans would make the Liberty CRD a PERFECT run-about and fun vehicle. I would not trade my diesel Liberty for a gasser with a manual transmission though! I LOVE mine! It is the '05 and now has 43,000ish miles on it.

 

[Tinman]

Man, your not kidding. A six speed manual in this thing would be the cat's meow.

 

[tmacc]

Hey guys,

Thanks for your replies. I talked to the owner and he said he's not sure whether his going to turn it in or buy it himself. If he does decide to turn it in, he said he'd be willing to sell it to me. We've got plenty of time. He's said he is interested in the Grand Cherokee w/ the MB diesel in it. He's not too technical, so if he's concerned about the TC as he mentioned, maybe that works in my favour.

He's taken really good care it and it got low milage. Garage kept, etc. His wife hates driving it. She drives a Grand Cherokee and doesn't like the turbo lag. That could be a another point in my favour. We'll see.

 

[Dieselnut59]

Hey guys,

Thanks for your replies. I talked to the owner and he said he's not sure whether his going to turn it in or buy it himself. If he does decide to turn it in, he said he'd be willing to sell it to me. We've got plenty of time. He's said he is interested in the Grand Cherokee w/ the MB diesel in it. He's not too technical, so if he's concerned about the TC as he mentioned, maybe that works in my favour.

He's taken really good care it and it got low milage. Garage kept, etc. His wife hates driving it. She drives a Grand Cherokee and doesn't like the turbo lag. That could be a another point in my favour. We'll see.

Turbo lag? Mine does not have it! It will smoke the tires from a standing start if I am not careful! It seemed to have more "punch" when I did the "off road mods" to it, as mentioned above. I would say the Grand Cherokee he is considering would not have the turbo lag because it is a high revving V-6 and should feel "peppier". I would love to try one, but I doubt they are available with a manual transmission either...

I hear BMW is about to release TWO inline 6 diesel engines in the USA for their 3 and 5 series cars and SUVs. That will be cool!!

 

[tmacc]

I hear BMW is about to release TWO inline 6 diesel engines in the USA for their 3 and 5 series cars and SUVs. That will be cool!!

My EX's dad had a Lincoln w/ a BMW diesel inline six back in the late 80s early 90s. He probably drove 50-60K a year and literally drove the car around it into the ground. I forget what kind of milage it got, but it was darn good.

I just saw this morning that MB is coming out w/ diesels in all of their cars and SUVs. They even have a diesel hybrid that suppose get 60MPG.



Turbo lag? I haven't driven one, so I couldn't tell you what she's talking about. He talks about cruising eastbound up Parleys Canyon on I-80 doing 70-75 at 2000 rpm and getting 26-29 mpg.

 

[Nschroeder]

We have an 05 libby and absoutly love it. the only problemb we have had is the air leak in the fuel filter head. still fighting with the dealer on that one. Other than that not one problemb in 33000 miles.

Nick