Episode 619 – Spring Swaps and More
This Week In Jeep
Stellantis To Halt Jeep Plant In Italy Again Due To Chip Shortage
Stellantis will again stop operations at its key Melfi plant in southern Italy next week, a union representative said, citing shortages of various parts, including semiconductors.
Marco Lomio, local head of the UILM metalworkers union, said chip shortage was the main problem. Fortunately, the plant has worked regularly all throughout May, but when chips are not shipped you can’t build cars. Stellantis confirmed the plant would stop operations between June 6-11 due to a chip shortage, a spokesman for the carmaker told Reuters. The new stoppage, which affects almost all of the plant’s more than 7,000 workers, adds to a holiday period already scheduled for most of Stellantis’ operations in the country starting on Thursday with Italy’s Republic Day. Stellantis currently builds the Fiat 500X small crossover, Jeep Renegade small SUV, and Jeep Compass compact SUV in Melfi.
Say Goodbye To Jeep’s Gas Engines
By the end of this year, 2022, Jeep will stop selling vehicles powered only by internal combustion engines. Yes, that means no matter the Jeep is made, it will no longer have JUST a gasoline engine in it. The good news is, that this nonsense is happening only in major European countries, according to Jeep’s CEO Christian Meunier. That means starting in 2023, Jeep will only have available hybrid models in those countries. The Jeep brand also will launch its first all-electric vehicle next year, which it has teased as a two-door crossover. “Oh boy. Can’t Wait.” :-/
Jeep plans to have a battery-electric model in each of its segments by 2025. As for the United States, when we will have to suffer the abolishment of conventional powertrains has yet to be determined. For now, at least, we know that it’s not happening here, at least not yet. Meunier said as much during a virtual news briefing on the new “Jurassic World” themed ad campaign. He does however think, we’re only a few years away. It’s just a matter of market timing, and the demand does not meet the need for it here in the U.S. And that’s because to over 75% of us, it’s like the old adage of having to tie a porkchop around the neck of the ugly kid to just make the dog play with him.
If we wanted electric vehicles so bad, the automakers wouldn’t have to drown them in incentives just to move units. Jeep only has plug-in hybrid options on the Wrangler and newly launched Grand Cherokee here in North America. And for most of us, that’s just fine. The $53,795 Wrangler 4xe, the U.S.’s most popular plug-in hybrid right now, represents about 25% of Wrangler’s North American sales mix. A combination of component shortages, including battery components, and supply chain issues are limiting the production of the Wrangler 4xe in Toledo, Ohio. The Grand Cherokee, whose 4xe model starts at $58,095, is built in Detroit. The automaker sold almost 46,000 Wranglers and more than 75,000 Grand Cherokees in the first three months of 2022 in the United States alone. Not bad Jeep. It will report second-quarter sales next month… and I bet you’re just dripping with anticipation to hear those numbers aren’t you!?
Tech Talk with Jeep Talk
TOPIC/QUESTION: Spring Swapping The Easy Way
Whether it’s to lift the Jeep or improve what you’ve already got, a spring swap usually happens in every Jeepers life.
Spring swaps are a pain in the butt. They take time, and specialty tools most of the time, and the process can be 
dangerous too. Today I’ve got a quick tip that will make the process safer and quicker. Jeep coil springs, like any automotive spring, are made from high tensile steel and have the potential to hold a significant amount of energy when compressed. In other words, they’re beefy, and they need to be respected. Especially when compressed. That said, the only way you can compress springs is with spring compressors. Spring compressors are a specialty tool that has a specific purpose and the name kinda gives it away. The reason these are necessary is that any time spring is already ON the Jeep, it is under load, and under some compression. After all, the springs are what hold the Jeep up. And anytime you want to swap a spring, the old ones (usually) have to be compressed to 
pull them out. And more times than not, new springs need to be compressed before they go in. There are other steps involved of course, and this usually entails disconnecting the sway bar, shock, and sometimes even some of the steering components too, to get the axle to drop as much as possible to allow the spring to come out just that much easier. Using spring compressors can be dangerous. If not placed correctly, and they slip off the spring while it’s compressed, the sudden release of that energy is enough to kill you. So what if I told you that I’ve got a trick that can reduce the amount you have to use a spring compressor by 50 percent? Here’s how it works.
Using a jack, you’ll lift the axle on the side where you’re swapping out the spring. It is so much easier to remove coil springs by using spring compressors while the jack and the vehicle weight have compressed the springs. Once the compressors are in place, you’ll lower the axle, and the spring will just fall right out. Reverse the process by using the tools to shrink the new springs, raise the axle back up, and remove the spring compressors. If you are mechanically inclined, know tools, …and your Jeep, you can swap out a spring in about 30 mins or less using this trick.
Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma
Off-Road Prep
http://www.jeepmomma.com/p/basic-tips-always-travel-in-groups-of-2.html
Since the summer weather is here and folks are getting out on the trails I thought I would share my Jeep Momma prep information I have collected over the years. So before you guys hit the trails make sure you have the proper gear and pre-departure checklists completed. There is a link to all of this from my blog in the show notes.
Pre-departure Maintenance Checklist
Check engine oil, transmission oil, brake fluid, radiator coolant, windshield wiper fluid, fan belts, hoses, air cleaner, seat belts, tire air pressure, and tire wear or damage, Tighten drive shaft u-bolts, tighten lug bolts, frame cracks, brake pads/shoes, loose bolts or nuts, Grease all fittings – u-joints, steering, driveshaft, Check gear oils: transfer case/differentials, Check Winch for proper operation, winch cable for kinks, frays/damage straighten, shocks
The Basic, Minimal Offroad Checklist
The minimal list is the basics that you should always carry in your vehicle when offroad. These items are good to have in the vehicle at all times.
First Aid Kit – on my blog is a list of first items. Another to think about is if you have a Jeep Dog you might want to get a specific Canine first aid kid. That tip is from a JTS listener. Thanks for that tip.
Basic Personal Essentials on those hot days bring triple the amount of water you normally would
Water – At least one Gallon per person, per day, if not more. Drier, hotter climates may require more. Remember: Alcohol doesn’t hydrate. In fact, alcoholic beverages dehydrate since it takes more water to metabolize alcohol than the beverage contains.
Food – Bring food for twice the amount of time you are planning on being gone. Should you be delayed and have to spend a night out on the trail, you won’t have to worry about going hungry. Good ideas for trail food: trail mix, beef jerky, fruits, dry/canned food, etc.
Extra Clothes – Nobody likes to sit in wet clothes for an extended period of time.
Personal items – This includes toilet paper, anti-microbial hand cleaner, Sunblock, Rain Jacket Spare Tire, Full Size, Fire Extinguisher, Jumper Cable, Fire Extinguisher/Mount, Road Safety reflectors/Flare, jack, and tire iron to change your tire
Recovery Gear – Tow strap, Recovery Strap **Make sure these items are rated for the proper load. Tree saver, D-ring or Soft Shackles, Come-along, Colby Valves, Leather/Work Gloves, shovel, Spare Key for the vehicle, what I do on the trail never takes my keys out of my vehicle, I may turn off my Jeep but put my keys on the dash. Shovel
There are so many more items that can be in an Off-road Recovery Kit, but this will give you a great start. Make sure you check all your items for warnings and load ratings. And keep your gear in good condition. Cleaning it after you use it on the trail. This will help with the safety off-road.
Communication devices – Cell Phone, CB Radio, Power inverter if necessary (e.g. Cell phone recharger, battery recharger for communication devices and camera) Trash bags – Keep your trails clean
Optional – Portable Compressor, Hi-lift jack, Chainsaw, and bar oil, 2 cycle engine oil, spare chain (can be handy in recovery situations, as well as for trail clearing on wooded trails)
My Top 10 Must-Have Tools for the Trails
#1 BFH – Hammer, #2 Adjustable Wrench, #3 Big Screwdriver or Pry Bar, #4 Socket Set and Ratchet, #5 Vice Grip Pliers, #6 Screwdriver, #7 Zip Ties, #8 Duct Tape, #9 Bottle Jack, #10 Flashlight
Complete Socket Set – Standard) & Metric w/ 3/8″& 1/2″ drives. Deep and standard sockets. Crescent, open-end combination box wrenches Standard & Metric, Allen Wrenches, Torx sockets (especially if you own a Jeep), Standard & Phillips screwdrivers, large, medium, small
Versatile Tools – Large Hammer (a.k.a. the “BFH”), Pliers, Vice Grips, Large channel-lock Pliers, Pipe wrenches – having 2 medium of these can be useful for tie-rods, Utility knife or razor blades, Crescent wrenches, BIG pry bar or length of strong metal pipe, inside diameter of pipe large enough to slip over a wrench or socket drive for extra leverage.
Additional Items – Baling wire, wood blocks – Useful as chock blocks, jacking platforms, ramps, suspension supports (for broken torsion bars), Bungee cords, several in multiple sizes – good for securing gear, temporary repairs, etc., Rope lengths, Super glue, Epoxy, Tie wraps, and rags
Must-Have Fluids #1 Oil #2 Coolant #3 Water #4 Brake #5 Differential (gear oil) #5 Transmission #5 Gas Brake Fluid – Power steering fluid – Bearing Grease, WD-40 – Starter Fluid – Funnel, siphon hose
Spare Parts / Repair Items
Lug Wrench, Extra Fan / serpentine belts, Hoses, fuel line, coolant hoses, Tire repair kits, plugs, Extra Lug nuts, Cotter pins, Nuts & bolts assorted standard and metric sizes, RTV, Spare Universal Joints (U-joints for drive shaft & axles), Spare Drive Shaft (rear and front)
Electronics Repair Kit
Volt ohms meter (multimeter), Wire cutters/wire connectors/wire strippers, Spare fuses, Electrical tape, Spare wire, Spare switches, Flux core solder for repairs
Parts that have broken twice before (if you can’t carry it, you should have upgraded it)
What have you forgotten when you went on a trail ride? How did you deal without having it?
Links Mentioned in this Episode
NEXEN Tires USA https://www.nexentireusa.com/
Trails 411- POWERING Your Adventure https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver
The 4×4 Radio Network http://4x4radionetwork.com/
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