Episode 423 – Trade Offroad for Luxury?
This Week In Jeep:
Spy Photos of Jeeps New Three Row SUV
We’ve long been reporting about how Jeep has wanted to bring back the era of big ass SUV’s. And a lot of this movement has been spurred on by not only market demand, (as no one can argue that SUV’s and crossovers are in demand.) But some of this is also by the will of the big man himself. No not god, I’m talking about Mike Manley, the guy with just about as strong of a name. Hell even hummer is getting back in the SUV game. So why not Jeep and why not bring back the iconic name badge that started it all. The Wagoneer. We’ve been dropping leaked bits of news about what FCA, Jeeps parent company has in store for the new line of three row SUV’s. Still to date there’s more that we don’t know than what we do know about the upcoming new line of big Jeeps. Mike Manley’s wish for a three-row Jeep is starting to take shape, as we’ve seen some spy photos leaked over the last couple weeks. However… These new spy shots are not of the big SUV’s we were originally told would be the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Spy photographers captured engineers testing what appeared to be a three-row Jeep prototype in Auburn Hills, Mich. This all new three-row model will actually slot in the same midsize SUV/crossover segment as the Jeep Grand Cherokee is already in. On the surface this makes zero sense for an automaker to put a self competing vehicle right next to one of the same size that they’re already selling. But reports say that this new Jeep is set to compete more directly with the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander and Chevrolet Traverse. Roughly 60 percent of that segment is three-row, so Grand Cherokee has really only played in a 40 percent market share of that particular vehicle segment. Obviously those numbers need to come up in the eyes of FCA execs, and the best way to do that apparently, is to drop a third row SUV right on the toes of the grand cherokee. Jeep has not offered a three-row SUV since the Commander was dropped on us in 2010. The new three-row SUV will be positioned alongside what reports are saying will be a completely redesigned Grand Cherokee, but it is expected to carry a new nameplate. And that may or may not begin with a “W” and end with “agoneer”. The prototype we see here is based on a Grand Cherokee platform, but the exhaust was rerouted to make room for an external spare tire, seen tucked up under the rear end of the undercarriage. The spare-tire relocation freed up space for the third row of seats. Both this new three row suv (yet to be named) as well as the upcoming newly redesigned grand cherokee will be built at FCA’s new assembly plant in Detroit, with production possibly beginning as early as this year. This week we hear about the spy photos recently posted about a new three row Jeep SUV, it’s not what we thought it might be. And would you sacrifice off road capability for luxury? We’ll find out about the big gamble Jeep is making.
Yet Another Trim Level – Is this the beginning of a “Pussification” of Jeep?
So what do you get if the Wrangler or Gladiator is just too tough and rugged for you? My answer would be the F*CK Outta Here! But for some this is an actual dilemma, and the struggle is real! Look, off roading and the offroad lifestyle aren’t for everyone, we know this, despite focusing primarily on the offroad aspects of Jeep ownership. But there is a whole multi-million dollar segment of Jeepdom that doesn’t require any off road prowess. That is the world of street Jeeps. I bet you didn’t know that almost every Jeep ever offered has had the option of being ordered from the factory with 2WD? Yes that includes the Wrangler too. Although it would likely be a custom order today, I bet you could even get a brand new 2020 Gladiator stripped of its off road capabilities if your intent was to say… make a mini-truck out of it. And more power to ya if that’s your goal. It may not be for me, or for you listening, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore this massive subsect of Jeeper. We just don’t have to like it. To that end, it may not be 2WD, but Jeep has released yet another trim level for the 2020 model year, and in my opinion, it might as well be a 2wd. We introduce to you, Jeep’s “High Altitude” Trim. And every Wrangler and Gladiator sold with this trim is going to be loaded with lots of creature comforts, but stripped of much of its ruggedness for those who are more afraid of dirt than the wicked witch of the west was afraid of water. The new High Altitude trim will ditch any resemblance of an offroad Wrangler by getting rid of those scary rugged bumpers and recovery points, and instead come with color-matched bumpers, fenders, hard top, and other exterior pieces made from plastic not steel. You will get a full lighting upgrade though, to ward off the boogeyman at night with the headlights, fog lights, and taillights all getting the LED treatment. It will also contain Jeeps entire suite of driver assistant technology, which some of you already know what I think of. These include but are limited to automatic high beams in the event that pesky lever 2.3 inches from your left index finger is just too damn far away or hard to pull. You get Jeeps amazing blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert systems for those who cant be bothered to turn their fucking head or shift their eyeballs one god damn inch to see whats in the mirrors. And god forbid if you want to lock or unlock your new High Altitude Jeep. But don’t worry, this technology has you covered there too. Now sitting there trying to figure out what button is lock and what button is unlock on those super cumbersome key fobs that you can’t be bothered to hold in your hand is a thing of the past. Now you can rely on Jeeps patented passive entry system to do all that hard work for you. You of course get a gigantic 8.4 inch touch screen because we wouldn’t want you to have to concentrate on actually looking at what you’re seeing one little bit. The top of the line Alpine audio system will take over the pesky task of remembering just where the hell you’re going by delivering the pleasing tones of turn by turn directions courtesy of your built in GPS navigation. And did i mention the built in Wi-Fi hotspot? We wouldn’t want you using a single bit of your data after all as you constantly take selfies and update your instagram in your new Jeep. Perhaps most notably however, is both the Gladiator and Wrangler High Altitude will roll off the assembly line on 20-inch wheels. These black-painted rims represent the first time either model is available with “dubs” from the factory. The interior got a whole mess of luxury too, with layer upon layer of rich grey or black leather covering the center console, door panels and even the dashboard. Apparently Jeep thought if you have that much plastic outside, you need to put something else on the inside. The heated seats are wrapped in an even richer nappa leather and feature quilted stitching just like grandma’s couch or the seats in the Cutlass sitting in that coke dealers driveway. I’m not sure how I feel about these partially neutered ultra luxed up wranglers and gladiators, oh wait, yes i am… but we’ll see how popular they become with the rest of you when they go on sale in the second quarter of this year.
Wrangler Talk:
Hello JTS listeners and welcome to this week’s wrangler talk where we are going to be talking about the Jeep wrangler 3.6L PentaStar Engine. Specifically, we are going to be talking about a function that is performed in the engine called variable valve timing or VVT. And when it comes to VVT in my engine all I hear is a headache and a pain in the butt, however I will explain that later. So VVT is not some new technology that came out when the 3.6l PentaStar came to market, and yes you are not going to like to hear this but VVT was originally introduced in the Honda Civic with their V-tec motor. Yeah, I know how could Jeep do this to us, but it actually makes a lot of sense. VVT is used for a lot of different reasons and some of the most common reasons are to help with MPG, increase power and make an engine just more efficient over all. So, the Idea of VVT is to change the timing of the valve train, that includes your camshaft rockers and valves, to make them adjust based on the demands of the motor. So how does it adjust your timing, Yeah, I know you thought your timing was a set parameter in the motor and should never be changed, and yes you are correct. Well on our camshaft there are a series of lobes that are set at specific locations through the rotation travel of the camshaft when rotating inside the motor to actuate the valve that open and close to let fuel and air in and let exhaust gas escape. However, in a VVT motor we can increase or decrease the amount of time these valves are open resulting in more power or better gas mileage. In our VVT motor there is a mechanical valve system called cam phasers that use oil pressure and a solenoid to control the adjustable parameters in our engine’s timing. The Cam phasers are connected to the front end of our camshaft and are driven by the engine’s timing chains. So the process that occurs when the VVT system is properly working the engine VVT solenoid actuates and presses on a plunger valve that is pressurized with oil from the oil pump. As the valve is depressed at different intervals, it fills different compartments within the cam phaser thus advancing or retarding the timing of the engine. Also, if you know anything about engine tuning advancing the timing of an engine can result in more power however there is a sweet spot of making the most amount of power out of an engine. So, as we can see this system can be very touch and this is where my headache is coming into play. Yes, there is something wrong with my jeep, oh wait what else is new. So yeah well how can this system fail well there a lot of ways that it can fail however with the proper maintenance of you can avoid a lot of these issues. So, let being with the most common problem or failure of this system and that is your VVT solenoid or your camshaft position sensor going bad. Both of these parts are pretty simple to replace and cost less than 40 dollars at the auto parts store. So pretty simple and a scan tool should be able to tell you if these parts are going bad. Now on to the VVT valve, the valve has a center shaft that moves allowing oil to travel through and this part can become clogged from build up, can all together become seized up, or the seals can go bad in it, so this could cause a bit of an issue. All of these will restrict the flow of oil to the cam phaser and lead to the cam phaser not to function properly. Secondly the Cam phaser can have the same thing happen to it, the seals can go bad, the phaser can lock up in a specific location or the seals in the phaser can wear out and go bad. So how is all the prevented, well there are a few key things that well help ensure the proper function of this system, and first is regular oil changes. This will help with keeping your oil clean and keep the specific properties that the oil needs to keep your engine function properly. Second, keep your oil topped off. This will ensure your oil pump has sufficient oil in the oil pan to send to all the needed areas of the engine including your cam phasers. Also, low oil can result in low oil pressure. So the moral of the story is just do regular oil changes and you should be a-okay. Thank you for listening to this week’s wrangler talk and remember do you have any questions or comments about the wrangler talk. Well then head over to jeeptalkshow.com/contact and leave us a voice message or send us an email and we would be happy to help you with any of your questions. Thank you and talk to you next week on the wrangler talk.
Jeep Life:
Vintage Jeeps
Tony and Josh did I tell you that I miss you guys. Who would of ever thought I am hoping to join you guys soon? I wanted to share I have dates for our first Fan Ride. March 21 to 23 on Mojave Road in California. It is easy wheeling and primitive camping. Info in on my blog. JeepMomma.com just click on the calendar. Also I want all JTS listeners to head over to youtube and check out my video The Story behind Celebrating the Jeep Life. When I talk about “you followers” that means all of you too! The link is in the show notes. https://youtu.be/dbgjiX8U9TU So what’s been happening in my Jeep Life. Well I went home to visit my kids. It was awesome to see them. However the rest was horrible. Being a guest in my own home and pressure and no understanding from my friends caused an emotional meltdown for me. So I said my final good-bye to all that drama. Getting back into Colorado brought peace and I have moved on to the positives in my life and that’s this whole Jeep Life and all my Jeep friends which is all of you. Your support behind the scenes has been nothing short of amazing. So now that I said good-bye to my drama lets talk Jeep Life. I can’t even begin to share all that I have been learning. It’s so cool all the Jeep stuff I didn’t know. Neil and I have been hanging with two old Jeepers lately. BC Vintage Jeeps in Delta Colorado – look them up on FB. He buys sells and trades old Jeeps. He will even haul them to you. and The Jeep Rescue League in Saguache CO. He’s a must see museum of an amazing military collection of jeeps. We acquired a CJ2A Flattie…with a M38 tub. We decided since the Military tub needed to be preserved so we gave it to the Jeep Rescue League in trade for a CJ2A body and front clip. Terry runs the semi military museum where he collects all things military and tons of Jeeps. What’s cool for me is seeing the flatties, pointies and dents. And learning the differences in the bodies. Wondering if you all know what that means? Call in if you know… I would love to get a pointie! Hauling around these Jeeps brings a lot of cool conversations with complete strangers reminiscing when they used to drive these old Jeeps. I also didn’t know that the military destroyed all these WW2 Jeeps. They either left them in Europe, destroyed them or pushed them into the ocean from the ships. Some of them in the ocean are still in their original crates. What a shame. And even back then they hid little easter eggs in the Jeeps. The under the seat tool box had Jeep in cursive in the inside wall. How cool is that What I didn’t know is Bantam designed the Willy’s for the military but didn’t have the facilities to manufacture so Ford and Willy’s did. So much information squeezed into my brain. . We are still working on the Jeep Mash Up which Neil hates me calling it that. That’s the LJ build with a TJ and CJ parts. And something really cool I discovered. There is this catalog Kaiser Willys parts and accessories. www.Kaiserwillys.com Website address in the show notes. The front part of this catalog has a whole section on the Jeep Hunters field guide with diagrams and tech specifications of all the older Jeeps. A Jeep lovers Gem. So until next week Keep on living the Jeep Life. Also if you’d like to be a Jeep Momma Supporter head on over to https://www.patreon.com/join/JeepMomma?
Tech Talk With Jeep Talk:
5 Best “Kill-Switch” Options To Disable Your Jeep
Since parking in safe-looking spots is about as effective as wishing on a star, installing a well-hidden kill switch in your vehicle is a smart way to deter potential thieves. These switches disrupt the flow of electricity at the battery or ignition switch or disable the fuel pump. Some of these are very easy to install, but all will require a basic understanding of electricity, and some specific tools like a real crimp tool, not that stamped flat metal thing you got in the bin with all those connectors, that will never do. As many of you know I worked in the automotive electrical industry for over a decade, and have high level certifications in the field. So it wouldn’t come as any surprise if i suggested the best way to add security to your Jeep is with a high end alarm system. And as even more of you know, most of us Jeepers are broke. So throwing a few hundred dollars at a security system and giving up your Jeep for a day to have it professionally installed, isn’t a practical option. And dammit, we just love saving you money and presenting options that you may not have been aware of before. But chances are you’ve been aware of the term “kill switch” since you were a kid. It’s a term that’s been around for decades. Today we’re going to go over the 5 best ways to add a kill switch to YOUR Jeep. Let’s say the 10 year Jeep you just bought has a fancy alarm system on it. Did you know that can be bypassed easier than you think? I’m not going to go over all the different ways that alarm systems can be disabled or bypassed, since we don’t want people trying this for themselves. But trust me when I say it doesn’t take much. What we DO want is for people to keep their Jeeps, and one of the best ways to do that is with a kill switch. Most kill switches work by stopping the electrical flow from your ignition system, or your battery or through a fuse that works on a needed part, like your fuel pump. When a vehicle is stolen, it’s usually not done by the kind of pros you see in movies like Gone in Sixty Seconds who are highly trained and have thousands of dollars worth of tech equipment. It’s generally done by low-level thieves who are opportunistic and looking for a quick and easy come up. They’re not knowledgeable enough or willing to risk the time it takes to find out why your Jeep isn’t starting, and will likely give up before too much time has passed risking being caught. The more steps you can force a thief to go through before he gets your stuff is just that much more deterrence from breaking in to begin with.
#5 Fuel Line Shut-Off Valves ($20 or less)
Preventing your Jeep, car or truck from getting fuel to the engine is a sure-fire way to prevent it from starting. The vehicle will crank over, but never fully start, making it appear to have engine problems to potential car thieves. Adding an inline fuel cut-off switch is a fairly straight forward way of physically stopping the flow of gas to your engine. To install this on your Jeep, you will need to go under the vehicle and find the fuel line. You will then need to cut the fuel line in half at the desired location (there will be some gas that leaks, but if you install it fast, it shouldn’t be too much) and slide the shutoff valve on to both ends, along with some small hose clamps to tighten the fuel line hose to the valve. This is not the best kill switch to install if you plan on using it daily. This would be better suited for a Jeep that you have in storage or will be sitting around for awhile, as you don’t want to have to crawl under your rig each time you get in and out.
#4 Car Battery Disconnect Switch ($10 or less)
The manual battery switch is another way to disable the power to your ignition, preventing your Jeep from starting. This is one of the easiest kill switch options to install in your vehicle too. To add this, you will need to simply install it inline of one of the battery cables. This will involve cutting the wire, and installing cable ends on each of the cut ends. These will in turn be installed on the posts of the battery cut off switch. It’s as simple as that. These battery disconnect switches will come in a turning knob, lever, or some even have a large red plastic key that needs to be used in order to turn the switch on and off. The downside to this kill switch is that it requires you to open your hood each time to get to your battery switch. However, I have seen some creative in-cab installations of these, but be warned, to extend a switch like this into the cab of your Jeep requires a good run of expensive, large gauge wire, and you run the risk of shorting out thru the passage you took to get thru the firewall with something like two 2 gauge wires.
#3 Remote Controlled Car Battery Switch ($50 or less)
A remote controlled battery disconnect switch is one of the most convenient ways to quickly disable your Jeeps entire electrical system on a regular basis. No need to go under your hood to turn a knob or remove your battery cables or spark plug wires to prevent your Jeep from starting. The E-KYLIN DC 12V Electromagnetic Solenoid Valve Terminal Master Kill System is a full kit ready to be installed on your vehicle within minutes. https://amzn.to/2S4y7ce This device uses a latching relay, so it only uses power when it is switching it on or off. No power used to hold it in either position (which would cause battery drain). For a full description on this kit, we’ll have a link in the show notes for this episode. And we’ll be covering it in a little more detail on next week’s episode.
#2 Fuse Box Kill Switch ($30 or less)
An inline fuse bypass switch is another way of disabling your Jeep. A common way to prevent theft is by pulling out a fuse that will stop your rig from being started, like your ignition fuse or your fuel pump fuse. Depending on where your fuse box is located, you might not want to have to manually install or pull out a fuse each time you get in or out of your Jeep. This option will allow you to put in a fuse bypass switch in an easy to reach area for you to switch on and off. What this does is mimic the action of pulling the fuse by bypassing it with a switch. You can piece together your own kit using what’s called a fuse socket connector as the starting point, and adding a switch, some wire, and a fuse holder. All together the parts should run you less than $20 or so and can be sourced through places like amazon or a reputable parts store. One downside to this setup is that unless you are very good at hiding wire after its installed, the wire that will go into the fuse box may stick out a bit, preventing you from putting your fuse box lid on all the way.
#1 Ignition Wire Kill Switch ($10 or less)
An inline ignition cutoff switch is the type of anti-theft method that might come to mind when you hear the term “kill switch”. This type of setup uses a physical switch or toggle button hidden somewhere in the vehicle, usually under the dashboard area or around the driver’s seat so it is easy for you to access it when you get in and out of your rig. The way this works is by adding a switch to the wire that comes off your Jeep’s ignition. By using a wiring diagram for your particular vehicle, you should be able to find which wire is your ignition cable and determine the proper one to cut into. Once the wire is cut, you can either solder the 2 ends of the wire into the switch, or use additional connectors and crimp it on. This is one of the main lines of electricity in your Jeep. These lines carry a lot of amperage, and this is no place to half ass an install. So make sure that if you opt to install ANY of these that you either consider hiring a professional, or making sure you do it right with the right tools and supplies. As always, this information is just for reference, and any advice given here in tech talk is done so for educational purposes only. Any repair or modification done to your vehicle is done so at your own risk.
Interview with: Josh Hoshnasi
Jeep Weather:
Hey Jeeper, Mitch here, today is the 7th of February 2020, and it’s time for your weekend Going Topless-Jeep Weather Report. Last Sunday was a busy day: Chiefs beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl, Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow predicting an early spring, a huge winter storm sweeps the western United States, Jeep getting voted Best Super Bowl Commercial, and Bill Freaking Murry gets obsessive over the JT locking the world in an eternal Groundhogs Day! At least Bill Murry agrees with me, that going topless in your Jeep no matter the weather is a right move. So, onto the weather. Well that rodent got me thinking (yes it hurt), but I was wondering what number of towns are named after animals. Surprisingly quite a few, so I chose a few for this weeks Topless Jeeping Weather Report. First, we start with another rodent: Porcupine, South Dakota. Friday will be cloudy at 32, Saturday cloudy at 45, and Sunday snow at 29 degrees. I guess Porcupine will stick you with those cold needles after all. Next, we go to Wolverine, Michigan for some roof off, doors off, winter driving (I think we should call this: Jeeping Bill Murry Style). Friday 23 and cloudy, Saturday 19 and you’ll see some sun, but Sunday is snow at 32 degrees. Now if Jeeping Bill Murry Style doesn’t make you as angry as a wolverine here then you might need to talk to a psychiatrist. Ride on out to Mustang, Oklahoma, in a Jeep of course and Go Topless here. It’ll be warmer than our previous two locations. Friday cloudy at 50, Saturday sun and 53, and Sunday might get some rain at 59. Nothing like a bit of wet bareback riding in you Jeep to make you smile. Alright now, fly on down to Crane, Missouri. State of Super Bowl 2020 winners: the Kansas City Chiefs. Crane has the exact same weather patterns as Mustang. Crane will be cloudy 42 on Friday, sun at 46 on Saturday, and raining at 57 on Sunday. Don’t forget to use the #JeepTalkShow on social media for us to see those pictures. If you have any suggestions or want to know YOUR local weather in an upcoming episode. Go to JeepTalkShow.com/contact in order to find all the ways to get a message to me. I’m Mitch and its always great weekend to Go Topless if you’re brave enough! Just Go Topless responsibly.
Wheeling Where:
Jeepin’ Central Fl. – Jeepin 4 Justice
March 14th – 16th
The Concourse Rotary Pavilion – Shady Hills, Florida
More Info: https://jeepin4justice.com/
Rednecks With Paychecks Off-Road – Spring Break
March 19th – 22nd
Saint Jo, Texas
More Info: https://www.redneckswithpaychecks.com/
Links Mentioned in Episode 423:
The story of Celebrating the Jeep Life YouTube video: https://youtu.be/dbgjiX8U9TU
Jeep Momma Calendar: http://www.jeepmomma.com/p/blog-page.html
Jeep Catalog www.kaiserwillys.com
Remote Controlled Car Battery Switch ($50 or less) The E-KYLIN DC 12V Electromagnetic Solenoid Valve Terminal Master Kill System https://amzn.to/2S4y7ce