Episode 442 – Sean Holman of The Truck Show Podcast
This Week In Jeep:
Jeep Recall Alert!
There’s nothing quite like the feeling trying to scale a difficult obstacle off-road and succeeding on the first try. And nothing can take that feeling away faster than the engine dying on you halfway through your pull. Jeepers of yesteryear were plagued frequently by this during the YJ era when JEep was using that pesky Carter brand carburetor on the engines at the time. Nowadays, losing fuel pressure in the carburetor because you got too off camber is a thing of the past and nary a Jeeper has to worry about such things anymore. That is unless you own a newer model Jeep Cherokee that is. I’m not sure if JEep has a model which has had more recalls than the Cherokee. I’ll have to look that up one of these days, but this newest recall is affecting anywhere between 65k and 95k vehicles depending on who you ask. If you own a 2014 to 2017 Jeep Cherokee and its not a full on soccer mom grocery getter, then chances are you’re affected. To know if your Jeep is affected, it needs to be a 2014 to 2017 model year, and have a low-range capable transfer case. I’m sorry I’m using that term loosely here. These vehicles don’t actually have a transfer case. They instead have what is called a two-speed Power Transfer Unit, which only simulates the sort of two-speed transfer case found in most part-time four-wheel-drive trucks and SUVs which are designed to handle actual off-road use. Jeep brands these systems affected by the recall as “Active Drive II” or “Active Drive Lock.” The former was optional on multiple trims; the latter was standard on all Trailhawk models. It is this sort of lack of a real 4WD system that is the reason behind why we pick on these lesser Jeeps so much. And it is recalls and issues like this that keep popping up that may have many of you wishing you would have sprung for a real Jeep, but i digress. So how serious of an issue is this really, and exactly what is happening? I’m glad you asked. In a recent press release FCA stated that they discovered that a critical driveline connection may, in certain circumstances, slip. Should this occur, it may lead to loss of propulsion while driving, which would obviously suck, especially if you were trying to use a newer model cherokee offroad. This issue can also prevent the transmission from completely engaging into PARK when the vehicle is stationary as well, causing a roll away condition. You may remember something similar happening with the Grand Cherokees back in the middle of 2016 when actor Anton Yelchin was killed when his own Jeep slipped out of park and smashed him against the gate of his driveway. That however was attributed to a problematic gearshift design, which was linked to more than 266 rollaway crashes and 68 injuries, in 2012-14 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300s and 2014-15 Jeep Grand Cherokees. FCA says one accident has been attributed to this issue, but no injuries were associated. Notices will begin going out to owners of the recalled models next month. In the meantime, if you think you’re affected by this, then you can wait for your notice, call your local dealer, or look up your vehicle information on the NHTSA website to find out what to do next. The fix for this will involve you taking the Jeep to your local dealer where the service department will install an updated software patch that will alert the driver to the malfunction when it occurs. If the vehicle is in motion, the computer will automatically shunt power to the rear wheels to maintain propulsion. If a malfunction is detected while attempting to shift into park, the system will also apply the parking brake automatically to prevent roll-away. Something you should be doing anyways, but I guess FCA knows best, and we apparently need even more driver assistant technology shoved down our throats because we are obviously too effing stupid to knwo how to park our own vehicles safely.
Jeep vs. Mahindra – Winning Verdict!
The battle between Jeep and Mahindra is now several years old. For those who don’t know the name Roxor, it is a little vehicle made by an Indian company who has been authorised to manufacture parts for Jeep and even vehicles resembling Jeeps for decades.The company started selling the vehicles in the U.S. in 2018, prompting Jeep parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to take legal action. The Roxor isn’t even a federally approved automobile, but classified as a side-by-side UTV. The bare-bones not-street-legal vehicle is similar in design to the Willys MB, which Mahindra had previously been allowed to build for sale in Asia under license from Jeep. Last week, the International Trade Commission ruled that Mahindra violated the “trade dress” of Jeep’s vehicles, and ordered it to stop selling the Roxor in the U.S. Earlier this year, Mahindra attempted to address the issue by replacing the vertical slats of the front grille with an oval grille which looked almost exactly like the front end of an FJ Cruiser, but the ITC ruling was actually based on six other parts, not just the grille. FCA issued a statement this week saying it was pleased with the decision, while Mahindra is predictably considering an appeal.
A convoy for a cause, Jeep journey in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to help local cancer patients
A fairly new organization known as “Blacktop Warriors Jeep Club” is rallying jeep lovers around Pennsylvania to cruise for a cause. And it’s a good cause too! The event helps cancer patients, and any Jeep event or club that is helping beat cancer or live better with it… gets as much attention as I can point their way. Cancer takes so much from those who it inflicts, and the families around them. So the rally happening this weekend is a great way to get out with the Jeep, take your top off, get some fresh air and enjoy life to the fullest! Blacktop Warriors Jeep Club is hosting a convoy for a cause this Saturday, June 20, in Luzerne County. The event benefits the cancer resource and wellness center “Candy’s Place” in Forty Fort Pennsylvania. The convoy takes jeep owners on a one hour drive and ends at Grotto Pizza in Harveys Lake. For more information on this event, links and how to support the cause, check out the show notes for this episode on our website.
Tech Talk With Jeep Talk:
Sticky or Hard To Shift Manual Trans Fix
Allison M. wrote into the show recently asking a couple technical questions. The first referred to a screenshot from his OBDII code reader, which was running some real time diagnostics at the time. For those who have a bluetooth dongle and something like the Torque App, or have spent more than $40 on a code reader, chances are that it too has the ability to display real time vehicle information. Things like throttle position, air or oil temperatures, voltage and even things like speed, rpm, and other system stats. Allison was asking about a couple of numbers that were displayed and wasn’t sure what they meant or if they were in normal operating parameters or not. For that part i’m going to answer him personally, as the answer isn’t going to mean anything to anyone without that screengrab and the exact same vehicle. Not to mention it’s pretty dry and boring stuff. The other question he had was transmission related, which is always fun…. and he asks the show: “Hey Jeep Talk Show! My Jeep is a 97 TJ with a 4.0 manual transmission and a rear lunchbox locker running 31” tires. My tranny is sticking and is kind of rough going in and out of first gear and sometimes second too. How difficult is it to rebuild a manual transmission and would that fix my issue?” As always, I like to start off with saying thanks for writing into the show. I think in Allison’s case, it’s likely not the transmission itself, but is likely a support system designed to help the transmission operate easier. What I think is happening is that Allison is having an issue with either the master cylinder or the slave cylinder of his transmission, possibly both. A clutch master cylinder is a component found on vehicles equipped with manual transmission, and serves as the pump for the hydraulically operated clutch system. The slave cylinder on a manual transmission works in conjunction with the clutch master cylinder to disengage the clutch when the pedal is pressed so that the transmission can be safely shifted. Since these systems are hydraulic in nature, clutch master cylinders are often prone to issues with leaks that will interfere with its ability to displace fluid. Let’s quickly look at the symptoms of a failing clutch master or slave cylinder, as you may have an issue yourself , and not even know it. One of the first symptoms commonly associated with a potential problem with the clutch master cylinder is low or dirty fluid in the reservoir. If it’s dark, and you’re having to top it off frequently, then you likely have a leak in the system and it’s only a matter of time before things get worse. Another symptom commonly associated with a bad or failing clutch master cylinder is difficulty shifting. If the master cylinder is not able to properly create pressure, it will not be able to disengage the clutch properly when the pedal is pressed. This may lead to grinding the gears when shifting, and possibly even a transmission that pops out of gear. Abnormal pedal pressure is another symptom of a potential problem with a bad or failing master cylinder. If the cylinder develops any internal issues, it will directly affect the feel of the pedal. A leaky cylinder may cause the pedal to feel mushy or spongy, and in more severe cases, will lead to a pedal that will sink to the floor and stay there when depressed. Luckily for Allison, fixing this doesn’t require rebuilding the entire transmission or even replacing the clutch. For the TJ’s the clutch master and slave cylinders come as a complete kit, which typically costs anywhere from $80 to $180 and can be installed with regular hand tools in a couple of hours or less. Chilton or Haynes manuals have the process and there are also some great videos and write-ups online that can give you a step by step guide on how to do this procedure yourself. I will make one note on this job though. This is another one of those “you get what you pay for” moments. From my experience, the cheaper replacement kits not only are a little tight on the hose lengths, but they also sometimes put the Neutral Safety Switch in a slightly different position than the OEM units, which may give you problems when trying to start the Jeep after the repair. This in no way affects the function of the transmission or how the clutch operates, just the switch that tells the Jeep it’s in neutral, or that the clutch is in and the engine is safe to start. With the lesser quality replacement kits, the Jeep may not realize it’s actually in neutral since the switch isn’t picking up the throw of the clutch pedal in the same way as before. Allegedly the OEM and more expensive kits do not have this issue, but this doesn’t mean the cheaper ones won’t work. You may just end up having to uninstall it and make some modifications which typically involve shimming the master cylinder with O-rings which moves the switches position to the correct spot. There are also ways to bypass the neutral safety switch completely, but you didn’t hear that from me. Alison could have other issues, transmissions are fickle things and usually you want to leave the repair or rebuilding of these systems to the professionals, as oftentimes there are specialty tools required for installation or set up that you may not have. But I think the clutch master cylinder is a good place to start, and for less than $200 in parts and materials and a few hours of wrenching, i’d say it’s worth it.
Newbie Nuggets:
With lots of resources out there for newbies, how do you decide on where or whom you get your information from. Since there are hundreds of options including websites, YouTube with lots of information (good and bad), Facebook groups, Instagram, Podcasts and, of course, the person who thinks he knows it all because that’s where he went or what he bought. So how do you choose? You have already made a great choice by listening to The Jeep Talk Show, the most downloaded Jeep podcast. Another valuable resource I discovered are the Jeep Wrangler YJ and JK Performance How–To books, written by Don Alexander and Quinn Thomas (owner, All J Products in Big Bear Calif). For those of you familiar with Don Alexander, he is a friend of the Jeep Talk Show and has been interviewed on a previous episode. Don has over 50 years’ experience driving race cars, setting multiple land speed records at Bonneville, test driver and racer. These days Don teaches people who want to improve their off-road skills driving their jeeps at his Jeep 4×4 School in So. California. His expertise in writing books and magazine articles, like Motor Trend & Hot Rod, and testing for several suspension and tire companies qualifies him as an expert in many areas including jeeps. When he was asked to write a book about the YJ and the JK he was up for the task. Both books are filled with everything you need to know to upgrade & modify your jeep. Great books for newbies, who may be looking to do some modifications or just want to know how things work. I like the pictures and details presented in the books, it helps my brain “visualize” the descriptions. This book helps me break down and simplify different modifications and upgrades. The books highlight in detail info on wheels/tires, suspensions and lifts, brakes, bumpers and armor protection. It also includes info on drive-lines, axles and lockers, engines, engine swaps and transmissions. The sections on winches, vehicle recovery, gear and trail tools are perfect for getting prepared to head out on the trail. The back of the book lists all the sources they used for the testing and info throughout the book. The books are a relatively inexpensive (around $23-$28 on Amazon) resource guide that may give you additional information OR create a monster because now you’ve learned about an upgrade for your jeep that you just can’t live without. Uh-Huh. Either way, you will find great information in these books. Resources, like these books, are a great way to learn what modifications are possible and keep you informed. Don is working on a new book for the JL and the JT Gladiator and should be out in about 16 months. So whether you plan to upgrade your jeep from the ground up or just want a guide to improve certain things, the Jeep Wrangler YJ & JK books are a must for anyone’s library. Links for these books are in the show notes. https://www.amazon.com/dp/1613253591/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_al86EbPTKCDKA https://www.amazon.com/dp/1613254482/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Ym86EbSGY1TH4 Josh, Tony, do you have any resources you love and recommend for newbies? Same book series from SA designs by Eric Zappe for the XJ Cherokee: Jeep Cherokee Performance Upgrades: 1984–2001 (Performance How-to) By Eric Zappe https://amzn.to/3eigKNV Jeep Cherokee XJ 1984-2001: Advanced Performance Modifications (Performance How-to) https://amzn.to/30X9Nhm ANY Chilton or Haynes manual for torque specs, recommended fluids, capacities, service intervals, etc. And of course, the world’s largest glossary of Jeep and off road related terminology… The Jeep Talk Show Glossary of Terms – only avail on our website.
Interview with:
Sean P. Holman
Truck expert and longtime automotive journalist Sean P. Holman (Truck Trend, Four Wheeler, Diesel Power, Truckin, Jp, and Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road), the Truck Show Podcast brings a unique and entertaining perspective to all things truck, including those lifted, lowered, and everything in between.
Must Have Stuff:
Fabtech FTS24194 Interior Cargo Rack for:
07-18 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited JK 4 Door ($299 w/ free shipping) Suddenly having more storage inside the secured cargo area is on the top of every Jeep Wrangler owner’s list. This week I’m highlighting a solution that not only solves this, but gives you some serious bragging rights too, as this thing looks really cool. The Interior Cargo Rack from Fabtech uses a double-deck design that is located in the cargo area behind the rear seat. This design adds a massive 4.5 square feet of additional storage capacity to the interior of your Jeep. A heavy-duty powder coated steel construction that installs in just three pieces supporting up to 150 lbs of gear with integrated tie-down points for safety. In other words, they’ve covered all the bases, and ensured this thing will add to the appearance of your Jeep, not take away from it. Full steel construction, installation requires no drilling! Limited Lifetime Warranty. The link we’ll have in the show notes for this episode will get you one for your 07-18 JKU Wrangler, but they are available for other model Jeeps as well. Cost is normally over $350! But the link in our show notes will get you one of these for under $300 and will include free shipping too!
https://www.quadratec.com/p/fabtech/interior-cargo-rack-jeep-wrangler-unlimited-jk-4-door
Campfire Side Chat:
“What weird, crazy or outlandish idea have you come up with or actually done to get more money to spend on your Jeep?”
Wheeling Where:
Convoy For a Cause
Saturday, June 20, at 10:30 a.m.
Meetup is at Candy’s Place, 190 Welles Street, Forty Fort
$30.00 per jeep
While admission to the event is free, only jeeps are allowed to cruise in the convoy.
Blacktop Warriors Jeep Club https://www.facebook.com/EatSleepJeepRepeat/
Can’t make the event, but still want to help?
Donate to Candy’s Place here https://cancerwellnessnepa.org/donate/
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
https://www.youtube.com/user/backcountrydriver
https://truckshowpodcast.libsyn.com/
https://www.instagram.com/truckshowpodcast/
https://www.facebook.com/truckshowpodcast/
https://www.quadratec.com/p/fabtech/interior-cargo-rack-jeep-wrangler-unlimited-jk-4-door