Episode 606 – Rock Auto Giveaway

This Week In Jeep

That’s a Lot of Recalls

2022 Grand Cherokee, and the L variant, for turn signals issues.

Software, doesn’t tell driver there’s a failed bulb, flash rates,

 …NHTSA thinks this will kill someone. 

2022 Jeep Compass built in Dec of 2021…. is being recalled for faulty headrests. 

“Front seat head restraints” according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) The headrests were improperly welded and as such fail to comply with requirements laid out in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Maybe they think you’ll get decapitated. The Grands were recalled earlier this year for the child restraint anchors not having proper welds. And before that, this same model was recalled for having a rather serious issue with a major steering component. These Grand Cherokees use a rack and pinion steering system, and the rack was the part in question. Apparently it wasn’t treated properly (they called it names and made it feel bad, one plant worker even put a cigarette out on the face of one… I’m joking of course.) But the suspect racks weren’t hardened properly, and they would cause a bind in the steering resulting in hard steering, or a loss of steering altogether. Oh joy. The 2022 Grand Cherokee is having a rough launch, but there is a redesign just around the corner, so we can expect a lot of these issues to get swept under the rug as it were until the new generation comes out. We’re already seeing the tip of the spear of this, with all the gushing reviews of the Grand Cherokee 4xe release. Regardless, if you have a 2022 Grand Cherokee, I would suggest having some regular contact with your dealer to ensure your Jeep is 100% up to par. 

It was right under our noses the whole time

Jeep, admittingly, has done a good job with the whole Easter egg thing. I know, I know, to some just the mention of eggs and Jeeps turns stomachs. But the designers deserve the grade for the cleverly hidden little additions we’ve seen over the years nonetheless. To that end they get credit again for pulling a stunt done once already, and we didn’t even see it coming. At the recent EJS in Moab Utah, Jeep brought the concepts like they usually do, and the one that looked most stock was all but ignored. Looking like nothing more than a special edition Wrangler 392, most didn’t notice the subtle but significant change to the iconic grill, arguably the very thing that  has identified the boxy off-roader since its inception. However, the Jeep Rubicon 20th Anniversary Concept was showing off what is soon to come for the face of Jeeps. The new grille design uses the same LED headlights as the current lineup, and the seven-slot grille still continues to have the waterfall-like bend near the top of it for the sake of aerodynamics or some such nonsense. The round LED headlamps still protrude into the slots, similar to the old CJ models. The overall size however, is shorter in height, and now gives the Jeep a wider look. I originally thought it was just the wheels and tires, but it does provide a bit of an optical illusion. There is a lot more detail to the overall grill design as well, with each of the seven slots getting rings around them and a plastic detailed bezel integrating from the bottom of the headlight recess, down into the bottom of the grille.

With the current Wrangler (JL) being in its fifth year of production, the vehicle is due for a Mid-Cycle Update. Several sources on the inter-webs have stated that the updates will likely be seen on the 2023 model, with the Gladiator getting a similar refresh in 2024. Among the projected updates, is of course the front grille, an updated instrument panel, new wheel designs, updated interior materials, and updated infotainment software (which may or may not include the new 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 system). So I mentioned that Jeep has done this exact thing before, showcasing an upcoming new production grille design at EJS. The Wrangler (JK) based Jeep Quicksand Concept “sand-rod” featured the JL grille month before it’s L.A. Auto Show unveiling in 2017.

“Eye Contact”

I’m going to start this story off with two warnings, one, is that this story was compiled using available public and police records, and that all individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The other thing I need to say is that this story is of a very adult nature and contains very adult themes that may be sensitive or deemed inappropriate for younger listeners. So with that, let me ask you guys, have you ever been caught doing something in your Jeep that you probably shouldn’t have been doing in public? 

This guy sure did. 

An affidavit of probable cause filed by state police recently stated a woman was driving northbound on I-95 in Bristol Township Pennsylvania on September 1, 2021 when she spotted the driver of a red Jeep truck staring directly at her. The woman told troopers the driver would maneuver his vehicle through traffic to get closer, and closer to her vehicle. The woman then spotted the driver leaning back into his seat. Anyone wanna take a shot at what happened next? Let’s just say, he was raising his flag. Fully exposed, the man was going at himself like he was in a whittling contest. Surprised at what happened, the woman took photos of the man and his vehicle, state police said.

The license plate cover on the pickup truck was too dark and investigators reported being unable to make out the plate number. The woman gave troopers the photos and a description of the vehicle and man behind the wheel. Now, let’s fast forward three weeks. On September 23, 2021, another woman talked to state police and reported a similar incident along I-95 northbound in Bristol Township. This driver was in a white Jeep Grand Cherokee, troopers said. Unlike the first incident, the authorities were able to get a license plate number for the white Jeep. The second woman said the man had his mouth open with his tongue out while his “junk” was fully exposed. She reported he was looking directly at her, making a point to make direct eye contact, while ((QUOTE)) “vigorously fondling himself.” Using both a law enforcement database and in-person confirmation, troopers said they saw 54 year old William C. Henon was connected to a white Jeep Grand Cherokee and an older red/maroon Jeep Truck. In October 2021, troopers interviewed Henon and he admitted to the first incident, but he didn’t recall the second. Although, according to the police reports, he admitted he was driving his white Jeep around the time of the second incident.

Newbie Nuggets with Wendy

Hey, Newbie’s…try something new

If you have listened to the JTS show for any length of time, you know I am a BIG proponent of trying new things. I am always suggesting getting out of the passenger seat and start driving, OR getting in your new jeep and getting off-road. Being new to something doesn’t make you any less equipped to do that new thing, it may just mean you need more seat time, or drive time, or just some more experience. I always try to encourage newbies that this is a process and you build experiences which gives you more confidence, which gets you more experience.

Well, I chose to be a newbie this week. Yep, I enrolled in a motorcycle riding class. It’s a two day course here in California with 16 hours of instruction, 6 in the classroom and 10 on the actual range riding a motorcycle. Now I have never ridden a motorcycle before. Sure I’ve been on the back of the Harley when Bill, my dad and I ride, and sure we have logged just over 50,000 miles over the last few years, but I have never actually ridden one. 

So my “newbie meter” was off the charts when I started the class. My brain was all over the place saying things like “what makes you think you can ride a motorcycle, you have no experience” and “you know you are not 20-something anymore”. I did finally turn the brain language off and just allowed the process to happen. To be open to whatever they were going to teach me.

Now for those of you who know me, I don’t go to a class like this unprepared. I read the student handbook they provided as suggested, since there was going to be a written test AND a riding evaluation to test your skills learned on the last day. I have also been listening to my dad and Bill for years on motorcycle riding. Now to be fair, I have about 10 years and 1,000+ of hours off-roading on a quad, so the clutch with gear shifting was not new to me. But the twist throttle was a whole other thing. I am used to a thumb throttle so that took some getting used to. The bikes they used in the class are small, maybe 250cc. It’s really designed to teach you to be safe, how to ride through curves and corners, and stops. The smaller bikes give the student more confidence and then you can graduate to a bigger bike once you have lots more time in the seat and practice. 

The fact that I could take the class, get through the written test, plus handle the riding evaluation and pass with flying colors (almost a perfect score they said) tells me that being a newbie is actually a good thing. It took me out of my normal comfort zone of riding in the jeep and threw me into a world that I was unfamiliar with. Well if you are new to Jeeping, I can tell that it’s pretty much the same feeling. I would highly recommend you look for classes that offer you a safe environment to learn about your jeep. 

At Trails 411 (https://www.jeep4x4school.com)  here in Big Bear, CA, we do just that. We take you from whatever level of experience and/or jeep set up you have and help you get to the next level. There are classes like that offered all over like Off-roading101 (https://offroading101.com) in Texas,  that Tony attended in the JTS gladiator. Taking a class in a controlled environment is just that, it’s designed to build confidence and get you feeling comfortable with how your jeep works. Being a newbie is a learning process and the only way to learn is to just go do it. However, a little instruction from an experienced trainer doesn’t hurt.

Even though I passed the motorcycle class, I probably will not be riding my own bike. First, the class taught me that I need, and want, a lot more practice before feeling confident on the highways and roads. And 2nd we don’t own a second bike, nor is it in our future.  And I’m OK with that. What is great is that with all our riding, I feel that I could help move a bike, or ride a bike to get out of a situation if needed. So that made it worth me learning enough to help out if I needed to. (I still can’t help Bill if he runs out of gas). But for now I’m OK with being a passenger on the motorcycle.

Same thing goes for your jeep. You may be a passenger and your significant other is doing all the driving. But what happens if something happens to them? Could you drive the jeep out and get help? What if the roads weren’t easy fire roads or you were rock crawling? These are just a few things to think about when considering getting behind the wheel of your jeep. You actually could be helping your family one day, just because you took a chance and started driving. You don’t have to leave the passenger seat, but if you are a little bit curious, take the chance, find a class and get driving. You may even find yourself looking to get your own jeep one day – and if that happens, remember – you were encouraged to try and you heard it here on the Jeep Talk Show. #jeeptalkshow

Jeep Talk Show Gladiator Update

Gorilla Glass to the rescue.  I’ve heard from many of our listeners about their experience with Gorilla Glass windshields on their Jeep.  Most of the bragging they paid $0 for the upgrade.

After one year of Gladiator ownership, four (at least) strikes left a star pattern in the windshield and two of them became full edge to edge crack with only 7700 miles!  I decided that it was worth getting the Gorilla Glass windshield hoping this would save future windshield replacements.  State Farm said that they would pay for standard OEM windshield but I’d have to pay the difference for the Gorilla Glass.  My $250 deductible and then $220 for the difference.

All Star Glass Repair showed up on Wednesday and replaced my damaged OEM windshield with the Gorilla Glass.  It even has the Easter egg on the replacement, if that matters to you.  Hmmm I wonder if I could put my Jeep’s name on the glass…

When it came time to pay, I was charged… drum roll…

$250.  Don’t know why.  I told the guy that’s not what I was told.  He didn’t know, he said that’s all he was authorized to charge.

I still think State Farm will be calling me with a “Hey we made a mistake and we need more money…” but we’ll see.

If they do I’ll be selling “touch my glass” at the 2nd Annual Jeep Talk Show Off-road Event” for $5.  I’ll be sure and say “touch my glass” slowly and in a clear loud voice.

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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