Episode 623 – Jeep Regurgitates Another Name Badge
This Week In Jeep
Jeep Is Just Doing This To Piss Us Off
Remember how we’ve been talking about Jeep soon releasing an all-electric vehicle? Jeep has been saying they’re going to do it by 2025. Jeep’s first EV is supposed to be a crossover-like vehicle, part car, part SUV, but mostly car as most of them are. What we know is what we got from the front and back teasers a couple of months back, of this yellow Honda CRX, meets Renegade love child thing, painted in bumble bee yellow.
It dares to have a seven-slot pseudo-grille and looks to have the off-road prowess of a Camry. Well, guess what they’re going to call it? …and I swear to god the naming executives at Stellantis are the same unimaginative douche-nozzle jerk-wads that were at FCA who didn’t have two brain cells to rub together to come up with the original name badges for the vehicles they’ve been releasing. “Oh, we need to cater to nostalgia and our heritage or history or something or really anything that will help us connect with people so they might buy these hideous vehicles we’ve aborted from the wombs of our factories.” Pu-leeze.
They’re going to call this little, tiny, itty bitty, smaller than a renegade, good for almost nothing all-electric wuss mobile…
…wait for it… Jeepster.
As if to insult and wipe away from the annals of history Jeep’s iconic beach cruiser, they regurgitate this nonsensical steaming pile of eco-virtue. Oh and as if that’s not enough, it’s also going to be just one of a set of triplets. You see this exact, same identical vehicle, will be sold as a Fiat, as well as an Alfa Romeo. I’m sure the 7-slot-not-a-real-grill will be replaced with something else to separate the trademark out of it, but still. Insult to injury. Its bones are made from the CMP platform used in the Peugeot-Citroen family. So already this thing is pretty much all French and I think I can already smell its stink from here. The “Junior Jeepster” as some are already calling it…
(…sorry, I just threw up in my mouth a little) is scheduled to hit assembly lines in November this year. The first iteration of this …CAR… will be powered by an internal combustion engine which is expected to be the 1.2-liter Peugeot unit.
Oh doesn’t that sound just super fun! The electric version is anticipated for production in April 2023, followed by a mild hybrid trim in January 2024.
Remember my comment about its off-road abilities? Well this CMP platform wasn’t designed to accommodate any form of a 4WD or even all-wheel drivetrain.
So smaller than a Renegade. Made from a Citroen frame. Powered by a Peugeot.
And boasting just as bad of a regurgitated name badge, oh and it’s only and 2WD.
Yup, definitely not a Jeep.
Was It Mini Thieves Who Stole Mini Jeep?
A Lincoln Nebraska business was robbed after thieves rammed into its garage Tuesday morning. Around 8 am, officers were sent to CK Powersports near 25th and Fairfield Streets after an employee called and said the garage had been rammed into. The employee also told police that several items were missing. Officers arrived and found that the garage door had been damaged. Video surveillance showed that it had been rammed around 5:15 a.m., police say. The business is missing a red Ti-King replica Jeep with a 125cc engine, six motorcycle helmets, a set of car ramps, and a silver 18-foot flatbed trailer. Police estimate that the business had around $1,000 worth of damage and valued the stolen items at around $6,000. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call the police at 402-441-6000. Also on Tuesday, someone crashed into a car dealership’s garage and drove off with a $53,000 pickup truck. If you know anyone in the Lincoln Nebraska area who suddenly has a lot of body damage to their vehicle… you may want to contact the authorities.
Juniper Dunes Rec. area BURNS
The Bureau of Land Management has taken over after Franklin County firefighters worked to contain a wilderness fire overnight Wednesday. A burning Jeep sparked what had grown to a 10-acre fire in the Juniper Dunes Wilderness Area on Wednesday evening. Franklin County Fire District 3 was called out to the Juniper Dunes off-road vehicle area around 3:44 p.m. after a Jeep caught fire. The Juniper Dunes Wilderness covers more than 7,000 acres north of Pasco in Franklin County in Washington State and is divided between an open recreational area, wilderness acreage, and an area of critical habit. The flames spread into the wilderness section where firefighters aren’t able to bring in heavy equipment such as bulldozers. Instead, they were trying to contain the blaze using crop-dusting planes. The planes were dumping water on the fire, while firefighters worked digging firebreaks by hand. Fire district Capt. Jason Langston told reporters on Thursday that the fire grew to about 40 acres but had been contained and the site had been turned over to the Bureau of Land Management.
Tech Talk with Jeep Talk
TOPIC/QUESTION: Catalytic Converters
I had someone recently ask me if they needed their catalytic converter and what the point of them was anyways. Catalytic converters are used to clean up the exhaust emissions on gas-burning engines. Earlier two-way catalytic converters are used to combine oxygen with carbon monoxide (CO) and unburned hydrocarbons (HC) to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). That’s why you’d see a big stream of water come out of the tailpipe in some of those older cars when they take off from a stop light. In 1981, the two-way converters were replaced by three-way converters that also reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx). Even the newest catalytic converters will degrade over time. So it’s not uncommon for higher-mileage Jeeps to have catalytic converter issues. The insides of the catalytic converter can become damaged in a number of ways. They’re pretty robust, but not indestructible. For instance, if the converter is severely dented from too many 3rd dates with large rocks, or banged around too much from impacts you could easily start to see performance loss. Let’s say your O2 sensors are going out or you (or the previous owner) didn’t take care of the regular maintenance very well. If there is an overly rich fuel condition, or if the engine is excessively worn or tired and allows oil to blow by the cylinder rings or valve seats and into the exhaust system, the catalytic converter can start to get plugged up from all this gunk and cause a bunch of problems. Even if you frequently use leaded aviation or race fuel. These burn differently in the engine than what it was engineered for, and although may provide added performance, they may cost you the longevity of some of your exhaust components. Sometimes the converter is just worn out, seen too many miles, and just needs to be replaced. If too much fuel, oil, or incorrect fuel is pushed through the converter for long enough, the honeycomb of materials inside of the steel shell can get so hot that it melts. Inadvertently banging on or denting the converter can cause the material to break apart.
Once either of these scenarios happens, the bits can get turned sideways and block the exhaust path. A blocked exhaust causes the engine to work much harder to produce the same power, and oftentimes can’t even reach that number. The more you try to rev the engine, the more air it tries to move. The blocked exhaust causes the motor to struggle. Higher rpm will appear to make less power. Think of how well you’d perform at a marathon if you had to breathe through a sock the whole time. Sluggish engine performance. Reduced acceleration. Dark exhaust smoke. The smell of sulfur or rotten eggs from the exhaust. Excessive heat under the vehicle… These are all the tell-tale signs that you have a catalytic converter that needs to be replaced. Oh and the best part? The newer your Jeep is, the more of these that you likely have. Starting in as early as 2000 Jeep added PRE-CATS to most of their exhaust systems, little miniature catalytic converters right after the headers. These were designed to take the load off the main cat under the Jeep further back and reduce those tailpipe emissions even further.
Ok, so what do you do if you’ve suddenly discovered that you have a blocked-up catalytic converter? In a pinch, I have seen people remove the catalytic converter and knock the bits out of the steel shell with something as simple as a pry-bar. I have also seen one Jeeper cut a large hole in the converter, out on the trail… temporarily bypassing the rest of the exhaust. It was ugly as hell and sounded even worse, but he got home. You have to be careful if you decide to go this route, as you don’t want the hot exhaust directed at fuel lines, brake lines, wiring, the transmission, or transfer case for that matter. It’s only a temporary solution to get you home where you should replace the catalytic converter before driving the Jeep anymore. In almost every state, catalytic converters are a requirement. There may be some exceptions depending on how rural the county you live in is, but for most, it’s the law. Not to mention, catalytic converters are becoming more and more of a requirement on vehicles that go offroad, even if they’re not street legal. Besides the tree huggers and eco nuts feeling better about the tailpipe they’re sucking on, a catalytic converter also doubles as a spark arrester. All it takes is for one little piece of burnt carbon buildup to flow through a set of straight pipes and hit that dry, hot summer air, only to ignite the grass on the side of the trail starting a massive forest fire. So it might be a legal requirement for the trail too depending on what state or county you live in. Oh, and if you’re looking for a great source for parts to beat those dealership and parts store prices?…because catalytic converters aren’t cheap… Head over to Rockauto.com and I guarantee you will be able to save some cash on that replacement cat. Be sure to entertain the idea of going aftermarket. The cost may be a bit more, but chances are the cats you buy now will outlast the Jeep. Aftermarket performance level catalytic converters also flow better giving you a performance upgrade at the same time. Shop around, and go with something that will both fit your budget, and give you a little extra grunt at the same time.
Jeep Life – With Jeep Momma
Post Trail Ride Tips – Top 12
With the JTS Off-Road event we just had, a lot of you had a long drive home. One thing that is very important after you wheel is post-trail checking. Off-roading is tough on a vehicle. Off-roaders regularly push their vehicles to the limit, putting stress on even beefed-up aftermarket components. Even if you stick to casual fire roads, you should get in the habit of performing regular maintenance checks after every off-road trip.
- Wash Your Jeep, especially the undercarriage. Get under the hood and hose out the engine compartment. Cleaning your vehicle not only helps protect the exterior of your vehicle but also makes it easier to spot any problems
- Check your tire pressure and then do it again the next day, as tire pressure drops when the air inside it cools down. Don’t forget to check the pressure of your spare also; you might need it one day. Inspect your tires for any deep cuts or missing lugs. Check lug nuts and tighten if needed
- Examine the differential and transmission for any damage or leaks. Many off-roaders use heavy-duty covers on their differentials but dented covers can leak. If you’ve been in deep water check the fluid for a milky-white color which means water contamination and change as needed.
- Check your shocks for any damage such as deep dents or leaks, including bushings and mounts. One of my mounts broke on a super easy trail. They take a lot of stress.
- If you’ve been in deep sand, water, or mud you should inspect your brake drums for mud or sand. Inspect your brake lines, especially if you’ve lifted your vehicle and still have stock brake lines. If your brake lines are too short they will get stressed from over-extension. You don’t want to lose braking power unexpectedly.
- Larger tires are tough on axle components such as ball joints, knuckles, and shafts. Check everything over carefully for any signs of stress such as cracks or bends. Properly jack up your vehicle and give a good tug on each wheel to check for wobbles and looseness.
- Check suspension components such as track bar, control arms, springs, and bump stops for any signs of wear or damage. Look for any signs of components rubbing against each other which is usually shiny metal. Crawl underneath your Jeep and inspect your suspension and steering components for signs of damage or excessive wear and any loose nuts and bolts. Wiggle things around.
Grease any joints and bearings that need greasing, including u-joints and driveshafts (if greasable.) If you’re not sure what takes grease, look for a small grease zerk fitting, it indicates a part that needs greasing regularly.- Look for any cracks in your vehicle’s frame, especially along weld lines and high-stress areas.
- Hard use and dust cause engine parts to wear out faster, so take a good look under the hood for any leaks and check all hoses, belts, and clamps. Look for anything that is loose and replace parts that are worn. Check all fluid levels. Inspect fluids for any water contamination if you’ve been in deep water. Check your radiator to make sure it isn’t damaged, leaking, or clogged with mud. Inspect your air filter especially if you have been in a lot of dust.
- If you used your winch Take the time to re-spool it so it is ready to go the next time you need it.
- Your Recovery Gear Clean your recovery gear. And organize your tools, and restock/replace gear in your trail bag so it is ready to go for your next outing.
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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