Hello everyone
Greetings fellow Jeep fiends.
I've always wanted a Jeep and despite the collective wisdom of the crowd regarding reliability, I've decided to take the plunge and buy a 2005 CRD Grand Cherokee Limited. Acting contrary to my sensible advise I've handed out to friends and those who would listen, I bought my Jeep on an online auction site while on an island off the far North Queensland coast, near the settlement of Lockhart River. As the car was in Victoria it was a big fat punt. The photos were good and the line that the engine ran (albiet accompanied by a perform service warning} didn't deter me. I successfully bid for it against dispirited bidding and a flakey internet connection and was successful at $5700 plus $400 buyers premium including gst. All up the price totted up to the princely sum of $6100. I couldn't pick her up for a few weeks but when I did I was worried but eventually delighted with what I saw when she rolled into sight. I asked the guy who drove it to the gate If it started ok and he said it did and it drove ok. Driving it home was a pleasure, comfortable seats, plenty of power and to my delight I knocked my knee on what turned out to be a working electric brake controller. I'd been thinking of transferring it from our trusty 1999 rodeo turbo diesel ute. The Jeep already had a Mopar towbar so I was almost setup to tow my 700kg tare stealth camper with loads to spare.
The reason I committed this uncharacteristic purchase was the seats. I'd heard they were good on this and some other forums where I have skulked for years. More importantly my wife loves them and it was in part because of her complaints about our other tugs bench seat that I plunged into Grand Cherokee ownership. The roadworthy only required two new front disk rotors{not bad for 255000 kays} $170 for the roadworthy inspection and a grand for the Victorian government to register it. I can't wait to get on the road with our camper in tow but my wife is recovering from surgery. I've changed the oil and filter and have ordered a cabin filter as there wasn't one. I've ordered a fuel filter and I will change the fluids as a priority. Taking off the air filter to turbo duct revealed a broken turbo end and an orange seal which I understand to be problematic. I bought a new one at ravenhall
Jeep for $229. Prompt and efficient service. Overnight turnaround and they sourced it from another dealer for me. I could have bought it from the US and saved $30 but thought this was a better option. I was measuring the front sway bar this morning and discovered a disaster waiting to happen on the fasteners for the plastic under engine cowling behind the front bumper. It was secured with captive nuts on one side which had mashed the plastic around them and they were hanging by a thread. the other bolts were self drilling self tapping metal screws in over-sized holes, hanging by a thread. I rebuilt the fittings and put in bigger self tappers and washers and now all the bolt heads are the same size and will be easy to remove without damage. Mechanics and dealers have to make a profit and this is an example of what happens when jobs are rushed and air tools are involved. It took me about 6 easy hours to figure out and fix it. I cannot lay blame because I don't have a service record, but our Prius did and had the same issues. Breaking fasteners and using metal screws to get the job out the door. Any way I'm pretty happy with my purchase and she will be in semi retirement on the open road as a dedicated camper tug. I've attached some pictures. By the way my wife has named this wonderful vehicle The Cheep!
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