Grip Grip
02-05-2010, 09:57 PM
This is the email I sent Builder Bill, but I've added some extra text due to not needing to be so susscint.
"Well Bill, I knew this email was coming one day, just not so soon.
Anyway, I've been having some occasional popping up front when I lightly apply the gas or as I let off. I thought it was the axle
isolators, but the dealership's mechanic said it was the control arm bushing, and so i had him install a used control arm that I supplied
(car-parts.com).
After the install, I drove a 1/2 mile to get the wheels aligned, since my dealership can't align 20" wheels. Anyway, as I was driving to the shop I noticed the traction control light would blink intermittently. Also, as I pulled into the parking lot of the shop I noticed the same annoying clanking that the control arm was supposed to have corrected. :( At this point, I felt I had no option but to at least have the Jeep realigned and return to the dealership at a later date regarding their misdiagnosis.
Anyway, after the shop works on the Jeep for 30 minutes or so they call me in. I knew there was going to be bad news right away. They proceeded to inform me that the control arm I bought was either damaged or from a different year Jeep (if that maters). I thought they were all the same, so I bought one from an '08. Mine's an '06. Since they weren't able to align the wheel with the new (used) control arm, I decided to drive it back to the dealership and have them reinstall the old control arm.
Long story short, I didn't make it a back to the dealership before the popping got worse and the Traction Control and service 4wd lights came on flashing like a mofo. I was only driving 35 mph, but the Jeep didn't care. Smoke and the smell of something burning leads me to believe the transfer case is dead. :(
I guess the big question is, do you happen to have any transfer cases in stock?"
Well, this is what happened to me today. :)
"Well Bill, I knew this email was coming one day, just not so soon.
Anyway, I've been having some occasional popping up front when I lightly apply the gas or as I let off. I thought it was the axle
isolators, but the dealership's mechanic said it was the control arm bushing, and so i had him install a used control arm that I supplied
(car-parts.com).
After the install, I drove a 1/2 mile to get the wheels aligned, since my dealership can't align 20" wheels. Anyway, as I was driving to the shop I noticed the traction control light would blink intermittently. Also, as I pulled into the parking lot of the shop I noticed the same annoying clanking that the control arm was supposed to have corrected. :( At this point, I felt I had no option but to at least have the Jeep realigned and return to the dealership at a later date regarding their misdiagnosis.
Anyway, after the shop works on the Jeep for 30 minutes or so they call me in. I knew there was going to be bad news right away. They proceeded to inform me that the control arm I bought was either damaged or from a different year Jeep (if that maters). I thought they were all the same, so I bought one from an '08. Mine's an '06. Since they weren't able to align the wheel with the new (used) control arm, I decided to drive it back to the dealership and have them reinstall the old control arm.
Long story short, I didn't make it a back to the dealership before the popping got worse and the Traction Control and service 4wd lights came on flashing like a mofo. I was only driving 35 mph, but the Jeep didn't care. Smoke and the smell of something burning leads me to believe the transfer case is dead. :(
I guess the big question is, do you happen to have any transfer cases in stock?"
Well, this is what happened to me today. :)