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recently purchased jeep with problems

2K views 32 replies 8 participants last post by  jwmbishop 
#1 ·
Hi all, just bought my first 2007 Jeep Wrangler last week and unfortunately its been a bad experience. Just seeing if others have ever had the same issues I am having.
To start the vehicle surges between 40 and 45 MPH when going uphill, it does this when it is going 55-65 MPH aswell on flat highway. I can only describe it as a jolt or shake to the whole vehicle
2 days ago after driving the vehicle for on hour it began pulling to the right majorly and driving very sluggish a screeching could be heard when the tires were moving in reverse. when i hit 45 mph it experienced the fabled "Death Wobble" after turning around and taking the vehicle back home I shut the vehicle off and I called the dealership i purchased it from. They promptly informed me to bring it in. During the drive to the dealership The vehicle no longer pulled to the right and did not death wobble anymore. The next day i took a tech for a ride to try and recreate the symptoms and I could not get it to wobble or pull to the right the tech did feel the surging and said he doesnt think its relating to the transmission. The dealership cannot find the source of my problems and I am very distraught as to how one day it can pull to the right and wobble, but the next it doesnt.
 
#2 ·
Pulling to the right could have been a stuck brake pad or an issue with a brake line. Sometimes they clear themselves, most of the time they don't.

I doubt you experienced death wobble. My guess is the issue that caused the pulling was a major contributing factor to the rest of your issues...

To me "surges" means to move forward quickly. What does it mean to you?
 
#3 ·
Maybe an abs/stability system issue? Make sure all four tires are same diameter and inflated evenly and Wheel speed sensors and tone rings in good condition. That sounds like the way our old Subaru acted with a space saver spare and tc on...
 
#7 ·
That would make sense and help explain why he feels the vehicle "jolt" forward.

Since the death wobble is now gone maybe disable the traction/ stability systems and see if the problem persists. There are some threads on how to completely disable these on the 07-11 JKs.

Any warning lights or codes stored in the computer?

Edit: Do you have to be in 4 low to disable stability control?
 
#4 ·
AftonJeeper said:
Pulling to the right could have been a stuck brake pad or an issue with a brake line. Sometimes they clear themselves, most of the time they don't. I doubt you experienced death wobble. My guess is the issue that caused the pulling was a major contributing factor to the rest of your issues... To me "surges" means to move forward quickly. What does it mean to you?
It's like the transmission is catching. The whole vehicle just jolts
 
#5 ·
jwmbishop said:
Maybe an abs/stability system issue? Make sure all four tires are same diameter and inflated evenly and Wheel speed sensors and tone rings in good condition. That sounds like the way our old Subaru acted with a space saver spare and tc on...
all 4 tires are newer and of the same diameter. And they are aired up enough
 
#6 ·
AftonJeeper said:
Pulling to the right could have been a stuck brake pad or an issue with a brake line. Sometimes they clear themselves, most of the time they don't. I doubt you experienced death wobble. My guess is the issue that caused the pulling was a major contributing factor to the rest of your issues... To me "surges" means to move forward quickly. What does it mean to you?
I can justify that it was in fact death wobble. The wheel shaking frantically side to side aswell as the front tires. It matched the videos on YouTube
 
#8 ·
AftonJeeper said:
That would make sense and help explain why he feels the vehicle "jolt" forward. Since the death wobble is now gone maybe disable the traction/ stability systems and see if the problem persists. There are some threads on how to completely disable these on the 07-11 JKs. Any warning lights or codes stored in the computer? Edit: Do you have to be in 4 low to disable stability control?
That does sound convincing. The vehicle is currently at the dealership being looked over
After work today I am supposed to get an update.
 
#12 ·
Sounds like ball joints or wheel bearing to me. I would call the dealership and ask them to look them over asap. I'd honestly be pretty shocked if it wasn't the ball joints. On my 2007, I replaced them twice before upgrading to the Dynatrac ProSteers. Unfortunately, the stock ball joints are complete crap in our model Jeep (JK 2007-2016), and if you do some googling, you'll see there are TONS of forum posts of people complaining about them. If you upgrade to the Dynatrac ProSteers, you need to grease them every thousand miles or so, but it only takes about 10 seconds to do them with a cheapo grease gun. The Dynatracs are a little expensive at first, but I've had mine on my Jeep for probably 25k miles or so now, and they are still going strong, with 35" mud tires etc.
 
#13 ·
vgullotta said:
Sounds like ball joints or wheel bearing to me. I would call the dealership and ask them to look them over asap. I'd honestly be pretty shocked if it wasn't the ball joints. On my 2007, I replaced them twice before upgrading to the Dynatrac ProSteers. Unfortunately, the stock ball joints are complete crap in our model Jeep (JK 2007-2016), and if you do some googling, you'll see there are TONS of forum posts of people complaining about them. If you upgrade to the Dynatrac ProSteers, you need to grease them every thousand miles or so, but it only takes about 10 seconds to do them with a cheapo grease gun. The Dynatracs are a little expensive at first, but I've had mine on my Jeep for probably 25k miles or so now, and they are still going strong, with 35" mud tires etc.
it's currently at the dealership getting looked at . I have a feeling your right.
 
#14 ·
ball joints you check with the wheel off the ground. place a pry bar under the tire and pop it up. if it has movement up of more than just a tinny bit its worn if it moves up say a 1/8 its shot once its up half way move the pry bar left to right looking for lateral play it moves that way its shot. unit bearings wheel off the ground and at 9 and 3 o'clock feel for bearing movement. you cant do any of this on the ground.

i dont trust dealers much anymore and most shops. they tend to just not look or dont care. Since this might be a a used warranty if you bought it from a dealer they have what a 30 day it has to work.? might vary state to state.
 
#21 ·
Hi Zolaman40,

My colleagues and I can follow up with dealerships for more information and get corporate resources involved to help diagnose your vehicle if needed. Please PM our page with your VIN and dealership if you would like me to contact them!

Andrea
Jeep Social Care Specialist
 
#17 ·
Knowledge is power, and dealerships are much less likely to 'pull one over on you' if you know a bit about your vehicle. Not all dealerships are shady. Yes, a lot seem that way, but most people bash dealerships when they get bad service, but fail to praise dealerships when they get top quality service. You are taking the right steps by getting on a forum and learning what you can. Where do you live? There may be a forum member with experience that can help look over your jeep with you... and even help you fix it yourself.
 
#18 ·
Word came back from the dealership that the jeep needs the transmission serviced. Apparently it had a code on it for "light transmission overheating" the dealership is covering the cost and has been very good in cooperating. Though I still wonder how that can cause a pull to the right and death wobble
 
#19 ·
Psycho-X-Jeep said:
Knowledge is power, and dealerships are much less likely to 'pull one over on you' if you know a bit about your vehicle. Not all dealerships are shady. Yes, a lot seem that way, but most people bash dealerships when they get bad service, but fail to praise dealerships when they get top quality service. You are taking the right steps by getting on a forum and learning what you can. Where do you live? There may be a forum member with experience that can help look over your jeep with you... and even help you fix it yourself.
I live in Decatur Illinois. As I stated in a reply the dealership found a code for "light transmission overheating"
 
#23 ·
That takes ME right back to over engagement of the TC/stability/anti-roll/anti-sway systems (which automatically apply brake to help you control the vehicle - even when and especially IF on the gas).

Your initial description was text book symptoms of anti-sway engagement (the surging feel) mixed with a sticking brake caliper (the right pull and wobble)- except it went away which leads me to believe it was the control system ENTIRELY (mechanical sticky would stay there). Check that right front wheel speed sensor, tone ring and wire (right rear would make it pull right but hardly noticeable). If you are moving down the road straight but the system "thinks" you are yawing sideways - it will bring brakes to the opposite side (and this would not always light a light or store a code - its actually "working" not failing). A mechanically sticky left side caliper COULD cause anti-sway to engage the right side brakes - and that would be surge like, just like when anti-locks apply - the pedal itself feels pulsy...

Possibly a reflash would fix it... a data logger over time and use could pinpoint any system issues. The yaw sensor could even be doing it...
 
#22 ·
JeepCares said:
Hi Zolaman40, My colleagues and I can follow up with dealerships for more information and get corporate resources involved to help diagnose your vehicle if needed. Please PM our page with your VIN and dealership if you would like me to contact them! Andrea Jeep Social Care Specialist
thank you. I will if needed. Waiting to see today if issues are resolved .
 
#27 ·
ditto. and (before the muffler change) would often catch myself holding high RPM after a complete stop!
 
#28 ·
Little update. Vehicle is back from dealership. The dealership flushed the transmission fluid and replaced the filter. They reflashed the computer aswell. Vehicle is still giving a slight jolt between 40-45 when the vehicle upshifts and the Rpms go down in beginning to wonder if it's the ESP as stated before. I turned esp off by holding it for 10 seconds and it still did it. I think that only partially disables it from what I have read. I'm beginning to wonder if the jolt is just a Jeep thing and that maybe I'm over exaggerating
 
#31 ·
if the trans was ran hot the fluid would tell the story. Look, smell and taste test.

my power steering fluid look bad brown, smelled like old dish water and tasted like burnt spaghetti sauce. 35k but that pump worked harder than the trans by far, just not enough gearing for the tire and terrain. had always whined and at times would not budge. like bringing the wife.......replaced, the power steering box with a psc. whine stopped. well one did..:peaking:
 
#32 ·
Not really. My esp light flashes if its on or off. On and exit highway ramps, the esp flashes, you can feel the blacks slightly grabbing and it pulls you to one side or the other. Its not going to cause me to lose control or anything. Just annoying.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G928A using Tapatalk
 
#33 ·
the FMVSS for stability systems does outline strategies that engage corrections but do NOT light the light or otherwise post a driver "distraction" (for example as I experienced - 230 miles driving in a cross/head wind towing a trailer - never felt any sway or pulls, barely had to steer right to counter wind, no dings no lights. But when I stopped for fuel and tire temps -I also hit the rotors and the right rear was 150 degrees hotter than the left front! Sway mitigation....). I think the jeep strategy only lights or dings when corrective braking exceeds a certain demand - % brake effort and adjustment calls per trip cycle maybe? ...
 
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