Tranny and Engine destroyed

sgt jeep · 05-02-2012, 03:33 PM

JK Rubicon. Under 36,000 miles.

So take a look at these pics and tell me what could have caused this. Anyone ever seen anything like this before?

Veh was on dry pavement, going about 60mph, step on gas pedal to accelerate, engine noise, puff of smoke seen in rear-view. Engine dies and Jeep is pulled over to side of road. Big puddle of oil. Towed to dealer.

**purplepig** · 05-02-2012, 03:37 PM

yikes!

Sandhara · 05-02-2012, 03:38 PM

Wow thats impressive, sorry cant help with what may have caused it though.

cmashark · 05-02-2012, 03:45 PM

looks like a rod snapped and went out the bottom.... I am betting that one of your back two pistons is against the head. Sometimes **** just lets go. Happened on my wife's old 2000 Camaro. One of the rods snapped in half.

Chris

mountainkahn · 05-02-2012, 03:52 PM

... Dare I say it -- symptom of bailed out car companies?? Increase profit by making cheaper parts?? Unfortunately, I just bought a 2012... Man, these things rust...

Brian_in_MT · 05-02-2012, 04:41 PM

As an old school hot rodder/drag racer i've seen this many times in my own cars.

You sir threw a connecting rod.

If you didn't hear any knocking noise until the engine let go, then most probable cause is you lost a head gasket and got water on top of that piston. Can't compress water so connecting rod bends in a V or L shape and the next revolution around everything goes to ****. Hopefully a piston didn't slap the head hard enough to warp or crack it.

Cause wont be known until you open the engine up but I guarantee that's a thrown connecting rod.

DavidJeep · 05-02-2012, 04:46 PM

If you take it to the Jeep dealer here in West Central New Jersey they would tell you " Thats Normal " and " It's not under warranty "

Yonco · 05-02-2012, 06:26 PM

To much oil consumption and ran low? When was the last time you checked/added oil? I had a YJ with a 4.0L do something very similar to that when i had watered down oil. But she knocked hard for 10 mins while i "tried" to make it to the road. To add onto what Brian_in_MT said. Ive had a leaking intake manifold gasket leak coolant into the cylinder and hydrolock the engine, upon starting, #1 cylinder/rod looked a lot like that mess(ford 4.2L) But for that to happen the engine would have to be sitting long enough for fuild to fill the chamber. -Jon

Brian_in_MT · 05-02-2012, 06:55 PM

Crawling this thread for sure!

I got a PM from OP. Wait until you hear what the dealership told him!

Remember, he said he was driving 60mph down a dry highway when this happened, so it's impossible it happened at startup...

Yonco · 05-02-2012, 07:32 PM

So what did he say?

WXman · 05-02-2012, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidJeep

If you take it to the Jeep dealer here in West Central New Jersey they would tell you " Thats Normal " and " It's not under warranty "

Same around here.

sgt jeep · 05-02-2012, 08:49 PM

Thanks for all the input guys!

Like I posted, the jeep was being driven down the highway going approx. 60mph, and had been running for about 15-20 min prior to the failure. The dealer stated due to the water spots in the engine and airbox, and also due to the caked on mud on the exhaust and under-carriage he and his master mechanic of 18 yrs stated I hydrolocked my jeep and it would not be covered under warranty. He even went on to say that “you know what you did” and when I questioned his statement he said I submerged my jeep. I told him I did no such thing and just got back into the country from an overseas deployment. I said I changed the oil prior to leaving and the jeep was being driven on dirt roads to/from the kids’ soccer practice. He went on to make blanket statements about how it is all my fault, etc……I stopped talking to him and went to his boss. (The oil level was double checked after I changed it and good to go.)

I had it towed out of that dealership and now my insurance is working it. I haven’t a clue as to how this happened and refuse to believe I caused it. I have driven through puddles and on dirt roads, but I have never submerged it, stalled it out or ran it in water/river. At this point, I don’t care who pays, I just want it fixed. Insurance or warranty. I am leaving again soon and need a working vehicle.

I do not know any better, but it looks like the tranny gave first and just ripped away the housing around the clutch/flywheel.

Is it possible she ran over something? Vandalism? Or do the pics clearly represent a thrown rod?

tjkj2002 · 05-02-2012, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt jeep

Thanks for all the input guys!

Like I posted, the jeep was being driven down the highway going approx. 60mph, and had been running for about 15-20 min prior to the failure. The dealer stated due to the water spots in the engine and airbox, and also due to the caked on mud on the exhaust and under-carriage he and his master mechanic of 18 yrs stated I hydrolocked my jeep and it would not be covered under warranty. He even went on to say that “you know what you did” and when I questioned his statement he said I submerged my jeep. I told him I did no such thing and just got back into the country from an overseas deployment. I said I changed the oil prior to leaving and the jeep was being driven on dirt roads to/from the kids’ soccer practice. He went on to make blanket statements about how it is all my fault, etc……I stopped talking to him and went to his boss. (The oil level was double checked after I changed it and good to go.)

I had it towed out of that dealership and now my insurance is working it. I haven’t a clue as to how this happened and refuse to believe I caused it. I have driven through puddles and on dirt roads, but I have never submerged it, stalled it out or ran it in water/river. At this point, I don’t care who pays, I just want it fixed. Insurance or warranty. I am leaving again soon and need a working vehicle.

I do not know any better, but it looks like the tranny gave first and just ripped away the housing around the clutch/flywheel.

Is it possible she ran over something? Vandalism? Or do the pics clearly represent a thrown rod?

Well you stated you just got back from a deployment and had changed the oil before deploying,if I read the above correctly.

If it was a year long deployment you should have changed the oil ASAP.Was it in storage the whole time? If so the lack of being run and most likely improper storage was to blame.Not a defect from the factory.You just can't park a vehicle for a year and do nothing to it and expect it to run perfect afterwards without the proper prep and maintenance.

Wavedatya · 05-02-2012, 08:58 PM

Sorry to hear that man. Nobody should have to go through this crap.

Well, the dealers around here are all the same it seems. I had a dealer tell me all my problems on my dodge ram were caused by my tires. They will do or say anything to screw people over.

Anything they say doesn't shock me anymore. I almost want to find a decent mechanic an deal with them. My warranty is almost done anyways so..... I found a decent mechanic but it's inconvenient. Hope this issue gets resolved for you without hassle.

**MattJeep** · 05-02-2012, 09:01 PM

If its parked in the garage sure you can, give me a break. Even if its parked in the driveway truthfully.

Edit: Is it just me or does it look really dry underneath? Seems like there'd be oil splattered everywhere.