Seat Belt Retractors

[David Kuhn]

Okay, I've had nothing but problems with my 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited X.

It's such a lemon. Besides all the on-going issues, the latest is that the roof leaked and the seat belt retractor rusted that bad in the "do not open" side.

How to people run around in the rain with no roof on their wrangler and not have this problem? That seat belt is a $270 part!

The other problems: #1:Auto transmission gear linkage cable constantly coming off in console.

#2: burns a quart of oil every 800 miles.

#3: each caliper locks up at least once per year. AutoZone keeps giving me new calipers and pads.

#4: related to #3, rotors

#5: check engine light comes on and off all the time. Sensor 2, bank 2.

#6: roof is hard / shot. Can not use zippers.

#7: key fobs virtually impossible to replace. I am down to one. I was told that I need both original ones in order to program one new one! Well I can't find one of the original ones! I am down to one.

This jeep has only seen the highway and has never really been off road.

How do people live with these pieces of shit? I love my 1949 CJ3 that I rebuilt in 2007, but am in a love and mostly hate relationship with this 2008 WranglervUnlimited X.

I managed to bullshit my way through inspection yesterday. Luckily he didn't try out the drivers inoperable seatbelt.

I see HC Whitney sells a universal 3 point belt for about $60. Can I get that to work? How do you unhook the shoulder belt from the sliding vertical track above the seat?

I could really use some guidance.

Thanks kindly guys.

Dave


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JMT]

A few guys on the forum have JK's, and they may be able to help, but it's really designed for TJ owners. You might find more help on a JK forum. Over here you just confirmed our suspicions, don't get a JK, especially the 2007-2011. Trade for a clean TJ and I can almost guarantee you won't be having these problems. Best of luck.

 

[David Kuhn]

A few guys on the forum have JK's, and they may be able to help, but it's really designed for TJ owners. You might find more help on a JK forum. Over here you just confirmed our suspicions, don't get a JK, especially the 2007-2011. Trade for a clean TJ and I can almost guarantee you won't be having these problems. Best of luck.

I'm sorry, I'm always confused to what TJ/JK means. I thought I just had a wrangler and this was a wrangler forum? the picture at the top of this page is a Wrangler. What's the difference?

 

[Serbonze]

I'm sorry, I'm always confused to what TJ/JK means. I thought I just had a wrangler and this was a wrangler forum? the picture at the top of this page is a Wrangler. What's the difference?

Just like most models of cars, every few years they are redesigned. The "TJ" model designation was offered from 1997-2006. In 2007, the Wrangler went through a redesign and the new model was given the designation "JK".

This chart explains what Jeep vehicle has what letter designation:
AJ Prototype military Jeep from about 1950. AJ probably stood for "Advanced Jeep"
BRC 40 The second series of Bantam Prototypes Built in 1941
BRC 60 "Mark II" The first seres of Bantam Prototypes 1940-1941
C 101 Jeepster Commando 1966-1971
C 104 AMC Commando 1972-1973
CJ Civilian Jeep 1944-1986
CJ 1 First few prototype civilian Jeeps in early 1944
CJ 2 Second batch of prototype Jeeps 1944-1945
CJ 2A First production CJ, known as a Flatfender 1945-1949
CJ 3A Replaced the 2A 1949-1953
CJ 3B High Hood model 1953-1968
CJ 4 Prototype vehicle that led to the CJ 5 1950 OR 1951
CJ 5 First round fender Jeep 1955-1983
CJ 6 Long wheelbase variant of the CJ 5 1955-1976 Domestic 1955-1981 Export
CJ 7 Longer version of the CJ 5. Included Doors and more comfort 1976-1986
CJ 8 Scrambler Long wheel base version of CJ 7 1981-1986
CJ 10 Export truck resembling a CJ with YJ grill. Often used for airport tugs 1982-1985
DJ 4x2 Delivery vehicle called the Dispatcher. Several versions built since 1956
FC Forward Control Cab-over truck 1957-1965
FJ Fleet Van 4x2 Cab-over truck 1961
GP Ford prototype that followed the Pygmy G = Gov. Contract P = 80" Recon Car Built only in 1941
GPA Ford built Jeep A = Amphibian 1942-1943
GPW Fort Built WWII Jeep built to Willys Design W = Willys pattern 1942-1945
JK Larger and wider Wrangler replacement 2007 - current
KJ Replacement for the Cherokee in the U.S. Market
MA Willys prototypes that followed the Quad M = Military contract A = Series Built only 1941
MB Standardized Willys 1/4 ton Jeep of WWII. B = Series 1942-1945
MC First post war military variant of the Jeep. C = Series Known as the M-38 1950-1955
MD 2nd offshoot of military Jeep. Basically CJ 5 M38A1 1952-1971
MDA Longer wheelbase version of the MD known as the M170 1954-1967
MJ Pick-up truck variant of the XJ Cherokee 1986-1992
SJ Wagoneer SUV 1963-1991 or Gladiator J Series Trucks 1963-1987
TJ Coil Sprung Wrangler with more creature comforts 1997-2006
VJ Jeepster 1949-1959
WJ Grand Cherokee 1999-2004
WK Grand Cherokee with IFS 2005 - Current
XJ Mid-sized Cherokee 1984-2001
XK Jeep Commander 7 person SVU 2006 - Current
YJ Square head light replacement for the CJ 1987-1995
ZJ Grand Cherokee released to replace the SJ 1993 - 1998

 

[JMT]

I'm sorry, I'm always confused to what TJ/JK means. I thought I just had a wrangler and this was a wrangler forum? the picture at the top of this page is a Wrangler. What's the difference?

Well, everything. In 2007 they did a complete overhaul of the Jeep Wrangler. The short story is they made it more user friendly, more comfy, like an SUV. It can still go off-road, but virtually nothing is the same except the basic shape. Although the wheelbase is longer and the stance is wider.

Most distressingly, they got rid of the bulletproof straight 6 engine (4.0) and went to the leaky V-6 (3.8).

There are a few fun threads on here related to your question:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/things-you-like-about-tjs.4260/

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/jks-things-you-dislike-about-them.4268/

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/things-you-dislike-on-tjs.3417/

 

[Rob5589]

Most of what you describe is generally fixable except the heavy oil burning. Unless you are willing to have the engine rebuilt I would look to unload it. Then you can buy a TJ and hang out with the cool kids

 

[David Kuhn]

Most of what you describe is generally fixable except the heavy oil burning. Unless you are willing to have the engine rebuilt I would look to unload it. Then you can buy a TJ and hang out with the cool kids

The oil burning is since is was new. It now has 60K miles on it. I've read elsewhere that most of the 2008 and 2009 ones burn oil. Even though that Chrysler acknowledges the engine factory in Mexico bored the cylinder holes a tad oblong, it is not considered a problem worth of warranty or the 100K mile drive train warranty. I also read that Chrysler will replace the short block for $1500 to keep customers who bitch too much about it happy. $0 for this known defect would keep me happy. Why Wrangler owners haven't had a class action against Chrysler I don't know.

The 2008 Wranglers just make jeep look like shit overall. 15/16 mpg for such a small SUV doesn't help either. Of course with my 1949 CJ3A with the old GoDevil, it only does about 12/13 mpg for a 4 banger. That's all that can be expected out of that engine, but it's a 1949 non-daily driver, not a 2008!

Actually after this experience, I would never get another Jeep again, JK/TJ/YJ/KJ/FJ, whatever, with the exception of maybe a CJ8 scrambler if I could find one reasonable. They are rares as hens teeth, but about the sexiest jeep ever.

Dave

 

[JMT]

Well, no use for us TJ owners to bash JK's. This ^^^is it straight from the horses mouth!

@David Kuhn, no disrespect and I wish you didn't have all the problems. BTW, I got my TJ bc it is so reliable. @200,000mikes they're just about warmed up!

 

[David Kuhn]

Well, no use for us TJ owners to bash JK's. This ^^^is it straight from the horses mouth!

@David Kuhn, no disrespect and I wish you didn't have all the problems. BTW, I got my TJ bc it is so reliable. @200,000mikes they're just about warmed up!

Don't laugh or hate me, but I liked the rectangular headlights of the 1990's - LOL (that would be the YJ?). Yes, if I could go back in time, I would much rather have a TJ than a JK. Isn't the TJ more likely to roll over on a sharp turn? Isn't that why they were widened in to the JK?

The guy that used to be the head of our purchasing department here at work, had a 2007 Wrangler; which I guess is a JK. He told me one morning that all four catalytic converters had to be replaced (he lives in a emission control inspection county in PA, so he couldn't just get them punched out). If his engine was one of those that burned oil, I wonder if that could have contributed to the converters clogging? I guess before I am stranded, I may go across the river to the exhaust shop and have those converters punched out. It's okay here in the country I live in (as long as it doesn't look like they were tampered with; they don't actually check omissions here). I was told the check engine light may stay on, but supposedly there is resistor that can be plugged in to the senor cable to keep then Check engine light off. I'm worried that they could be clogging since that check engine light that is on ~75% of the time now it senor 2 bank two. I am pretty sure that is one of the converters.

Dave

 

[JMT]

No, it was the CJ's that rolled over easily and gave wranglers a bad rep.

Yep, YJ's have the square/rectangular headlights.

 

[Mike_H]

ALL Jeeps, CJ, TJ, JK, etc will roll over easily if driven improperly. So will every other SUV and truck on the road. Its all about center of gravity and roll centers. Not a problem if you pay attention to your speed in corners....

So...Catalytic Converters are government mandated to have a 100,000 mile warranty, I think. At least, that is what the dealer told me when one went out on my old avalanche at 120,000 miles. Also, burning a quart of oil every 800 miles should be considered "excessive." a quart every 3000 is commonly accepted...You may be up on your timeframe though to get coverage on that anymore. I'd raise stink at the dealership, then get FIA's customer Care number and raise holy hell until someone helped me out.