Jeep Fiat Death Machines

NickMaul

NickMaul

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2009
Location
Norfolk, VA
Yikes. I guess I had not seen this before but WTH? People can't find Park with the newer Grand Cherokees with their "joy stick shifters." An actor in LA got crushed by his jeep when it failed to engage in park.

Jeep involved in fatal Anton Yelchin accident was subject of safety recall

At least turn the parking brake on right? They aren't even levers or pedals to deal with anymore. Just a push button.
 
Blaze said:
And that is why electronic controls suck.
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BINGO.

I work for a research agency where everything is based on the premise of highly integrated electronics systems controlling everything.
It drives me crazy, sometimes you need to just have good old mechanical stuff to ensure safety.

BTW, I know lots of people, including my wife, who NEVER use the parking brake w/ their automatic trans car. Their philosophy - "Why? The trans holds it."
I think the only time the handle in my wife's Mazda is lifted is when I'm cleaning out all of the empty water bottles, bubble gum wrappers, pens and cracker crumbs from her center console.
 
I just recently sold our grand Cherokee that was subject to the recall of possibly rolling away in Park.

Wow! Crazy.
 
Please America: Learn how to operate your damn vehicle! You can figure out the Bluetooth, and the Facebook status update link, and the infinite color adjustment mood lighting, but you can't figure out the shifter?

And use the parking brake; the trans is not designed to hold on a damn incline with just the park interlock.
 
REDLYNER said:
I just recently sold our grand Cherokee that was subject to the recall of possibly rolling away in Park.

Wow! Crazy.
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Chrysler's solution to the problem is to provide people with instructions on how to make sure their vehicles are in park. Apparently the problem is the lack of visual feedback that you are actually in park since the shifter returns to center. Terrible idea, in my opinion.

Reid said:
i dont see a parking brake there...... is that legal?
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They're increasingly going electronic, which I don't fully understand. Seems they operate like a line-lock, but you have no mechanical backup should the hydraulic system fail. I don't like that. On my friend's Subaru, you hold the brake and pull the "Parking brake" button and it locks on. I like a lever or pedal with a cable.
 
As I understood the News Article tonight, this has been a Problem with Jeep, & subject to recall, since 2013. They just released the "Fix", & recall to start "maybe" in July! :shaking:
 
catfishblues said:
Chrysler's solution to the problem is to provide people with instructions on how to make sure their vehicles are in park. Apparently the problem is the lack of visual feedback that you are actually in park since the shifter returns to center. Terrible idea, in my opinion.
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Not just visual feedback, but also tactile - w/ a conventional lever and trans you can feel it lock into place
 
that's why I have 3 willys jeeps. made from metal and they will still work another 70 years from now. yes Im old fashioned.
 
Newer Mercedes are the same way. The stalk returns to center no matter what gear you're in. I've gotten out of a few to open the garage door at the shop and they started rolling away. I hate those shifters. I've had at least 5 or so customers do the same thing and damn near run over stuff.
 
The newer Ram trucks I have upfitted are the same way. And Im only guessing some other damn electrical thingy is the only reason a youngin or such cant just switch the sombitch runnin 80 down I40. That would be a real cluster.. I usually feel real stupid reaching up at the steering wheel and grabbing air three times.
 
Bogleparsons said:
the 2016 Ram loner I had just used a dial to shift... I was a bit embarrassed until I found it.
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Probably the only real complaint I've had about my truck. I would much rather have it on the column or a lever. It was a PITA unlit I got used to it. Still feels weird ....
 
Even with vehicles that still have a shifter on the column or floor, I think the majority are electronically controlled. There is no mechanical linkage to the trans any more.

Learned that on a 6L80E in the G8 I had when the shift select switch failed twice and all the car knew to do was lock in 3rd gear...
 
Rented a Ram 1500 last year, got in and it took me a few minutes to figure out how to put it into drive. I wasn't looking for knob so I kept overlooking it. Never got used to it.
 
LBarr2002 said:
Even with vehicles that still have a shifter on the column or floor, I think the majority are electronically controlled. There is no mechanical linkage to the trans any more.

Learned that on a 6L80E in the G8 I had when the shift select switch failed twice and all the car knew to do was lock in 3rd gear...
Click to expand...

The JKs have a fully mechanical gearshift and clutch, but the gas pedal is electronically controlled.
 
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