need a diagnosis. Water in gas maybe?

jeep9mm

New Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Charlotte, Wilmington
howdy,

2004 TJ 4 cylinder engine, 5 speed manual.

So today, me and three friends hop in the jeep and go drive on carolina beach since it was gorgeous outside. I needed gas so right before the beach I pumped like 15 gallons in my 19 gallon tank. We drove around on the beach and everything was fine, then when we were getting out off the beach my exhaust started sounding like a ricer sort of. It was like a pulsating sound and it was much louder than usual. When we got out of the sand and off 4wd it would do it in the 1500 to 3000 RPM range and the Jeep was noticeably underpowered. Then the Jeep started vibrating a little and accelaration was awful, but it never stalled. Goin over the bridge, already on the road back to wilmington my check engine light comes on. So After the bridge I pull over and call Neuwirth Jeep and their service department tells me it sounds like bad gas and to try it again and if the light does stay on to not drive it and call Chrysler Roadside Asst for a tow truck. I tried it for a few feet and the symptoms persisted, so the tow truck came and now my Jeep is at the dealership. So my questions are:

Does this sound like if it is bad gas?
If it is bad gas, am I probably okay since the Jeep wasnt driven much after it occured?
What could be the effects of this?
ANyone else have this happened? If so, how do you go about complaining to the gas station, because although my jeep is under warranty, i dont think they are gonna foot the bill if its the gas stations fault?
What is the worst thing that could happen?

Feel free to opine,

Grrr,

Rod
 
How many miles do you have on it? Are your O2 sensors in good shape?
Have you checked your manifold for broken studs and associated exhaust system leak?

My TJ did almost the same thing (I was even told "bad gas"), and it turned out the OBDII system was screwed up because of an exhaust leak caused by the broken studs. The rear stud breaking is a pretty common thing w/ the 2.5. When that happens the gasket gets broken up right there & causes all sorts of trouble.

Can you pull the error codes off it since the MIL is lit? Post 'em up if you can find them.
 
one thing to keep in mind: no new jeep has a fuel filter on it anymore. some trash could have gotten in the fuel and clogged the pump. but im not sure if that would set off the check engine light, it didnt when mine went out on my '98. it really sucks new cars dont have fuel filters, they turned a $15 repair into a $200 repair
 
orange150 said:
one thing to keep in mind: no new jeep has a fuel filter on it anymore.
Click to expand...

Wha wha whhaaaaa?
 
just got off the phone with the dealer.
Now I am no mechanic so please someone explain. He said the coil wire for the spark plugs was burnt, shorted out, and rusted out and asked me if I had driven through water. So is this something from a long time ago when I drove in water and it just acted up right now? I dont remember ever going through deep enough water, in fact ive had to go through deep water twice and it was 2/3rds up my 31 inch tires at the most and I drove through really slow. Or is this something that when they get wet they fail immediately, cuz if it is there is no way I drove through water yesterday.

So how bad is this? after its fixed, is it as good as new? He said they tried changing just the spark plugs but the wire was burnt out so they ordered a new one and Jeep wont be out till tuesday.

I gotta give Neuwirth Jeep credit where credit is due though. The guy said it wasnt a warranty repair but since it was first time, they were gonna fix it through warranty, so I owe nothing...

ROD
 
If he said it was rusted... That doesn't happen overnight.
If it's fixed right, it'll be good as new. It's cool they're fixing it as a warranty issue. Some dealers aren't that nice.
 
Dude you suck. They gave me crap about having leaky axle seals. :D Where did you drive through this water at you said. If you go to CB and the rd is flooded hate to tell ya but that is salt water. I know b/c the next day in my 93 I had salt crystals on the motor. Everytime I wash under any of my vehicles I spray under the hood as well. BTW who did you deal w/ at the stealer. If you got Ben the tall lanky blonde guy you got lucky. Me and him don't see eye to eye. Especially when him and the service manager said my leaky axle seals mysteriously were my oil pan
 
no no... Josh, I said I dont remember ever driving through water deep enough to be bad for me. I have only driven twice through water that was decently deep(22 inches at the most) and one in Charlotte and one in Weddington, both fresh water. My engine has never touched salt water I would hope, and if it has then I was not aware. I stay clear from any puddles or tide pools on carolina beach. I seriously cant understand how this happen...i mean, i guess it got in somehow, but it had to be bad luck cuz I have always been so careful to avoid deep mud and to drive carefully on flooded roads (those two times)...can anyone explain what the mechanic meant...like what actually happened..i know what he said but what does it mean...

Oh and Josh, I didnt deal with anyone, I left it overnight cuz my tow truck dropped it off after they had closed, but yea they did screw u over at the neuwirth jeep, but they have behaved really decent with me.


Rod


Rod
 
Yeah they did. Until corporate got involved and they got a letter from my law firm dewey screwem and howe and then there story changed.
 
there is a chance that water got in there,just by being slung in. your belts and pulley will pick up water and throw it around. It is realy not that bad, like i said a little dielectric grease and your fine.
 
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