'05 Money Pit?

[stevecon]

I got my 05 Libby Renegade from a coworker last year for $500. It had 135k highway miles on it. He put some dough into it - but it had been idled for over a year b/c he bought a new car and he was going to donate it. I bought it for the cost he incurred insuring it. I paid sales tax on the book value of nearly $4k when getting plates for it.

Had either of us known the headaches that awaited - the sale never would have happened. My installs / repairs in the last 14 months and about 15k mi of ownership - in order:

Western Suburban Plow = Moved from my GMC Envoy to Jeep. Need vehicle specific mount & installation. lighting harness - self installed. $550.

Battery - will not hold charge - parts store Self installed $110.

Parasitic battery drain = bad factory radio! - install new aftermarket with SiriusXM, USB, BT, etc. Upgraded all speakers, added tweeters and powered subwoofer. Self installed. $450.

SES#1 = Misfire Cyl #2 - replaced plug & coil pack. Self installed. $20 - $40?

Failed Safety Inspection = parking brake not holding to 1200 RPM - adjusted to hold - barely. $0

Failed Safety Reinspection = parking brake not holding to 1200 RPM - install all new rear rotors, bads, shoes parking brake hardware. Self installed. Just under $200. Excessive passenger-side lower ball joint play - replace ball joint. Shop $300.

Oil under rear differential = leaking seals - replace seals and diff lube. Shop. $400.

SES#2 = Bad Cat Conv Bank 2. - replace Bank 2 cat. Shop. $425

Oil inside rear rims = leaking rear axle seals - replace seals and fluid. Shop. $325.

Failed Emission Inspection. Small Evap Leak.

SES#3 = Small Evap Leak (P0456). Bought factory gas cap $20 - self installed. Diagnostics and underhood evap testing pump. Shop. $400.

SES#4 = O2 Sensor Bank 2 = Diagnostics Shop. $130. Cut out old Sensor, weld new bung, install new O2 sensor. Exhaust Shop. $240.

SES#5 = Small Evap Leak (P0456 - Again!) Diagnostics Shop. $130 No word or cost of repair yet.

Installed LED headlamps $100; replaced factory fog lights $130, replace reverse with LEDs $20, installed add-on LED driving lights below rear bumper for better illumination when backing $50

The wife is not happy - neither am I.. but I feel the Jeep - even without the plow is worth about what I have invested, so not I'm not "upside down" on it really. Besides, snow is coming and I'll love plowing my driveway instead of snow blowing it for 2 - 3 hours each time - or paying someone else to do it.

Would you be "done" or keep with it??

 

[LibertyTC]

Around here we don't talk about getting rid of our beloved 4x4 KJ's We fix em!
Sounds like you are quite handy and have got the Jeep now in decent shape! Keep at er as necessary.
A plow adds a lot of weight to the front, and you will have coil binding going on, OME 790s ++ lift time..?

 

[ltd02]

Just Empty Every Pocket...

 

[LibertyTC]

I could not say it however... ltd02 did !

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[tommudd]

I got my 05 Libby Renegade from a coworker last year for $500. It had 135k highway miles on it. He put some dough into it - but it had been idled for over a year b/c he bought a new car and he was going to donate it. I bought it for the cost he incurred insuring it. I paid sales tax on the book value of nearly $4k when getting plates for it.

Had either of us known the headaches that awaited - the sale never would have happened. My installs / repairs in the last 14 months and about 15k mi of ownership - in order:

Western Suburban Plow = Moved from my GMC Envoy to Jeep. Need vehicle specific mount & installation. lighting harness - self installed. $550.

Battery - will not hold charge - parts store Self installed $110.

Parasitic battery drain = bad factory radio! - install new aftermarket with SiriusXM, USB, BT, etc. Upgraded all speakers, added tweeters and powered subwoofer. Self installed. $450.

SES#1 = Misfire Cyl #2 - replaced plug & coil pack. Self installed. $20 - $40?

Failed Safety Inspection = parking brake not holding to 1200 RPM - adjusted to hold - barely. $0

Failed Safety Reinspection = parking brake not holding to 1200 RPM - install all new rear rotors, bads, shoes parking brake hardware. Self installed. Just under $200. Excessive passenger-side lower ball joint play - replace ball joint. Shop $300.

Oil under rear differential = leaking seals - replace seals and diff lube. Shop. $400.

SES#2 = Bad Cat Conv Bank 2. - replace Bank 2 cat. Shop. $425

Oil inside rear rims = leaking rear axle seals - replace seals and fluid. Shop. $325.

Failed Emission Inspection. Small Evap Leak.

SES#3 = Small Evap Leak (P0456). Bought factory gas cap $20 - self installed. Diagnostics and underhood evap testing pump. Shop. $400.

SES#4 = O2 Sensor Bank 2 = Diagnostics Shop. $130. Cut out old Sensor, weld new bung, install new O2 sensor. Exhaust Shop. $240.

SES#5 = Small Evap Leak (P0456 - Again!) Diagnostics Shop. $130 No word or cost of repair yet.

Installed LED headlamps $100; replaced factory fog lights $130, replace reverse with LEDs $20, installed add-on LED driving lights below rear bumper for better illumination when backing $50

The wife is not happy - neither am I.. but I feel the Jeep - even without the plow is worth about what I have invested, so not I'm not "upside down" on it really. Besides, snow is coming and I'll love plowing my driveway instead of snow blowing it for 2 - 3 hours each time - or paying someone else to do it.

Would you be "done" or keep with it??

You have added a lot of things like snow plow, stupid LED headlights, etc that can not be counted in on the overall cost.

 

[stevecon]

My Western Suburbanite Plow is very light (I'd guess it to be ~200 lbs) and is only on the Jeep for less than a couple of days (only during a snow storm) at a time. The plow frame is obviously permanently attached and weighs under 50 lbs; so I'm not really concerned about the stress on the front axle.

The pesky P0456 code has *finally* cleared, and the dashboard MIL is out. It turned out to be the fuel sender / pump on the top of the fuel tank. A smoke test revealed the location, and once the tank was lowered and pressurized - a hissing sound could be heard. They sprayed soapy water on the suspected area and it immediately produced bubbles. The tank is plastic, the pump lock ring is metal but the pump ass'y plug is nylon / plastic and had deteriorated and become brittle.

The testing, tank & pump ass'y removal and reinstallation cost me $992. Ouch. I was on the fence about authorizing the repair or not; but I realized the Jeep would have been valuable only to someone for parts, so I had them do it. I got my state inspection sticker (I had a REJECT sticker for emissions for 7 weeks) in the final week of eligibility.

My next repair is a muffler. During the O2 sensor replacement, I was told there was a hole in the muffler - the sound from which I have conveniently been ignoring. The O2 sensor replacement work was done at one of the Lou's Custom Exhaust shops (of the better custom exhaust shops in this area) and I was provided a quote of $225 to replace it. I thought I'd be able to do better than that (I remember the $20 mufflers w/ lifetime warranties!) at these types of shops - so I'll have to check with one of the "chain" exhaust shops to be sure.

 

[stevecon]

You have added a lot of things like snow plow, stupid LED headlights, etc that can not be counted in on the overall cost.

The LED headlights are a matter of preference.. I happen to like the light and cooler white color - mine are not the blue / purple color I see on some vehicles. I spent time to make sure I got lamps that would shine in a pattern that closely resembled the halogen bulbs (the location and orientation of the actual LED elements on the heat sink is critical). I feel they work better than the halogens and do not blinding oncoming drivers - unlike some of those I see on the road.

The upgraded items were added at times that I felt I had completed repairs on the Jeep.. had I known the extent of the repairs that would have been needed over the short period of time that I have owned it - I wouldn't have dropped the mere $500 purchase price on the Jeep. So, these costs of the upgrades really do figure into the investment. If the total amount spent were spread out over several years it'd be a lot easier to digest. *IF* my repair cost shrink considerable going forward I'll be happier - but there are no guarantees for that.

My shop has found and solved the P0456 error for an amount just shy of $1k. Now, I'm "in" deep enough that I have to keep it. Another big repair cost however, will mark the end of my Jeep Liberty ownership.

 

[LibertyTC]

My shop has found and solved the P0456 error for an amount just shy of $1k. Now, I'm "in" deep enough that I have to keep it. Another big repair cost however, will mark the end of my Jeep Liberty ownership.

$1000 to fix P0456 ? What was done/repaired to cost that much?

 

[Aceofspades]

Literally blowing smoke up yer ass to find the problem...

 

[Artimus]

Yeah that's a tough situation.

Are you using it as a daily driver or only for work-chores like plowing through snow?

Not thinking of all the monies that have gone to the pit, how do find yourself enjoying the Jeep KJ ?