2006 Liberty Traction Control w/ larger tires

[CalTruck]

Hey Folks,
I have a customer with a 2006 Jeep Liberty. We did a 2.5" Sky Jacker Kit and 245/75/16 tires. The customer is complaining of a grinding noise while turning and loss of power. So after diagnosing this vehicle we have discovered it is the traction control engaging due to the larger tires. With that being said, I can not find a speedo calibrator for this vehicle and what I'm understanding, the pinion must be reset? I can not take this vehicle to the local Jeep dealer as this customer has caused trouble with the BAR and is no longer allowed back at the dealer. Can anyone help with this situation and what exactly i need to do so we can get this thing back on the road? I greatly appreciate any input. Have a great day!

 

[tommudd]

Hey Folks,
I have a customer with a 2006 Jeep Liberty. We did a 2.5" Sky Jacker Kit and 245/75/16 tires. The customer is complaining of a grinding noise while turning and loss of power. So after diagnosing this vehicle we have discovered it is the traction control engaging due to the larger tires. With that being said, I can not find a speedo calibrator for this vehicle and what I'm understanding, the pinion must be reset? I can not take this vehicle to the local Jeep dealer as this customer has caused trouble with the BAR and is no longer allowed back at the dealer. Can anyone help with this situation and what exactly i need to do so we can get this thing back on the road? I greatly appreciate any input. Have a great day!

First of all do you have a really good alignment on it ?
So sorry on the Skyjacker lift , keep hoping they do away with it.
You can't reset the pinion on these ( later models ) Plus no speedo caibration either
I'll find some more info , those later model KJ have a real issue at times when lifted , continuing on into the KKs
LOSTJEEPs has some info on what folks did to remedy this
Been an issue since 06 when a buddy lifted his new one

 

[CalTruck]

Thank you Tommudd.. I appreciate the info. I really hope you can find something for me. Ill continue to do research as well. I hate to tell this customer he's out of luck as I don't want issues with the BAR or an un happy customer. Thanks again Tom

 

[tommudd]

Thank you Tommudd.. I appreciate the info. I really hope you can find something for me. Ill continue to do research as well. I hate to tell this customer he's out of luck as I don't want issues with the BAR or an un happy customer. Thanks again Tom

Several posts about this over on LOST, many had the same issues when turning right mainly . Thats one reason I don't run any 06-07s, sticking with 02-05s LOL
But again, do you have a really good alignment on it yet ?

 

[first&lastKJ]

Well thats just great.
I was going to order a OME\Bilstein lift for my 07. This is the first I've heard about problems with 06-07 and the traction control. The problem is the tire size and not the lift correct?

 

[Gyro]

Well thats just great.
I was going to order a OME\Bilstein lift for my 07. This is the first I've heard about problems with 06-07 and the traction control. The problem is the tire size and not the lift correct?

My 07 has been lifted 3"+ with 245/75/16s for four years and never a problem with the TC.

Gyro

 

[Gyro]

Hey Folks,
I have a customer with a 2006 Jeep Liberty. We did a 2.5" Sky Jacker Kit and 245/75/16 tires. The customer is complaining of a grinding noise while turning and loss of power. So after diagnosing this vehicle we have discovered it is the traction control engaging due to the larger tires. With that being said, I can not find a speedo calibrator for this vehicle and what I'm understanding, the pinion must be reset? I can not take this vehicle to the local Jeep dealer as this customer has caused trouble with the BAR and is no longer allowed back at the dealer. Can anyone help with this situation and what exactly i need to do so we can get this thing back on the road? I greatly appreciate any input. Have a great day!

Has the pinch weld been pounded and/or the front bumper trimmed?
The grinding might be wheel rub.
Have you checked the wheel speed sensors.

Gyro

 

[u2slow]

So after diagnosing this vehicle we have discovered it is the traction control engaging due to the larger tires.

How about disabling the traction control temporarily to see if that is in fact the problem? KJs worked fine in earlier years without ABS or traction control at all. How would the computer 'know' the tire size increased?

Its normal to have power loss with bigger tires (especially automatics) if the axle ratio isn't changed.

 

[tommudd]

Power loss , yes, but what this does is basically shuts all power off for a sec or so
I know my friend " Moose" sold his KJ due to this
But there are instances where Wranglers have had issues as well if you look it up
Many discussions about it on here and LOST over the years

 

[u2slow]

Power loss , yes, but what this does is basically shuts all power off for a sec or so...

Agreed. Didn't pickup that's what the OP was describing.

How does the Jeep 'know' what size tires are on it vs. being loaded with an extra 500-1000# of gear? Or is it catching a slightly higher wheel speed variation when turning sharp?

 

[mrlavalamp]

Power loss , yes, but what this does is basically shuts all power off for a sec or so
I know my friend " Moose" sold his KJ due to this
But there are instances where Wranglers have had issues as well if you look it up
Many discussions about it on here and LOST over the years

I have an 06 and I get this whenever it is wet or if I am trying to climb something really sandy/loose.

(for others beside Mudd) If you haven't experienced it, it is like a missfire in the engine is causing power loss (hesitating and sputtering), but the second the traction control stops triggering it goes right back to normal.

I felt like it was always very over-sensative too.

If I am taking off at a stop sign/light and it is a little wet/dusty, wheels will spin and the traction control triggers causing the engine shut down leaving me crawling through the intersection. It still "runs" but takes a second to recover and usually I am 3/4 of the way through a 4 lane intersection by the time that happens.

I don't daily drive anymore (company vehicle thank god!) but if I did, i would probably do it with traction control and OD off because of my 265/65/17 tires.

 

[u2slow]

I have an 06 and I get this whenever it is wet or if I am trying to climb something really sandy/loose.

I suppose it has an open diff then too?

 

[mrlavalamp]

Yeah, open diff, stock gearing.

I have toyed with disabling traction control completely, but according to this you loose ABS as well (because you take out the fuse they share), so not sure it is worth it for most people.

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f196/how-can-i-disable-traction-control-completely-48724/

I think stability control comes into play here as well, but I dont think I have issues there because I can hit the traction control button to turn it off, and then spin donuts all day in 2wd or plow through mudholes without a hiccup. Folks in the thread linked were mentioning that even with it switched off they have issues, I guess I got lucky there (knocks on wood).

 

[u2slow]

Yeah, open diff, stock gearing.

I have toyed with disabling traction control completely, but according to this you loose ABS as well (because you take out the fuse they share), so not sure it is worth it for most people.

Many KJs were factory equipped without ABS '02-05. I bet many owners have no idea.