Bought A Jeep, Maybe A Mistake

[jeepdaddy65]

I just bought a 2005 liberty renegade/rocky mountain. one owner, carfax checked 58000mi. very very clean. I have a vibration at around 50 or 55 mph. Now I have noticed that when I accelerate moderately to hard from a red light or stop sign my whole jeep shutters and vibrates and makes a loud clicking noise that sounds like it's coming from the trans, until I let off the gas. I know it's not a drag car, but this is definately not cool. I should have kept my PT Cruiser. Anybody have a similar problem or any ideas as to what this is. I have all new tires and balanced, CV Joints are good, and U joints are also good. I'm thinking transmission. Why did they put those balancers on the drive shaft, I also noticed a type of counter weight on the rear differential. What is that for, many questions. I would be grateful for any help or advice.

 

[2003KJ]

For the vibration, I would look at a tire balance issue. Generally vibes from about 50-55 like that are from them being out of balance.

For the loud clicking/shaking....how are your driveshaft u-joints?

 

[jeepdaddy65]

The 50mph vibration, I could see being a tire out of balance. The thing that scares me is the whole vehicle shuttering and clicking under heavy acceleration. I put it in drive and reverse and heard no noise, I even went to a large parking lot and drove in tight circles in drive and reverse to see if the CV joints made noise. All seems good. I got under the jeep and physically tried to move the drive shaft and front axles and check for play. all seems tight and in good shape. What the heck are all those balancers and stuff on the drive shaft and rear end there for? Do these things have trans or rear differential issues? This thing is so clean that the original marks and stickers from the assembly line are still on it and readable underneath. I did get a 3000mi. 30 day warranty from the dealer I bought it from. But that would be a real hassle, and they are a Toyota dealer, and probably not familiar with Jeeps. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[05kj6spd]

You transfered the drivetrain warranty right? You can go to any Jeep dealer and if there is a problem with the ******, u joints or just about anything that makes the Jeep move then your covered.

 

[jeepdaddy65]

Was never offered the option of transfering the warranty. Is this something I could call Chrysler on. This was a Toyota dealership and I am not confident that they know anything about Chryslers. They seemed pretty ignorant. Thanks

 

[desertkj]

Do you have a limited slip that could have been improperly serviced?

 

[JeepJeepster]

How did you check those rear ujoints?

No, the liberty does not have ****** or rear diff issues.

 

[aksloan]

Was never offered the option of transfering the warranty. Is this something I could call Chrysler on. This was a Toyota dealership and I am not confident that they know anything about Chryslers. They seemed pretty ignorant. Thanks

Call customer support and if transferrable they will do it right over the phone. You will need your VIN, date of purchase, mileage at purchase, name and address of the dealer you bought it from, and a credit card for the transfer fee.

 

[jeepdaddy65]

Thanks for all the replies. I am not sure if I have a limited slip differential, I will check that out. The U Joints seem all right, don't know of any other way to test them other than what I did. I will call Chrysler and see abot the warranty. I have close to 60,000 mi. on it so I will only have about 10,000 to go until that warranty expires. If anybody has more advice I am all ears. Thanks again for the help.

 

[jeepdaddy65]

everything looks good and checks out. Now I'm wondering if it might be a broken motor mount, Does anybody see that causing the problem. If the whole driveline is moving that would cause a vibration and probably a lot of noise. Just throwing that out there as an idea. Thanks

 

[KeswickDave]

MIght be a long shot but check your lug nuts... I had a loose wheel once after a tire rotation, it made some interesting noises on acceleration/decelleration. Needless to say I didn't go back there.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Broken motor mount would probably make more noise than just a vibration.

One way to check the ujoints is to feel of them after driving. Just be careful b/c if they are bad they will be really hot.

 

[M&P40]

i was thinking motor or ****** mount when i heard the shuttering story

 

[jeepdaddy65]

I checked the trans and motor mounts, they are great, hardly any movement. I think this weekend I will pull the drive shaft and look at the U-Joints. Also this noise and shuddering doesn't happen when its in 4 wheel drive just 2 wheel drive. It kinda sounds like the 4 wheel drive is not comepletely dissengaging. In the meantime any suggestions or ideas would be great. Thanks

 

[jeepdaddy65]

The shuddering and clicking mysteriously went away, I wonder how long it sat on the lot. Maybe something was froze up that now un froze. The vibaration still is happening at 50 or 55 mph. I have that isolated to the passenger rear tire/rim. We can't get that one tire to balance. It would show that it was balanced, and just for the heck of it I had him take it off the machine and then put it back on, and it showed out of balance. All others were good. He told me that the tire might be defective or out of round. Thanks for all the help and advice, I really do appreciate it.

 

[Corwyyn]

The shuddering and clicking mysteriously went away,

That sounds a lot like what happened when my front driveshaft went out - it shuddered and bucked for a couple of miles then finally went smooth (but it was still shot). Just for peace of mind you might crawl under and make sure that rubber boots on the CVs for the front DS are in good condition. I know you mentioned earlier that the CVs were OK but I took that to mean the joints at the front wheels, feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

 

[offrovering]

I would pull the drive shaft and check U joints to be certain, you dont want them blowing up on you.

Also, have you changed all fluids since you gained ownership? I would drain and refill fluids, gives you a good look, watch as they all drain.

 

[jeepdaddy65]

CV Joints all seem good. I took it to a parking lot and drove in tight circles in forward and reverse, did not hear the telltale clicking noise. I am going to change all the fluids and put plugs in it this weekend. I'll see how stuff looks when I have it jacked up and on stands. Thanks

 

[kj924]

Your Emergency brake is not stuck on is it?

 

[jeepdaddy65]

My emergency brakes not stuck, I will remove the driveshafts when I have it up to do the other maintenance. Thanks