new owner

[marko]

I recently bought a 2003 jeep liberty, 3.7l with 140,000 miles I am asking about information for any on what this vehicle needs attention on, this is a very clean vehicle no shakes at 75mph. any pointers will help.

 

[Boomhawr]

I just got my first Liberty this past summer. An 06 65th Anniversary Edition to replace my old Cherokee. 1 thing is the fuel tank. There is a tech data out on it, but no recall, and the dealership said over $1000 to replace the tank. The issue with it is that the vent clogs up, so when refueling, once it tops off, if spits fuel back out at you. Mine just runs some down the side, but I've HEARD of others being bad enough to give you a bath. The vent is molded into the tank, so you can't just swap the vent.


Also, if you pull the front drive shaft off (like to replace one of its CV joints) you may a little gear oil leak out as you remove the front bolts. It happened to me, but I found several post on here about it happening to others, and they cleaned it out, drove it around without the shaft, and it stayed dry. Some mentioned replacing the seal, but others said it was just a teaspoon or 2 worth that had seeped by through the threads. I'd still look it over good and make sure it isn't a bad seal in your particular case to be safe if you run into that.

Hope this helps until others with more Liberty experience reply.

 

[GunnerSchenck]

I just got my first Liberty this past summer. An 06 65th Anniversary Edition to replace my old Cherokee. 1 thing is the fuel tank. There is a tech data out on it, but no recall, and the dealership said over $1000 to replace the tank. The issue with it is that the vent clogs up, so when refueling, once it tops off, if spits fuel back out at you. Mine just runs some down the side, but I've HEARD of others being bad enough to give you a bath. The vent is molded into the tank, so you can't just swap the vent.

Here you go:
http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f202/how-fix-kj-fuel-burp-plague-57056/
Mine also runs it down the side, but my fix is muuuuccchhh simpler...
Figure out how much it needs to be almost full, or learn when it's near filling (you can hear it) and put that in. Lol
I stopped filling mine till its completely topped.

And why do you menton leaking out the bolts on the front driveshaft? Just curious.
I mean, on many of our transmission, after a transmission fluid swap or filter replacement, transmission fluid will leak around on of the pan bolts if you don't put sealant on it......
But something I would stress about our vehicles is ALWAYS make sure you have enough oil. Seems the normal concensus among liberty owners, including myself, is they like to burn a qt of oil every 3k'ish miles. So keep an eye on it and learn if yours burns some. Another big reason being our vehicles have a loud valve train thats known to have some issues if you don't keep the top end of the engine constantly lubricated. It runs hydraulic lash adjusters..which..are hydraulic lol they need fluid at all times. Many 3.7s suffer from stuck lash adjusters, thrown cylinder 2 rocker arms, broken valve springs, and if not many die of dropped valve seats.
So keep an eye oil your oil.
other liberty issues... places to keep clean during winter for rust reasons (rear side of rocker panels.. they like to fill with water/slush and salt during rain and winter and rust out towards the back, above the rear axle and rear upper control arm area, and the underside behind the wheels in front of the rear bumper, so I always spray up under in front if the rear bumper, andddd around the 3rd brake light and lift gate glass area. Bottoms of doors too, but that's not really liberty-specific)

Another liberty thing that I never got on any other car... sometimes inside your oil filler neck you'll get a really peculiar yellow foam/sludge from condensation.. there was a technical service bulletin posted about it for our PVC valves, but mines been doing it...along time.. but usually only during the worst winter months(now to very soon) so don't freak if you see it lol

Okay one more liberty thing....you're likely to have a window regulator go at some point, so keep a roll of tape or some large suction hooks in the back to hold it up.. but this isn't necessary, just a forewarning lol, although some people will swear up and down our regulators are fine..but the attachment methods for the regulators to the motor and cable assembly.. it's plastic and breaks over time.

Also, do a VIN search on a recall site to learn of all your available options (can come in handy sometimes... paid for my ball joints when they went bad ) also if you don't have a trailer hitch you'll get one through a recall... this i personally would definitely do.


I'm not sure what exactly the OP is asking, is he just asking for maintenance and issues specific to this vehicle? Or is he asking specifically about his vehicle, what it needs??
I have a checklist for things I do when I first buy a car, because you usually don't know the previous owners maintainence or how reliable their word on that maintainence is..
But myself, I usually throw these at the car when I get it.
-Coolant flush/change/bleed properly (this case HOAT coolant only)
-power steering fluid drain/flush/refill/bleed properly (this case it could possibly be ATF+4, or Power Steering Fluid, as I believe only 2002 and 03 [03 depends on mfr. Date] would take Power Steering Fluid)
SO definitely look at your Power Steering reservoir to see if you have ATF+4 or PS fluid (for future reference in case of a leak or part replacement)

-Spark Plugs (This case id go NGK's.. myself: V-Powers from Advanced Auto)
-Oil and Filter obviously
-Axle Fluids, both if 4wd:rear only if 2wd (this case, I run 80w90 with a Mopar friction modifier. I'd you get one that doesn't have the friction modifier in it you'll need to get the Mopar stuff)
-Transmission Fluid and Filter, unless you have verifiable documentation of the previous owner having it done recently.. and even still, unless it's a dealer slip. (This case, also ATF+4, and you can get the filters from the dealer of Auto Zone but I'd go Mopar [will need to know whether you have a 42RLE or 45RFE transmission])
-IF you've gotten this far, I'd go for your transfer case fluid as well (this case ATF+4)


And last but not least I clean the heck out of it!! No matter how clean it is already lol, just who I am and people (myself included) are known to do some nasty stuff in jeeps lol. Jeeps are where babies are made if you ask my parents lol.

 

[Dave]

Welcome Marko and enjoy the forum. I see you are already getting info..


Dave