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Grand Cherokee + sand = FAIL

179K views 924 replies 109 participants last post by  BobT 
#1 ·
How has everyone been going in the sand? I had my front recovery hook fitted 2 weeks ago (been waiting 8 months for jeep to provide a suitable solution after deleting them from the overland and not telling anyone) and decided a day on the sand was in order.
It was a pretty awesome day at Stockton and there was another GC overland driving about. All was perfect until just past tin city when the EVIC declared that quadralift required a service and 4WD required servicing. Within 5 seconds I lost power to the front wheels and bogged down to the rear axle.
Although inconvenient given that the tide was coming in, several people assisted to drag my beached Jeep to higher ground where I waited until my tow arrived. While I waited the other GC overland owner told me that his had just done exactly the same thing and he had to get someone to pull him out but now his was working ok again. So I wait for the tow to come get me and half way back to the road everything starts working again! After paying the 350 bucks for recovery I go to the servo to pump my tyres up. Another GC overland owner approaches me and explains that he had exactly the same thing happen last month and he no longer takes his on the sand until a fix comes from jeep.
Is this an experience that anyone else has had? Has anyone contacted jeep? This is not the first issue I have had with this car and I'm beginning to think it was a mistake buying this over a Toyota.
 
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#443 ·
No kept the air dam on. Any soft stuff we were on ORI for the most part didn't have any trouble. I did have my wife and 2 year old in the car for most of it so was never going too hard. (Except up champagne pools). Like another member I lost the front cover in front of the tow hook late in the week. I should have taken heed and removed it..

Brett I believe you can remove the radar quite easily for off road stuff I know it's a little late but for any overland drivers going offroad it is worth investigating.
 
#452 ·
Well just had the 'fix' done today at Abion CJD, so I can't wait to take it over to Moreton and see what happens.

On a side note, got a "Service Air sus" last week briefly, and I had mentioned to them at the 3k service about a funny noise at the back left, and so they checked it out. Seems to be replacement shock on order now......
 
#454 ·
Well just had the 'fix' done today at Abion CJD, so I can't wait to take it over to Moreton and see what happens.

On a side note, got a "Service Air sus" last week briefly, and I had mentioned to them at the 3k service about a funny noise at the back left, and so they checked it out. Seems to be replacement shock on order now......
Carver,

What is this "fix" you speak of.

We got our Overland from Albion a week ago yesterday and while it's in getting it's 1,000km check up they WILL do it for me then. Along with finding the loose bolts or screws that slide around inside the drivers door when I ahve to brake hard.

Other than the screws, this car is impossible to fault!
 
#453 ·
Just got my car back from having the update done. Fiat Chrysler have also agreed to refund my towing expenses. I have to say that in the end both the dealer and Fiat Chrysler were very good in their handling of the issue.

Can't wait to test the update next weekend!
 
#456 ·
When asking around a few months ago, I was told that the 'fix' is for Quadralift only. Anyone know if this is correct?
 
#458 ·
Looks like everyone in Brisbane got done this week....

Shona has been busy!
 
#460 ·
Is this still an issue on MY13? May get on the sand this weekend and want to know if i'm at risk?

If I am, the recommendation if you get the error is to put it into 4wd low and you can drive in that setting?

If you get the error does it cause the car to suddenly stop or will you see it, realise you are now in 2wd, roll to a stop, then engage 4wd low
 
#465 · (Edited)
Is this still an issue on MY13? May get on the sand this weekend and want to know if i'm at risk?
I wondering about this as well since I also have a MY13. Bit hard to test around here, guess I'll have wait till I get back to visit the oldies and my mates in cronulla.
 
#466 ·
Any chance you could PM me a copy of the email or post it? I am booked in for my 20k service on Tuesday and it will be a lot easier getting the dealer to apply the fix if I can reference some correspondence. When I raised it at 10k, they claimed to have no knowledge of the issue.

Cheers


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
#467 ·
Spoke to the service manager today. He advised that the replacement module for the stuck in sand issue is apparently for vehicles with a diff ratio of 3:09. Mine has the latest software and a diff ratio of 3:45 so the module is not applicable apparently. Shona from FCJ was going to contact them today before the service so I'm assuming that is correct.

I don't get the sense they're fudging, so it is interesting that the problem is attributed to a specific diff.
 
#468 ·
So, does that mean those vehicles with a diff ratio of 3:45 (pretty sure thats all Overlands) don't get the problem or is that they just don't have a fix for for vehicles with the 3:45 diff ratio as yet?
 
#471 · (Edited)
Good question! Mine is a Laredo 3L CRD and it also has a 3:45 diff and yes, I havn't had a problem in sand... yet.
 
#470 ·
Actually, this is probably more up-to-date:
Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 - Maintenance information and schedules

Front axles 195mm FIA (all models)
Axle ratios:
3.45:1 - 3.0L
3.07:1 - 3.6L
3.45:1 - 5.7L
3.70:1 - 6.4L
The 195 MM FIA (Front-Independent-Aluminum) axle is an independent assembly with an aluminum housing and differential.


Rear axles
215mm RII (3.6L)
3.06:1 axle ratio
The 215 MM RII (Rear-Independent-Iron) axle is an independent assembly with a cast iron housing and differential. The 215 MM RII uses an open differential which is supported by two tapered roller bearings located on either side of the case.

225mm RII (5.7L)
3.47:1 axle ratio
The 225 MM RII (Rear-Independent-Iron) axle is an independent assembly with a cast iron housing and differential. The 225 MM RII uses an open differential which is supported by two tapered roller bearings located on either side of the case.

230mm RIA (3.0L, 5.7L, w/o ELSD)
3.47:1 axle ratio
The 230 MM RIA (Rear-Independent-Aluminum) axle is an independent assembly with an aluminum housing and differential. The 230 MM axle can be equipped with or without ELSD (Electronic Limited Slip Differential).

230mm RIA (3.0L, 5.7L, 6.4L with ELSD)
3.45:1 axle ratio 5.7L
3.70:1 axle ratio 6.4L
The 230 MM RIA (Rear-Independent-Aluminum) axle is an independent assembly with an aluminum housing and differential. The 230 MM axle can be equipped with or without ELSD (Electronic Limited
 
#475 ·
tells me the area service manager is now working at the dealership
Can I ask which dealer you are using?
 
#476 ·
Parramatta Motor Group. Good guys, am very happy overall with my dealings with them. I was surprised to see another post recently bagging them. I have had excellent service from both sales and service depts. The sales manager I dealt with is now the GM and I found him to be a great guy to deal with and attentive to customer service.

I had a fairly lengthy conversation with the service manager about a range of issues which I wont go into, I think its bad form to have a private conversation and then post chapter and verse on an internet forum, Lets just say I am pretty happy that they are being upfront with their responses. Now as to what they are being told by FCJ in Melbourne..................................
 
#477 ·
Now as to what they are being told by FCJ in Melbourne..................................
Like you at Parramatta, I have had good service from Castle Hill, but have the same view as you about the communication back to FCJ. I still think FCJ and the dealers are staffed by reasonable men and women who want to do a good job, but the sheer number of sales has caught everyone on the hop.
 
#478 ·
Hi Guys,

Taking the beast into Castle Hill Heartlands on Friday. They were very polite and respectful and understood what I was talking about on the phone.

In the meantime I drove the baby to Port Macquarie last week and had a chance to take it to lighthouse beach. It was heaps of fun and I didn't suffer any issues (had it on 4wd Low and lowered the air pressure to 18 PSI). Check out a very small clip.
Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 Light House Beach Port Macquarie - YouTube
 
#479 · (Edited)
My GC has the 3.45:1 with ELSD and I have had the fix.
I've just returned from a 10 day stay on Fraser Island so gave the sand mode fix a very thorough test (I was only supposed to be there 7 nights but we were stranded by the flooding).

On our first day, the very instant I drove off the barge at Hook point I was in 4hi and sand mode, and had to turn very sharply and as I did this there was a mighty screech, almost like a tyre skidding (but it wasn't because it was on sand). Anyway, as we drove on down the soft sand the car felt very unstable and a lot of vibration. Initially I thought it was just the rough surface, but when we got onto the hard sand the vibration remained. Going above 60kmh felt dangerous, a lot of vibration was felt through the steering, and the steering wheel was vibrating from side to side quite violently.

Hmmm, I bought a new vehicle to try and avoid this type of stuff! I stopped the car and had a good look underneath. Nothing appeared broken or loose. With 3 young children also in the car I must say I was very close to turning back. I could still select 4lo and seemed to be able to still pull through the soft sand OK. So I thought I would see if I could get down to Eurong (probably half an hour or so down the beach) and seek assistance there if needed. I must say that I was freaked out a little.

By the time we got to Eurong the problem seemed to have rectified itself. I really had no idea at the time what it was. So I powered on. Next was Indian Head, conditions were very dry and I was still worried something more sinister was wrong. Anyway, as I drove up there was a Prado stuck in the middle. Poor guy had crying kids in the back and it was 35 degrees or so and every one was driving past. So out with the snatch strap and we got him out. OK so now I'm feeling a bit more confident that the jeep isn't about to die!

As we got up near our destination the last couple of roads were boarded so the surface would not allow a tyre to slip like on the sand. I still had it in sand mode and as I turned the corner I heard the screeching sound again just the same as occurred before the vibration. I slowed right down and straightened up quickly. Aha - could be something to do with the centre or rear diff locking? I found that in auto mode I never heard the noise on the hard surface (no diffs locked?) but in sand mode I did. Anyway I'm still not 100% sure "what" exactly the noise was, but do know that I never had that behavior in sand mode before I had the fix.

Luckily the vibration never returned for the remainder of my trip. However, driving through the inland track to Wathumba creek there was a soft patch of sand that was really quite mild compared to conditions I had breezed through elsewhere, and then I hear the EVIC chime, oh no - "serv 4wd"!

Well I must say I was initially terrified. Stay calm, I told myself, you've had "the fix". And yes, the jeep just kept powering on. I drove on for another half an hour at least with the serv 4wd displayed and it was fine. Had I not gotten the fix I would have been stuck. Then on the return trip home I had the error again. Funny thing was I never had it any other time over more than a week with lots of rough conditions.

So, from my experience I can say that the fix does work. Am a little worried though that there is some funny business going on with the diff's now, but cannot be sure. Will definitely report this to Shona and see what they have to say.
 

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#480 ·
Port Macquarie last week and had a chance to take it to lighthouse beach
Glad you had a good time.
 
#481 ·
Hmmm, I bought a new vehicle to try and avoid this type of stuff!
Same as you Brett!

Your story really is a worry.
 
#482 ·
Guys can you confirm that getting the 4wd issue fixed is simply a software update and no physical removal of any module or component is required? Where did I read that Melbourne had to program some module and send it up to the dealer? I am having to take a day off tomorrow and I don't want to do it in vain

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2
 
#484 ·
Guys can you confirm that getting the 4wd issue fixed is simply a software update and no physical removal of any module or component is required? Where did I read that Melbourne had to program some module and send it up to the dealer? I am having to take a day off tomorrow and I don't want to do it in vain

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2
From what I understand, previously the update had to be done by a trained technician. Either one was brought into the dealership, or if none available, the ECU had to be shipped to the technician for updating and return.
However, reportedly, a update disk has been issued which should allow dealers to do this update without the need for a trained technician.
Additionally, the fix using the dealer's disk is NOT available if you have the 3.45 diff (Overland CRD). Presumably, if you have that diff, the fix still requires the trained tech.
So, before you waste your time, contact your dealer, give them your VIN number and ask do they have a fix for you.
 
#483 ·
Further to your report Brett, on soft sand when turning reasonably sharply with a bit of speed, you can generate a loud screech from between the tyre and the sand....I've heard it many times when driver training on the beach. At Robe on the dry white sand beaches it sounds awful.
Also the vibration you experienced may have been a wodge of dampish sand on a front wheel rim - I've experienced that as well.
I can bet you weren't too happy behind the wheel though - unfortunate that we can't be confident in the electronics just yet. At least the Jeep got you in and out of Fraser!!
 
#490 ·
Thanks for your feedback John.
Yeah I know the noise generated by tyre and sand, but this was different. It also happened on a boarded timber road with no sand on it, where there was definitely not enough wheel spin to cause the noise I heard.
I agree absolutely that some sand wedged in between tyre and rim could
have caused the vibration. Hopefully that's all it was!
Other than that I really am impressed with the Jeep capability on the sand. The first 4 days of our trip on Fraser was extremely dry and the sand was very powdery. People were getting stuck all over the place. I pulled 2 Prado's out of the bog at various stages with ease. Even saw a brand new v8 diesel landcruiser get bogged where the GC's had no problems.
 
#485 ·
3.45 diff (Overland CRD).
As well as Overland, cars with Offroad Adventure II pack have the 3.45 diff.
 
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