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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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#2 ·
My friends 2011 GC with QL did the same thing at Stockton. We had to dig it out. I want to drive down to shipwreck in my GC however I am worried of getting stuck. I dont have QL so I should only get the 4wd error only. need to find a non GC 4wd mate to tagalong. One thing do when it happens : make a video/photographs so it can be shown to dealer for fix and posted on youtube.
 
#4 ·
From what we have seen several people have had this problem, both here and in the USA.
A stop and restart seems to reset the system. Not acceptable, but there is a work around to reset the system.
 
#6 ·
Yup, Add me to the stuck in sand list, the electronics seemed to get all confused and then not really do much at all.... although I must admit it was just down at our local beach and I didn't bother letting the tyres down, it was a blast at first, then not so much fun after I stopped for a photo and tried to get going again, regardless of the tyre pressures there wasn't much wheel spinning going on, no real drive at all.....And I was on crutches with a broken leg at the time, Ah the memories.... needless to say I haven't been back!
 
#7 ·
there wasn't much wheel spinning going on
In sand you don't want to spin much unlike snow or mud. Sand has a lot more friction and drag to it so it takes more to spin your tires in sand than it does snow,mud or even loose gravel roads. Spinning in sand is bad news bears and can cause damage. Therefore in sand you want to stop before digging yourself too much of a hole or even before spinning at all. I usually will get out and dig, drive on boards or back up if I come to a stop or start bogging down so much that I can't gain more speed.

This is more true with tires that are aired down.
 
#8 ·
Sounds like there are heaps of people with issues in the newy area. I have pulled a couple of people off Stockton myself, although I haven't experienced the malfunction yet ( but I have heaps of other faults), Akers u back to the dealer and ask them to run the tsb it should fix it...more worrying is the number of other electrical issues they are having.
 
#17 ·
Took mine out into the sand last Sat, performed great, had in sand mode all the time, no probs, but after using low 4wd, and going back to high, lights wouldn't turn off until I turned completely off and on again.

__________________
Regards, Nigel
=====================
WK2 GC 2012 Overland
True Blue, Saddle Trim
Hemi 5.7 V8
Tow Pack
=====================
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
#18 ·
add me to the list of GC's stuck at Stockton. Had the QL and 4WD service errors, Reset the battery and camped overnight. Worked fine the next day allthough I left it in Auto instead of putting it in SAND mode.....go figure??
 
#19 ·
I have ordered an overland CRD, reading these issues makes me feel really uncomfortable as I will be using this car to get to some remote fishing locations.

I asked if i can cancel the order as i do not feel comfortable at all now, the dealer said he contact chrysler and they do not acknowledge this issue at all....what do you think guys?
 
#34 ·
How do you know what TSBs have been installed during a service?
 
#23 ·
The True Blues must be built better than the rest :p
Oh and to add to previous comments about no problems.. I also havent had any TSB updates or anything since it was picked up in January. I used a mixture of sand and auto, although i placed it in sand more because i was being a smart ass to my mate. Most of time it was in auto... didnt need to use 4WD Low, think i put it in once to try it out.
 
#25 ·
I know how you feel. I had no trouble on the sand for a whole week in Fraser is. But now can't be sure if it will become an issue at some stage, confidence is shaky. That and the lack of decent recovery points (albeit soon to be rectified to some degree) has made me rethink my whole strategy. I love the car and will keep it but am looking at getting an old 100 series cruiser as my second car and this will be our Fraser rig.
 
#26 ·
I would like to see some more positive reviews on this issue, as a bit of sand driving will be in order for me. Seems odd that my old 4x4 (hilux surf) can go with no troubles and this new more highly powered beast with 'better' electrics would struggle. I even took a Honda MDX up to fraser island for 4 days and while i got it bogged twice due to the lack of clearance, it was fine (plus I did a community service of leveling out all the tracks for everyone else ;)

Would expect far more from the Jeep
 
#27 ·
From what I have read, the problem is either there and will happen quickly, or will not happen at all. If you have done sand driving and it has been fine, I would not worry.
Mind you I am more concerned by the Moose test than getting bogged on the beach.
 
#28 ·
I conducted my own test and swerved to miss a moose here on a Melbourne bayside beach last weeked. Didn't get bogged or even close to rolling over. I've logged this data here on this forum on the internet, so now it's true.
Sorry however as the pic's from my iPhone camera were all blurry from the swerve so it's not possible to see the moose clearly otherwise I'd upload them.
 
#30 ·
Hillarious!!!!:lol::lol::lol:
 
#31 ·
Finally got a better pic off my iPhone. Tell me this isn't a Moose?
 
#33 ·
Floosy - can you give us a bit more detail?

Where did you get this information? From Jeep?
 
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