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2015 EcoDiesel DEF FACTORY SKID PLATE

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2015
15K views 36 replies 19 participants last post by  rickcstone 
#1 ·
Good news folks. I just picked up my new 2015 Overland EcoDiesel this evening and was happy to see there is now a factory SKID plate that covers the DEF injector harness. This is a heavy duty small steel plate that protects the harness wrapping under the unibody frame.

This is something that must have been changed just within the past 4 weeks. I know because this is our second new Overland within the past 4 weeks. Our first one arrived on February 9th (ordered on December 15th) but it did not have the skid plate. We did not accept the vehicle because of a damaged roof and ordered another one the same day. It arrived this evening and I like what I see for the most part. Let’s hear some of your thoughts after seeing the attached photos.

I already have one of Dom’s aluminum plates, but I won’t need it. Dom’s plate certainly covers more than the factory plate, but it just won’t fit with the factory skid plate installed. If anyone wants to buy mine, I’ll let it go for a great price… never been used.

Dom, you may be able to improve upon the new factory skid plate. It doesn’t cover the actual injector itself. It offers more locations to bolt additional protection wings to it to perhaps cover the injector itself.

When I have time I’ll jack the car up and take some better photos, but it’s -3°F here and dark.
 

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#2 ·
I wonder if Jeep will have some TSB for the early 15's and 14's?
This doesn't speak well for Jeep if they don't given they know this was a problem and took a long time to do a solution but what are hearing from them? So far nothing....
 
#6 ·
Didn't one of the TSBs say to zip-tie the wiring up to the frame? This may be intended as a clean factory fix for that problem. They may still internally be in denial over the injector, especially if they saw a lot more cases of damage because of the wiring than from impacts to the injector itself.

It's a shame it interferes with adding dom's plate....
 
#9 ·
It doesn't cover the injector, but It slightly covers the heat-shielded connector that plugs into the injector. It will limit the size of what can get up into the area of the injector to do damage, but they could made it a little bigger to protect it even better.
 
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#12 ·
X2!
 
#15 · (Edited)
Thank you so much guys for the support!! YOu guys are awesome, really!!

I agree with whom ever said this will take care of a good percentage of what was causing the DEF injector to fail. Maybe not with the probability percentages :slapfight::lol:

I feel what was causing most of the issues, was when someone was driving really hard into a deep puddle/body of water and the splash of the water coming off the front passenger tire would literally leverage the def harness in the section where it crosses the unibody and would in turn rip the injector off(plastic). I dont feel like to many ppl were breaking the injector off by actually contacting it on something even though its really obvious that anything can break it off.

picture of new bracket for dEf harness from factory(side view)


The Harness is still really exposed in this ^^^^^ picture out board the frame rail. And in this thread op , you can see the injector still being exposed.

I updated the OP in the DEF Group buy thread last week when i went to the dealer to investegate with this critical information so that new ppl can take it upon themselves to make that determination. I mention in another thread about me receiving many many many emails about this and had many questions. Many of those ppl still went a head and order the JeepEcodieselfix plate(Thanks) , as well as a few ppl canceling there order, to either take the chance or they feel it is enough.

But , again, just want to say thanks again guys.:thumbsup:
 
#17 ·
<< snipped text and pic>>

Many of those ppl still went a head and order the JeepEcodieselfix plate(Thanks) , as well as a few ppl canceling there order, to either take the chance or they feel it is enough.

But , again, just want to say thanks again guys.:thumbsup:

I'm anxiously awaiting delivery of my ordered "fix plate." I believe many of us are grateful for your ingenuity at developing these and making them available.

GCBurt
 
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#18 · (Edited)
My DEF protection plate arrived and I installed it this afternoon. That should stop the potential of ripping out the wiring and DEF line to the injector. Looks to be a good fix on what Jeep forgot on their early EcoDiesel Grand Cherokees. Their new wiring protection plate seems a bit shortsighted.

THANKS DOM42 !!!
 
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#20 ·
Finally a response, happy to see they finally put some extra protection. It looks like this will go a long way and that the impact would have to be nearly vertical to damage the injector and will deflect larger objects.
 
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#21 ·
So i have had at least a dozen ppl install my plate on a 2015 with the new bracket jeep is now providing. Apparently they feel the same about that bracket not being enough...

Anyway, half those ppl said that my rear pilot hole lines up and some say its off as much as 1/8 off. Regardless of being off or on point, all they had to do was open up the pilot hole on the rear of the plate and just bolt it up using the supplied bolt from factory. Only one person actually just used my plate. The rest decided to just install my plate over the factory bracket.

For the 2015 wk2 eco diesel owners that did get the oem bracket, the hole is there and all you have to do is open up the hole on the jeepecodieselfix plate. I have not been able to source the oem nutsert they are using for that hole, but when i do, i will be including it in the plate kit. As of right now, you can use the nutsert i provide even tho its square hole. Just take your time installing the nutsert.

going to copy an paste this to the op in the def group buy thread.
 
#22 ·
I installed Dom’s aluminum plate along with the new factory skid plate with minimal effort. Three bolts gets the job done… and two of those are factory supplied.

See the photos for the results and some notes. I felt pretty good about the new factory skid plate alone, but since I already purchased Dom’s aluminum plate while waiting on our build and didn’t know about the new factory skid plate, I just had to mount it as well. I feel really good about the protection to the DEF injector and harness now.
 

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#23 · (Edited)
Loving the pictures.

Hey, I would honestly install the bolt in the area where You said you didn't touch. In That area I provided an aluminum spacer that won't allow that area to not flex. It will make that area more rigid . But not a big deal.

As far as using that clip nut. So pissed at my supplier not being able to get me those. I need to get those for this kit.

I appreciate the pictures and feed back. Thanks.
 
#24 ·
Loving the pictures.

Hey, I would honestly install the bolt in the area where You said you didn't touch. In That area I provided an aluminum spacer that won't allow that area to not flex. It will make that area more rigid . But not a big deal.

As far as using that clip nut. So pissed at my supplier not being able to get me those. I need to get those for this kit.

I appreciate the pictures and feed back. Thanks.
No spacer is needed in my opinion. The factory skid plate provides adequate support in the area where the spacer would mount. Your plate ain't goin' anywhere when combined with the factory skid plate.
 

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#25 · (Edited)
Edit: is the factory bracket already resting on top of my plate. As in is it touching it? If not putting the bolt and spacer I provided will suck the plate up a little more. Looks like the plate is slightly bowing in the center. Could b just the pic....


Thanks

Again. Loving the pics and editing with illustration.

Awesomeness!!!

Thank you!!
 
#26 ·
Edit: is the factory bracket already resting on top of my plate. As in is it touching it? If not putting the bolt and spacer I provided will suck the plate up a little more. Looks like the plate is slightly bowing in the center. Could b just the pic....


Thanks

Again. Loving the pics and editing with illustration.

Awesomeness!!!

Thank you!!
The factory bracket/skid plate is touching your plate. It’s a very solid contact which makes me pretty comfortable about rattling and vibration. If it does start vibrating I plan on inserting 1/8” thick piece of rubber between your plate and the factory plate.

There is no noticeable bow… the picture just makes it look that way. It looks flat but there obviously is a slight bow since your plate presses firmly against the factory plate.
 
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#27 ·
I too installed mine on a '15 this weekend but choose to take the factory plate off. I think there was some bowing when trying to fit Dom's plate over the factory & I was concerned about any potential creeks or rattles. I also felt Dom's plate provided more than enough protection & that the factory one would not be adding any value at that point. The fit was excellent & I had to redrill the pilot hole on the rear of the plate but with 4 bolts holding it in & all with blue locktight it's not going any where soon.
 
#29 ·
An available MOPAR DEF skid plate is terrific news. Thanks.
Do you or anybody out there happen to know the Chrysler Part No. for it?
Cheers
I would rather order Dom's plate instead of ordering the Mopar one if it's even available. Dom's covers a lot more area around the Def system.
 
#30 · (Edited)
Jeep_GC..Did yours have the factory plate? I'm thinking mine will as it is currently being built.
I plan to have dealer install Dom plate as well for the security of both plates.
** Dom is the instruction sheet on website updated to take into account the factory plate...ie an install instruction for later 2015 builds.
 
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#31 ·
Jeep_GC..Did yours have the factory plate? I'm thinking mine will as it is currently beinb built.
I plan to have dealer install Dom plate as well for the security of both plates.
** Dom is the instruction sheet on website updated to take intonaccoung the factory plate...ie an install instruction for later 2015 builds.
TB - Dec 2014 build and no factory plate so just running Doms. Dealer installed, didn't drill so using 3M tape at the back.
 
#34 ·
DJP2014 thanks for taking all of the pictures. It will big a big help when I install mine. Can you tell me what size clip nut you used and where you got it from?

Thanks
Thanks for the thanks.

I don't remember what size clip nut I used, but the bolt I think was a 1/4". I bought it at a local hardware store in my town and actually I bought 3 or 4 different sizes for a couple bucks because I didn't know which would fit well.

If you have a Home Depot in your town or something similar I'm sure they have them in the specialize fastener drawers. Amazon would have them as well. Buy a few sizes to save yourself multiple trips.

Just FYI, everything is still working out very well with using DOM's plate along with the factory plate. No rattles or worries.
 
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#37 ·
Sorry to hear it turned sour. I just bought my 2014 in March with less than 46K miles. I love it so far. The injector looks awfully exposed down there and I do quite a bit of off road (no rocks though) on the ranch in Nebraska.


I'll take one if you can dust one off.


Thanks


Stoney
 
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