Monday, July 22, 2024

A look back at our Jeep Patriot 2015 2.4L AWD repair project

 

This had been my weekends for almost three months.


2024 Repairs in the order of encountered (from 108,000 to 110,000 miles):

  • Noticed a stumble during the ignition and later found a bulging coil pack.
  • New coil packs installed with new spark plugs.
  • Intake Runner error code: required the removal of intake manifold and cleaning of the air flap bearings and removal of carbon build up.
  • Discovered a radiator leak that was unrelated to the work being done to the intake.  The leak located along the front of the mount point of the tank end, passenger side.
  • Took apart the nose because I didn't want to have the AC emptied, and dropped the old radiator downward for removal.  New radiator installed.
  • Cleaned intake manifold re-installed it and the actuator motor, error gone.
  • First transmission fluid exchange of four quarts with four quarts of Amzoil.
  • While under the Patriot working on the transmission fluid exchange, I discovered the tires on one side were horribly worn on the inside shoulder, this indicating that the passenger side 2023 fall and after winter and tire rotations 2024 kill the inside of the threads.
  • Oil change with new Amzoil.
  • Next four quart exchange of transmission fluid.
  • Diagnosed severe negative camber from bad control arms as the cause of the tire damage.
  • Installed new rear control arms.
  • New PCV installed.
  • While working on rear control arms I noticed that the front control arms are also showing negative camber.
  • Front control arms replaced and old control arms found with cracked or spit bushings.
  • Battery tested low after manual charging... only 12.5 volts after charging and should have been around 13.6 when moments fully charged.
  • New battery was installed.
  • Performed a more thorough four sided brake pad install and cleaning of all calipers guides and carriers and scrubbing the channels for new slide plates.
  • While testing the new control arms and brakes out, the Skid/ABS error light occurred on the dash.  The ABS system attempted to activate.
  • Diagnosed ABS/Skid lights as being on the driver's side rear sensor coming loose from mount due to rust rotting out clip, the message was "not sending signal".
  • New driver's side rear bearing hub was installed and the ABS/Skid light errors self cleared.
  • While replacing the rear bearing, it was noticeable that the brake back plate was badly corroded and may need replacing sooner than later.
  • During the test for the new hub bearing, a battery problem light then shown on the dash.  Along with the battery light was a squawking from the serpentine belt area of the engine.  It was a random subtle noise at first, but now was steady and louder than usual.
  • Diagnosed as a total failure of the alternator pulley (Alternator Decoupling Pulley).
  • Entire alternator replaced.
  • Needing new rotors on all sides.


Coming up repairs for the remainder of this year:

  • Switch out bad tires before getting inspection sticker done.
  • New rear back plates.
  • Trailing arm bushings.
  • Installing all new parts and pads for e-brake.
  • Winter salt proofing spraying applied to critical areas.
  • Rebuilding the winter tire set, rims are badly corroded.

Hope to not deal with until next year:

  • Struts all around
  • Tie-rods.
  • CV axle.
  • Subframe front and back.
  • Engine and transmission mounts
  • Water pump


...and then there's the 2010 Chevy Malibu.




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