Concerns with a 4xe, need advice!

[SurfScout]

Morning All! New here and in the process of making a deal on a 2021 Rubicon 4xe w/aftermarket wheels and lift that's been listed for 4 months. Anything in particular I should look for or test? I've had a drive already and it seems good except for a few issues (not a mechanic), alignment (pulls to the left), brake noise (at very low speeds), oil residue on rear shocks (not sure if it's a leak or road spray), clipped wires under the passenger side doors (possibly from some auxiliary addition that was removed?), open recall ZB7 (very surprised this wasn't handled already). This Jeep is CPO via the listing Dodge/Ram dealership and they agreed to take it down the road to an unaffiliated Jeep dealership to have my concerns checked out plus a general once over PPI of sorts. Just looking for any advice on what to look for with Jeeps in general and the 4xe in particular. Thanks!

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[SurfScout]

Here's a pic of the wires.

 

[SurfScout]

Here's a pic of one shock with oil residue.

 

[BigMaCro]

Looks like you've got a good eye. bad shock, for sure. I don' t know what those wires are for - that looks like consumer split-loom rather than something factory, but the color-striped wires aren't often used with add-on accessories - so that needs to be traced to determine what it is. Maybe for lights or power steps or maybe run in through the floor drain plug to the interior.

 

[ZR2to392]

Double purple wire is for AMP Research powersteps. They use that wiring harness for all their steps. They should route near your ODB port, they likely removed the steps and said to hell with the wiring.

 

[SurfScout]

Looks like you've got a good eye. bad shock, for sure. I don' t know what those wires are for - that looks like consumer split-loom rather than something factory, but the color-striped wires aren't often used with add-on accessories - so that needs to be traced to determine what it is. Maybe for lights or power steps or maybe run in through the floor drain plug to the interior.

Hi BigMaCro, thanks for the response and information! I think that's a good call regarding the power steps. In the dealer website pictures there are rock rails that actually look like power steps however when I went to test drive it, they were mysteriously missing. Also seems a bit strange for a CPO vehicle that supposedly went through a 125+ point inspection, one or more bad shocks were overlooked but in all fairness, that's not to say they didn't fail after the inspection... Anyway thanks again for the info, I'm learning as I go like most beginners but greatly appreciate this forum and the Jeep community!

 

[sconrad24]

If its been sitting for 4 months I'd worry about the 12v battery. I'd factor in replacing that after purchasing. Also those look like the stock rubicon shocks. Did they listed what kind of lift was installed?

 

[SurfScout]

Double purple wire is for AMP Research powersteps. They use that wiring harness for all their steps. They should route near your ODB port, they likely removed the steps and said to hell with the wiring.

Hi ZR2to392, thanks for the detailed info that's good to know! I just messaged the salesman also as I'm sure those aren't cheap. Who knows if they were stolen off or what but I'll definitely use that info for negotiation if the Jeeps checks out otherwise.

 

[SurfScout]

If its been sitting for 4 months I'd worry about the 12v battery. I'd factor in replacing that after purchasing. Also those look like the stock rubicon shocks. Did they listed what kind of lift was installed?

Hi sconrad24, thanks for the response and advice! So should I ask the dealership about the 12v battery and if they will replace it or best to do it myself or elsewhere?

They didn't know the brand of lift or everything involved but seemed quite confident it was a 3" lift somehow. I'm skeptical at this point and I agree about the shocks, I was expecting to see something not red after hearing about the lift.

I'll see if I can press them for more info since I know others at the dealership know who traded it in. Thanks!

 

[GATORB8]

Hi sconrad24, thanks for the response and advice! So should I ask the dealership about the 12v battery and if they will replace it or best to do it myself or elsewhere?

They didn't know the brand of lift or everything involved but seemed quite confident it was a 3" lift somehow. I'm skeptical at this point and I agree about the shocks, I was expecting to see something not red after hearing about the lift.

I'll see if I can press them for more info since I know others at the dealership know who traded it in. Thanks!

Do you have any more suspension pics. No way it's 3". Those tags are stock springs and you'd be riding the tops of the shocks without extensions. My guess from what you posted it's stock with some wheels/tires slapped on it.

I assume your getting a killer deal to not look at new?

 

[sconrad24]

Hi sconrad24, thanks for the response and advice! So should I ask the dealership about the 12v battery and if they will replace it or best to do it myself or elsewhere?

They didn't know the brand of lift or everything involved but seemed quite confident it was a 3" lift somehow. I'm skeptical at this point and I agree about the shocks, I was expecting to see something not red after hearing about the lift.

I'll see if I can press them for more info since I know others at the dealership know who traded it in. Thanks!

They probably wont replace the 12v battery if its passing its tests. Theres some good threads here on the forum with better aftermarket options then the factory batteries anyway. Replacing it sooner rather than later could help you avoid some strange behavior from weak batteries.

 

[hybrid_eg]

yes i can confirm thats amp stemp wires...

 

[C.Sco]

Hi sconrad24, thanks for the response and advice! So should I ask the dealership about the 12v battery and if they will replace it or best to do it myself or elsewhere?

They didn't know the brand of lift or everything involved but seemed quite confident it was a 3" lift somehow. I'm skeptical at this point and I agree about the shocks, I was expecting to see something not red after hearing about the lift.

I'll see if I can press them for more info since I know others at the dealership know who traded it in. Thanks!

Don't bother having the dealer replace the battery for you, even if it's bad. They'll just stick in the same kind of garbage OEM battery that it had before. Instead, if the battery is no good then I would have them just discount $200 from the vehicle and then go buy one of the much better batteries recommended on various threads around here. And even if the battery does test good, I'd still replace it anyways; unless the previous owner already did.

 

[SurfScout]

Do you have any more suspension pics. No way it's 3". Those tags are stock springs and you'd be riding the tops of the shocks without extensions. My guess from what you posted it's stock with some wheels/tires slapped on it.

I assume your getting a killer deal to not look at new?

Hey GA

Do you have any more suspension pics. No way it's 3". Those tags are stock springs and you'd be riding the tops of the shocks without extensions. My guess from what you posted it's stock with some wheels/tires slapped on it.

I assume your getting a killer deal to not look at new?

Hey GATORB8, thanks for the response and info. I think I have a few more suspension pics, not great ones, but I'll add those and greatly appreciate any insight, cheers!

 

[GATORB8]

Hey GA


Hey GATORB8, thanks for the response and info. I think I have a few more suspension pics, not great ones, but I'll add those and greatly appreciate any insight, cheers!

Bone stock.

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