Dealership overheated my engine

[Odyssey USA]

Your mistake was contacting Jeep. This is between you and the dealership. Hopefully Jeep didn't document this and if the engine does fail down the line it'll be replaced under normal warranty procedures.


That being said, you need a third independent party to verify issues with the engines, and then you'll need to quite literally lawyer up against the dealership. A good place to check is the heat indicators on the back of the cylinder heads. If they're red then you have the proof you need.

Was there a year they started adding heat indicators? My 21 doesn’t have them and I’d always thought of those coming with reman or possibly new engines.

Sponsored

 

[alphawolff]

Was there a year they started adding heat indicators? My 21 doesn’t have them and I’d always thought of those coming with reman or possibly new engines.

No clue, there's a bulletin about checking them. White, pink, or red

 

[4Lo2Yolo]

I'd want to borrow one of Mitch's expensive cars, drain the coolant, and drive it under the same conditions, and call it even. After all, Mitch doesn't think it causes any damage, so I'm sure he'd be OK with this, right?

I was going to make a crack about riding Mitch's old lady until she overheats, draining the coolant, and calling it even.....but perhaps that is in bad taste. Maybe she tastes bad.

 

[T800]

At least it's still under warranty for a while longer.

Definitely putting a dash cam on my list. Long overdue.

 

[Terrymo]

No clue, there's a bulletin about checking them. White, pink, or red

I thought this was not installed on the OEM motor as it leaves the assembly line but on remanufactured or replacement motors. If it’s on the original I would like to know if they can be seen with the engine installed since I had a radiator replaced under warranty and still have some lingering doubts about how quickly I noticed the overheating and got it shut off,

https://www.mopar.com/content/dam/mopar/pdf/warranty/parts/overheated_engines_warranty_policy.pdf

 

[ColtB45]

At least it's still under warranty for a while longer.

Maybe, if Jeep will still honor the warranty after what the dealer did...

Definitely putting a dash cam on my list. Long overdue.

I like the VIOFO A119 Mini 2. No affiliation. It's what I use and frequently drops to ~$86.
If you want it to record even when the Jeep is off, get the hardwire kit too.

 

[Sandevino]

Copied from another pentastar forum thread….

I read the following information in a STAR publications for dealers. In a previous discussion, someone mentioned a dealer stated there are overheat indicator in the Pentastar engine. That only applies to Mopar service replacement engines (new and remanufactured). The indicator is called a heat tab, and they are not installed on the original equipment engines. They are installed on MOPAR service engine. The heat tab is located on the freeze pugs at the rear (transmission side) of the heads. OE engines do not have them.

If the heat tabs are white, the engine has not been overheated.
If the heat tabs are pink, the engine coolant temperature has reached 255 F.
If the heat tabs are red, the engine coolant temperature has exceeded 255 F. This will cause the heads to warp and leak coolant.

 

[mwilk012]

Running it and getting on it a bit I would think is part of the test drive, probably not right out of the gate. Ease into it, but get on it a bit so that the first time you merge on a freeway isn't when a problem is discovered. However, when it overheated miles from the dealership it was time to call a flatbed and bring it back in. Absolutely ridiculous to drive it back to the shop in that condition.

I guess the problem with legal action is that you can't prove actual damages unless the compression or coolant loss tests are out of spec. It may just be cheaper to sell it (or trade it), eat the depreciation and move on.

Most reasonable take in this thread.

The overheating isn’t the problem. There’s something wrong with the work they did.

 

[eastern]

If the heat tabs are white, the engine has not been overheated.
If the heat tabs are pink, the engine coolant temperature has reached 255 F.
If the heat tabs are red, the engine coolant temperature has exceeded 255 F. This will cause the heads to warp and leak coolant.

Considering that this thing is no stranger to seeing 220 in parking lot and 250 while wheeling on a hot day, i wonder what were they thinking with they way they set up cooling system if 255 is a cut off.

 

[Richard_JL]

OP: Dump it on Caravna, fast.
Seriously, if a lawyer can't make it right for you, you need to move on from this vehivcle, it'll make you nutz every day you own it. The whole thing makes you woner about their original dignosis on why you had them do work in the first place. Maybe they screwed that job up too.

 

[mwilk012]

Bad advice is free on the internet.

 

[ColtB45]

I cant tell, but I don't think this thing has heat tabs. I know the images look like they were taken with a potato.

Passengers side between the firewall and block near the head:

Drivers side between the firewall and block near the head:

 

[ColtB45]

As to check engine lights, I would not be surprised to learn the dealer cleared any history before returning the vehicle. Is there a record of CELs even after they've been cleared and remedied?

Anybody know?

Is they anyway to see maximum temp recorded or other useful info related to this? I have a SGW bypass cable, a OBDLink MX+, and JSCAN.

 

[Heimkehr]

Is there a record of CELs even after they've been cleared...

Yes.

E.g., I've extinguished (the correct word here) CELs from my neighbor's Dodge Dakota, but they kept returning until he replaced the part that was causing the fault. Only then did the CEL remain off after I used my code reader to turn it off. 'Twas the same Pxxxx code that reappeared when the CEL would come back on. The same was true for my Wrangler when chasing a CEL issue that was finally confirmed to be a faulty upstream O2 sensor.

...and remedied?

In my experience, no. Remedied means exactly that.

The only record of a once-active CEL error code, or more than one, that might exist is in the dealer's database, via a service invoice, if the vehicle was in their possession during a repair or state inspection appt.

 

[TyRoosevelt]

Some of the advice on here is awful and be careful who you listen to. You do not need to consult an attorney yet. Threatening to sue is much more effective than actually suing. Contact the owner and attach the video. Tell them you want them to fix it or replace it. I personally would have them replace the jeep and buy back the other one. Tell them you are willing to reach out to legal if you cannot solve the issue amicably. Be polite but direct. They will then reach out to their attorney and after seeing your video, they may do what you want. This is not a winnable case for them and it will be much cheaper to resolve this.

If their attorney is an idiot and they tell you to pound sand, send an official intent to sue letter listing what you want. You can have AI write it.

Then, if they ignore you, hire an attorney and proceed accordingly. You want to show you have acted in good faith. Do not drive it, document all the costs surrounding the issue, and move forward.

Sponsored