JL welding Issues

[old8tora]

One point I'd mention is : If this was an Army contract delivery , all welds would be perfectly strong , and inspected by a competent quality control inspector , because they wouldn't want to lose their contract . However , we are merely private customers with wallets fat enough to pay the over-inflated prices , so we don't matter . Sorry to face the truth about it .

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[old8tora]

Here a list of items prepping for the purchase of the Jeep JL JWXXXXXX, Hardtop Rubicon JL.


High Level Check List:


A. Payment: Pls verify check from Credit Union Arrived at Superior Jeep on xx/xx/xxxx (this would be 5 days prior to purchase date).


B. Insurance: XYZ Insurance will cover the Jeep starting on purchase date of JL. I'll bring proof of insurance ... insurance card. Any questions call XYZ Insurance at xxx.xxx.xxxx.


C. Flight Info: Delta xxxx, From Altanta (ATL), GA to Little Rock, AR (LIT). Arrive LIT: 11:25am. I'll call you when I arrive?


D. Tread Lightly Cover Letter: I’ll bring the Tread Lightly Cover letter with me to give to you when I arrive.


E. Like to check the Jeep for alignment (drives straight) and to put the Jeep up on the lift and check for leaks. Here's my detail check list:


Detail Check List:


1. Verify Jeep drives straight with steering wheel centered (straight up and down).


2. Place Jeep on lift and look underneath for fluid leaks (oil pan, transmission pan, transfer case, both front and rear differentials), weld joints, any damage underneath and location of where the jack goes underneath JL in order to change a tire.


3. Two sets of fob keys


4. Jeep mini ratchet set/Torx (for hardtop/windshield/doors)


5. Lug nut key (for spare) and the lock nut on the spare.


6. Freedom top storage bag for hard top pieces.


7. Jeep hitch receiver rubber insert.


8. Towing Pkg: small baggie with tubing and splices.


9. Cold Weather Group option: removable AC cord that is part of the block heater kit (under the hood?).


10. Rear Cargo cubby rubber mat


11. Rubber mats inside center console


12. Rear mounting connector for rear windshield wiper tubing and rear electrical connector. This mounting connector is used to secure the rear windshield washer hose and electronics wiring when the hard top is removed.


13. Verify all options paid for are included in JL.


14. Pair Phone and go over how to use JL’s Navigation on 8.4” screen.


15. Locate where jack is … (incase one has to change a tire during delivery).

You forgot to mention to turn off the start-stop .

 

[Sierra Nevada]

Yeah, start/stop had me worried. I've updated the list.

 

[TopPinArcher]

Several items on the list have to be covered by the dealer if they want to pass the survey.. good to have the list but a reputable dealer will hit all those items. Mine did and got 10’s across the board

 

[Sierra Nevada]

... still, my dealer missed 2 items ... prepare and prevent rather than repair and repent. lol.

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

Yeah, start/stop had me worried. I've updated the list.

Check A/C and heater.

 

[New JL/13Fatboy]

Must have been built on a Friday. Lazy robots!

And the robot already got it's paycheck & had the weekend on it's mind instead of working.

 

[Jeepsterfreak]

And the robot already got it's paycheck & had the weekend on it's mind instead of working.

Or that robot must have been hungover from being lubed up the night before.

 

[Hakkodapow]

If any of you missed this post you need to take a look. His track bar sheared clean off at the welds. No question there are issues with some of these welds. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/i-feel-like-i’m-cursed-with-my-new-jl.6979/

 

[85CJto18JL]

I posted earlier and have 20+ years welding experience.. I inspected mine and even though it’s not perfect and I did find some porosity but this Jeep is way over-welded. I didn’t see the need to grind and reweld so I plugged any pinhole with liquid metal and repainted.. took an hour. Good to go... only reason I did that is i didn’t want salt water permeating the hole and rusting...done deal.. I’ll check once a year and repaint all the underbelly scratches.

Liquid metal something anyone can do??

 

[practicaltact]

If any of you missed this post you need to take a look. His track bar sheared clean off at the welds. No question there are issues with some of these welds. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/i-feel-like-i’m-cursed-with-my-new-jl.6979/

Wow that guy is lucky he didn't kill anyone or himself. This would validate any of OP and his wife's concerns.

 

[TopPinArcher]

Before you go this route make sure you have the welds inspected.. I’ve seen some that absolutely need to be ground and rewelded...excessive porosity is unacceptable. Mine is not excessive so this is the repair I chose. Yes, anyone can use and it’s hardens quick and solid.

Liquid metal something anyone can do??

 

[BostonBilly]

Same as like a JB weld?

 

[That One Guy]

Can we all just take a minute here and acknowledge how unacceptable it is for owners of a 3 month old vehicle to have to fix their own frame welds? Whoever that dude was looking to put out FCA shaming videos, it seems it's time. I don't feel comfortable placing an order until it's demonstrated that FCA has gotten their shit back on track.

 

[Jeep_Dude]

Here’s pics from my Jeep as promised.

Overall I would say 95% of the welds seemed solid. The pics represent some spots that I found that were sloppy.

Some of the pictures look like the pitts are inverted - trust me, they are pitts, I ran my finger across all of these.

Here we go...

They were going along fine across the frame then it jumped over this spot. Break time I guess.
#2

This is a difficult picture to see. Notice the indentation. See the gap in the welding it causes. WTF is that?
#9

Here is an obvious gap in the welding they didn’t feel like they had to fix.
#10

Here are some spot welds holding on the body mount side coupling. It had a full bead on the opposite side, so I guess FCA thinks thats “good enough” it only holds the body to the frame.
#11

Overall nearly all of these welds would pass a cross section, Now to break down a couple of them:

2- Obviously the robot over lap wasn't spot on.

9- That indentation is a locking lance for assembly of the rail. Sets the depth for when the rail is assembled before welding.

10- Engineered skip in weld, No issue there.

11- Those are indeed tack welds. Used to hold bracket in place before final welding. Bracket only needs to be welded on one side. JK is built the same way.

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