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ooo-ooo that air conditioner smell!

Fire Burns

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This is my fear. I’ve already threatened to lemon the car and they haven’t fought me on that idea. I said I’d give them a shot at a heater core replacement but if I have ongoing dash reassembly complications it’s gunna be ugly. This isn’t what I paid $36k cash for :-(

Have you brought it back for the noise?

I’ve worked with theFCA Case manager assigned to this issue for me and he managed to get the core delivery changed from “nationwide backorder with no eta” to delivered in 5 days. So anyone dealing with this issue if you are told the nationwide backorder BS, don’t believe it for a minute and call FCA And request a case manager assignment and ask for the part to be expedited to your local dealer.
For @Jl-Family the heater core didn't work. My kids are complaining about the smell because its now getting cold enough to use the heater now. I really didn't want to do an unnecessary "repair". Keep us updated if your heater core swap helps you! @islandjeeper !
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khat

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Update on my engine coolant issue. I took it in to another dealer who completed another pressure test but left it on overnight to see if it would drop from a tiny leak. It held pressure for over 12 hours. They can't find anything wrong with it but he suspects that since the coolant recovery tank is right next to the fresh air intake on the JL models that is possibly what is causing the issue.... Not sure I am on board with that as it only happens when heater is running. I am at a loss of what to do about it.
 

islanderjeeper

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Update on my engine coolant issue. I took it in to another dealer who completed another pressure test but left it on overnight to see if it would drop from a tiny leak. It held pressure for over 12 hours. They can't find anything wrong with it but he suspects that since the coolant recovery tank is right next to the fresh air intake on the JL models that is possibly what is causing the issue.... Not sure I am on board with that as it only happens when heater is running. I am at a loss of what to do about it.
If its maple syrup smell it’s coolant, which when aresolized is toxic. Deem the car undriveable, get that on record at the dealer, call FCA and then call a lemon law lawyer. In NC its 20 days undrivable (toxic cabin air is undrivable and its a lemon. If Heater core swap doesn’t fix the smell, that’s very sadly the way I’d have to go.
 

Wuy121890

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Hello everyone,

First post here as new jeep owner. We have the same issue. It is smells like a mix between herbal medicine, soy sauce and maple syrup. It is actually giving me a massive headache when driving it. Basically have to drive with the heat off and windows open. We are under 400 miles right now new Jeep Wrangler 2018 4 door JL Sahara and just recently started using heat with the change in weather.

I have scheduled a service appointment but it is a few weeks out after Christmas. Does anyone have specifics on what needed to be fixed so I can pass along the message when I arrive at the dealership. Seems from this thread and another thread I should specify the heater core?

Also @JeepCares is this something you can assist with to relay the issue and message to the dealership?

Thank you all this forum has been extremely useful for a new jeep owner like myself.
 

islanderjeeper

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Hello everyone,

First post here as new jeep owner. We have the same issue. It is smells like a mix between herbal medicine, soy sauce and maple syrup. It is actually giving me a massive headache when driving it. Basically have to drive with the heat off and windows open. We are under 400 miles right now new Jeep Wrangler 2018 4 door JL Sahara and just recently started using heat with the change in weather.

I have scheduled a service appointment but it is a few weeks out after Christmas. Does anyone have specifics on what needed to be fixed so I can pass along the message when I arrive at the dealership. Seems from this thread and another thread I should specify the heater core?

Also @JeepCares is this something you can assist with to relay the issue and message to the dealership?

Thank you all this forum has been extremely useful for a new jeep owner like myself.
Real sorry to have to break the news but you are one of the lucky few to have a defective leaking heater core. It will require the entire dashboard to be broken down and removed to get to the core for replacement. It’s a two day job and getting the heater core alone requires the involvement of FCA’s parts expediters as they are on nationwide backorder. It took FCA a week and a half to get the part to the dealer for me and involved a case manager. There will inevitably be damage made to the dash during this core replacement process as it’s almost impossible not to scratch something during this massive job. Luckily I escaped with just a few chips to the steering wheel trim which they are eventually going to replace. I was not so lucky that the tech didn’t reconnect my battery properly after the job which shorted out the auto-stop system and drained the battery in 15 minutes leaving me on a dead stop on an interstate off ramp needing a tow. I haven’t had my JL for 10 days because they had to order parts for the auto-stop fuse bank. That’s all a fluke I know. My JL actually qualified for lemon law a while ago I just don’t have the stomach to do it given my investment in getting the core job done. I’ll probably get an extended warranty comped out of it at least so it sounds like from my case manager.

Since you have such low mileage on the car, here is my advice that I really REALLY hope you follow. Please. Stop driving it immediately. As painful as this will be, call your sales person at the dealership and tell them you are returning it as it’s undriveable because aresolized coolant is toxic and you have all the tell tale signs of a coolant leak. Once they get a tech in there that can confirm that it is a coolant leak by the smell, they will probably be telling you they want to swap it out. If I was in your specific position, I would give them a quick “Absolutely not” and demand a full refund or credit or reorder replacement. Do not let them do the job. This is a wildly unacceptable a manufacturing defect and no one under 500 miles should have to go through a replacement. I did it because I bought mine in the summer and didn’t start smelling the week until fall when I put the heat on for the first time and by that time I had over 2000 miles on it. When the dealer agrees to the return, tell them you want a loaner until the replacement arrives. If they give you shit, call FCA and get a case started,they will likely authorize the loaner for you.

I wish you luck with the dealer. Don’t take any shit from them. If it was my brand new JL, a replacement vehicle would be the only option for me.
 
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khat

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Hello everyone,

First post here as new jeep owner. We have the same issue. It is smells like a mix between herbal medicine, soy sauce and maple syrup. It is actually giving me a massive headache when driving it. Basically have to drive with the heat off and windows open. We are under 400 miles right now new Jeep Wrangler 2018 4 door JL Sahara and just recently started using heat with the change in weather.

I have scheduled a service appointment but it is a few weeks out after Christmas. Does anyone have specifics on what needed to be fixed so I can pass along the message when I arrive at the dealership. Seems from this thread and another thread I should specify the heater core?

Also @JeepCares is this something you can assist with to relay the issue and message to the dealership?

Thank you all this forum has been extremely useful for a new jeep owner like myself.[/QUOTE

Mine had gone through 4 pressure tests over time, two of which were left on overnight, and they could never find any drop in pressure to indicate a leak. it was frustrating as I would get techs who say they can smell it and then the service manager from the dealership I bought it from telling me he can't and its in our heads. We took to a different dealer on advice of Jeep and they have been great. Finally, I got them to open a Star case and get a Chrysler engineer to look at the car yesterday. He confirmed the smell and they are going look at the heater core which is the only thing that can be causing this problem. They are starting it on Monday and I will update you with how it goes.
 

islanderjeeper

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Take pics of your entire dashboard and all the trim so you have evidence of its condition when you get it back. Expect cosmetic damage and immediately make them order replacement parts. Good luck!!!

Also——how did you get a Chrysler engineer to look at your JL????
 

khat

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Hello everyone,

First post here as new jeep owner. We have the same issue. It is smells like a mix between herbal medicine, soy sauce and maple syrup. It is actually giving me a massive headache when driving it. Basically have to drive with the heat off and windows open. We are under 400 miles right now new Jeep Wrangler 2018 4 door JL Sahara and just recently started using heat with the change in weather.

I have scheduled a service appointment but it is a few weeks out after Christmas. Does anyone have specifics on what needed to be fixed so I can pass along the message when I arrive at the dealership. Seems from this thread and another thread I should specify the heater core?

Also @JeepCares is this something you can assist with to relay the issue and message to the dealership?

Thank you all this forum has been extremely useful for a new jeep owner like myself.
Take pics of your entire dashboard and all the trim so you have evidence of its condition when you get it back. Expect cosmetic damage and immediately make them order replacement parts. Good luck!!!

Also——how did you get a Chrysler engineer to look at your JL????
Thank you. The dealer has to open a "Star" case on the vehicle for a Chrysler service engineer to look in to it. Apparently they make the rounds in their region for different problems..... We were just insistent asking for this when they couldn't find anything wrong with it.
 

islanderjeeper

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From what I have read and what the service writer told me, it’s actually hard to “find” this leak because it’s not a traditional leak; this one is apparently a pinhole fissure. I think traditional leaks actually make their wait into the cabin and into the foot wells but this one is deep behind the dash and because of its location some how it gets into the vent system.
 

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islanderjeeper

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JeepCares

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Hello everyone,

First post here as new jeep owner. We have the same issue. It is smells like a mix between herbal medicine, soy sauce and maple syrup. It is actually giving me a massive headache when driving it. Basically have to drive with the heat off and windows open. We are under 400 miles right now new Jeep Wrangler 2018 4 door JL Sahara and just recently started using heat with the change in weather.

I have scheduled a service appointment but it is a few weeks out after Christmas. Does anyone have specifics on what needed to be fixed so I can pass along the message when I arrive at the dealership. Seems from this thread and another thread I should specify the heater core?

Also @JeepCares is this something you can assist with to relay the issue and message to the dealership?

Thank you all this forum has been extremely useful for a new jeep owner like myself.
Hi Wuy121890,

Thanks for tagging us, and we have just responded to your PM regarding this.

Jennifer
Jeep Social Care Specialist
 

khat

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They took the dash off of mine and found 3 leaks in the heater core. I am relieved we finally got someone to do it and not tell us it was in our heads. For anyone having this issue and the service department telling you they can't find anything wrong with it, my Jeep passed 4 pressure tests two of which were left on for over 12 hours. I was told it was impossible for it to be leaking and pass that pressure test from the dealer I bought it from. I am happy that another dealer took us seriously and were determined to figure out why it was happening. Now... we hope they put it back together again good as new. I will get it back next week and update how it went.
 

Fire Burns

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They took the dash off of mine and found 3 leaks in the heater core. I am relieved we finally got someone to do it and not tell us it was in our heads. For anyone having this issue and the service department telling you they can't find anything wrong with it, my Jeep passed 4 pressure tests two of which were left on for over 12 hours. I was told it was impossible for it to be leaking and pass that pressure test from the dealer I bought it from. I am happy that another dealer took us seriously and were determined to figure out why it was happening. Now... we hope they put it back together again good as new. I will get it back next week and update how it went.
Hey @khat , let us know once its all put together if the problem has been corrected. I know we've had at least one in this thread have their heater core replaced only to find that the smell remained...
 

khat

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Hey @khat , let us know once its all put together if the problem has been corrected. I know we've had at least one in this thread have their heater core replaced only to find that the smell remained...
Hey @khat , let us know once its all put together if the problem has been corrected. I know we've had at least one in this thread have their heater core replaced only to find that the smell remained...
Will do.
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