Jeep Liberty : Reliability, Safety, IFS ??

Approximately 11/24/03 17:32, C. E. White uttered for posterity:

And yet there are people who regularly run their vehivles into the multiple 100K range. Most tend to pay attention to the condition of the vehicle, perform reasonable preventative maintenance, avoid using cheap parts to save a few bucks, and take care of small items before they become big items. These seem to be able to do it to pretty much any style of vehicle or brand.

Any owner that can't get 80,000 miles out of pretty much any car sold in the last 3 decades shouldn't be allowed near cars in the first place. I've gotten over 200K on an old 60's Chev. Just takes care.

Whereas I have a rotary with similar miles that still runs nicely. With the exception of the clutch, thermal reactor, and cat convertor, none of the major mech components have needed replacement. They have gotten regular loving care even though not particularly driven with utmost care. Have also taken a Volvo 164E past the 300K mark with even fewer mech repairs. And a Porsche, which was slightly cheaper than the Volvo to keep in repair.

My wife's 2003 Honda Oddyssey never burned any oil...it just left puddles of it whenever it was parked a week after we took delivery. Figured it was losing about 1 qt every 200 miles. A new oil pan, seal, and SHORTBLOCK later, all before 1100 miles on the odo, it still leaks and we are now in lemon law proceedings.

My '96 Ford Club Wagon, that's another story. Had 113,000 miles on it when I sold it and it never leaked or burned a drop of oil.

• * * Matt Macchiarolo
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Exactly what do you do to keep relays from failing? How do you keep the stupid alternator from cooking the internal regulator every summer? What maintenance do you suggest to keep the A/C from failing? Just how often do you have to change the transmission fluid in a Toyota transmission to keep it from going belly up (monthly?)? What treatment would have stopped all the black trim from fading to white? What should Ii have done to keep the internal plastic from turning white and cracking in less than 5 years? Is repainting the car routine maintenance for a Toyota? Did I forget to change the oil in the starter or is there some sort of magic to keep them going for more than three years? I don't doubt that someone could drive a 4Runner 500,000 miles, I just doubted that one had been driven that many miles is the few years they have actually been available. To be honest I had forgotten about the awful old 2 Door pick-up based 4Runners Toyota sold in the 80's and was only thinking of the

Now it is my turn to wonder what you are doing wrong. I can't remember the last time I had an engine give me any problems and that includes 5 Fords that went over 130,000 miles (several way over). My Sister has a very nice Civic, but it already burns more than a quart of oil in 1000 miles and it is no where near 100,000 miles. Her old '80 Accord also used more than a little oil also. It never had the chance to make a 100,000 miles (totaled in an accident). However, all cars burn oil. Some more than others, but anytime someone says their car doesn't burn a drop, I suggest that they think about how piston engines lubricate the pistons and valves.

I don't know about Cadillacs, but my 1997 Expedition easily made it to 100,000 with nothing more than regular oil and filter changes. I did change the plugs at 100,000 miles, but the one I took out looked perfect. Also, I did have to replace the alternator at around 101,000 miles, but that sure beat the Toyota I owned that needed a new one every summer.

Ed

It less than 80,000 miles we replaced one starter, 3 alternators, 3 relays, an A/C condenser, several power window switches, 1 paint job, all the black trim needed replacing, interior plastic turned white, one power antenna, last straw was transmission (fluid had been changed 3 times in 80,000 miles). It was a POS from day one. It was the least satisfactory car I ever owned. I have had less reliable cars, but never one than combined dull looks, horrible handling, uncomfortable interior, and unreliability all in one horrible combination. Oh what a feeling. Oh yeah, the engine was still running fine.

Ed

Just a shot in the dark but it sounds like you mechanic didn't diagnose the initial charging problem that may have went on to kill all those things. (except the cosmetics of course)

Are we talking about a 4 runner here or something else? I don't think I've met the person who had to rebuild a 4 Runner transmission yet.

The problem was a crappy design. Toyota wedged the alternator next to exhaust manifold in an area with virtually no air flow. As long as the ex worked, we had no problems. When she worked, She only drove realitively long distances in relatively cool weather. As soon as she became a stay at home Mom, the alternator failed every August - always in the middle of the day while she was poking around town. Replacement alternators were hard to find. The generous folks at Toyota only sold new $500+ replacements. None of the local parts stores listed a rebuild. Finally I took it to a local rebuilder. He took one look at and without me saying a word told me what car it came off of and why it was failing. He also said it was very common. You want to hear about the crappy starter? Another 500+ Toyota only part. The contact in the solenoid burned out. The alternator rebuilder knew all about those also. He carried the parts to fix them. The stupid A/C condensor just started leaking for no apparent reason. The window switches just disassembled themselves. It was a rolling pile of crap as far as I was concerned.

No it was a Cressida. An overpriced piece of junk.

Ed

Troll.

People will spend $5000 to make their toyota/honda/nissan make it to

I understand now - you thought you bought a Toyota, but it really was a Ford.

You obviously are a liar and a troll. Nobody on the planet believes that you could possibly have owned the 5 Fords made since 1900 that actually were well made.

Now we know you are lying. First, you say you changed the "plugs", then you say the "one you took out" looked perfect, which anybody who has ever changed a plug knows is bullshit.

Go back to troll land moron.

Hey trollboy, statistics show that the cost to get an "American made" vehicle to 100,000 miles is 3 times as much as getting a Honda or Toyota to go 300,000 miles.

My own experience, no Honda I have owned has ever needed more than oil, gas, brakes and tires to go 100,000 miles. On the other hand, EVERY American car I have owned has cost me at least $5000 per 20,000 miles.

This thread, and this moron in particular, are a good example as to why cross-posting is a bad idea.

It also proves that eating paint chips is bad for your brain. :)

Chris

. On the other hand,

You call the others liers and then make a statement like this.

So you paid over $30,000 for a car over 10 years ago and you think that $500 would be a bit much for an alternator or starter on a car in the same class as the BMW 5 series? Let me let you in on a few secrets. AC systems fail, they fail on 5 day old cars, they fail on 5 year old cars. Second, if you have an exhaust heat problem, fixing the symptoms is not going to fix the problem. You either had a bad heat shield or a rich running condition. And third, I don't know what any of this has to do with the reliability of 4 runners so why you brought it up is beyond me. My advice, spend half as much on a car next time and feel 1/4 of the buyers remorse.

Opps, that should read "lean running condition".

Seriously. That's either a case of neglect, or just plain bad luck.

I've driven my Mustang almost 50,000 miles (about 98,500 on the clock), and aside from "oil, gas, brakes and tires", I've only spent about $600 on mechanical repairs.

It is not unusual to find 500,000 mile Ford taxis and police cars. Nor is it unusual to find 100,000 mile 5.0 FoMoCo vehicles (Mustangs, T-birds, full-sized cars, trucks, etc.) with lots of life left.

It all comes down to basic maintenance; neglect any car, and it's not going to last. And, true, once in a while you get a true lemon, but they're nowhere near as common as popular belief would dictate.

No, you were right the first time. Unburned fuel will ignite in the catalytic converter and create excessive heat.

KennyH

Horsepower is cheaper than therapy.