Any 3.6L Pentastar owners out there?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Just beware of Internet amplification. Do you have a real count on the actual number of affected engines?

My sources are telling me it is from a specific batch that were not cleaned properly at casting and the problem was quickly rectified.

Then there's going to be the stealerships lousy repairs talked about afterwards!


I don't have any statistics, but it seems to be quite a few on the Wrangler boards. The improper cleaning was another totally different issue which impacted about 500 engines. It was caused by poor cleaning technique because the block has no freeze out plugs. They resolved that almost instantly and made it known. This problem is a defect in the head, or head design according to my sources. They also said quite honestly Chrysler isn't sure if the new head is going to fix it. Reading the boards confirmed that because there are a few people complaining after the head replacement. In this case time will tell. Hopefully is was only a bad run of a few heads.
 
It's the "few people complaining after the head replacement" that worries me. I'm certain these engines are unique to most mechanics and I doubt anyone knows much about this new design.

I just know how much Chrysler has riding on this motor. But no one wants to buy like russian roulette.
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8


I just know how much Chrysler has riding on this motor. But no one wants to buy like russian roulette.


Chrysler bet the farm on this. I really want a 2013 Wrangler, but as you said I don't want to buy like Russian Roulette either. When they shout the fix from the rooftops on Allpar, Pentastar dot com, like they did about the engine clean up problem and the resolution, I'll feel better. So far they haven't, that scares me.
 
Since all the problems seem to be from Jeep owners, is it usage related ?
Steep operating angles, slow moving low airflow/high underhood temps etc.

Yes beware of 'internet amplification'...

I participate in a discussion forum for a particular brand of camera which recently had many quality control issues on high end models.

I admit I was one of the very vocal few from thousands of owners who very often posted my dissatisfaction with a new camera which
had particular autofocus problems in artificial lighting but it turns out the overall majority of users are not affected or just dont care
for their type of usage with that specific camera model.

The manufacturer never admitted to the problems or offered a fix, sent mine to a authorised service center for adjustment
but they returned it saying 'everything within factory specs'.

Of course they probably are well aware of the problems but if only a few are vocal about it it's not in their interest
to make it public and offer a worldwide product recall and have the bad press / company image that's associated with all that.

I'm guessing it's the same with the recent 3.6 Jeep issues.

Charger and Challenger 3.6's get beaten on daily without issue,
until there is an uprise in problems Chrysler might just offer cylinder head replacements without issuing major 3.6 recalls for a know problem..

Michel
(2011 3.6 Charger)
 
Last edited:
There are some GC's that are also having the problem, and many of the Jeeps I've read about haven't been off road yet. It might be in the tuning, since these engines produce different HP ratings depending on the application its in.
 
99% of Jeeps (Especially the not offroad capable Grand Cherokees) don't leave the pavement.

I'd be interested in seeing what happens with the 3.6 and it's ticking issues. Unfortunately, I think my parents will end up getting a 3.6 wrangler within the next few years.

It's kind of scary that they can't figure out what the ticking is. Some people have had resolution from a new head and some have not.

I can't imagine Chrysler forking over the money to replace a bunch of defective blocks if they are bad.
 
Originally Posted By: VNTS
Here is a TSB on Jeep for the Mils and clicking noise, it is the cam actuator routine

http://www.wk2jeeps.com/tsb/tsb_wk2_1801211a.pdf


After reading the TSB I can only reaffirm my fervent desire to NEVER AGAIN buy an overly complex, overly expen$ive new car or truck.

This one TSB has just about soured me for life!

Cheers!

p.s. I pity those whose claim is not "within warranty limitations" for reimbur$ement!
 
That TSB is over a year old, and probably for another issue. What a shame..............
 
Sounds to me like your supposed issue, clicking noise under the hood.

Dealers ripping heads off to fix a non issue sounds like clueless techs who are having a slow day and need some warranty work to make a few $$$.

I will ask a couple friends who work at local CDJ store and see what they hear on Dealer Connect. This store sells a lot of Grands, 300's Chargers Durangos, 200's and tons of Wranglers.
 
Originally Posted By: VNTS
Sounds to me like your supposed issue, clicking noise under the hood.

Dealers ripping heads off to fix a non issue sounds like clueless techs who are having a slow day and need some warranty work to make a few $$$.

I will ask a couple friends who work at local CDJ store and see what they hear on Dealer Connect. This store sells a lot of Grands, 300's Chargers Durangos, 200's and tons of Wranglers.




The problem with the left head is very real, in fact some people have bent valves as a result. The TSB posted was for a completely different problem, nothing at all to do with this.
 
A non issue. That's large. Almost laughable.

It's for real, and it's obvious some have no clue what we're talking about here.

And dealers can't just rip a head off and bill the factory. Any real tech will tell you that warranty work is VERY carefully regulated and controlled. You could easily fail reimbursement completely if not done very accurately per factory guidelines.
 
Last edited:
I have a 2012 Wrangler built in march do not know when engine was built 1500 miles so far i will keep an eye or ear out for trouble i hop to have none.
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
A non issue. That's large. Almost laughable.

It's for real, and it's obvious some have no clue what we're talking about here.

And dealers can't just rip a head off and bill the factory. Any real tech will tell you that warranty work is VERY carefully regulated and controlled. You could easily fail reimbursement completely if not done very accurately per factory guidelines.


Very true, and if this problem continues to escalate a lot of people will be sent packing and possibly need legal help. I pasted this from another board, it indicates to me that it is going to get tougher as the problem grows and costs Chrysler more and more money to resolve the problem.

Pasted from another site: got mine from the dealership and they said it is normal and they are doing me a favor by not reporting the fact I had a little bit of dry mud in the air box. This is a little bit of mud, little spots here and there. The service guy said "water could of got up in the motor" I then told him how I've been a mechanic for 10 years and worked at dealerships as well. Futhermore I told him the air box has small hole(s) to drain the water out. A little bit of mud in there is no different than the leaves, nuts, etc that are commonly found in air boxes. When I got home I checked it and yea there was mud but look at the top part of the air box, the real business end and it is so clean I could eat off of it. The intake hose is clean as well. I don't drive my jeep hardly it's 6 months old and has 3,500 miles on it. The mud he is talking about its from NOVEMBER of 2011.

Sounds like a lot of B_S to me. JMO
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
That is for a clicking noise WITH ENGINE OFF!

Did anyone read the TSB?

Hello?


I did. It further strengthened my resolve. No more overly complex & way! overly expensive new cars.

When I read a comparison road test in R&T between a Mercedes C-Class and a BMW 3-Class and they put almost $16K of "options" on the BMW and over $7K on the Mercedes I gag: just turns a 3-Series into a 5-$erie$...

And the START/STOP system is "lumpy". How's about the 1st time it flat refuses to work?

UGH!
 
Originally Posted By: Norm Olt
And the START/STOP system is "lumpy". How's about the 1st time it flat refuses to work?

UGH!


Then you pop the cover on the Start/Stop button, put in the transponder and turn it, just like a key.

After having a minivan with it, I am hooked. No fumbling for keys, no locking in keys in the car.
 
I stumbled upon this from another board. Now to find out if it is true. The good news for me is the 2013's aren't out yet. I want to be 100% sure this problem is behind them, and I'm just not there yet.


From another board:

There was a batch of engines with heads that the casting flash wasn't removed from the cooling passages properly, or were cast wrong in the first place. The heavy line tech at work has been doing at least one head a week, but usually on caravans. Too much load on the engine and the restricted passages cause the head to overheat and warp. However, we haven't seen any catastrophic failures, just check engine lights for too many misfires, typically on cylinder three or five. A leakdown test usually pinpoints it to poor sealing on the exhaust valve.

I wouldn't worry too much about it now. Chrysler Engineering has been working on the problem for the last six or eight months, and has, to my knowledge, already corrected the issue in manufacturing.
 
Originally Posted By: demarpaint

There was a batch of engines with heads that the casting flash wasn't removed from the cooling passages properly, or were cast wrong in the first place.
I wouldn't worry too much about it now. Chrysler Engineering has been working on the problem for the last six or eight months, and has, to my knowledge, already corrected the issue in manufacturing.

If it were any other company than Chrysler, I'd be disappointed at the time it took for them to fix the issue of casting flash being left in the cooling jackets.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

alaskanseminole
5W-20, 0W-20 or 5W-30 for 3.6L Pentastar (Jeep)
2 3 4
Replies
61
Views
45K
IndyFan
slo town
Our 261K mile old Honda Element had its first serious failure
2 3
Replies
47
Views
3K
thescreensavers
I
Would any porsche A40 cut it? high reving engine used on track days (2zz-ge)
2
Replies
31
Views
5K
BMWTurboDzl
JHZR2
Mercedes Diesel Misfire After HG Replacement
5 6 7
Replies
128
Views
8K
LDB
CarbonSteel
2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport (Father/Son Project)
3 4 5
Replies
86
Views
10K
IndyFan
Back
Top Bottom