NHTSA Complaint #10325044 — 2005 JEEP WRANGLER

ON MARCH 13, 2010, MY 2005 JEEP WRANGLER DISPLAYED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE CODE WAS P0302. WHEN CLEARED, THE CODE DID NOT RETURN AND THE JEEP RAN NORMALLY UNTIL APPROXIMATELY MARCH 26, WHEN IT WENT INTO A "LIMP MODE" (REV LIMITER MOVED TO 2500 RPM) AFTER BEING REVVED TO 4500 RPM. WHEN RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RAN FINE, ALTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CODE WAS P0344. WHEN THE CODE WAS CLEARED, IT DID NOT REAPPEAR. HOWEVER, REVVING THE ENGINE TO 4500 RPM IN ALL GEARS EXCEPT REVERSE (N-1-2-3-4-5-6) REPRODUCED THE ABOVE RESULTS WITHOUT FAIL. ON MARCH 28, A REPLACEMENT CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS ORDERED BY MYSELF, AND WAS INSTALLED ON APRIL 2. AFTER THE INSTALL, REVVING THE ENGINE TO 4500 RPM ONCE AGAIN PUT THE VEHICLE INTO A "LIMP MODE". I MADE THE DECISION TO TAKE THE JEEP TO SOUTH POINT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP IN AUSTIN, TX. ON MAY 6, I WAS INFORMED THAT STANDARD DIAGNOSTICS COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE, AND THE DEALER REQUESTED 4 HOURS OF TEAR-DOWN TIME TO INSPECT THE CAMSHAFT AREA FOR DAMAGE BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CHRYSLER. UPON APPROVAL, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL PUMP GEAR AND CAMSHAFT WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED POSSIBLY DUE TO CAUSES OUTLINED IN NHTSA ITEM # 10013784. WHEN CHRYSLER WAS CONTACTED FOR THIS, THEY INFORMED ME THAT, ALONG WITH THE FACT THAT THE VIN OF MY JEEP IS OUTSIDE OF THE VIN RANGE OF THE TSB, THERE WAS NO "DEFINITIVE PROOF" THAT THE OIL PUMP GEAR HAD DAMAGED THE CAMSHAFT AS OPPOSED TO VICE VERSA AND THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO ASSIST IN THE REPAIR COST. I AM REQUESTING AN EXPANDED TSB ON THIS ISSUE, AS THERE APPEARS TO BE MORE PROBLEMS HERE THAN CHRYSLER IS WILLING TO ADMIT. *TR