A week ago today I bought a 2015 Wrangler....and the engine light came on fifty feet from the dealer.....So, I had O'Reilly Auto Parts put the gauge on it....Cyl 2 misfire. The dealer took it back and had all new plugs and spark coils installed ( at his expense)....and the mechanic said there was no change and that the engine had serious internal damage. Apparently just like this one. The dealer, an honest man, came to my house that night and brought all my money back!! So, it was a good day....I owned a Jeep for a day, learned a lot about Jeeps and met an honest man. Thanks for your video, great stuff.
3.6 pentastar has a recall for cylinder #2 misfire. It is only taken care of if the owner goes to the dealer with the problem. Not all pentastars get this issue. The estimate is about 1% of all units built will have this problem develop. It was a major problem through 2014, but is a known problem through 2018 and a class action lawsuit has been filed. Chrysler will take care of it for customers who are persistent. The heads are manufactured with sand castings and if the heads are not properly cleaned before installation during the manufacturing process, this is a result. If I were the customer, I would demand Chrysler reimburse for all repair costs.
@@michaelcronin5225 Only way to know for sure is a trip to the dealer. The people on @EpicFmilyRoadtrip just had a cylinder 1 misfire on their 2020 JL. It all comes down to the way the heads are cast and if the manufacturer got all the residue out of the heads before assembly. #2 and #3 are both covered by recall if it is determined to be the head. I had a new head installed at manufacturer expense for a #3 misfire.
That's some solid diagnostic skill right there. Damn good job diagnosing and teaching! Most folks these days couldn't troubleshoot their way out of a wet paper bag...
I have a 3.6L JK and a old 4.0L TJ. The 3.6L has been more reliable then when I bought a brand new TJ in 1999. The 2004 I had already had a replacement mopar motor in it when I bought it @ 165,000 miles and I still needed to put a new head on it to correct a misfire. My JK is 11 years old now with 114K and other than a leaking oil cooler, I have not had to do anything but change the oil. Its a numbers game for sure.
I can tell you’ve worked on a few of these 3.6s. You’re absolutely right about not using power tools on the intake manifold. I’ve cracked a few of them over the years just tightening them with a 1/4 ratchet and torqued to the minimum torque spec. Other than that the pentastar engine is a great engine despite their early production flaws. As opposed to the dreaded GM 3.6, which needs a timing chan kit every oil change. I’ve seen plenty of neglected Chrysler 3.6!engines with no timing chain or VVT issues like GM cars have. Also you opened the hood on the wrangler the correct way lol. That’s how I open all of them. The prop rod is for the customer to fill their washer solvent and the rare occasion where a customer checks oil. And screw them hack mechanics. I hate when I get a car that I see a bunch of butchering, missing bolts, misrouted wiring, amongst other things, then I have to figure out how the car is supposed to go back together. My conscience won’t let me hack on a car. Customers pay tons of money to get their cars fixed and it should be done right, even if it’s an 07 rotted Caliber.
I had, key word HAD, a Cadillac CTS with the dreaded GM 3.6. You are right about the timing chain and gear issues. But also a flaw that can present as a timing chain but is really much much worse. The crank position reluctor ring on the back of the crankshaft is just pressed on and can shift. When that happens it’s a crankshaft replacement. Big $$$! For a piss poor design. Should have been keyed. I also ironically have a 2014 Wrangler Rubicon with the 3.6 Pentastar 120k+ miles and really no engine issues, oh save for the oil cooler leaked and needed replacement at 80k miles. It’s stupid that it’s plastic and under the intake, but at least it’s fairly cheep.
Cylinder # 2 exhaust valves not seating properly or burning have been a regular problem on pentastars from the beginning. Put # 2 at tdc compression and blow a little shop air in plug hole with a latex glove on the tailpipe. Glove inflates letting you know for sure it's the exhaust valves not seating.
I had a 2015 Ford Fusion SE with the 2.5l engine that had a cracked cylinder head in 3 places at 22k miles. Ford fixed it under warranty and said it was a bad head from the forge. Testiment to Ford quality control because a 3rd party made the heads and so it got passed their quality control and past Fords quality control. Later on at 55k it had a bad head gasket. I got wise and have a Toyota Camry in the drive for my wife now. Best decision I ever made for her. I figured this Jeep had a cracked cylinder head from the start because so many Pentastars have them. Its a well known issue so I immediately thought that when it was mis-firing. Good work though keep it up man:P
Great work. I first encountered this problem on a 2011 charger then a 2014 jeep and now a 2018 grand caravan.. Finally the grand caravans owner paid to tear down and the issue is actually the exhaust valve seats. Chrysler is aware of this problem and check engine comes on for different reasons o2 codes or misfire codes and yes its common on cylinder 2 4 or 6 After hours on the phone with Chrysler i was able to actually speak to a good tech. The cause for the issue is the robot that assembled the head put incorrect valve seats.. Sooo there you have it.
@Jimmy S Its possible... But i dont think thats the case with the 96k mile one.. by went away for 2 or 3 weeks im assuming u mean no check engine light on. But the misfire is still there u can feel it in the body or even see the engine shake now to continue the issue i believe is the seats are misshapen just a tad to where over time it causes the valve to not completely seat correctly putting more pressure on one side or the other and the valve bends just a tad and begins to wobble and if left that way for some time especially at higher rpms it wreaks havoc on the lifters sooo that may be what you were hearing in the valve cover.. the 2018 grand caravan i first posted actually went to the dealer due to being covered under there extended warranty Brand new head replacement Cost was $1682.13 for parts $2000 for labor in california so its a pretty penny
My 15 challenger 3.6 got its lifters rockers cam and exhast valve replaced at 100k, was literally almost at the end of my warranty so that was covered, it was an 11k job my deductible was 300 😅. But yea i thought i caused it by riding hard on her always red lining 1st and 2nd gear so my exhaust pops lol. I have the paddle shifters/sport mode. Now at 122k and i just replaced the thermostat and water pump. Hoping the engine makes it to 300k
That co worker of yours giving you the battery is prime example of someone you want in the shop. You aint even have to LOOK at him and he knows to help.
Me and my Brother have two 13’jeep wrangler Rubicon’s 2dr 3.6 L - Both are about 95,000 miles, no issues with the engine or transmission one has developed a leak in the front driver side axle seal no other issues.
Thank you for the information! You explain things so well. I’m the sole owner of my 2017 Jeep JKUR and starting to have many common issues. I’m learning about common problems so I can get ahead of them. Fortunately I followed the engine break in guidance 😅 and got an extended warranty but now I’m out of warranty at 110k and learning A LOT!
The right piece of rubber hose ( stiff braided type ) is also awesome for walking spark plugs out and in. I have had the same four pieces I use for about the last 15 years in my "odd stuff" toolbox drawer. Thanks for video !
Great video Alex! I didn’t know how the cylinders were numbered and you did a great job explaining that. Thank you for your help and you gained a new subscriber
I have a 2013 with 67,000 miles. I just got a PO300 and PO339. I love my Jeep but this is irritating. I have replaced the starter at 27,000 and the thermostat at 55,000. I wish these were more reliable. Thanks for this video.
My daughter has over 100 k on her 2016 wrangler 3.6 alternator is the 9nly problem is the only thing I've ever had to fix for her. It's been really reliable And she loves it!
Common failure is the rocker arm bearings on 3.6. Millage isn't relevant or year model. It's known manufacturer defect. Really luck of draw if happens & it can chew up the cam shaft lobe. Doubt it's the VCC or it would effect all cylinders on same side of engine.
Had the same problem on cylinder head #2 of 2014 Wrangler Rubicon w/ 70k miles. After failed compression tests had a dealership replace the cylinder head. After I went under the hood and found multiple hack mechanic examples including the plastic bolts that seat the air filter housing being broken. After the first 2+ hr. road trip I am having high RPMs when starting and cycling through low gears. Going to replace crankshaft sensor and see if that is problem.
I have a 23 JL Sport 3.6 6MT I did my first oil change at 1000mi and just did my second at 5000. Made sure breakin was adhered too. And did early oil changes to make sure all breakin particles were scavenged. I love my Jeep and I hope and pray she lasts long.
My 2019 Ram has the 3.6 and got the check engine and soon the tick tick tick, took it to one of the local parts stores, they did the scan tool, got the code, Cylinder #3 either spark plug or coil pack, I couldnt get it into a dealer for 30 days, took it to a local shop, nope! it wasn't either, it was a bad cam, flat spot on cylinder #3.. not a cheap date.
Alex, I appreciate your making of this video. I'm a retired electronics technician and I own a low mileage '12 Chrysler 200 Touring convertible with the Pentastar engine. I believe if you take good care of these engines they will do fine. I only use Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-30 motor oil and change it at 3,000 to 3,500 miles. Chrysler recommends this oil for their engines. My car has not had anything done to it as far as I can tell by a shop before I bought it in ‘16. I'm particular and really like this car and I'm buying tools and looking at videos in order to perform future work on this car in a careful and precise manner myself. I even clean the dirt off parts before putting them back on the vehicle. I like my white convertible!
I religiously changed the oil with premium products and replaced spark plugs, etc., with OEM everything. This Pentastar issue is a real issue that has nothing to do with maintenance, although I'm sure that poor maintenance can help precipitate the problems. Why? Because all of these problems (Pentastar tick, Oil cooler breaking, etc) are all oiling problems. All Jeep dealerships will tell you the same thing as I have just said. Hopefully they fixed everything in the latest version that goes into the JL (lol).
I just replaced the oil filter housing on my 3.6 in my Dodge Grand Caravan and I cracked the upper intake manifold plenum while tightening one of the screws with my torque wrench. Can't imagine using power tools on that plastic!
I bought a 2008 Jeep JK Wrangler with the old 3.8L pushrod V6 new off the lot; at the time everyone said I was crazy, and that I should just wait another couple of years until the brand new OHC hi-tech Pentastar motor was released, however I had my reasons. The old Mopar 3.8L V6 had been around in one form or another since the 80's, being used & abused in minivans by soccer moms and that motor, while certainly no powerhouse by today's standards, had a solid reputation for reliability; sure, some of them were known to be oil burners but apart from that they were fairly bulletproof (even the oil burners were fine as long as you kept an eye on the oil level & kept them topped-up between oil changes in order to avoid running them dry and spinning a bearing). The new upcoming Pentastar V6 however was an unknown quantity and would undoubtedly have some teething problems as most new hi-tech motors do, which indeed turned out to be the case with frequent cylinder head failures in early years (which ended-up with a redesign of the head itself) and although these motors eventually got better as the years went by they are still known for multiple issues to this day with failing rocker arms, cracking plastic oil coolers, dry starts due to the poor design of the cartridge-type oil filter without a drain-back valve included in the housing, etc. I had originally planned to trade-in my '08 and upgrade to a later model Wrangler with the new Pentastar V6 after a few years however after seeing all the problems with this new motor I held-off. I still have my '09 Wrangler with 140K trouble-free miles on it and apart from regular maintenance items (plugs, serpentine belt, idler pulleys, scheduled coolant changes) the only thing I had to replace at 100K miles was the water pump (pump itself was fine but the gasket was leaking). I have changed the oil every 3K miles from new and expect this motor to continue to run at least another 80-100K miles trouble-free (will probably replace the injectors in the next few years purely for peace of mind)
Hi, very important! You were supposed to cover up that exposed intake manifold (6 holes) so that you don’t drop tools or debris down in the exposed engine. 😣
Hey buddy and thanks for watching.I only cover them up if I’m leaving the work area.I’m always paying close attention.and plus I’ve been doing it that way for about 12 years and no problem. thanks for the advice
@@AlexTheCarDoctor I get your experience, but even experience people make mistakes.. it only takes one ratchet socket to fall down in one of those holes and basically that Pentastar engine could be ruined. Just my observation and based off watching other mechanics working on that type of engine and they would stress covering up those holes as I own a 3.6L Pentastar myself.
I'm crying. My 2017 tossed a P0302 while on the Rubicon Trail. 40,300 miles on the engine. I pushed and my dealer pushed, and Jeep is going to cover this and I have to pay $1500 deductible. I drove this engine around town and wheeled it. It's not my primary vehicle. I changed the oil religiously with Amzoil. Looks I like I'll get it fixed (My compression was about the same..80% of normal) but I think I'm going. to start a HEMI fund.
The noise the Jeep makes at 22:54 is what mine does now after changing cylinder #2 since it was misfiring . Engine light came on , changed all six spark plugs, engine light when off. Then turned back on changed the cylinder 2. Light went off came back on. And when starting it makes this noise.
Mine did the same thing, I took it to auto zone to get the fix finder to see what's wrong with it. It said cylinder misfire on #2 (but the mechanic already fixed that) but also said underneath that, that the injector fuel #2 is open. So I am assuming it's just that, that I need to fix. I am thinking of fixing it myself, instead of wasting 400 bucks. It's 99 dollars for the part.
Thats a shame because the pentastar is a great engine. Excellent power and torque. We have a 2013 Grand Caravan with over 190K and it runs great, doesnt burn oil
No! I replaced oil with premium every 3-4,000 miles. I had both a 2009 and 2014 (still have the 2014). The 2009 oil cooler broke (common problem). The 2014 had passenger side lifters replaced under warranty (common problem). Then at 80,000 miles the driver head had to be replaced for P0302. Poor maintenance will help to kill an engine, but these issues are well known, documented, and Chrysler is paying for the work as a warranty fix, regardless of mileage.
2012-2013 the driver side head had a extended warranty to 150k miles. I have a 2012 just hit 100k miles problems so far, engine oil cooler, 2 thermostats, rear main seal leak, radiator cracked, and on going camshaft position sensor cil bank 1. only happens going 75mph at a steady speed for a while. jeep dealer had it twice, re did the wiring to the sensor and tightened the oil galley bolts. Didn't fix it now they want to replace the passenger side head.
Glad to know galley bolts didn't fix it. I've had every problem you had and they want to check the galley bolts. My camshaft sensor bugs out when I hit a bump.
yeah my chrysler pacifica 2017 30k miles, bad knocking, had it turned up, still there, luckely it was a CPO vehicle with a 7 year, 120000 mile warranty on engine, had a better warranty than a new van and only had 2k miles, dealer service tried new rockers, 2 new heads, still knocking, I told them the original tech non dealer said #3 rod bearing was bad, they did not listen, finnaly after 4 weeks of trying, they replaced the engine. So far so good.
They have had a lot of problems with cracked cylinder heads on these engines I hope that is not your case, but there has been a lot of it. I know a Chrysler tech and they said that the newer engines no longer have them, but he says they lied because he is still replacing cylinder heads on late models. Mis-fires can be many things, but you want to keep an eye on the temp and check the oil regularly to make sure its not got a milky look to it. If it ever starts to look cloudy like a milky substance is in it you got a cracked head. Some cracks can be small and grow more problematic with time as they will introduce more water into the engine. I am not a mechanic I am going off information I have gotten from friends and a guy that is a Chrysler tech. I believe car wizard has a video on this problem.
This is so rare to see a mechanic to do factory level work! The owner should back charge the last mechanic for all the parts damaged or missing that you had to replace along with your labor to get it back to factory level condition!!!
Fuel Injection sucks hard! Repair Dealers are expensive, injectors are expensive and the job itself is royal pain! Carburetors where cheap and easy repairs, I could take a carburetor off rebuild it and have it installed and adjusted within 2 hours for less than $50 and I so wish I had kept my carburetor fueled engine vehicles and just restored them.
You have to replace the head. The line bore of the valve is off, compared to the valve seat. It does not seal or in some cases it will crack the valve. The only fix is to replace the head.
Facing the same thing but we're at 120k miles. Cylinder 3 misfires when first start it and coolant vanishing. Started this morning and a huge plume of white smoke. Gonna have to have a head gasket looks like..
In the wire harnesses as the harnesses goes in the firewall. The data lines are touching something, probably the wiring for the lights. I bet it has shifting and small jurking.
Coworker of mine has one of those 3.6 nothing but problems I have an old Ford truck it's a 91 F150 the engine has never been overhauled it has been well-maintained 380000 MI still going strong I'll keep my underpowered 300 cubic inch inline 6
It's an mini van engine. Chrysler is notorious for under powering Jeep wrangler! They probably think the low gearing makes up for the bad engines. What makes a wrangler a Wrangler or a Willies is the low gearing and the slower than normal prototype engineering. Most companies Chrysler included have a 4 year prototype year Jeep tries not to change anything for about 6 to 7 years and then only a little bit. Like the body lines. It's 10,000 dollars just to change the body lines of course that is by 1999 prices so it probably went up.
The 3.6 is a very weird engine, some people get ones that last 250k and other get one that needs work every few months and they end up getting rid of it. You either get a good 3.6 or a bad one and there is no in between
That should still be under warranty, Mopar has a 5yr/60k on Powertrain for Jeep vehicles. My 2016 has 7/100k powertrain warranty, as I bought it Certified Pre Owned (CPO) and it is covered until April 2024, but the normal powertrain is 5 year / 60k miles. In 2021, when this video was made, A 2018 with 40k miles in 2021 ? THAT VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY !!!! They would have probably given him a new engine.
actually a professional mechanics tools should last longer than home owner because they shouldn't abuse them because they realize the value of taking care of them because that is their means of income. i am 67 still use most of the original tools i started with of course have had to update because of newer vehicles some new tools required but like my combination wrench set is the same set i started with at age 17 when i started my life as a mechanic. if you take care of your tools they will take care of you. everyone will brake a socket or ratchet all along but the basic tools should last. i just updated my screwdriver set which was a SK that i bought about age 20 but i don't use screw drivers as prybars or chisels. tools used properly will last almost a lifetime
easier wat to disable fuel on a jeep is to hold accelerator pedal to the floor while cranking, this will put it into clear flood mode and the engine will not start, just a tip
With only 40K miles he should have taken it to a Jeep dealer first…warranty? My 2014 Chrysler T&C has 134K miles. CEL light came on. Rough idle. Went to the dealer the next day.PO 302 code. Cylinder head replacement $3000. Number 2 cylinder 100 psi. Failed leak down test. Because I’ve owned Chryslers before I bought it new with the Maximum Care Lifetime warranty. Only up to $6500 in warranty repairs since new. Believe it or not! Had to return the T&C back to the dealer for the same problem last Monday. Service advisor says the minivan might be ready this Monday! That Chrysler Lifetime Maximum Warranty was the smart purchase in 2014.
Alex... THIS WAS VERY EDUCATIONAL!!! I have a P306 ERROR with 40 PSI on my NO# 6. Looks like gotta take out a Mortgage??? or do I.... Can you give a round a bout figure of what that follow on work might cost??? Tks!
There is a problem with the number 2 head dodge has extended the warranty to 125.000 miles take it to the dealer there guys know all about these issues...you don't save any money not going to the dealership because other shops don't have the knowledge the dealership has ...he would know the extended that warranty if he was deal mechanic...
I got a 2017 Jeep Wrangler and I do live in Phoenix and it started overheating but didn’t reach to the max and I changed every component on cooling system thermostat, radiator, hoses, water pump, overflow tank and even radiator cap. When we run the Jeep it flows the coolant to the overflow tank causing it to have not enough coolant in radiator and then it heats up. Next step is to do compression check maybe warped head or head gasket?? Also check engine light doesn’t come on ??? I’m lost and the air was bled from system too.
You can perform a block test to make sure the cylinder head gasket is good, you have replaced just about everything in your cooling system.my guess if it passes the block test you still may have air in the system, are you familiar with performing a block test
I have the same engine in my JLUR Jeep. I hope I win the lottery when it happens to mine, cause I'm throwing in a LS in it. I have 400,000 miles in a Silverado with an LS in it. Question: Why can't you use other brands of Spark Plugs in the 3.6 Pentastar engine?
Must've had a supercharger that was quickly removed. This Jeep has 5yr/60k powertrain warranty. Pentastars are very reliable overall, with he 2012-14 head issue the only real glitch, and they extened those warranties to 10yr/150k.
Maybe I forgot people do that but even that’s hard to do with technology that out they are able to tell if you have tuned the ECM that will quickly void the warranty. I agree not many problems, an after market company needs to make metal parts to replace the plastic ones like metal oil cooler, coolant housing etc
You are nuts man, mine had the faulty rocker arms and ate a camshaft at 63k miles. Dealer fixed it EVEN THOUGH it was out of warranty they've had so many issues with this junk. Last week the plastic (used to be metal but good old Fiat saved some pennies) oil cooler started leaking and had to fix that (Dorman has a metal replacement). Thing is a 2016 with 75k miles...meanwhile the 1996 Ford F150 4.9 I6 I have had a $100 distributor put in it 10 years ago...and that's all that's ever been done to it in almost 200k. Also, the rear main seals go out early and leak oil. Daughters car, would have never bought it. I like it, don't get me wrong, but it definitely has issues.
before i scared the customer i would have pulled the valve cover knowing the problems with lash adjusters and rocker arm problems with those engines might have lost lobe on cam but everyone goes about diag differently
That’s the hardest part about my job is Watching people go through a hard time with their vehicles. That’s why I make these videos for people in need and to get a better understanding
Warranty expired for the Powertrain? Are you sure? 2018-2021 is only 4 years. Missing bolts? A mod was done maybe - air intake (hmmm) , then the original parts slapped back on (but they lost the bolts?) after they screwed up the engine?, that or that previous shop was so shady or incompetent that they figured out how to blow the piston bust a pipe and lose the screws? Did they ever change the oil? or put the correct kind in?
That’s the first thing I asked them and they called the dealership right off the bat, and they told them it was out of warranty. That’s a good point about the upgrades 🤔 sometimes customers don’t tell me the whole truth. I don’t know if they kept up with the oil changes or put the right oil in previously. That other shop seemed very shady from what they told me. Thanks for the comment and good observation man!
How sad at 40k the engine needs this amount of work. Jeep ain't what they used to be for sure. Did this person keep oil changed? Often that can cause a failure like this.
Yes they’re not what they used to be for sure. From my understanding they took very good care of it, always changing the oil.I do know it was some type of recall on the cylinder head failure that this jeep was experiencing nevertheless the bad dealership took care of it under warranty so I was very happy for them.
no Chrysler dosnt care about their quality issues with their customers. they don't stand behind their products at all. they know there's quality issues and do nothing about it...
So let me ask, honestly how reliable do you think this engine is? What is the Jeep was used to deliver rural mail with 200k on it. Has an extensive service history with no major problems reported.
My saying is this if you take care of your engine it will take care of you but to answer your question the engine do require a little bit more maintenance than others. Would I own a 3.6 Pinter star no but I’m not knocking they are good engines
@@AlexTheCarDoctor fair reply. I am also looking at a older Jeep with the 4.0 was just over 100k on it. Also has extensive service records. I have had both engines and the understand about the 3.6. Had it in a Grand Cherokee and with the 6-speed it was pretty terrible. Drove it with the 8 and much better. Anyway, I am not in a hurry and thanks for the response. I may go take another look at the older Jeep with the 4.0.
@@jeffdurling100 I just came across this video but know it is over a year old. I hope you've found the right Jeep for you by now. I own both a 95 Cherokee with the 4L and a 2016 JKU Wrangler with the 3.6L. My Cherokee has 295k (mostly) trouble-free miles on it. My 2016 has only 40k. I've done more work on my 2016 in just those 40k than I did in the entirety of my 1995! Not all have been motor issues. Things like speed sensors going out, ignition module failing. I just replaced the plastic oil cooler on my 2016 as it blew up prematurely. I'm on my 5th Jeep in this lifetime and I'll say that I'm about done with them. Think I'm moving to Toyota from this point forward. Good luck in your search and if it's a 3.6L, buy good tools and be ready to patiently spend Saturdays working on your rig!
@@disorderlymovement Yeah just about every component breaks on Jeeps. I've got a '12 wrangler with 275,000 km. No engine work, but I have replaced the oil cooler.
I’ve had this same code at 30,000. Needed head replacement. It was under warrantee. Mechanic switched over cool packs on cylinder code still remained. These Penestars do have, although infrequent problems with cylinder #2. Not enough problems for a recall.
i totally disagree. i've had multiple issues with mine and every mechanic outside of a dealership will tell you they have a problem with the Pentastars.
Thought these had a 60k powertrain warranty ?? Wow 40k thats terrible. I wonder if the idea of poor break-in is the culprit here or if it's just a quality control issue with Chrysler. I'd like to know whats the final diag on it.
I convinced him to take it to the dealership and the dealership took care of them free of charge,Bad cylinder head also I thought the same thing wasn’t broken in properly
This is a design and manufacturing problem. Period. This came from the dealership that replaced the driver's side head at 80,000 miles. My 2014 was babied from the second it came off the lot. Oil changed with premium oil every 3-4,000 miles. All scheduled maintenance performed, etc.
Awesome vid, man! I have a 2015 Jeep Wrangler JK with a 3.6L & have been dealing with a misfire the last month - rocker arms and lifters! I'll be doing those this weekend! There is a lawsuit currently in place against Chrysler/Dodge for these motors, specifically to the previously mentioned engine components. Really sad given how inexpensive the rockers and lifters are and additionally, being tied to the Jeep name. Curious to know if this was the issue got had and repaired on this particular vehicle? Thanks again for sharing! I really enjoy your analysis on different things and your teaching abilities! Keep it up, man!
Where are you located? I have the exact same issue, and the mechanic did the exact same things. Mine has 75k miles. I'm watching now. I hope I can learn something about this issue. It runs great just like that one, and I only feel a very, very slight vibration at low idle. Other than that it's perfect. That light is messing with my mind. Lol. Thanks.
I retired from working on these and all the other engines Chrysler made and I can tell you I made a butt load of money , so hey Chrysler or whom ever buys them DONT FIX THEM WE NEED THE MONEY
@@AlexTheCarDoctor I work on my own vehicle frankly because I don't trust people to touch it lol. As a lot of people do not know what they are doing and you're touching my baby. You gotta know what you're doing or don't even knock on my door. I would feel comfortable giving you the keys or working on it with you. Cheers buddy! Finding someone who knows what they are doing is like Indiana Jones looking for the holy grail. I use to have a 2004 grand Cherokee overland with the 4.7 HO. Had a hard misfire on #8 (of course the crappiest location) after hours and days of troubleshooting (never experienced a broken valve spring), it was determined that the exhaust valve spring was broken, i got a camera for my phone and dropped it down the spark plug hole to make sure there was no damage to the valve or piston. No issues there. Took a compression tester, filled the cylinder with 120 psi to hold the valve closed, got my tool to compress the spring by using a special tool and the cam as the fulcrum, with 2, 12" 3/8 extension's I was able to compress the spring, pull the bad unit out, compress it again with the new spring and install the keepers. This was all done with myself and GOD! Put it all back together and boy did I understand why all 4 tires were bald! Lol lol power!! I took to the shop to have the exhaust stud replaced and the mechanic said... You take care of your vehicle don't you! That thing runs! Thank you, Lol yes sir I do. It'll bark all 4 tires leaving the light. Bosch platinum +4 plugs, 12 hole injectors, new fuel pump, new O2's (all 4) new coil packs. Paid $1500 for it because it ran like crap. But when I was done BEAST.
@@JF32304 thanks for the love buddy. Man it sounds like you a good mechanic man. I love seeing people take pride in their vehicle, I just wish I had the time to take pride in mine lol I guess I’m too busy making other people vehicles be great.
This is why you don’t buy a new Jeep. Fiat made. Sad to see the death of Jeep reliability. I’ve owned several XJs with over 250k miles that ran great. Original engine and transmission. Fun fact: the XJ has an Aisin auto trans. Aisin makes some of the best transmissions, Toyota also uses their trans and parts. Also owned an 06 wrangler with over 130k miles. Anything after 06 seems to have way too many problems since Chrysler went to using Fiat parts. Chrysler alone is bad enough, but once Fiat also got into the mix that was it.
@@AlexTheCarDoctor No problem, the transmission used in the cherokees from 1987-2001 is the A340H Aisin transmission. Chrysler called it the AW4 auto trans, perhaps they didn't want to admit to using a transmission that wasn't their own.
Can you show how to replace the right side (driver side) valve gasket on 17’ 3.6L wrangler please, I only ever see the left side (passenger side) get done. There was oil in my 2 cylinder spark plug and I’m pretty sure there is a valve leak there, but not sure how to disassemble.
A week ago today I bought a 2015 Wrangler....and the engine light came on fifty feet from the dealer.....So, I had O'Reilly Auto Parts put the gauge on it....Cyl 2 misfire. The dealer took it back and had all new plugs and spark coils installed ( at his expense)....and the mechanic said there was no change and that the engine had serious internal damage. Apparently just like this one. The dealer, an honest man, came to my house that night and brought all my money back!! So, it was a good day....I owned a Jeep for a day, learned a lot about Jeeps and met an honest man. Thanks for your video, great stuff.
Thanks buddy.wow that’s unheard of, what an amazing story
wow good deal. not that many honest people left in the world now.
I'm a professional, mechanic of sorts (electrician.) I hate bad butcher type work... I'm glad to see that you you care. That's a good mechanic.
Thanks brother
3.6 pentastar has a recall for cylinder #2 misfire. It is only taken care of if the owner goes to the dealer with the problem. Not all pentastars get this issue. The estimate is about 1% of all units built will have this problem develop. It was a major problem through 2014, but is a known problem through 2018 and a class action lawsuit has been filed. Chrysler will take care of it for customers who are persistent. The heads are manufactured with sand castings and if the heads are not properly cleaned before installation during the manufacturing process, this is a result. If I were the customer, I would demand Chrysler reimburse for all repair costs.
Is there a recall for cylinder 1 misfire too for 2015?
@@michaelcronin5225 Only way to know for sure is a trip to the dealer. The people on @EpicFmilyRoadtrip just had a cylinder 1 misfire on their 2020 JL. It all comes down to the way the heads are cast and if the manufacturer got all the residue out of the heads before assembly. #2 and #3 are both covered by recall if it is determined to be the head. I had a new head installed at manufacturer expense for a #3 misfire.
@@jpdriver1967 thanks. Just dreading hassle and the expensive repair. Sounds like $3k or more
😊
They all pretty much have the oil filter housing problem, that fails, mine did at 42K miles. It’s a $1000 fix.
Man…world needs mechanics like you. Youre the real deal.
Thanks for the kind words man,I’m just out here trying to make a difference
A good trustworthy mechanic is worth their weight in gold. So few are honest or do good quality.
That's some solid diagnostic skill right there. Damn good job diagnosing and teaching! Most folks these days couldn't troubleshoot their way out of a wet paper bag...
30 years ago that would have had a bulletproof straight 6. How far we have come.
I have a 3.6L JK and a old 4.0L TJ. The 3.6L has been more reliable then when I bought a brand new TJ in 1999. The 2004 I had already had a replacement mopar motor in it when I bought it @ 165,000 miles and I still needed to put a new head on it to correct a misfire. My JK is 11 years old now with 114K and other than a leaking oil cooler, I have not had to do anything but change the oil. Its a numbers game for sure.
I can tell you’ve worked on a few of these 3.6s. You’re absolutely right about not using power tools on the intake manifold. I’ve cracked a few of them over the years just tightening them with a 1/4 ratchet and torqued to the minimum torque spec. Other than that the pentastar engine is a great engine despite their early production flaws. As opposed to the dreaded GM 3.6, which needs a timing chan kit every oil change. I’ve seen plenty of neglected Chrysler 3.6!engines with no timing chain or VVT issues like GM cars have. Also you opened the hood on the wrangler the correct way lol. That’s how I open all of them. The prop rod is for the customer to fill their washer solvent and the rare occasion where a customer checks oil. And screw them hack mechanics. I hate when I get a car that I see a bunch of butchering, missing bolts,
misrouted wiring, amongst other things,
then I have to figure out how the car is supposed to go back together. My conscience won’t let me hack on a car. Customers pay tons of money to get their cars fixed and it should be done right, even if it’s an 07 rotted Caliber.
Aman brother 100% true I like you where are you from
I had, key word HAD, a Cadillac CTS with the dreaded GM 3.6. You are right about the timing chain and gear issues. But also a flaw that can present as a timing chain but is really much much worse. The crank position reluctor ring on the back of the crankshaft is just pressed on and can shift. When that happens it’s a crankshaft replacement. Big $$$! For a piss poor design. Should have been keyed. I also ironically have a 2014 Wrangler Rubicon with the 3.6 Pentastar 120k+ miles and really no engine issues, oh save for the oil cooler leaked and needed replacement at 80k miles. It’s stupid that it’s plastic and under the intake, but at least it’s fairly cheep.
Even aluminum intake manifolds can crack if you tighten them too much. A manual ratchet is the proper way to tighten an intake manifold.
Dodge sucks.....theyre not good motors...not even close.
Cylinder # 2 exhaust valves not seating properly or burning have been a regular problem on pentastars from the beginning. Put # 2 at tdc compression and blow a little shop air in plug hole with a latex glove on the tailpipe. Glove inflates letting you know for sure it's the exhaust valves not seating.
That was gonna be the next step but the customer didn’t want to pay for further diagnostics
@@AlexTheCarDoctor lol you charged for that?
@@seahorse5677 unfortunately I have to.my shop rent at the time was 2500$ plus light and water a month I don’t think you want to now lol
You said at that time it was 2500 how did you get it lower
@@jacobdykes6736 5000$
II like it when he is pointing out the small details also he is very honest and takes pride on his work.
I had a 2015 Ford Fusion SE with the 2.5l engine that had a cracked cylinder head in 3 places at 22k miles. Ford fixed it under warranty and said it was a bad head from the forge. Testiment to Ford quality control because a 3rd party made the heads and so it got passed their quality control and past Fords quality control. Later on at 55k it had a bad head gasket. I got wise and have a Toyota Camry in the drive for my wife now. Best decision I ever made for her. I figured this Jeep had a cracked cylinder head from the start because so many Pentastars have them. Its a well known issue so I immediately thought that when it was mis-firing. Good work though keep it up man:P
Great work.
I first encountered this problem on a 2011 charger then a 2014 jeep and now a 2018 grand caravan..
Finally the grand caravans owner paid to tear down and the issue is actually the exhaust valve seats.
Chrysler is aware of this problem and check engine comes on for different reasons o2 codes or misfire codes and yes its common on cylinder 2 4 or 6
After hours on the phone with Chrysler i was able to actually speak to a good tech.
The cause for the issue is the robot that assembled the head put incorrect valve seats..
Sooo there you have it.
Thanks for the information buddy
Anytime.
" knowledge cant be power if you dont share it with no one"
@@howsithangin03 I love it thanks again
@Jimmy S
Its possible...
But i dont think thats the case with the 96k mile one.. by went away for 2 or 3 weeks im assuming u mean no check engine light on. But the misfire is still there u can feel it in the body or even see the engine shake now to continue the issue i believe is the seats are misshapen just a tad to where over time it causes the valve to not completely seat correctly putting more pressure on one side or the other and the valve bends just a tad and begins to wobble and if left that way for some time especially at higher rpms it wreaks havoc on the lifters sooo that may be what you were hearing in the valve cover.. the 2018 grand caravan i first posted actually went to the dealer due to being covered under there extended warranty
Brand new head replacement
Cost was $1682.13 for parts
$2000 for labor in california so its a pretty penny
My 15 challenger 3.6 got its lifters rockers cam and exhast valve replaced at 100k, was literally almost at the end of my warranty so that was covered, it was an 11k job my deductible was 300 😅. But yea i thought i caused it by riding hard on her always red lining 1st and 2nd gear so my exhaust pops lol. I have the paddle shifters/sport mode. Now at 122k and i just replaced the thermostat and water pump. Hoping the engine makes it to 300k
That co worker of yours giving you the battery is prime example of someone you want in the shop. You aint even have to LOOK at him and he knows to help.
Me and my Brother have two 13’jeep wrangler Rubicon’s 2dr 3.6 L - Both are about 95,000 miles, no issues with the engine or transmission one has developed a leak in the front driver side axle seal no other issues.
Thank you for the information! You explain things so well. I’m the sole owner of my 2017 Jeep JKUR and starting to have many common issues. I’m learning about common problems so I can get ahead of them. Fortunately I followed the engine break in guidance 😅 and got an extended warranty but now I’m out of warranty at 110k and learning A LOT!
Just stay on top of the maintenance and you will be good, sounds like you’re doing all the right stuff. thanks for watching
Hi there! Would the extended warranty cover the tick?
The right piece of rubber hose ( stiff braided type ) is also awesome for walking spark plugs out and in. I have had the same four pieces I use for about the last 15 years in my "odd stuff" toolbox drawer. Thanks for video !
Been using that hose on sparkplug technique for 48 yrs
Great job man! I can tell you take lots of pride in your work. Simple and straight to the point as well. 👍👍💪💪💪
Thanks brother.I put my all in my work
Great video Alex! I didn’t know how the cylinders were numbered and you did a great job explaining that. Thank you for your help and you gained a new subscriber
Thanks for the support buddy. I’m glad you enjoyed my video
I have a 2013 with 67,000 miles. I just got a PO300 and PO339. I love my Jeep but this is irritating. I have replaced the starter at 27,000 and the thermostat at 55,000. I wish these were more reliable.
Thanks for this video.
Dang that is irritating good luck buddy. Thanks for watching and your support
My daughter has over 100 k on her 2016 wrangler 3.6 alternator is the 9nly problem is the only thing I've ever had to fix for her. It's been really reliable And she loves it!
That’s great to hear your daughter must drive it like she loves it
@@AlexTheCarDoctor I work on cars for a living. Just good maintenance,that's all!
Common failure is the rocker arm bearings on 3.6. Millage isn't relevant or year model. It's known manufacturer defect. Really luck of draw if happens & it can chew up the cam shaft lobe. Doubt it's the VCC or it would effect all cylinders on same side of engine.
I just witnessed that on a Ram pro master with low mileage
I have a 4.0 online 6. In my jeep. Love it
Had the same problem on cylinder head #2 of 2014 Wrangler Rubicon w/ 70k miles. After failed compression tests had a dealership replace the cylinder head. After I went under the hood and found multiple hack mechanic examples including the plastic bolts that seat the air filter housing being broken. After the first 2+ hr. road trip I am having high RPMs when starting and cycling through low gears. Going to replace crankshaft sensor and see if that is problem.
Dang man I wish people would take more pride in what they do
That head from the factory has a 150k 10yr warranty because they have a major prob with the drivers side head so I’m sure it’s under warranty
They took it to the dealership and the dealership took care of it
I have a 23 JL Sport 3.6 6MT
I did my first oil change at 1000mi and just did my second at 5000. Made sure breakin was adhered too. And did early oil changes to make sure all breakin particles were scavenged.
I love my Jeep and I hope and pray she lasts long.
My 2019 Ram has the 3.6 and got the check engine and soon the tick tick tick, took it to one of the local parts stores, they did the scan tool, got the code, Cylinder #3 either spark plug or coil pack, I couldnt get it into a dealer for 30 days, took it to a local shop, nope! it wasn't either, it was a bad cam, flat spot on cylinder #3.. not a cheap date.
Alex, I appreciate your making of this video. I'm a retired electronics technician and I own a low mileage '12 Chrysler 200 Touring convertible with the Pentastar engine. I believe if you take good care of these engines they will do fine. I only use Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic 5W-30 motor oil and change it at 3,000 to 3,500 miles. Chrysler recommends this oil for their engines. My car has not had anything done to it as far as I can tell by a shop before I bought it in ‘16. I'm particular and really like this car and I'm buying tools and looking at videos in order to perform future work on this car in a careful and precise manner myself. I even clean the dirt off parts before putting them back on the vehicle. I like my white convertible!
Thanks for watching buddy, yes I agree if you take care of your engine it will take care of you
The Chrysler 3.5L High Output V6 in the Dodge Chargers and Chrysler 300s are pretty good engines
@@davidperry4013 Oh you'll be doing the oil cooler some time on the 3.6
Dodge is garbage...
I religiously changed the oil with premium products and replaced spark plugs, etc., with OEM everything. This Pentastar issue is a real issue that has nothing to do with maintenance, although I'm sure that poor maintenance can help precipitate the problems. Why? Because all of these problems (Pentastar tick, Oil cooler breaking, etc) are all oiling problems. All Jeep dealerships will tell you the same thing as I have just said. Hopefully they fixed everything in the latest version that goes into the JL (lol).
I just replaced the oil filter housing on my 3.6 in my Dodge Grand Caravan and I cracked the upper intake manifold plenum while tightening one of the screws with my torque wrench. Can't imagine using power tools on that plastic!
I follow this Mobile mechanic on Facebook and I seen him tightening down an intake on a 3.6 Pentastar with a impact that I was smh
Remove the ASD relay and you can do a compression test with out the fuel system to be bleed. ASD relay + voltage to the injectors and the coils
Did not know it had a auto shut down relay so I didn’t bother mentioning it. Thanks for the information buddy
I bought a 2008 Jeep JK Wrangler with the old 3.8L pushrod V6 new off the lot; at the time everyone said I was crazy, and that I should just wait another couple of years until the brand new OHC hi-tech Pentastar motor was released, however I had my reasons. The old Mopar 3.8L V6 had been around in one form or another since the 80's, being used & abused in minivans by soccer moms and that motor, while certainly no powerhouse by today's standards, had a solid reputation for reliability; sure, some of them were known to be oil burners but apart from that they were fairly bulletproof (even the oil burners were fine as long as you kept an eye on the oil level & kept them topped-up between oil changes in order to avoid running them dry and spinning a bearing).
The new upcoming Pentastar V6 however was an unknown quantity and would undoubtedly have some teething problems as most new hi-tech motors do, which indeed turned out to be the case with frequent cylinder head failures in early years (which ended-up with a redesign of the head itself) and although these motors eventually got better as the years went by they are still known for multiple issues to this day with failing rocker arms, cracking plastic oil coolers, dry starts due to the poor design of the cartridge-type oil filter without a drain-back valve included in the housing, etc. I had originally planned to trade-in my '08 and upgrade to a later model Wrangler with the new Pentastar V6 after a few years however after seeing all the problems with this new motor I held-off.
I still have my '09 Wrangler with 140K trouble-free miles on it and apart from regular maintenance items (plugs, serpentine belt, idler pulleys, scheduled coolant changes) the only thing I had to replace at 100K miles was the water pump (pump itself was fine but the gasket was leaking). I have changed the oil every 3K miles from new and expect this motor to continue to run at least another 80-100K miles trouble-free (will probably replace the injectors in the next few years purely for peace of mind)
Hi, very important! You were supposed to cover up that exposed intake manifold (6 holes) so that you don’t drop tools or debris down in the exposed engine. 😣
Hey buddy and thanks for watching.I only cover them up if I’m leaving the work area.I’m always paying close attention.and plus I’ve been doing it that way for about 12 years and no problem. thanks for the advice
@@AlexTheCarDoctor I get your experience, but even experience people make mistakes.. it only takes one ratchet socket to fall down in one of those holes and basically that Pentastar engine could be ruined. Just my observation and based off watching other mechanics working on that type of engine and they would stress covering up those holes as I own a 3.6L Pentastar myself.
You right about that buddy. Thanks for the advice man
I'm also a mechanic... you can't cover the holes when checking compression.
Great video, its great to see mechanics care about their work. You my friend are doing Awesome!!
Thanks man
I'm crying. My 2017 tossed a P0302 while on the Rubicon Trail. 40,300 miles on the engine. I pushed and my dealer pushed, and Jeep is going to cover this and I have to pay $1500 deductible. I drove this engine around town and wheeled it. It's not my primary vehicle. I changed the oil religiously with Amzoil. Looks I like I'll get it fixed (My compression was about the same..80% of normal) but I think I'm going. to start a HEMI fund.
Have watched this a few times because the audio and video are both so informative. Thanks for this!
No problem thanks for watching I really appreciate it
The noise the Jeep makes at 22:54 is what mine does now after changing cylinder #2 since it was misfiring . Engine light came on , changed all six spark plugs, engine light when off. Then turned back on changed the cylinder 2. Light went off came back on. And when starting it makes this noise.
Hey buddy so it’s not currently raining right
Mine did the same thing, I took it to auto zone to get the fix finder to see what's wrong with it. It said cylinder misfire on #2 (but the mechanic already fixed that) but also said underneath that, that the injector fuel #2 is open. So I am assuming it's just that, that I need to fix. I am thinking of fixing it myself, instead of wasting 400 bucks. It's 99 dollars for the part.
@@zellequinonez8906 hey buddy you can handle it just take your time
Thats a shame because the pentastar is a great engine. Excellent power and torque. We have a 2013 Grand Caravan with over 190K and it runs great, doesnt burn oil
I agree! The Pentastar is an award winning engine. I’d still get a vehicle with this engine for sure.
Poor Pentastar, someone neglected him in the past, such low km’s too, fixable but at 40k that’s just full neglect from previous owner ☹️
They said they took care of it but you know how that works sometimes
Took care of mine, junk engine.
No! I replaced oil with premium every 3-4,000 miles. I had both a 2009 and 2014 (still have the 2014). The 2009 oil cooler broke (common problem). The 2014 had passenger side lifters replaced under warranty (common problem). Then at 80,000 miles the driver head had to be replaced for P0302. Poor maintenance will help to kill an engine, but these issues are well known, documented, and Chrysler is paying for the work as a warranty fix, regardless of mileage.
My 2012 did the same thing at 100,000 km. Jeep repaired it at their expense. It’s a common problem on the earlier engines.
I just did all my phasers , rockers, and lifters on my 3.6 Jeep that has 130k! works great! But it was not easy!
Sounds like you are the man,that was a big job
@@AlexTheCarDoctor Thanks man! Love your videos!
@@MrBenjo55 thanks for the support buddy
Hey Alex, just got a JK and this videos are very helpful. Thanks for sharing!
2012-2013 the driver side head had a extended warranty to 150k miles. I have a 2012 just hit 100k miles problems so far, engine oil cooler, 2 thermostats, rear main seal leak, radiator cracked, and on going camshaft position sensor cil bank 1. only happens going 75mph at a steady speed for a while. jeep dealer had it twice, re did the wiring to the sensor and tightened the oil galley bolts. Didn't fix it now they want to replace the passenger side head.
Glad to know galley bolts didn't fix it. I've had every problem you had and they want to check the galley bolts. My camshaft sensor bugs out when I hit a bump.
yeah my chrysler pacifica 2017 30k miles, bad knocking, had it turned up, still there, luckely it was a CPO vehicle with a 7 year, 120000 mile warranty on engine, had a better warranty than a new van and only had 2k miles, dealer service tried new rockers, 2 new heads, still knocking, I told them the original tech non dealer said #3 rod bearing was bad, they did not listen, finnaly after 4 weeks of trying, they replaced the engine. So far so good.
Wow that’s crazy
Currently experiencing the same issue on a 2017 wrangler Rubicon and its looking like a new motor and great video by the way
Thanks for watching buddy
They have had a lot of problems with cracked cylinder heads on these engines I hope that is not your case, but there has been a lot of it. I know a Chrysler tech and they said that the newer engines no longer have them, but he says they lied because he is still replacing cylinder heads on late models. Mis-fires can be many things, but you want to keep an eye on the temp and check the oil regularly to make sure its not got a milky look to it. If it ever starts to look cloudy like a milky substance is in it you got a cracked head. Some cracks can be small and grow more problematic with time as they will introduce more water into the engine. I am not a mechanic I am going off information I have gotten from friends and a guy that is a Chrysler tech. I believe car wizard has a video on this problem.
This is so rare to see a mechanic to do factory level work! The owner should back charge the last mechanic for all the parts damaged or missing that you had to replace along with your labor to get it back to factory level condition!!!
Fuel Injection sucks hard! Repair Dealers are expensive, injectors are expensive and the job itself is royal pain! Carburetors where cheap and easy repairs, I could take a carburetor off rebuild it and have it installed and adjusted within 2 hours for less than $50 and I so wish I had kept my carburetor fueled engine vehicles and just restored them.
I’m pretty good at rebuilding carbs but suck at adjusting them lol
Jeep's engine warranty is 5 years or 60k miles.
You have to replace the head. The line bore of the valve is off, compared to the valve seat. It does not seal or in some cases it will crack the valve. The only fix is to replace the head.
Pentastars are great but if you only have short drives you will have issues.
We lived in a city and most of our drives were highway since we used it to get out of the city. It makes no difference. It is a design defect.
Facing the same thing but we're at 120k miles. Cylinder 3 misfires when first start it and coolant vanishing. Started this morning and a huge plume of white smoke. Gonna have to have a head gasket looks like..
In the wire harnesses as the harnesses goes in the firewall. The data lines are touching something, probably the wiring for the lights. I bet it has shifting and small jurking.
Coworker of mine has one of those 3.6 nothing but problems I have an old Ford truck it's a 91 F150 the engine has never been overhauled it has been well-maintained 380000 MI still going strong I'll keep my underpowered 300 cubic inch inline 6
THE DOCTOR, THAT SAYS IT ALL
I get it, I have a 17 JKU that had a timing chain failure that caused a catastrophic failure and had to replace the engine at 57,000 miles.
It's an mini van engine. Chrysler is notorious for under powering Jeep wrangler! They probably think the low gearing makes up for the bad engines. What makes a wrangler a Wrangler or a Willies is the low gearing and the slower than normal prototype engineering. Most companies Chrysler included have a 4 year prototype year Jeep tries not to change anything for about 6 to 7 years and then only a little bit. Like the body lines. It's 10,000 dollars just to change the body lines of course that is by 1999 prices so it probably went up.
I have a 2020 Gladiator with 90K miles and no issues, but I too am crying for the customer.
The 3.6 is a very weird engine, some people get ones that last 250k and other get one that needs work every few months and they end up getting rid of it. You either get a good 3.6 or a bad one and there is no in between
How do you know when you have a good one?
Have had this issue on all four of my jeeps with the 3.6... a 2012 a 2015 rubicon 2015 grand Cherokee and now my 2021 mojave....
You sir are the best mechanic I have ever seen work!
I appreciate ya 😎
You should go and inspect the cams because there have been issues with roller lifters eating the cam shafts
That should still be under warranty, Mopar has a 5yr/60k on Powertrain for Jeep vehicles. My 2016 has 7/100k powertrain warranty, as I bought it Certified Pre Owned (CPO) and it is covered until April 2024, but the normal powertrain is 5 year / 60k miles. In 2021, when this video was made, A 2018 with 40k miles in 2021 ? THAT VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY !!!! They would have probably given him a new engine.
actually a professional mechanics tools should last longer than home owner because they shouldn't abuse them because they realize the value of taking care of them because that is their means of income. i am 67 still use most of the original tools i started with of course have had to update because of newer vehicles some new tools required but like my combination wrench set is the same set i started with at age 17 when i started my life as a mechanic. if you take care of your tools they will take care of you. everyone will brake a socket or ratchet all along but the basic tools should last. i just updated my screwdriver set which was a SK that i bought about age 20 but i don't use screw drivers as prybars or chisels. tools used properly will last almost a lifetime
Great video. Im having problems on the #2 cylinder on the same engine in a charger. The compression is good but the plug keeps fauling out.
No disconnecting the negative battery?
The mechanic prior doesn't take pride of his job...
That’s what’s wrong with mechanics this days
easier wat to disable fuel on a jeep is to hold accelerator pedal to the floor while cranking, this will put it into clear flood mode and the engine will not start, just a tip
That is correct
With only 40K miles he should have taken it to a Jeep dealer first…warranty?
My 2014 Chrysler T&C has 134K miles. CEL light came on. Rough idle. Went to the dealer the next day.PO 302 code. Cylinder head replacement $3000. Number 2 cylinder 100 psi. Failed leak down test.
Because I’ve owned Chryslers before I bought it new with the Maximum Care Lifetime warranty. Only up to $6500 in warranty repairs since new.
Believe it or not! Had to return the T&C back to the dealer for the same problem last Monday. Service advisor says the minivan might be ready this Monday! That Chrysler Lifetime Maximum Warranty was the smart purchase in 2014.
Yeah, that’s what I told him to do and he did. And the dealer fixed it for them.
Alex... THIS WAS VERY EDUCATIONAL!!! I have a P306 ERROR with 40 PSI on my NO# 6. Looks like gotta take out a Mortgage??? or do I.... Can you give a round a bout figure of what that follow on work might cost??? Tks!
So glad I found this channel Alex is the Man
There is a problem with the number 2 head dodge has extended the warranty to 125.000 miles take it to the dealer there guys know all about these issues...you don't save any money not going to the dealership because other shops don't have the knowledge the dealership has ...he would know the extended that warranty if he was deal mechanic...
I got a 2017 Jeep Wrangler and I do live in Phoenix and it started overheating but didn’t reach to the max and I changed every component on cooling system thermostat, radiator, hoses, water pump, overflow tank and even radiator cap. When we run the Jeep it flows the coolant to the overflow tank causing it to have not enough coolant in radiator and then it heats up. Next step is to do compression check maybe warped head or head gasket?? Also check engine light doesn’t come on ??? I’m lost and the air was bled from system too.
Hello, are the cooling fan coming on
Yes sir they are
You can perform a block test to make sure the cylinder head gasket is good, you have replaced just about everything in your cooling system.my guess if it passes the block test you still may have air in the system, are you familiar with performing a block test
Might want to check your heater core. They are known to get clogged up.
I have the same engine in my JLUR Jeep. I hope I win the lottery when it happens to mine, cause I'm throwing in a LS in it.
I have 400,000 miles in a Silverado with an LS in it.
Question: Why can't you use other brands of Spark Plugs in the 3.6 Pentastar engine?
Must've had a supercharger that was quickly removed. This Jeep has 5yr/60k powertrain warranty. Pentastars are very reliable overall, with he 2012-14 head issue the only real glitch, and they extened those warranties to 10yr/150k.
Maybe I forgot people do that but even that’s hard to do with technology that out they are able to tell if you have tuned the ECM that will quickly void the warranty. I agree not many problems, an after market company needs to make metal parts to replace the plastic ones like metal oil cooler, coolant housing etc
You are nuts man, mine had the faulty rocker arms and ate a camshaft at 63k miles. Dealer fixed it EVEN THOUGH it was out of warranty they've had so many issues with this junk. Last week the plastic (used to be metal but good old Fiat saved some pennies) oil cooler started leaking and had to fix that (Dorman has a metal replacement). Thing is a 2016 with 75k miles...meanwhile the 1996 Ford F150 4.9 I6 I have had a $100 distributor put in it 10 years ago...and that's all that's ever been done to it in almost 200k. Also, the rear main seals go out early and leak oil. Daughters car, would have never bought it. I like it, don't get me wrong, but it definitely has issues.
Dorman makes an all metal oil cooler for this engine
Cover the manifold before something drops down there.. Otherwise good video!
Thanks buddy
Whoever service that before should be ashamed of their self
They don’t need to be around anymore cars again
Good Job Alex, Your a good guy!
Thank you buddy
Good job, very thorough, easy to follow!
before i scared the customer i would have pulled the valve cover knowing the problems with lash adjusters and rocker arm problems with those engines might have lost lobe on cam but everyone goes about diag differently
It was definitely the cylinder head. Either way it was under warranty. They went and got it changed for free and that solved the problem.
Received bad new tonight. My 2014 Jeep Wrangler with 49485 miles needs new engine. This engine sucks. Why put a new engine that sucks?
GM LS swap it. They make this engine’s so they tear up quickly so the dealership I mean stealership can make more money that’s my opinion
Great job Alex your great for feeling for the customer ty
That’s the hardest part about my job is Watching people go through a hard time with their vehicles. That’s why I make these videos for people in need and to get a better understanding
Do you have a video doing head removal and install on the 3.6L Jeep? I need to replace left head.
Offroaded it and probably overheated it. Lifted jeep. Just a guess. Had one. Seen people overheat these in the mud. Maybe a valve seat problem.
Warranty expired for the Powertrain? Are you sure? 2018-2021 is only 4 years. Missing bolts? A mod was done maybe - air intake (hmmm) , then the original parts slapped back on (but they lost the bolts?) after they screwed up the engine?, that or that previous shop was so shady or incompetent that they figured out how to blow the piston bust a pipe and lose the screws? Did they ever change the oil? or put the correct kind in?
That’s the first thing I asked them and they called the dealership right off the bat, and they told them it was out of warranty. That’s a good point about the upgrades 🤔 sometimes customers don’t tell me the whole truth. I don’t know if they kept up with the oil changes or put the right oil in previously. That other shop seemed very shady from what they told me. Thanks for the comment and good observation man!
@@AlexTheCarDoctor The warranty 5yr/60k for powertrain. I smell bullsh1t here.
At the end of the day, what was the problem with the engine ?
Needed a cylinder head. Luckily for them it was under warranty and the dealership replaced it for them for free. I’ve seen many cases like that.
How sad at 40k the engine needs this amount of work. Jeep ain't what they used to be for sure. Did this person keep oil changed? Often that can cause a failure like this.
Yes they’re not what they used to be for sure. From my understanding they took very good care of it, always changing the oil.I do know it was some type of recall on the cylinder head failure that this jeep was experiencing nevertheless the bad dealership took care of it under warranty so I was very happy for them.
no Chrysler dosnt care about their quality issues with their customers. they don't stand behind their products at all. they know there's quality issues and do nothing about it...
So let me ask, honestly how reliable do you think this engine is? What is the Jeep was used to deliver rural mail with 200k on it. Has an extensive service history with no major problems reported.
My saying is this if you take care of your engine it will take care of you but to answer your question the engine do require a little bit more maintenance than others. Would I own a 3.6 Pinter star no but I’m not knocking they are good engines
@@AlexTheCarDoctor fair reply. I am also looking at a older Jeep with the 4.0 was just over 100k on it. Also has extensive service records. I have had both engines and the understand about the 3.6. Had it in a Grand Cherokee and with the 6-speed it was pretty terrible. Drove it with the 8 and much better.
Anyway, I am not in a hurry and thanks for the response. I may go take another look at the older Jeep with the 4.0.
All I have to say about the 4 liter is they stopped making it because it was too good was not breaking enough so they wasn’t making any money LOL
@@jeffdurling100 I just came across this video but know it is over a year old. I hope you've found the right Jeep for you by now. I own both a 95 Cherokee with the 4L and a 2016 JKU Wrangler with the 3.6L. My Cherokee has 295k (mostly) trouble-free miles on it. My 2016 has only 40k. I've done more work on my 2016 in just those 40k than I did in the entirety of my 1995! Not all have been motor issues. Things like speed sensors going out, ignition module failing. I just replaced the plastic oil cooler on my 2016 as it blew up prematurely. I'm on my 5th Jeep in this lifetime and I'll say that I'm about done with them. Think I'm moving to Toyota from this point forward. Good luck in your search and if it's a 3.6L, buy good tools and be ready to patiently spend Saturdays working on your rig!
@@disorderlymovement Yeah just about every component breaks on Jeeps. I've got a '12 wrangler with 275,000 km. No engine work, but I have replaced the oil cooler.
Alex, this was a great video! Awesome job!
Thanks for watching buddy I’m glad you enjoyed it
You r amazing
I can’t say enough about your care with explaining things
Thank you buddy
that engine would have been covered under powertrain warranty. the 2018 JK wrangler had a 5 year/60,000 warranty.
It was. I sent them to the dealership and they were able to get it taken care of.
Probably hasn't had an oil change in 40000 miles.
Cant cover intake when doing compression test and hes being careful .
Thanks buddy very good observation. Thanks for the support as well
I’ve had this same code at 30,000. Needed head replacement. It was under warrantee. Mechanic switched over cool packs on cylinder code still remained. These Penestars do have, although infrequent problems with cylinder #2. Not enough problems for a recall.
i totally disagree. i've had multiple issues with mine and every mechanic outside of a dealership will tell you they have a problem with the Pentastars.
Thought these had a 60k powertrain warranty ?? Wow 40k thats terrible. I wonder if the idea of poor break-in is the culprit here or if it's just a quality control issue with Chrysler. I'd like to know whats the final diag on it.
I convinced him to take it to the dealership and the dealership took care of them free of charge,Bad cylinder head also I thought the same thing wasn’t broken in properly
This is a design and manufacturing problem. Period. This came from the dealership that replaced the driver's side head at 80,000 miles. My 2014 was babied from the second it came off the lot. Oil changed with premium oil every 3-4,000 miles. All scheduled maintenance performed, etc.
Awesome vid, man!
I have a 2015 Jeep Wrangler JK with a 3.6L & have been dealing with a misfire the last month - rocker arms and lifters! I'll be doing those this weekend! There is a lawsuit currently in place against Chrysler/Dodge for these motors, specifically to the previously mentioned engine components. Really sad given how inexpensive the rockers and lifters are and additionally, being tied to the Jeep name. Curious to know if this was the issue got had and repaired on this particular vehicle?
Thanks again for sharing! I really enjoy your analysis on different things and your teaching abilities!
Keep it up, man!
You need a new head, its the only real fix for the issue.
@@darknes7800 Exactly. The lifters probably failed and so the exhaust port burned through. The dreaded P0302.
Where are you located? I have the exact same issue, and the mechanic did the exact same things. Mine has 75k miles. I'm watching now. I hope I can learn something about this issue. It runs great just like that one, and I only feel a very, very slight vibration at low idle. Other than that it's perfect. That light is messing with my mind. Lol. Thanks.
I retired from working on these and all the other engines Chrysler made and I
can tell you I made a butt load of money , so hey Chrysler or whom ever buys them
DONT FIX THEM WE NEED THE MONEY
Nice work! Good troubleshooting skills! I liked and subscribed. 👍👍
Thanks so much for the support buddy
@@AlexTheCarDoctor I work on my own vehicle frankly because I don't trust people to touch it lol. As a lot of people do not know what they are doing and you're touching my baby. You gotta know what you're doing or don't even knock on my door. I would feel comfortable giving you the keys or working on it with you. Cheers buddy! Finding someone who knows what they are doing is like Indiana Jones looking for the holy grail. I use to have a 2004 grand Cherokee overland with the 4.7 HO. Had a hard misfire on #8 (of course the crappiest location) after hours and days of troubleshooting (never experienced a broken valve spring), it was determined that the exhaust valve spring was broken, i got a camera for my phone and dropped it down the spark plug hole to make sure there was no damage to the valve or piston. No issues there. Took a compression tester, filled the cylinder with 120 psi to hold the valve closed, got my tool to compress the spring by using a special tool and the cam as the fulcrum, with 2, 12" 3/8 extension's I was able to compress the spring, pull the bad unit out, compress it again with the new spring and install the keepers. This was all done with myself and GOD! Put it all back together and boy did I understand why all 4 tires were bald! Lol lol power!! I took to the shop to have the exhaust stud replaced and the mechanic said... You take care of your vehicle don't you! That thing runs! Thank you, Lol yes sir I do. It'll bark all 4 tires leaving the light. Bosch platinum +4 plugs, 12 hole injectors, new fuel pump, new O2's (all 4) new coil packs. Paid $1500 for it because it ran like crap. But when I was done BEAST.
@@JF32304 thanks for the love buddy. Man it sounds like you a good mechanic man. I love seeing people take pride in their vehicle, I just wish I had the time to take pride in mine lol I guess I’m too busy making other people vehicles be great.
2017 Rubicon. 68K miles. Extended Warranty expired at 60K miles. 7K left in payments. Repair estimate 3-4K. Abandon ship now or keep her?
It’s a Jeep Wrangler I would keep her if I had the money to repair it. The Jeeps hold their value very well
Thank you, so far I have not been impressed with Jeep Customer Service. “Jeep Cares” on one of the forums basically told me to pound sand.
@@deborahclem4901 that’s terrible I assumed they had good customer service. Maybe it’s the area of where you are from
@@AlexTheCarDoctor maybe. Was expecting something, like, pay for car rental, sigh…
@@deborahclem4901 where are you from?down here in Georgia most dealerships will give you a loaner car for free
The problem will keep happening no matter tell the wire harnesses is fixed.
This is why you don’t buy a new Jeep. Fiat made. Sad to see the death of Jeep reliability. I’ve owned several XJs with over 250k miles that ran great. Original engine and transmission. Fun fact: the XJ has an Aisin auto trans. Aisin makes some of the best transmissions, Toyota also uses their trans and parts. Also owned an 06 wrangler with over 130k miles. Anything after 06 seems to have way too many problems since Chrysler went to using Fiat parts. Chrysler alone is bad enough, but once Fiat also got into the mix that was it.
I Did not know that about the transmission thanks for Sharing your knowledge buddy,and you are right about the year
@@AlexTheCarDoctor No problem, the transmission used in the cherokees from 1987-2001 is the A340H Aisin transmission. Chrysler called it the AW4 auto trans, perhaps they didn't want to admit to using a transmission that wasn't their own.
Can you show how to replace the right side (driver side) valve gasket on 17’ 3.6L wrangler please, I only ever see the left side (passenger side) get done. There was oil in my 2 cylinder spark plug and I’m pretty sure there is a valve leak there, but not sure how to disassemble.
Hey there I have a tear down video of me pulling off the valve covers on both sides that may help until I get a chance to do one on a wrangler
th-cam.com/video/hK-rf2o3ozk/w-d-xo.html