jk fires

[sandbag]

This is not a Jeep bashing. I am a Jeep fan.
Sorry, I don`t know how to make a "clicky" of this, so here goes.

Over on the Escapees RV forum under General RVing is quite a thread on a Jk
that burned to the ground on a sand road w/ no vegetation. Including pictures and much
discussion and fire investigation report.
Seems the fire/incident ratio is exceeding TJ and YJ models.

I`m sure by Googling Escapees Discussion Forum you can get there.

Again, this is FYI only, not a bash E.P.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I wonder if the ratio is higher than the 90's model Land Rovers....

 

[bldeagle10]

here ya go bud

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=86630

 

[Bigjerm]

Wow... back when I had a JK I think the count was up to 6 or 7 of JK's that had caught fire. Last I read most were caused by auto transmissions in the 4 door overheating and fluid spilling over to the exhaust and catching on fire.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

That is scary, I am posting the link on every Jeep forum I'm on.

 

[JPK]

Wow... back when I had a JK I think the count was up to 6 or 7 of JK's that had caught fire. Last I read most were caused by auto transmissions in the 4 door overheating and fluid spilling over to the exhaust and catching on fire.

It a well known problem and there is a TSB on it. I think its the auto transmission in any JK. The fix is supposed to be a good size tranny cooler mounted in front of the radiator.

If you run off road in 4 lo your tranny pump is turning either 2.72x or 4x faster too, to help keep the fluid cool.

 

[Super mud]

It a well known problem and there is a TSB on it. I think its the auto transmission in any JK. The fix is supposed to be a good size tranny cooler mounted in front of the radiator.

If you run off road in 4 lo your tranny pump is turning either 2.72x or 4x faster too, to help keep the fluid cool.

That is a very good fact. For some reason alot of people for what unknown reason don't bother with low range. I wheeled with one kid a month ago who burnt up his brand new clutch in his tj cause he had it in 4hi, stock gears, going up a long hill. The best people to wheel with are the ones who work on their junk.

Also tranny fluid is a big one for fires. My 87 had those plastic clip fittings on the oil lines and Im sure the new ones do too. I popped one out with only pushing in one side when I changed them to an AN fitting. I'm also running a large cooler and remote filter.

 

[mudbutt]

I have never battled an ATF fire, but wouldn't a fire extinguisher help??

 

[The Swiss]

It a well known problem and there is a TSB on it. I think its the auto transmission in any JK. The fix is supposed to be a good size tranny cooler mounted in front of the radiator.

If you run off road in 4 lo your tranny pump is turning either 2.72x or 4x faster too, to help keep the fluid cool.

I had the TSB done. The fix is actually no good size tranny cooler but a warning light, kind of. It consists of reprogramming the computer that a warning message comes up if the tranny temperature is getting too high

You are 100% correct regarding 4 low, and I am a big advocate of using your low gears. I think the setting I'm using the least when I'm off road is 4 high; either I'm in 2 wd or 4 low.

 

[njjeepthing]

Read the whole thread over there.....here's the cause

Posted 07 October 2010 - 07:25 PM
It is now as official as they will allow. The 2010 Jeep JK Rubicon that burned did so because of two known problems working together.

Problem one, the brake lines being chaffed by the inner fender causing brake fluid loss - that could spray with force.

Problem two, in certain circumstances where slow speeds and higher revs occur, the computer can lean out the mixture to a point where excessive heat is generated, and can make catalytic converters glow red hot.

With those two factors present, the act of restarting a hot jeep, pressing on the brake burst a damaged brake line, spraying the over lean effected catalytic converter resulting in immediate ignition, and the dripping of ignited brake fluid over the firewall, and ground.

The fire started on the left side of the vehicle, in the area behind the inner fender, against the firewall.

The insurance has settled completely with the claim, accepting my losses but making sure the deductable was there.. so I lost $300 of my gear. They are going after Chrysler for reimbursement of their payment to me and the bank.

So, an end to it. I have told every JK owner I have seen of my troubles, shown pictures to all who would stand still long enough, and think I may have done enough to stop anyone having the same, with worse results.
I have been asked if I would a) buy a Jeep JK again, and Buy a modern Chrysler vehicle. The answer I give to those questions has to be a resounding NO - Chrysler knew of the problems months before the event and did not issue any service bulletin until seven days after the event.

There has been no indication to me, or the company of investigators I am dealing with, that suggests the 2011 models are any safer than the 2010 models.

What I will say, before I leave this unpleasant experience behind me, is that if you own a Jeep JK of any year, get it checked thoroughly, get the recalls done, and make sure it is is running perfectly before you go anywhere the engine will have to work hard.
Mine was not the only one that burned in that location - nor the only one that burned in 12 minutes.

 

[JPK]

I had the TSB done. The fix is actually no good size tranny cooler but a warning light, kind of. It consists of reprogramming the computer that a warning message comes up if the tranny temperature is getting too high

You are 100% correct regarding 4 low, and I am a big advocate of using your low gears. I think the setting I'm using the least when I'm off road is 4 high; either I'm in 2 wd or 4 low.

Yea, Jeep puts in a warning light, but the fix is a good sized trannny cooler, cheap and easy to install, and complete kits are available too.

There has been a TSB out on the brake lines rubbing against the inner fenders since before that guy's Jeep was made. Kinda sucks that they didn't fix it at the assembly point. When he says they issued a TSB seven days later he must be referring to an expansion of the prior TSB to cover 2010's too. BTW, fixing the brake line issue before it causes trouble is a short and easy job.

JPK

 

[Ridge638]

I have been reluctant to add a tranny cooler because of the lifetime warranty on my 08 JK. I don't want to give them any excuses to not cover the warranty although this post is making me reconsider. It is an easy install and there is an article in the latest JP magazine about installing a tranny cooler in the JK. Also, there is a current recall to have some tranny lines replaced on the JK.

Snapping a brake line off road is common and could happen to any vehicle. A fire extingusher is mandatory.

 

[RunninRubicon]

Jeep fires with autos

I have never battled an ATF fire, but wouldn't a fire extinguisher help??

I had an 88' YJ I had modified with a GM 700r-4, Big cooler, big steel lines. caught some sage brush between the cat and the belly-pan. On the way home climbing out of the canyon the heat ignited the brush that burnt the rubber plug for the dip-stick allowed oil onto the fire. I emptied two 1.5lb fire extinguisher on it. A gallon of water and even a passer-by's 5lb. It slowed down but never went out. Fire department came and hosed it down after all the wiring under the hood, hoses, and interior had burned.. no, hot oil is tuff. It keeps reaching the flash-point temp and off it goes again till either the oil runs out or it cools off with drowding it out and cooling it off. it was a black day.

 

[JPK]

I have been reluctant to add a tranny cooler because of the lifetime warranty on my 08 JK. I don't want to give them any excuses to not cover the warranty although this post is making me reconsider. It is an easy install and there is an article in the latest JP magazine about installing a tranny cooler in the JK. Also, there is a current recall to have some tranny lines replaced on the JK.

Snapping a brake line off road is common and could happen to any vehicle. A fire extingusher is mandatory.

I'd suggest a visit with the dealer and a chat. Also maybe have the dealer install the tranny cooler, might cost a few $'s but prevent warranty issues down the road.