HELP! The main question is to keep or sell? And if to sell, what is the best outlet?

First a little back story and then I will get to the issue.
I have a 2011 JK Unlimited Sport with 150,000 miles. In the past 4 months I've had to spend about $8,000 on it. $2,000 on new tires, and over $5,000 for all new steering components (to fix death wobble) and a new suspension/lift, along with a few other items like an oil leak etc... I was okay with this because the Jeep is paid for, and I planned on keeping it even when I buy another vehicle. I just counted it as maintenance costs.

For a while now, some days every light on my dashboard is on. The next day they are all off... then back on. Then when turning the key, the engine would turn over for about 10 seconds before it would actually start. A trip to the mechanic revealed some exposed wires where the coating had worn off. These wires are meant to be separate and not touching one another. The mechanic mentioned I needed a new wiring harness, and said he would have to see if he could fine one. I went home and did the best I could the separate the wires and wrap with electrical tape so they were no longer touching. After I did this, the vehicle started normally, and all the lights on the dash went off again.

I thought things were back to normal, then periodically the Jeep would just die. I could still restart it though, even if it took a little while to do so. The dashboard lights also began coming on again. So, just periodic little things that I have come to deal with just having a Jeep.

On my way to work two days ago, it started fine, and I drove 14 miles on the interstate to my exit where it died and would not restart. I had it towed to my mechanic who is now saying I need to have the engine rebuilt or put a new (rebuilt) engine in it.

I'm sorry I don't know how to describe everything he said on the phone but it was something about one of the pistons damaging something, and something being open instead of closed, having to do with the timing. And now things are bent, and probably running on 3 cylinders... and that I probably couldn't even drive it away from his shop.

So now in addition to the recent $8,000 I put into it, I need a new engine and electrical wiring harness which I am assuming will be approaching the $10,000 range. So getting close to $20,000 in maintenance/repairs for a vehicle that's not even worth that much. Obviously if I could see into the future I would not have put all the money into it that I just did knowing this was about to happen.

What would you do? Assuming a new engine and labor, along with a new wiring harness (to fix electrical issues) comes in less than $10,000... would you put that money into a Jeep this old? Or cut my losses and just buy another vehicle? Even if I get it fixed there's no guarantee that something else won't go wrong. I would rather spend $10,000 on a new engine (3 year/100,000 mile warranty) than have a $500 or $600 new car note for the next 5 years. Another downside to my Jeep is that I am currently only getting 11 mpg. I'd rather not spend $10,000 fixing a car with such poor mileage. Maybe a new engine will help that? I don't know. I feel putting the money into it to fix and sell would almost be a wash.

If I do decide to buy a new vehicle and get rid of the Jeep. What is the best option for selling the Jeep? Will a dealer even take a Jeep that isn't running? I know I will get robbed by the dealers when trading in, but I also feel they have the means to put it back in their shop, fix it quick and cheap and relist it.

Or would the best option be to list it and sell outright to a Jeep lover who wants to work on it himself/herself and fix it up? How much can I really expect to get from a Jeep that needs a new engine? Would you take all the pieces and parts (roof rack, new tires etc....) and sell separately before trying to get rid of it?

Sorry this is such a long post. I need input from Jeepers like you who have been here before. Who have put a new engine in etc... Thank you in advance for taking the time to comment and share your wisdom on this issue.

 

Welcome to JK Forum and sorry to read of your current situation. This time of year is the best for factories offering better rebates, interest programs.. Suggest you check out www.jeep.com and use the Shopping tools for incentives in your area, check dealer inventories.. YOU must move quickly as the year end sales events will expire. Before I put another 8K into yours check out what a NEW Jeep would be monthly.
IMO, I would take off the easily removed accessories and sell as an individual (the dealers are not going to put much into trade value yes you hear the ads saying push pull the trade in) Re-manufactured engines are available as are Salvage engines so check pricing with a local independent shop (their labor rates should be LOWER). Check KBB, Craigslist, for comparable pricing on running '11s with similar accessories.
Most Of All, Affordability of a SAFE Running vehicle should be 1st in the decision. GOOD LUCK

 

Only thing the piston could hit is a valve but a 3.8 is not an interference motor where timing chain broken would cause. So it appears it has dropped a valve.

So it looks like shorted wiring with newportion of harness required. That solves that one. From what I gather the engine issue is what stranded you so the Jeep armageddon is not there. My advice is to get a new engine in and fix the wiring. Buying another newer JK will save you a lot of money compared to a new JL if you want to replace the vehicle. If you go to a newer second hand unit make sure you buy a complete stocker. Thats my advice as now is not the time for getting into a new vehicle unless you are a cash buyer.

 

That situation really sucks given what you put into it recently. Certainly not a trade-in situation. If you were going to sell it, and the body is in good shape, this is likely potential for a V8 swap for somebody. The JK is a great platform and there are a lot of people out there that would actually prefer and older jeep with good bones to put an engine in rather than buying something with the 3.6L. The issue with that is it's not as simple as selling to someone local, so there are different obstacles listing and dealing with people from out of town. NBD if it's not something you'd have to sell to buy something else, but if you need the money then it's not as simple. Also presume that YOU doing a V8 swap is not on the table. IDK, what you have is a known quantity on your hands there. Buying another used car is ALWAYS a gamble, and I agree with SIxty that it ain't the time to buy new unless cash is no obstacle. I'd almost lean towards replacing the engine and wiring harness cuz you know how you've treated the vehicle and if it had good organs it should still last a long while. I can tell you that you certainly don't get much of a used car for $10k, so if you sunk $10k into it from here, it would likely be better than anything else you'd buy with that money. These days you can go spend $20-25k on a used vehicle, get home and realize you have a headache on your hands. Buying cars these days is really tough.

If my 3.6L were to explode today, I would rather keep my jeep and plunk $20k or whatever into a V8 than to part with it or spend $20k on something else.

 

My two cents worth is to get a second opinion on the engine -- Unless this mechanic is known by you to be an accurate trouble shooter. It might just be a dodgy diagnosis.

Presuming the engine is shot and you don't do repairs like this yourself, I'd say sell it with as full and detailed disclosure as possible to someone who will likely repair it themselves. My reasoning is that there's a decent chance that major repairs won't work out well and you're stuck in an endless cycle of repair and subsequent failure without the knowledge to even know who is incompetent. And warranties are almost worthless because it's too easy cast blame elsewhere. All this is why older cars gravitate to people that work on them...

Stay in touch!

 

Hi everyone. I apologize for the pause in getting back to this thread while figuring out a game plan etc... I want to thank each and every one of you who replied to my post. I definitely value your knowledge and input, which is way more than mine on these matters. I decided to keep the Jeep and have a new rebuilt engine put in. It comes with a 3 yr/100,000 mile warranty. I believe this is the cheapest way out that also will give new life to my Jeep for years to come. Definitely cheaper than a new car note for the next 5 or 6 years, and to me, cheaper than buying another used vehicle. I've had my Jeep for 10 years, I know the work that has been done, I know how it has been treated, and I know the recent money I've put in, so that won't go to waste either. I do feel my mechanic is high on labor hours (and rate), but I trust and like him, and have had good dealings with him on previous work up to this point. Here's what it comes to and how it is broken down.

Work: New Jasper engine; engine install kit, new wiring harness; labor
Cost: $9989.74

Let me know what you think.

 

Thanks for informing and updating on your action plan.

 

I just bought this 2017 Wrangler in Oct 2022. It seemed to run fine for the most part but every now and then would hit a point where it would lose power or just stall out. First repair shop replaced a cylinder head which cost a couple thousand. I was excited that the problem might be fixed but it kept happening. Finally it died in the middle of a snowstorm and I had to leave it on the side of the road for a tow truck to get it the next day. The mechanic called today - a week after he got the car and he said it stilled smelled like something was burning up even without turning it on. So he is looking at it but either way I am stuck. I still owe $20k on it and it is possibly just as bad as what you are saying that it needs a new engine already.
When they sold me this thing I felt assured that they kept saying "Jeeps hold their value" I don't see how since they all seem to run into serious problems around 100k miles.

 

That really sux and I'm sorry for the situation you are in. To be fair, and realistic, this is the used car market we are in these days guys. It's really grim out there and it scares me what things are going to be like in 5-10 years. These days you can go out and spend $20-25k on a used car and have immediate headaches. Hell, just look how many vehicles out there are using CVT transmissions and then start looking into the lifespan and headaches of all those. Having just bought a car for my daughter, I'm very familiar with what used car purchasing struggles are right now.

 

I am just sitting here waiting for the mechanic to call back with the bad news. We are both really sad because we live in the middle of 4X4 country - I use 4WD just to get out of my driveway somedays. We were really looking forward to enjoying mud season in the spring but if this goes the way it seems like it is going then this will be my first and last jeep I ever own. I'll stick to paved roads and affordable sedans the rest of my life. I'm really hoping for anything less than $3000. If it is over $3k then I guess put it in the driveway and throw a tarp over it and forget about it for 3 years until I can get the title and sell it to a junkyard.