Before I do any major modification, I decided to call in to NWJEEP Service Dept, and ask about getting my JK lifted. They said if ANY non-factory part is installed, especially a lift, the Powertrain warranty will be VOIDED! WTF!? This dealership is not sounding so good...I want to avoid them at all cost

Anyone in the Portland metro area have a recommended dealer to use? I want to start my mods, but I want some piece of mind, given I only have 1200 miles on her..

Thanks!

 

I would give dick hannah Jeep in Vancouver a call. I too went to NWJeep and had a way less than stellar experience with their service dept. I have not been to dick hannah but they are putting on the Don't Fear the Jeeper show this August and a large amount of their service staff are into off-roading.

 

Thanks Runit!! didnt think about searching washington area!

Ill be sure to stay away from NWJEEP, and spare myself a violent outrage or a spot on the black list

but i did call t&c and dicks...they both had reasonable answers, and they werent sooo quick to call "Void"!

would be interesting for someone to start a Dealership preference thread by state? and maybe even "sticky it"
..or maybe i just couldnt find it?..

 

I think thats a great idea and would be a tremendous resource

 

I've used Hannah and haven't had any problems. They did some work on the freedom tops and every oil change. On the next one I'm having them do the brake line recall. So I haven't specifically had any suspension/drivetrain warranty work done I'm sure they'd be reasonable. The GM has a 07 Rubicon sitting on 37's and they sell lifted Wranglers off the lot.

 

well..i did buy my rig from them NWJEEP, but didnt bother to scope out the territory for warranty conflicts. they really just gave me a deal i couldnt refuse, and closest to me....

so i have a free oil change, and thought i'd use it just to get to know some of the guys there. but before i go there with my little lift, my instincts told me to call first and have a chat about my interest in lifting my jeep and how it would affect my warranty coverage..
..so i called in to the service department and told him how I am interested in lifting my vehicle 2.5 inches, with trackbars and control arms, "how would this affect my drivetrain warranty?" he IMMEDIATELY(IMMEDIATELY!) answered. ANY NON-FACTORY ITEMS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY! So i asked him, if for some crazy reason, my motor throws a rod, and it has nothing to do with my lift, i get denied warranty service?? I even told him repeatedly how my worries would not be on any suspension components, but just the Engine itself! And once again he answered, YOUR LIFT WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY!
At that point, I had enough of this and wasnt willing to fight it, because I was just getting a "feeler", but IMAGINE IF I WENT THERE AND IT REALLY DID HAPPEN?? Is it worth the unjustly arguments if there is a better dealer out there willing to be reasonable about the warranty? I just think it would be a risk for me getting on the black list.

Im glad to hear you have a good relationship with NWJEEP and I wish I could have that chance, but I rarely go back to the Stealership unless the problem is significant, and the cost is justified under warranty.

In my case, I just think Im better off taking my chances elsewhere..
I talked to the guys at T&C and Dick Hannahs, and they BOTH even sounded excited about me talking about lifting my JK!! They were more than understanding about my worries with the Engine and in all honesty they were actually a pleasure to chat with! They both explained how they would not cover certain suspension components and I told them how i totally agree, and we agreed that it would be a case by case basis, and it has to be proven that the lift had direct correlation with the malfunction...

well thats what i got from callin around...hope this helps someone?

 

but can they deny service from me because I didnt buy my Jeep there? Well...they probably wouldnt be as considerate?

...I already know, just cause my business went elsewhere for the sale...I know Im gonna have to do at least a few lube jobs, and maybe give them a gear swap, just to get to know some of the guys at dicks or t&c...
damnn... i just wish I gave them my business in the first place

 

I would not rec doing a gear swap at a dealership. Even if they did have by some miracle one service guy who was qualified to swap a set of gears you really want someone or a group of people who do it on a regular basis -dealerships do not regularly do gear swaps-. I had mine done @ gresham4wd -just changed out the oil from break in and the pattern looks great, no issues. Shane Fay of Mountain Air Off-road also does great work.

Whoever you go to make sure you get a clear written warranty on their work, if someone makes a mistake it's a very VERY expensive mistake and you shouldn't have to foot the bill.

 

I'll remember that, thanks for the recs!

 

I am dealing with NWJeep right now on what, in my opinion, should be an easy deal...it has been anything but easy though.

I bought my Jeep at NWJeep...no complaints there. The salesguy was great. Really I have no complaints about the sales process.

But, the service department is a completely different story. When I drove my 2010 Rubi Unlimited off the lot the tire pressure light was on - I didnt worry about it (the tire didnt look low) and stopped a couple days later and filled the tire with air. Week later, the light came on again. I filled it with air and a week later the light came back on. My guess it was losing about 5lbs air every week or so. I then started having some issues with my front locker light flashing when I would stop - it would go out when I was driving but everytime I stopped it would start flashing.

So my first oil change came up and I got a coupon for a free oil change/checkup from NWJeep - So I took the Jeep in for the oil change and also told them about the problems I was having. They assured me they would get it taken care of and I would have my Jeep back by 5pm that night.

I got the Jeep back the following day because the locker light stumped their tech - no problem there - they called and updated me on the progress so I wasnt too upset. They also offered me a rental car... so far so good..

When I get the Jeep back - the locker lights start flashing at the first stop light leaving their dealership and the tire pressure light came on 2 days later. I called made a return appt and dropped my Jeep off for another day. Got the Jeep back in the exact same condition - locker light started flashing at first stop light and 2 days later tire pressure light came on. So I figure Ill just figure it out myself....

Good news is the locker light fixed itself - I messed around with it one day locking the front axle and unlocking it a couple times - never had an issue since. For the tire I took it into Les Schwab - 10 mins after I pull in they call me out to the water tank....the guy tells me my wheel is defective. He shows me my tire in the tank and bubbles coming from the backside of the wheel - kind of by one of the spokes. He marks the spot and tells me to take it to Jeep - says to have them call him if they have any questions - but in his opinion since theres 4k miles on the Jeep and there are no impact or rub marks on the wheels/tires its a defective wheel. Even offers to give me a discount on new wheels if Jeep wont warranty it. They also rotated all my tires and put the defective tire on my spare tire carrier - no charge. Chalk 1 up for Les Schwab..

I immediately drive to NWJeep...tell them the situation and how unhappy I am with how I am having to do the leg work to get things fixed since they cant seem to figure it out. The service lady tells me there is only 1 guy at the dealership who deals with wheels and he is out to lunch. So I ask her if I can just leave my wheel with them so they can get it taken care of and call me when I can come get a new one. She agrees so I pull the wheel off and leave it with her. Couple hours later I get a call from her saying Jeep doesnt warranty the wheels and I would need to contact Chrysler directly. I have no idea why the wheels are different from every other part of the jeep but apparently they are.

So I call Chrysler - they say the tires are warrantied by the manufacturer but the wheels are covered by the Jeep warranty. BUt since NWJeep denied my warranty claim (saying Jeep doesnt cover wheels) my claim has to be given to a manager to deal with. The manager called today - very nice guy - and basically said the dealerships full of shit wheels are covered and now we will have to have a conference call with NWJeeps district manager, me and the guy from chrysler....all over an obvious factory defect.

This got a bit long winded - but I hope it helps others save themselves some frustrations - I wont ever take my Jeep back to NWJeep at this point - once this wheel fiasco is over I will be looking for a new dealership to give my service business. Looks like Dick Hannah will be the next one I try.