New CRD owner with some questions

[Workinman]

Okay. Update. Today I decided to tackle the glow plug job, and I’m having a bit of a time getting all of the nuts off of the egr valve/elbow to get the thing out of the way. There’s not a lot of room in there.
While fighting with that, I decided to pull the #1 plug out and check it. It’s a 5 volt plug. The decal on my timing cover says the Liberty came with 7 volt plugs. And the PO actually gave me a set of 7 volt plugs that he said were almost new. So that’s issue #1. Which plugs should I be using?
Second, when I test the plug on the bench I get 1.3 ohms of resistance. Google says it should be under 1 ohm. But 1.3 is close to being under 1.
And lastly, how can I check to see if there is actually power going to each plug? Any ideas?

 

[Ian Glass]

I’m not sure how to do that with my ancient iPad, but let me give it a try.

https://ebay.io/m/KDaixP

Hi Workinman,
How is the progress with your CRD Jeep? I live in South Africa and Jeep CRD spares are few and far between. I kept getting air in my fuel filter and tried to get new fuel lines from tank to this filter. Nothing available!!!! Another Jeep KJ owner suggested that I fitted the gas KJ in-tank pump to my CRD. A word of warning - the gas in-tank pump isn't suitable for the CRD as the delivery pressure is too high. My solution was to modify the fuel filter so it had a bigger volume for air collection. I know this isn't the ultimate solution but I can now do about 5000Km between bleeds of the fuel filter. I can send pics if you want to see how I did the mods on my fuel filter. You are welcome to DM me on WhatsApp (27+83 454 1119)!

Regarding the glow plugs - my CRD has the 11V type with the matching controller. These 11V glow plugs are much better than the 5 or 7V types as they are a later design. The bonus is that the 11V ones are cheaper and more readily available than the other two. I didn't change the controller and glow plugs - my Jeep came like that. So the newer GPlugs had already been retro fitted.

You said your CRD is noisy. My little beast was also noisy when I bought it and it was on a 20 000Km service interval plan. Changing it to a 10 000Km service interval made the motor much quieter and more pleasant to drive. You'll have to convert to the miles equivalent!!!!

Not sure if you CRD has manual or auto transmission! My one has manual transmission and changing the gearbox fluid to special STF (Syncromesh Transmission Fluid) made gear changing lighter and more precise. Also the gearbox is now much quieter!

I also plan to keep my CRD until the world runs out of diesel! With the mods I have done to my CRD it can now go almost anywhere - better bash plates, 30mm front lift, longer travel front and rear shocks and bigger tyres(245/70x16").

 

[Turboman280]

Okay. Update. Today I decided to tackle the glow plug job, and I’m having a bit of a time getting all of the nuts off of the egr valve/elbow to get the thing out of the way. There’s not a lot of room in there.
While fighting with that, I decided to pull the #1 plug out and check it. It’s a 5 volt plug. The decal on my timing cover says the Liberty came with 7 volt plugs. And the PO actually gave me a set of 7 volt plugs that he said were almost new. So that’s issue #1. Which plugs should I be using?
Second, when I test the plug on the bench I get 1.3 ohms of resistance. Google says it should be under 1 ohm. But 1.3 is close to being under 1.
And lastly, how can I check to see if there is actually power going to each plug? Any ideas?

Your code should tell you which glow plug is the problem. Was it #1 that was indicated?

 

[Workinman]

Hey guys. Short update today. My code was showing a bad plug on number 4 cylinder. The PO said that couldn’t be right because he had just had the glow plugs changed. That was the main reason for my confusion. I finally got the egr valve off and removed all of the plugs. Sure enough, #4 was deader than a door nail. I ordered 4 new 5V plugs and the wiring harness from idparts, and they should be here today. I also checked to see which glow plug module I had and I have a module that will work with 5 or 7 volt plugs. So I’m quite confident that once installed, this will cure my issue and stop the check engine light from glowing.

I have seriously considered doing away with the egr crap, but from everything I’ve read that will turn my check engine light back on and I’ll be back in the same damn boat. I can’t drive a vehicle with the light glowing constantly. I live in the southeast and although it does get somewhat cold here on occasion, (10 degrees or so) it doesn’t get that cold too often, and it never drops below about 50F in my garage, so the glow plugs don’t even have to work very hard here. I’m going to install my new plugs and harness today and we’ll see what happens. I’m quite confident this will cure my problems until the next time, and I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. I’ll do the fuel pump mod when I can but wanted to get some of this other crap out of the way first. I can bleed the fuel lines every few days for now.
I’ll post another update after I get things back together.
Thanks again!

 

[Turboman280]

Sounds like you're on the right track. Yeah, you would need a tune to get rid of the CEL if the EGR went missing.

 

[Workinman]

I got the glow plugs in and the new wiring harness installed and I am pleased to say that my check engine light is GONE. I consider this a victory.

Now I’ll worry about the fuel pump issue.
And the transmission fluid issue. I tried to top off the transmission the other day and the fluid ran right back out as fast as I poured it in.

Funny. Considering the PO told me the transmission had just been serviced. And the glow plugs were just replaced too. I “believe” he was being honest. I think his mechanic is either a crook or an idiot. Or both. This is the EXACT reason I do my own work.

Related story…
I had my pretty new Ram 2500 at the dealer to fix the display on the dash. The buttons on the steering wheel wouldn’t let me scroll through the different options. They told me that they cleaned the switches and replaced the wiring harness to the switches. What they didn’t know was that I left my dash cam on and you could clearly see that all they did was pull the fuse for a few minutes and put it back in. I had already told them that this would fix the problem temporarily. They left the truck inside the shop for 3 or 4 hours to make it look like they were doing something. I DID get to see the tech practice his golf swing.
I HATE it when people lie to me!

 

[Workinman]

Well… I found the transmission fluid problem. The dipstick tube was cracked almost all the way around. If you’ve ever tried to get a transmission dipstick tube out of one of these things, you’ll understand what I’ve been fighting for the past several days. It is virtually impossible to remove and reinstall the tube with the body on the frame. I’m SERIOUS. It took me about a day and a half fighting with that thing to remove it. Then I ordered a new one, which was supposedly still available. Nope. A day later I was informed that “there was an issue with the part I ordered and they were canceling my order.” So I ordered one from another Mopar parts place. Next day they informed me that the part was no longer available. Drat! So I cut an inch and a half out of the cracked/mangled original one and welded it all up. Bead blasted it, powder coated it, and spent the next day and a half putting it back in the Jeep. What a nightmare! Made the glow plug job look like a walk in the park. I wouldn’t wish this job on my worst enemy. I haven’t driven it yet but I’m confident it will be fine.
Meanwhile, two days ago some non English speaking idiot CREAMED my gas Liberty, so I’m down one liberty for now. It’s a damn good thing he didn’t hit my CRD! I believe I might have had to waste his ass right then and there.
So, on to the next project.

 

[MtnHmKJ]

Have fun with the new rig.
I would check the fuel filter. Remove and replace. If it isn't seated well, it can get air in there.
I replaced my starter and mine starts up as fast as my 12valve and that is immediate. It was a couple of seconds before the original starter failed.
I have the same cel for the glow plugs. I have been told in the past not to replace the glow plugs if you can avoid it.
the back one likes to break off and that is bad The block heater works great and I don't live in the Great White North.
I'm actually selling my little CRD and devoting more time and energy to my XJ. I'm at 130k with very few issues over the years.
Good luck