Hi Peter. Can you help me please. I have a 2002 Jeep liberty sport. I have owned this wonderful little truck for 10 yrs with littl

Hi Peter. Can you help me please. I have a 2002 Jeep liberty sport. I have owned this wonderful little truck for 10 yrs with little to no major problems other than replacing the A/C compressor, alternator & general maintenance. However my question is I have never replaced the spark plugs and I'am at 115,000 miles today. The truck is running fine no misfires or anything, but my mechanic says I need a tune up not just an oil change,& that I should replace them since I have never EVER had them replaced. Do I really need this or is he trying to get more money out of me. Please help ,
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
If you don’t periodically remove the spark plugs from the cylinder head (100,000 miles is typical), the plugs can essentially weld themselves to the aluminum head of the engine and then when you do belatedly service them, upon removal the spark plugs threads in the head will be damaged. So, there are actually a number of reasons why replacement of spark plugs is not optional. At 100,000 plus miles there is probably additional required maintenance, or at minimum inspections, that should be performed, too, in order for you to obtain the maximum useful service life from the vehicle. If you desire spark plug replacement, please use YourMechanic’s service page for spark plug replacement and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you and advise you as to other maintenance required on the vehicle. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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The Jeep Liberty comes standard with a manual transmission and a 3.7-liter single-overhead-cam (SOHC) V6 engine with 210 horsepower and 235 pound-feet of torque.
Jeep Liberty 3.7 V6 generation KK, Automatic, 4-speed.
The 3.7L PowerTech V6 has been available in the Liberty from 2002 to present. It was optional on Sport from 2002-2004, and then standard on all models from 2005-2007.
You can actually rack up a significant amount of miles on a Jeep Liberty. They go above and beyond, lasting for up to 400,000 miles. Jeeps are designed for about 12 to 15 years of use.
Most reviews suggest that the 3.7L isn`t a bad engine. Many owners rave about its long-term reliability. It is prone to a few problems that you should be on the lookout for if you own or are considering a Jeep with the 3.7L (225.8 ci) engine. Being aware of these problems may help you prevent major engine failure.
3.7 L. The Duratec 37 is a 3.7 L; 227.4 cu in (3,726 cc) version of the Cyclone V6 intended to power heavier or premium vehicles. The 3.7 L`s additional displacement comes from an increase in bore diameter to 95.5 mm (3.76 in), stroke remains identical to the 3.5 L at 86.7 mm (3.41 in).
It displaces 3.7 L; 225.8 cu in (3,701 cc). The bore and stroke measure 3.66 in × 3.57 in (93.0 mm × 90.7 mm). It is a 90° V engine like the V8, with SOHC 2-valve heads.
The compact Jeep® Liberty said its goodbyes in 2012 after a strong run as one of the Jeep Brand`s best-selling SUVs. With its boxy, off-road-focused design, it took a generation of Jeep Brand owners to the trails and left behind a rich legacy.
The Duratec 37 is a naturally aspirated V6 engine from Ford Motor used to power midsize and full-size sedans, sports cars, pickup trucks and utility vehicles, or more commonly known as SUVs.
The average annual repair cost is $674 which means it has average ownership costs.
They can go as long as 100,000 miles although it`s always a good idea to change it before then. Belt failure can cause extensive damage to the valves, pistons and other internal parts of the engine. The cost of changing the timing belt is a bargain when you consider the cost to replace the entire engine.
Production of the Jeep Liberty four-door SUV lasted 11 model years (2001 to 2012). Earlier models were the most unreliable, with several recalls for fluid leaks and faulty airbags. The best years for the Liberty SUV are 2007, 2008, and 2009. Most notably, 2009 models had just one recall.
5 quarts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . (with filter). After refill check oil level.
The Chrysler Pentastar engine family is a series of aluminium (die-cast cylinder block) dual overhead cam 24-valve gasoline V6 engines introduced for the 2011 model year in Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep vehicles.
In a V6 engine that has six cylinders, it would have a combined size of 3.5 litres. With two more cylinders than a four-cylinder, this six-cylinder is more powerful and smoother and likely targets the shopper who is looking for balanced fuel economy and performance, but with more power to spare when needed.
Overall Reliability Ratings: Is The Jeep Liberty Reliable? Overall the Jeep Liberty reliability is 56.35 and that makes it not very reliable. The chart below illustrates exactly how this ranks compared to some other cars, but the average overall rating is 57 as some comparison.
Jeep Liberty Safety Rating. If you`re looking for a safe used crossover SUV that can handle off-road trails and slick road conditions with ease, the Jeep Liberty is a great pick. It offers a long list of safety features that help keep every occupant protected in the event of an accident.
Even though this midsize SUV was given some fairly reliable engines at the factory, many owners do you report having problems with their 42RLE transmission. The most common of these Jeep liberty transmission problems is slipping between gears, or a noticeable delay between shifts.
The 3.6L Pentastar V6 is the base engine in the Jeep Wrangler, and it`s paired with a standard six-speed manual transmission or available eight-speed automatic.
The 3.7 liter PowerTech V-6 engine is, essentially, the 4.7 V-8 with two fewer cylinders. It replaced the 2.5 liter four-cylinder, as well as the 3.9 liter V6 engine, both used only on Jeeps and trucks. According to Bob Sheaves, the concept originated at AMC, before the company joined Chrysler.
Is the Jeep Liberty fuel efficient? All trim levels of the 2002 Liberty get 16 MPG, with 14 MPG in the city and 18 MPG on the highway.
Clogged Fuel Filter: A clogged fuel filter will also cause problems with gas mileage. The fuel filter screens out contaminants in the fuel, and over time it will become clogged. Fuel filters need to be replaced periodically.
The Liberty Motor Car Company was a vintage era United States automobile maker based in Detroit, Michigan from 1916 to 1923.
Having said that, the more reliable Jeeps can easily reach 200,000 miles with reasonable care and maintenance. Many Jeep owners claimed they could put north of 300,000 miles on their vehicles.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Hi Peter. Can you help me please. I have a 2002 Jeep liberty sport. I have owned this wonderful little truck for 10 yrs with littl
ANSWER : If you don’t periodically remove the spark plugs from the cylinder head (100,000 miles is typical), the plugs can essentially weld themselves to the aluminum head of the engine and then when you do belatedly service them, upon removal the spark plugs threads in the head will be damaged. So, there are actually a number of reasons why replacement of spark plugs is not optional. At 100,000 plus miles there is probably additional required maintenance, or at minimum inspections, that should be performed, too, in order for you to obtain the maximum useful service life from the vehicle. If you desire spark plug replacement, please use YourMechanic’s service page for spark plug replacement and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you and advise you as to other maintenance required on the vehicle. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

I parked my truck for 5-10 mins. Tried to turn it on, now it wont start, called a tow tow truck 15-20mins later my truck turned on
ANSWER : It is very likely that you have a powertrain control module failure. This can happen often on many GM vehicles. I would recommend having the powertrain control module tested and replaced as necessary in order to resolve this issue. After the powertrain control module is replaced, a reflash procedure will be required so that the vehicle can relearn all of its primary engine data. Once the reflash is completed, your vehicle should no longer have this issue.

Hello hi, I have a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.7 liter there is a problem with my truck that I can’t figure out when I get stuck in
ANSWER : Hello there. Sometimes when the engine gets hot under the hood, electrical and ignition components can become ’touchy’ and cause starting issues as you have described. In most cases, the issues are caused by faulty electrical connections between a wiring harness and a critical ignition system component like the crankshaft position sensor. The good news is that when this occurs, it typically creates an error code that is stored in the ECU of your Jeep’s computer that can be downloaded by a professional mobile mechanic when they complete a check engine light inspection. Once they are able to retrieve codes, they can begin the diagnosis process and hopefully determine what needs to be replaced to resolve your issues.

Reduced Engine Power and Truck won’t start. PLEASE HELP ASAP! Thanks!
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The reduced power light will either trigger when there is malfunction with the vehicle and it is trying to protect itself, or when the engine actually suffers a loss in power and is struggling to run. Either way if any warning lights illuminate, you should have the vehicle scanned for diagnostic troubleshooting codes. This can be done by a technician or at most of your local automotive parts stores. The battery does very little to help run the vehicle once it is started (which is its primary function). You should be more concerned with your alternator and its performance. Your fuse box, and body control module are both capable of failing and causing these issues. These are less likely and should be kept in the back of your mind if you need to go there. For more diagnostic help, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

I put in a new starter and battery and my Jeep will not start. Please help me get my Jeep to start.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check to see if the wiring to the battery and the starter are tight and clean. A bad connection will cause a no start situation. If the battery cables and wires are all tight and clean, then go in the cab and turn on the ignition switch and see if any thing in the cab works.

If nothing comes on, then check the fuse box for any blown fuses. If all the fuse are good in the cab and under the hood, then the ignition switch needs replaced. If the ignition switch is good and the accessories come on, then either the starter relay in the fuse box has failed or the wires from the starter relay to the ignition switch has become burned or loose. Check the wires from the starter relay on the starter to the ignition switch. If everything checks out to be good, then the ignition switch needs replaced.

If you need further assistance troubleshooting your vehicle, then seek out a technician, such as one from YourMechanic, that can assist you with your no start situation and help you with the power surge.

Needing help with compatible parts. 2002 Jeep Liberty
ANSWER : The best place to find the answer to this question is at an auto parts store. You will need to find someone willing to help you identify substitute compressors. I am assuming you are wanting to use a used unit and parts stores are about sales. If they don’t think your going to buy from them, they may not be very helpful. The next place to check is the wrecking yard. Some wrecking yards are better at this than others. It all comes down to the experience and motivation of the person behind the counter and the capabilities of the parts software they use as well as the person using it. Many parts people never dig into this area of parts service so don’t be surprised if you get a less than helpful response from the first person you speak with.

If you want to do some digging into this, try searching for Jeep Libertys with similar years as your (i.e. 2001, 2002, 2003, etc.). If you decide you would rather not spend the time looking for a used on, the YourMechanic team can replace your AC compressor with a new one for your Jeep.

I have a 1968 Chevy Custom 10 truck with the original 327small block engine it was running great until I tried to turn it off and
ANSWER : Hi there. When the engine continues running after turning off the ignition switch, it typically is due to a failure of the ignition switch, ignition relay or the ignition lock cylinder. It could also be a faulty ground wire causing this problem. If you removed the distributor coil wire to shut off the engine, I doubt engine damage occurred. It is probably a good idea to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a car will not start inspection, so they can identify the root source of your problem, and recommend or complete the right repairs.

If you are replacing the heater core on your 2002 Jeep Liberty, would you also replace your thermostat at the same time?
ANSWER : Hi there:

Anytime you replace cooling system components; like a heater core, it’s always a good idea to replace the thermostat at the same time. In most cases, the thermostat is one part that tends to wear out sooner than other cooling system components; so it’s a good idea to swap them out to ensure you don’t have coolant flow issues once you’ve replaced the heater core.