Now, I should point out ahead of time that I chose to go to Tuttle Click Jeep as they came recommended by a friend who said they were really friendly towards modified Jeeps.  And, being that I’ve had things warranted like a steering box and even a rear locker replaced under warranty and on a built up Jeep at Orange Coast Jeep in the past, I figured that a pair of ball joints wouldn’t even be enough to raise an eyebrow.  How little did I know that this particular dealership would give me the grief that they ultimately did.

After dropping off my Jeep, I was told that I would receive a phone call that afternoon to let me know what’s going on.  And, much to my disappointment, the day came and went without a call and being that I was busy with work, I never got around to calling them before their service department closed.  Needless to say, I was without a vehicle that evening which was annoying but, what are you going to do.  The next morning, I still don’t get a call and so I call them and I’m promptly told that the ball joints are in fact bad but that they will not replace them under warranty.  When I asked why, I am told that it’s because my Jeep has been modified with a suspension lift.  I in turn explain that there are countless people with JK’s that have had ball joints fail prematurely and with lift kits installed and have had them replaced without any issue but, as you can imagine, this results in nothing.

Frustrated, I decide to call up the Chrysler complaint line and see if I can get them to assist me.  After explaining the situation at hand to the Chrysler rep, I get put on hold and he calls up Tuttle Click Jeep to find out what their story is.  After a few minutes, the rep explains to me that the service manager at Tuttle Click Jeep will not replace the ball joints under warranty because I “did not have a heavy duty steering stabilizer installed” and that caused them to go bad.  Yup, you heard it right - the Jeep JK Wrangler experts in the service department at Tuttle Click Jeep was actually blaming the premature failure of my ball joints on a steering dampener that technically doesn’t even need to be installed.  As calmly as possible, I try to inquire about how this would cause my ball joints to fail but no reason is given other than the fact that it was decided that Tuttle Click Jeep would not be willing to help me.  I explain to the Chrysler rep how I’ve had other more expensive parts replaced in the past and without any issues on my other Jeep JK Wrangler and he explained how each dealership is independently owned and operated and that it might be a good idea to try another one instead.  I in turn let the Chrysler rep know that I may just do that but wanted to make sure he knew how annoyed I was with the situation and how I was told that I would get a call back but never did and how it took me calling Tuttle Click the next day to get any news at all.  At that point, the Chrysler rep informs me that while not getting my ball joints didn’t amount to a legitimate complaint, the fact that I never got a call back was and if I wanted, he could file that as a formal complaint and so, I agreed to have him do as much.  He explained that a filed complaint helps them to encourage better customer service from their dealerships and that my voice would be heard.  After getting a ride back to Tuttle Click Jeep, I picked up my Jeep without incident, talked to my service advisor briefly who was very apologetic about the whole thing and decide to just replace the ball joints myself.  Being that they’re cheap and easy to swap out, I kick myself for even bothering to take my Jeep to this dealership in the first place.

Fast forward to almost five months later to the day, I made the mistake of taking my same Sunburst Orange Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited X back to Tuttle Click Jeep to have a pair of factory fog lights I recently installed turned on and, while there, have the exhaust manifold looked as as it recently started to make some noise that sounds a lot like an exhaust leak.  As I started to explain to the service advisor what I’d like to have them do, he gets interrupted by a phone call from someone who proceeds to ask him a series of questions about me and why I was there.  After the service advisor gets off the phone, he starts to interrogate me as to why I gave them a “zero” the last time I was there.  Unsure of what he means, I ask him to clarify his question and he explains that I gave them a negative review and wanted to know why.  He further explains that Tuttle Click Jeep does not warranty any suspension components on a modified Jeep and that’s when I ask him who called him and why was he now harassing me.  He informs me that it was his service manager and so, being that this guy apparently was too much of a coward to come out and harass me in person, I ask to see him.

After being lead to his office, the service manager comes out, says hello and I ask him what his problem is.  I ask if he would prefer that I go to another dealership and he responds by saying no, he’s more than happy to service anything on my Jeep but will not warranty anything suspension related.  I say fine, I’m not there for my suspension and that if he wanted to get technical on me, the last time I was there, I was looking to have a “STEERING” component warranted.  After rolling his eyes and not having any response to that, I then ask him if it’s the policy of Tuttle Click Jeep to tag certain customers and harass them in the manner that he was and he responds by saying, no, he just happened to recognize my Jeep and wanted to know why I “dinked” them.  He explains that I caused them financial hardship and I let him know that while I did agree to have a formal complaint filed against them, I was unaware that this would “dink” them and for what it was worth, I had no idea of what that really meant.  Annoyed, he informs me that he knows who I am and that I know exactly what I did (let me just say for the record that this is the first time Project-JK has ever come into the conversation) and that he had me on tape to prove as much.  Surprised by this claim, I ask to hear this so called tape but, as I suspected, no such tape exists.  And, that’s when it all hits me… why should I even care?  Last I checked, I was the customer here and my well being was supposed to be their responsibility and concern and NOT the other way around.

As it was explained to me by Chrysler, the point of having a customer complaint line is to help them encourage good customer service.  They do this through the “Five Star” rating they give to exceptional dealerships and as I have come to find out, penalize those who do not perform to the standards that Chrysler hopes to have.  Of course, the last thing I expected from my call to Chrysler was to get red flagged by the service manager at Tuttle Click Jeep and be harassed for an honest evaluation I gave regarding their service.  Again, I WAS NOT able to “dink” them or give them a “zero” for them not replacing my ball joints under warranty but, them not returning my call as promised was a legitimate enough of a complaint and one that apparently resulted in real consequences.  However, had I known that my honest evaluation of Tuttle Click Jeep’s customer service would have resulted in the subsequent service that I received today, I hate to say that I may not have said anything at all and that’s a real shame.

I know that there are other Jeep owners out there who have told me that they received great service from Tuttle Click Jeep in the past and for whatever it’s worth, who am I to say that they didn’t.  My only point in writing this article is to share my personal experiences with them and to let you know that your customer evaluations are shared with your dealership.  Of course, if you “dink” them or give them anything less than a stellar review, you may find yourself wanting to find a new dealership to get your Jeep worked on.

Project-JK: The Moab Experience - Episode 3 (YouTube)

If you are in a country where this video is blocked, click on the link below to watch it on Vimeo:

Project-JK: The Moab Experience - Episode 3 (Vimeo - coming soon)

If you would like to see photos from our trek to Moab, click on the link below:

Project-JK Moab Easter Jeep Safari Photo Gallery 2009

Be sure to check back soon for the final episode of Project-JK’s Moab Experience!

Affordable and easy to install, the Benchmark Designs Rockcrawler Oil Pan is constructed from 3/16” thick high-strength steel (verses the less than a 60 thousandths of an inch thick factory pan) and offers superior protection and without sacrificing any ground clearance. This is by far one of the best upgrades I have made on my Jeep JK Wrangler and it’s one that I highly recommend.

What you will need • 10,13mm Socket • 5mm Allen Socket • Ratchet • Inch Pound Torque Wrench • 6" Ratchet Extension • Flat Razor Blade • Dead Blow Hammer • RTV Gasket Maker • Oil Filter Wrench • Oil Catch Pan • Floor Jack • Brake Cleaner • Funnel • Oil Filter • 6 Quarts 5W20 Oil • Empty Milk Jug What you will get (1) Rockcrawler Oil Pan (16) Socket Head Cap Screws Where you can get your Benchmark Designs Rockcrawler Oil Pan You can purchase your Rockcrawler Oil Pan directly from Benchmark Designs. What type of RTV should I use? When it comes to making gaskets, there really is nothing better out there than the Right Stuff by Permatex. It’s a little pricey but, it’s super easy to use and makes the strongest bonding gaskets I have seen and it sets up in about 1 minute. You can find the Right Stuff at most any autoparts store.

Instructions   Here’s a shot of everything you will get with your new Benchmark Designs Rockcrawler Oil Pan. Essentially, you will get the heavy duty oil pan and 16 new socket head cap screws. 1. Place a catch pan on the ground directly under the oil pan and then, using a 13mm socket, loosen but do not remove the drain bolt. 2. Finish removing the drain bolt by hand so that you don’t loose it in the catch pan below. Allow the oil drain completely. Once drained reinstall the drain bolt. 3. Using a 10mm socket, remove the 16 bolts securing your Jeep JK Wrangler’s oil pan to the engine. 4. Loosely reinstall 2 of the bolts on one side of the oil pan to prevent it from falling once you’ve separated it from the engine. 5. Using a dead blow hammer, give the oil pan a couple of solid whacks to break the gasket seal. 6. Remove the 2 bolts holding the oil pan in place and then carefully remove it entirely off your Jeep JK Wrangler’s engine. 7. Using some brake cleaner and a clean rag, wipe down the inside of your new Benchmark Designs Rockcrawler Oil Pan and make sure it is free of any metal debris or powder coating left over from the manufacturing process. 8. Use a flat razor blade to clean off any remaining gasket material left on your Jeep JK Wrangler’s engine. A clean mating surface is important to have to ensure a good bond with the new oil pan. 9. Apply a bead of high quality RTV gasket maker to the mating surface of your new Benchmark Designs Rockcrawler Oil Pan as shown. 10. Use a floor jack to help raise and position your new Benchmark Designs Rockcrawler Oil Pan onto the bottom of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s engine. 11. Use the 16 new socket head cap screws provided to secure your new Benchmark Designs Rockcrawler Oil Pan in place. A 5mm allen socket will be needed for this job. Tighten these screws evenly to 105 in. lbs. of torque. 12. Install your factory oil pan drain bolt onto your new Benchmark Designs Rockcrawler Oil Pan and secure it in place using a 13mm socket. Allow your RTV to cure for the recommended amount of time listed on the package before proceeding to step #14 (typically 3-4 hours for most basic RTV). 13. Move the oil catch pan so that it is sitting under the the oil filter which is located on the front of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s engine. Then, use a filter wrench or strap wrench to remove the oil filter. 14. Open up your new oil filter and apply a light coat of used engine oil on to the rubber gasket as shown. 15. Install the new oil filter onto your Jeep JK Wrangler’s engine and tighten it on by hand. 16. Pop open the hood of your Jeep JK Wrangler and remove the oil fill cap which is located on the passenger side of the engine. 17. Place a funnel into the fill hole on your Jeep JK Wrangler’s engine and proceed to refill it back up with 6 quarts of 5W20 oil. When finished, reinstall the fill cap. That’s all there is to it. You now have a super beefy Benchmark Designs Rockcrawler Oil Pan installed on your Jeep JK Wrangler and you no longer have to worry about menacing rocks damaging it. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Project-JK: The Moab Experience - Episode 2 (YouTube)

If you are in a country where this video is blocked, click on the link below to watch it on Vimeo:

Project-JK: The Moab Experience - Episode 2 (Vimeo)

If you would like to see photos from our trek to Moab, click on the link below:

Project-JK Moab Easter Jeep Safari Photo Gallery 2009

Be sure to check back soon for the final episode of Project-JK’s Moab Experience!

For more information contact Mountain Off Road Enterprises.
Call toll free (877)-Jeep-A2Z or 877-533-7229
www.mountainoffroad.com

In this first of several episodes to come, you will get to experience what it was like to caravan up to Moab, Utah with a group of Jeepers from Southern California back in the spring of 2009.  You will also get to see the first half of a two part segment highlighting a wheeling trip we did on the Steel Bender Trail.  If you would like to watch this video now, simply click on the screen or link below:

Project-JK: The Moab Experience - Episode 1 (YouTube) 

If you are in a country where this video is blocked, click on the link below to watch it on Vimeo:

Project-JK: The Moab Experience - Episode 1 (Vimeo)

If you would like to see photos from our trek to Moab, click on the link below:

Project-JK Moab Easter Jeep Safari Photo Gallery 2009

More episodes of the Project-JK Moab Experience will be posted up as soon so be sure to check back soon!

The Flashpaq, made by Superchips, is an awesome performance programmer that is affordable, easy to use, surprisingly fast and, based on the tests that I have done on both a 6-speed and an automatic, I can tell you that it delivers a noticeable increase in power especially on hill climbs. Obviously, the gains aren’t leaps and bounds over stock but running the 91 performance setting on my white 6-speed Unlimited with 5.38 gears and 40" tires, it did make enough of a difference that I could actually do long steady hill climbs on the highway again in the higher gears as opposed to creeping along in the truck lane in 3rd or 4th gear. Running the 91 performance setting on my orange Unlimited with an automatic transmission, I have found the power increase to be significant enough that running 35" tires and stock 3.73 gears is tolerable again.

The best part about the Superchips Flashpaq is that it’s more than just a awesome performance programmer but rather, it’ll also allow you to set your gear ratio and tire size if you’ve made upgrades from stock. If that weren’t enough, you can also set your TPMS to a lower PSI, tune your engine for fuel economy or if rock crawling is all you do with your Jeep, you can even set it for that.

The Superchips Flashpaq is a great investment and one that I would definitely recommend. Using it really is so self-explanitory that a write-up really isn’t necessary but I have provided one anyway just to give you an idea of just how easy it is to use.

What you will get • Superchips Flashpaq • OBDII Connector Cable • USB Cable • Update Software Where you can get your Superchips Flashpaq You can purchase your Superchips Flashpaq from any of our sponsoring vendors including: 4WD Alpha Expeditions Northridge4×4 Quadratec

Instructions Here’s a shot of everything you will get with your new Superchips Flashpaq. As you can see, the Flashpaq comes complete with OBDII wiring harness, USB cable and software. 1. Install the Superchips Flashpaq software on your computer. Make sure you have internet access, launch the program and allow it to download any updates that are available. Then, setup an account and log in. 2. Plug your Superchips Flashpaq into your computer using the USB cable provided. The software will automatically find the Flashpaq and install any updates it downloaded earlier. DO NOT unplug your Flashpaq during this time. 3. Once everything has been installed, click on the upgrade link at the bottom of the screen and you will be given the option to acquire additional features including one that will allow you to disable your TPMS for off-roading. 4. Attach the OBDII wiring harness to your Superchips Flashpaq and then plug it into your Jeep JK Wrangler’s communication port located under the driver side dash. 5. Start the programming of your Jeep JK Wrangler by selecting the TUNE VEHICLE option on the Flashpaq. 6. For my purposes, I decided to just use the QUICK TUNE option on the Flashpaq but for those of you looking to do some fine tuning, there is an ADVANCED TUNE option as well. 7. After you make your selection, you will be prompted to insert your key into the ignition and turn it to the ON position. DO NOT start your Jeep JK Wrangler’s engine. 8. You will be prompted with a couple of screens explaining that you should make sure to have everything turned off in your Jeep JK Wrangler and that you should not leave the Flashpaq while it’s running. Click OK on these screens to proceed. 9. Before any programming can be done, your Superchips Flashpaq will make a copy of your stock settings so that you can revert to them in the future if necessary. 10. With the stock settings saved, you will be prompted to select the performance mode you would like to run. For my purposes, I decided to go with the 91 performance settings. 11. Verify that you want to continue with the programming and stay with your Flashpaq until it is finished. 12. When the Flashpaq is finished installing the power programming, you will be taken back to the menu. From there, select ADDITIONAL FEATURES. 13. If you have upgraded your gears to a higher ratio and/or have installed larger tires, select ADVANCED FUNCTIONS on this screen. 14. To set your new tire size, select the QUICK TIRE SIZE option. 15. Select TIRE SIZE. 16. Insure that the tires on your Jeep JK Wrangler are properly inflated. Then, using a tape measure, determine the actual height of your tire by measuring from the ground up to the edge of your tire’s shoulder (corner where the tire turn 90° from the side wall to the tread) as shown in this pic. 17. Now, use the ARROW buttons to move the slider to the left or right until the exact size of your tire is showing. 18. Back at the menu screen, select AXLE RATIO if you have upgraded your differential gears. 19. Once again, use the ARROW buttons to move the slider to the left or right until your exact gear ratio is showing. 20. When finished, click on the SAVE AND EXIT option. 21. You will be prompted one last time to save your settings and exit. Select OK and wait until it is complete. 22. If your Jeep JK Wrangler came equipped with TPMS, select the TIRE PRESSURE option to set it to a lower setting or, have it disabled. 23. You will be prompted with a couple of screens asking you to acknowledge what you are about to do, click OK on them until you get to the screen that allows you to set your TPMS. As before, use the ARROW buttons to move the slider to the left or right until you have your TPMS set to where you want it to be. If you are setting your TPMS for the off road setting which effectively disables it, chose that option instead. Honestly, it really couldn’t be any easier than that and as I said before, this write-up is more for you to get an idea of what all or little is involved to get your Jeep JK Wrangler’s programming enhanced with a Superchips Flashpaq. To see another great review on the Superchips Flashpaq, click on the link below: Superchips Flashpaq Review by JPop Please let me know if you have any questions.

Bestop engineers have done their homework to fit the mirrors onto the other soft and hard door combinations of existing manufacturer’s door lineups. Brackets also sold separately to adapt these factory replicas to mount on Bestop Half, Two-Piece and Element Doors. JK kits are available in textured black. TJ and YJ available in polished aluminum or textured black, CJ mirrors available in chrome or satin black finish. Mirror kits are sold in pairs and come complete with hardware.

Bestop’s HighRock 4×4™ lineup is designed for serious off road adventures while still maintaining the “Fit.Function.Style” known for Bestop products.Go to www.Bestop.com for more information or call our Customer Service at 1-800-845-3567, 8-5pm coast to coast. Bestop - your one stop source for all things Jeep has well as Truck and UTV accessories– how will YOU Bestop?

The M.O.R.E. Dead Pedal is a nice little mod for any Jeep JK Wrangler with an automatic transmission. It installs in minutes and requires little more than a couple basic hand tools.

What you will need • 10mm Wrench • Torx T-30 Bit Where you can buy your M.O.R.E. JK Dead Pedal You can buy this or any M.O.R.E. product directly from M.O.R.E. or from the following sponsoring vendors: 4WD Hardware Northridge4×4 Quadratec

Instructions As you can see, there really isn’t a whole lot to the M.O.R.E. Dead Pedal kit. Essentially, you get the dead pedal and additional new hardware needed for the install and that’s it. 1. To make the installation of your M.O.R.E. Dead Pedal go easier, you will want to unplug the wiring harness on your Jeep JK Wrangler’s driver side front door. The plug is located under your dash and is locked in place. In order to remove this plug, you will need to first slide the red locking tab over to the side as shown in this pic. 2. Once unlocked, press the release tab on the end of the wiring harness plug and then wiggle it side to side while pulling down until it comes free. 3. Pull the nylon strap up off the door strap retaining hook. Now that your door is no longer tethered to the body, you will need to be mindful of it as if it swings out, the mirror can hit your Jeep JK Wrangler’s cowl and dent it. 4. Using a Torx T-30 Bit, remove the 2 bolts securing the door strap retaining hook to the body of your Jeep JK Wrangler. 5. Using a 10mm wrench, remove the 2 nuts attached to the grounding studs on the side of your Jeep JK Wrangler. 6. Install your new M.O.R.E. Dead Pedal over the grounding studs and wires as shown and loosely secure it in place using the factory nuts and 2 new bolts provided. 7. Using a 10mm wrench, tighten down the 2 factory ground nuts. 8. Using a 10mm wrench, tightened down the 2 new bolts that came with the deal pedal. 9. Re-attach the door strap onto the retaining hook and re-connect the door wiring harness plug and you’re done. As far as installs go, it doesn’t get much easier than that. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Second, and easily overlooked, the Safari Snorkel System is extremely advantageous for vehicles that are regularly driven in dusty conditions, especially when following other vehicles or driving in a convoy. As vehicles before you stir up dust and debris from the road surface, a heavy cloud of airborne particles tends to hover just a few feet above the ground. As your vehicle passes through the dust cloud, the factory air intake tries to draw the contaminated air into the engine. While a quality air filter will block the majority of dust from entering the engine, the air filter can quickly lose its effectiveness if it becomes clogged with debris.

Aside from the risk of becoming stranded in a remote location, the Safari Snorkel System can prevent costly engine damage to vehicles that are regularly exposed to off-road conditions. Additionally, by drawing air from a higher position, your engine will be treated to cooler, cleaner air with higher density. Not only will this prevent damage to your engine, it may actually cause a noticeable improvement to performance and fuel economy.

All Safari Snorkels are manufactured of UV stable, crosslinked polyethylene for the ultimate in strength and durability. Stainless steel and plated mounting hardware is used exclusively for corrosion resistance. Safari’s unique evacuation system effectively disperses rain and unwanted moisture and high flow design ensures air supply in excess of engine requirements.

FEATURES
-  UV stable crosslinked polyethylene body for the ultimate in strength
-  High flow air ducting & body ensures air supply in excess of engine requirements
-  Each component is designed for maximum dust & water sealing
-  Stainless steel & plated hardware for corrosion resistance
-  Fully compatible with optional 7″ or 10″ precleaners - most models
-  Unique evacuation system effectively disperses rain and unwanted moisture
- Completely Australian designed & manufactured

Part No.  Description/Retail Price
SS1060HF - RH Drive Wrangler JK Snorkel - 3.8L V6 & 2.8L Diesel     $521.98
SS1066HF - LH Drive Wrangler JK Snorkel - 3.8L V6 & 2.8L Diesel     $477.72

For more information about the ARB Jeep JK Wrangler Snorkel or other products they make, please visit their website at: www.arbusa.com