Shameless Self-promotion

2014 Mercedes GLK 250 BlueTec 4Matic

You can find my Toronto Star coverage of this year's AJAC Canadian Car of the Year here. My assigned category at this year's TestFest was "Best New SUV/CUV ($35K-$60K)". The Mercedes GLK turbodiesel pictured above was among the entrants in this category for 2014, and counts as one of my favourites. Others included the GMC Acadia Denali, Hyundai Santa Fe XL, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the Kia Sorento.

Shameless Self-promotion

Honda Urban SUV Concept - 2013 North American International Auto Show, Detroit

You can read my Wheels coverage of the new crossovers and production-ready concept crossovers introduced at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit here.

Shameless Self-promotion

You can find my Best and Worst experiences of 2009 here in Wheels.

It Ought to be Criminal

What's worse than doing a motor in a 2003 Jeep Liberty once? Doing the same motor in the same Jeep two months and one day later. It didn't even make it to its next oil change.

The motor in question is a 3.7 litre SOHC V6 - basically a sawed-off version of the 4.7 litre SOHC V8 engine first used in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and later (like the 3.7 litre V6) used in a bunch of Chrysler's trucks and SUVs.

That motor has a known issue with internal faults (whether it's a head gasket or a cracked head or block, I don''t know) that result in coolant consumption - I've personally seen it a few times, and no surprise, the V6 appears to have the same affliction. The V6 is also known for chucking the rocker arms off the passenger side valves when the lifters bleed down prior to a cold start.

We dealt with that issue first, but not too long after, the Liberty's V6 began consuming coolant and misfiring after sitting. Ka-Blam, motor number one out, motor number two in.

Just under two months later, Blamo! Motor number two does exactly the same thing. In goes motor number three. Ugh!

This customer's Liberty is not a high mileage vehicle, and it has received better than average care and maintenance, right down to always using the proper $25 per jug Mopar coolant.

Two identical engine failures in less than 90 days. Criminal. Am I ever grateful that this customer is super relaxed and very understanding.

Update: Jeep came back with a misfire - this time, no cause found, which means that so far, it's not an engine issue. Time will tell...