Less than a week after moving to the Pilbara, I decided to take the family out to Hearson Cove near Dampier in our 1996 Grand Cherokee Limited. The Jeep didn't appear to soak up the corregations particularly well and I felt like the car was shaking apart, regardless of how fast or slow I went.
After only 500m of corregations, the airconditioner suddenly cut out (hard to take when the outside temperature is 43 degrees celcius). After lifting the bonnet, I noticed that the compressor was still ice cold, but nothing was getting through to the cabin. There was no display on the climate control and nothing from the fans.
The local mechanic found that I needed a whole new climate control module and the lowest (only) quote was for almost AUD2,000 (now on order).
About a week later, my wife tried to start the car but after idling, it would cut out when she put her foot on the brake to change into reverse. The RAC bloke said it was definitely an electrical problem and it might need "recoding". Now the engine won't even turn over at all and is booked into an auto electrician next week for possibly another couple of grand.
After spending AUD25,000 and more on a roo bar, we are now stranded in one of the most harshest and remote areas on earth without a car.
Has anyone encountered this problem before? It all appears to stem back to the corregations, so I reckon it could just be a loose connection or torn wire, but I couldn't find anything.
I bought the Jeep because, after doing my homework, I was led to believe it could cut the mustard up here. Yet the first bit of rough road (not even off road!) and it begins to get into trouble. When I originally pulled over, it was pretty embarrassing to see two Toyota Camrys cruise past without effort.
If the wiring is expensive, I'll probably trade as quick as I can to a Landcruiser. That must be the reason why every second 4wd up here is either a 70, 75, 80 or 100 series Cruiser.
regards,
Darren
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