Harmonic oscillating front end

[elibedarn]

A short up date. The wiring harness did not fix my wobble. We made a short club meetup trip of one hundred miles. Wobble occurred once going and again on the return. I am down to having the Jeep front end checked for worn parts. This seems a rat hole with no end. I now realize I could have made a better choice for at tow able vehicle. 

 

 

On 10/22/2020 at 8:33 PM, elibedarn said:

Tail wagging the dog. If you tow four down; Jeep Cherokee years 2014, 15, 16, and 17 have an issue with deactivated electronic steering.  The fix is an additional wiring harness, MOPAR part number 68321424AD. Cost install including part is around $500 USDs. 

I thought my RV was the cause. Through this process I installed front shocks in Michigan, Had front end components and alignment checked at Denver Spring and Suspension, nothing found. Near San Antonio a Roadmaster Steering Stabilizer for Class A Motorhomes was installed. Two additional wobbles occurred following the steering stabilizer install.

A story in July 2016 Motorhome issue titled, "Jeep Cherokee Wobble" included the fix.

Over the 10k miles traveled this summer Death Wobble occurred seven times. I saw the Jeep wobble in my dash camera but thought the RV was causing it. So the tail was wagging the dog! 

Other than the 7 wobbles, a 5/8 pin gave way permitting the tow hitch to fall while going over the Rocky mountains near Dillon. Flagstaff to Mesa a spark plug blew out of the V-10 engine. A rock crack in the Jeep windshield. My generator exhaust broke into. Icing on the cake is a ticket for failure to use my turning signal in Marquette, Michigan when driving my tow car.  RVing is not for the faint of heart!

 

Thank each of you for your input.

I am uncertain what is posted below. Hopefully it does not interfere with this posting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kaypsmith]

Are you sure that the coach is doing the oscillating? When did you start towing the Trailhawk? Check out this web post. https://rvlove.com/2019/11/10/jeep-death-wobble-update-and-fix/

The newer Jeeps have had issues with the death wobble, this may be your case.

[jleamont]

2 hours ago, kaypsmith said:

The newer Jeeps have had issues with the death wobble, this may be your case.

Especially the Trailhawk. The Wrangler can be corrected with an alignment (caster settings adjusted) And those are usually only a problem when they are modified (lifted).

Keep us posted.

Edited November 19, 2020 by jleamont

[manholt]

My lifted 2013 Jeep 2 door, has never had a wobble...I run 33.75 NITTO tires on 18" wheels while towing and NITTO 35/12.5/18 bead lock, when off road.  I have a 3" lift.

I do not know yet if I will have any issue with my 2020 Jeep Gladiator!  We'll  find out next week. 

Edited November 20, 2020 by manholt

[kaypsmith]

I think that the newer trailhawks have electric steering, if so, they must have current applied while towing, or wobble will occur.

[manholt]

Yes they do!  Only exception is Wrangler and Grand Cherokee.  By the way, you can get the GC with a 705 HP engine!  Duh, I really need that on the trail to Grandmas for Christmas! 

Edited November 20, 2020 by manholt

[rayin]

Carl I wish we could get that HP to weight ratio in a MH.

Edited November 21, 2020 by rayin

[elibedarn]

This is the dog that never dies. I read that electric steering needs to be activated on this forum. If someone has that information as published by Mopar it will be most helpful.

***After the install of MOPAR additional wiring harness MOPAR part number 68321424AD. i had two additional wobble events  I spent 2 hours at my local Jeep dealer today, 12.2.2020. I met with the install mechanic, shop supervisor, plus two others. None of the four know what the new wiring does. The shop supervisor believes it has something to do with ABS Braking system. Not steering activation.  My Jeep does not have activated steering following this installation. The shop supervisor researched what this part does and come up with nothing on the shop computer. He printed the install instructions thinking it would provide how it worked, what it does, and came up with no answers.

[moonwink]

I don't have a dog in this fight but here's some information a link that might help you.

The images were a PDF but that file type wasn't acceptable to the forum so I converted it to jpg images.  (very inefficient space wise)

Also try these links for more information:
https://www.jeepcherokeeclub.com/threads/installation-of-the-flat-tow-harness-wa-state.213649/    (This is where I found the a link to the PDF)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_FMSsMCU-3jSGVLN3dFTmVycFU/view  (this is a link to the PDF file - MOPAR Instructions for installing the kit)
https://www.etrailer.com/question-363326.html  Is The Mopar Recreational Flat Tow Wiring Kit Part 68321424AB Required To Flat-Tow a Jeep Cherokee?
https://www.amazon.com/Mopar-68321424AB-Flat-Wiring-Harness/dp/B07QV2YKSW   Buy the harness here.  No reviews but the Q&A may be helpful.
https://community.fmca.com/topic/8903-important-towing-information-2014-2016-jeep-cherokee/page/2/   This is a lengthy thread on this subject here on the FMCA forum.
 

 

[elibedarn]

2 hours ago, moonwink said:

I don't have a dog in this fight but here's some information a link that might help you.

The images were a PDF but that file type wasn't acceptable to the forum so I converted it to jpg images.  (very inefficient space wise)

Also try these links for more information:
https://www.jeepcherokeeclub.com/threads/installation-of-the-flat-tow-harness-wa-state.213649/    (This is where I found the a link to the PDF)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_FMSsMCU-3jSGVLN3dFTmVycFU/view  (this is a link to the PDF file - MOPAR Instructions for installing the kit)
https://www.etrailer.com/question-363326.html  Is The Mopar Recreational Flat Tow Wiring Kit Part 68321424AB Required To Flat-Tow a Jeep Cherokee?
https://www.amazon.com/Mopar-68321424AB-Flat-Wiring-Harness/dp/B07QV2YKSW   Buy the harness here.  No reviews but the Q&A may be helpful.
https://community.fmca.com/topic/8903-important-towing-information-2014-2016-jeep-cherokee/page/2/   This is a lengthy thread on this subject here on the FMCA forum.
 

 

Thank you. I will return to the dealership tomorrow. I will use this information as well as some I researched. Much appreciated. 

[moonwink]

https://community.fmca.com/topic/8903-important-towing-information-2014-2016-jeep-cherokee/page/2/

On page 6 of the thread linked to above are some interesting replies by John Johnson - associate editor at Family Motor Coaching magazine.  Not sure how dated they may be but still very interesting.

Quote

On 1/22/2016 at 9:18 AM, FMCANationalOffice said:

This is John Johnston, associate editor at Family Motor Coaching magazine. I contacted an official at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) about the above questions. Apparently there was an internal misunderstanding at FCA regarding when the Jeep Customer Assistance Center would start taking questions about the wobble issue. But that has been straightened out, according to the FCA spokesman, and FCA product specialists are now available to take questions at (877) 426-5337. (877-IAMJEEP). As for what Jeep Cherokee owners are supposed to do until the modification is made, this is the Fiat Chrysler response: "All owners will receive updated instructions starting next month. These instructions supersede any previously communicated information -- including that which is currently in customer hands. FCA US apologizes for any inconvenience." I asked for clarification on when next month the updated instructions will be available. The FCA spokesman's response: Late February. "But be assured our supplier is indeed tooling up." If anyone calls the Jeep Customer Assistance Center about the wobble issue and finds that the FCA rep doesn't know what you're talking about, let me know, either by posting here or emailing me at jjohnston@fmca.com.

Quote

On 1/20/2016 at 1:33 PM, FMCANationalOffice said:

Fiat Chrysler today (January 20, 2016) released the following information exclusively to Family Motor Coaching magazine.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA) has announced plans for resolving a problem that sometimes occurs when 2014-16 Jeep Cherokees are towed four wheels down behind a motorhome.

FCA released a statement in response to inquiries by Family Motor Coaching magazine and concerns of a number of Jeep owners who reported problems when flat towing their Cherokees. The owners reported that the vehicle sometimes wobbles significantly, raising safety concerns. The wobble reportedly has occurred at slow speeds and at highway speeds, and has happened with a variety of motorhomes and towing systems. The only way to stop the wobble, owners have said, is to bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

The FCA statement said: “Under certain operating conditions, such as traveling excessively bumpy or poorly maintained roads, the flat-towed vehicle may not consistently track in line with the tow vehicle.” The cause, according to the statement: “The vehicle’s Electronic Power Steering (EPS) system is inactive while the vehicle is being flat-towed with the ignition in the ‘off’ position. Accordingly, the vehicle does not benefit from the system’s function.”

A Jeep official said the company knows of several dozen Cherokee owners who have experienced the problem. For those owners, FCA will “provide a complimentary jumper wire harness and switch to ensure the vehicle’s EPS system has power to function while it is being flat-towed. These components have been engineered and validated by FCA US LLC and will be made available to all customers through MOPAR, as early as January 29. In addition, all Cherokee owners will be contacted directly by FCA US and provided with updated instructions for flat-towing. These instructions supersede all previous instructions. Also, the vehicle’s online owners manual will be updated.”

Family Motor Coaching brought the problem to the attention of Fiat Chrysler in September 2015 after an FMCA member contacted the magazine and provided a link to a video showing a Cherokee wobbling as it was being towed behind a motorhome. FCA assigned engineers and technicians to investigate and resolve the problem.

For more information, Cherokee owners can call the Jeep Customer Assistance Center at (877) 426-5337.

 

 

[manholt]

The wobble started with Ford, long before Jeep!  Don't know what Ford did to stop it.   You don't hear about it, from Wrangler 2 or 4 door, Jeep Grand Cherokee or Jeep Gladiator!  There could be a variety of reasons, why Cherokee...??

[elibedarn]

update 9/3/22 in case you were wondering

wiring harness installed to prevent Death Wobble at Lakeland, Florida Jeep. many miles traveled since with continued Death Wobble. I now drive with the additional wiring harness turned off. With the wiring harness activated I have many more occurrences of Death Wobble. One day Death Wobble occurred 14 times in 300 miles. With the additional harness not activated maybe 2, some days none. Never has the Death Wobble occurred when driving our 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk solo, always in tow.

[elibedarn]

Summer of 2022 approximately 50 miles west of Winnemucca, Nevada my 2014 Cherokee Trailhawk broke apart from Death Wobble.  Left and right frames broken. Left and Right base plate broken. Blue Ox tow bar passenger side broken. Jeep front end damaged from run in. FCA decided they will do nothing to compensate for their failure to properly engineer my Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk.