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Best places to get your car maintained and repaired

In this era of rampant inflation and high interest rates, the challenges of acquiring a car or SUV have been well documented. And so it has never been more important to protect that expensive investment by maintaining it. In recent months, Autoblog has shared Consumer Reports' evaluation of the least and most expensive car brands to keep running, as well as tips to prolong a car’s useful life. Especially since the pandemic, a number of factors have impacted these costs: more complex vehicles, new materials and manufacturing methods, a shortage of qualified technicians and replacement parts. Since 2022, repairs costs have jumped each year by about 10 percent. This month, Consumer Reports is offering a useful primer on keeping your ride in great shape, suggesting what might be the best options for searching out a repair shop, depending, as CR says, “on your car and your situation.” Author Ben Preston identifies three basic types of repair facilities: dealership service departments, independently owned repair shops, and chain repair shops. Building up trust with a specific shop and feeling comfortable going there is important. Preston quotes John Ibbotson, chief mechanic at Consumer ReportsÂ’ Auto Test Center: "You might be able to save a few bucks by going to whichever shop offers the cheapest prices, but if you want consistent, reliable service, itÂ’s best to find a repair shop you trust and stick with it,” Ibbotson says. The story goes on to evaluate each type of service facility. HereÂ’s a breakdown of CRÂ’s findings: Dealerships These work well for owners of newer cars, especially for covered warranty work. But the disadvantage is the high labor rates common to dealer service. Satisfaction ratings for dealer service departments range from very good (Acura, Lexus, Mazda, and Volvo) to not-so-good (Jeep and Kia). Dealers are best for: Fixing infotainment system glitches: "If the screen in the center of your dash has a habit of freezing up, or the touchscreen-activated climate controls arenÂ’t working, the dealership is the most likely place to find someone with the know-how to fix problems that maybe only a factory-authorized technician can access," Ibbotson says. Safety system recalibration: "Anything from a crack in your windshield to a minor fender dent can upset the calibration of the sensors that make features like automatic emergency braking and adaptive cruise control work," says Ibbotson.

What's really going on with the 2014 Jeep Cherokee's transmission issues?

On September 23, Automotive News reported that Chrysler had idled the second shift workers it hired just five weeks prior at its Toledo Assembly Complex to build the 2014 Jeep Cherokee. At the time, Chrysler said it had "built the critical number of vehicles we need to stock dealerships once containment is released" and did not want "to put additional strain on our logistics partners ... upon release." That reasoning was not only unusual, it didn't seem to make sense.
It appears the center of the nine-speed issue is software, not hardware.
That same day, the Detroit News ran a piece claiming workers at the Toledo factory said the halt was due to issues with the Cherokee's transmission. It put the number of already-built Cherokees needing fixes at 1,000 and said that some of the workers not laid off had been instructed "to take the Jeep on long test-drives." That made more sense. Three days later, on September 26, Automotive News reported that the 500 workers laid off had been reinstated, with engineers "speeding repairs on the SUV's powertrain software." The AN piece didn't put a number on how many units are being fixed, but it did say that 12,000 have been built and are awaiting delivery to dealers. The best it could say about when dealers will get them, however, is that "progress on a fix is being made. It's unclear when shipments to dealers will start."

Mopar showcases modified Jeeps in Dubai

Showing that FCA is serious about expanding its global reach, Jeep and Mopar have rolled in to the Dubai Motor Show this year with three modified off-roaders. One is based on the Cherokee, and the other two are wrought from the Wrangler. But it's the Cherokee that's getting the lion's share of attention. The vehicle you see pictured here is called the Jeep Cherokee KrawLer. It's based on the Trailhawk, but adopts some special equipment to set it apart. It packs a modified suspension, BFGoodrich off-road tires, widened fenders, skid plates, a pseudo-military matte green paint job and a matching green leather interior from Pelle Frau. Power comes from the 3.2-liter Pentastar V6 driving 272 horsepower through a nine-speed automatic and locking rear differential to all four wheels. The name KrawLer emphasizes the KL code by which the current Cherokee is known. Alongside the Cherokee KrawLer, Mopar and Jeep are also showcasing a pair of modified Wranglers. One is the Sahara Sun Runner, done up in matte yellow with a four-inch lift kit and half-doors. The Wranger Dark Side, meanwhile, is based on a two-door Rubicon and features giant tires, flat fenders, and an array of other Mopar components. Alongside those, Jeep is showcasing the Renegade for the first time in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Mopar is also demonstrating its enhancements for the Chrysler 200, Dodge Charger R/T, Dodge Challenger Hellcat, Ram Rebel, Fiat 500X, and the new Fullback pickup from Fiat Professional. The Fiat division will also be on hand to show the new Tipo sedan as well. 10 November 2015 The Jeep® Brand at the 2015 Dubai International Motor Show - Premiere for the Middle East of the new Jeep®; Renegade - Three show cars fitted with exclusive Mopar®; accessories: Cherokee KrawLer, Wrangler Sahara Sun Runner and Wrangler Dark Side to star on the stand - Reinforcing the breadth of the Jeep brand, the full current vehicle line-up will be on show at the Middle East's leading automotive event Making its debut for the first time at a leading motor show in the Middle East is the new, recently-introduced Jeep®; Renegade, the compact SUV that boasts the best off-road performance in its segment alongside three Moparised show editions: Cherokee KrawLer, Wrangler Sahara Sun Runner and Wrangler Dark Side.