Commander BOND Hemi - EMISSIONS MATTER

[Clanger]

US Gallon is 3.785 litres.

[vaughant]

My 2000/2001 wj 4.0 straight six was in UK MPG, I always did tank to tank calcs and it came up with 17/18mpg at best on gas which was pretty spot on.

[vaughant]

Oh and also I really like the look of those, well bought.

[Ian_Fearn]

So i'm currently dying of real* man flu so internet Hemi surfing is about all i'm capable of this week.

 

Whilst I can't see anything wrong with the gas system, i'd like to keep it that way so I want to do some LPG servicing, i.e. change the filter/s before taking it to an LPG person with the software to check the parameters. 

 

As far as I can see, there is a Prins filter (twin outlet) mounted just above the reducer but the replacement kit seems to come with 2 filters. Can anybody explain what the 2nd filter is for?

 

AND then..... I'm unclear as to how gas is delivered. Is there some kind electrovalve at the tank that only switches on when gas is selected or are the lines pressurised upto the reducer?

 

Should there be a manual shut off valve at the tank so i can safely remove the filter?

 

I've found a receipt for a reducer rebuild shortly after it was fitted, is that a service consideration or should it be fit and forget until something goes wrong?

 

Thanks in advance.....

 

 

[DodgeRover]

Honestly if it's not broken don't fix it!

I have had one filter clogged in 20 years of running on gas, I think it was a bad tank of gas as I got an egg cup full of iron filings out of the filter! Symptoms were it went weak after a short while on heavy load.

There are 2 manual shut off valves on the tank as well as an electronic solenoid.

A manual valve controls the outlet, one the inlet, they are like knurled nuts.

Yours must be running something like to not have thrown up warning lights.

Have you had some recommendations of where to take it?

[Ian_Fearn]

There's the LPGC chap that i've seen on various forums that seems to know his stuff.

 

I've not spoken to him yet though but for £25 it just seems sensible to change it. Do you know what the 2 filters are for?

[dome]

I serviced the OMVL system on my old Grand Cherokee myself but struggled to find info on servicing the Prins system in my S4. I contacted the installer and they told me it's not due a service until September-24 month intervals on them apparently.

Maybe worth contacting the installer to see when yours is due a service?

[Ian_Fearn]

The LPG on mine hasn't seen any servicing since 2009!

[DodgeRover]

Is that Simon you are taking it to?

 

The little round filter will go in the bowl of the gas shut off solenoid in the engine bay, it will be in the main gas feed line from the tank just before the vapouriser (reducer in modern terms)

Shut off the gas manually at the tank and run the engine on gas until it stops ,to empty the lines, then you can remove the bowl with minimum leakage, expect some gas to come out 1 litres of liquid makes about 10000l of vapour so be prepared for a bit of hissing.

[Ian_Fearn]

Yes, I think his name is his Simon, i've not been in touch yet though. 

 

I've promised the wife i'll take it steady with the spending on this.....

[DodgeRover]

He seems sound, never heard anybody moan about unnecessary work, also see my edit above about the filter.

Ask him what he thinks of the LPGA

[Ian_Fearn]

Given that i'm dying* of the worlds worst EVER case of man flu i've been organising the vast quantity of paperwork that came with Commander Bond.

 

I'd always known Jeep dealers were ROBBING BASTARDS, but seriously, these guys are simply beyond the realm.

 

I rang my local Jeep dealer today (who just happen to be the same shower of festering horse shit that i've previously had the misfortune to use for my Mazda MX5) for a spare key. £367+vat. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

 

As an example:

 

In March 2014, the PO took the Commander in for a standard service at their local main dealer, they got:

1. an oil and filter change

2. front axle oil change

3. screenwash

Additional work required: rear axle casing needs resealing so cannot change rear axle oil

£656.50 paid with thanks (obviously) 7.22% labour discount apparently.....

 

Couple of weeks later:

1. rear axle oil change

2. failed attempt at gearbox oil change (but charged them for this miserable attempt)

Additional work required: Unable to remove gearbox oil pipes as on strip found heavy corrosion on A/C condensor

£546.06 paid with thanks (obviously) 12.37% labour discount WTF? 

 

Couple of weeks later: Now in April 2014

1. Replace trans cooler pipes

2. Replace A/C condensor

3. Change gearbox oil 

Additional work required:ABS light on, SAT NAV inoperative

£762.40 paid with thanks (obviously) 18.56% labour discount.....

 

Whats the deal with the labour discount? Something to do with a mild outbreak of ethical behaviour?

 

The car never went back to this nameless hopeless shower of shite of a JEEP dealer. All receipts were then from a local 4x4 specialist.

 

 

 

 

[DodgeRover]

Do not loose a key, those prices are about right! Not sure if they can be cloned by an independant.

Jeep Italy supply a key then the dealer has to program the car to accept it.

[dome]

Gormless describes Jeep dealerships in my experience. I called my local one to buy the correct oil for my rear diff-it needed special stuff because lsd.

 

They couldn't tell me what I needed. No-one in the dealership had a fucking clue.

 

I ended up googling it and buying it from my local John Deere dealer for a fraction of the price it should've cost.

[mat_the_cat]

I've found a receipt for a reducer rebuild shortly after it was fitted, is that a service consideration or should it be fit and forget until something goes wrong?

 

It's be easy to check with the software that it can still maintain pressure under high demands. I wouldn't rebuild it unless there is a problem. The only failure I've had was on a very elderly (and rare!) BRC system, where the diaphragm failed and allowed gas to pressurise the cooling system. Thought it was HG failure at first so a relief once I had traced and fitted a rebuild kit.

 

Ask him what he thinks of the LPGA

 

Make sure you aren't in a rush to go anywhere!

Never had any work done by him, but he seems to know his stuff, both about LPG but also the electronic side of things as well.

[DodgeRover]

At least it hasn't been plagued with the recall that rendered them useless as tow vehicles because the towbar was too close to the petrol tank...

[Ian_Fearn]

Have been spending the first few days of 'early retirement' with the heater on full blast in the garage.

 

Working through a big ass service on the COMMANDER. Engine and full transmission, gearbox, transfer case, axles (inc LSD additive) etc etc.

 

16 spark plugs!!! Jesus, I needed divine intervention to get through that lot. The rearmost plugs are absolutely buried under the scuttle, air con pipes and huge bundles of unmovable wiring harness.

 

I've hopefully fixed a coolant leak from the LPG vapouriser and changed the LPG filters.

 

Large quantities of genuine Mopar fluids direct from Morris4x4 in the USA were pretty good value and took about 2 weeks to arrive here which seemed reasonable but so much for the "american car parts are easy to get, overnight delivery no problem".

 

Still got a load to do but slowly working my way through it. Something that has amazed me was the power steering fluid. Its apparently liquid gold and is accordingly priced, i've found no alternative other than Mopar genuine fluid but the stuff that came out was absolutely disgusting, virtually black. The stuff that went in was clear, almost like water.

 

I still love this thing. Its a beast.

[Ian_Fearn]

Distant relative? Half brother perhaps?