So yesterday morning intake a drive down to a local Jeep dealer hoping to try out the 2011 4 dr wrangler and Grand Cherokee. Wrangler unavailable but 90 minutes spent driving the Grand and talking to the sales guy. When I pulled back up, it was in full view of Beti.

Now bearing in mind I've never had an issue with beti previously... When I got in, the first thing I did was open the sunroof. It made a short groaning noise! As I went to pull out of the tight parking space I realised that the Columbus wasn't giving me the graphical parking display, just the audible tones! First time ever to have this problem in 18 months! After a restart the screen came up as expected and hasn't been an issue since but it made me think...

Does the car realise I may be about to cheat on her in the future.... Was she upset with me?

So yesterday morning intake a drive down to a local Jeep dealer hoping to try out the 2011 4 dr wrangler and Grand Cherokee. Wrangler unavailable but 90 minutes spent driving the Grand and talking to the sales guy. When I pulled back up, it was in full view of Beti.

Now bearing in mind I've never had an issue with beti previously... When I got in, the first thing I did was open the sunroof. It made a short groaning noise! As I went to pull out of the tight parking space I realised that the Columbus wasn't giving me the graphical parking display, just the audible tones! First time ever to have this problem in 18 months! After a restart the screen came up as expected and hasn't been an issue since but it made me think...

Does the car realise I may be about to cheat on her in the future.... Was she upset with me?

Can you blame her!!!!

Poor Beti

If you're going to cheat on her, please try not to rub her face in it

...I realised that the Columbus wasn't giving me the graphical parking display, just the audible tones!

About once a month (as a very rough average) I see a problem with Columbus hanging in one way or another, eg not displaying the parking display but there are other manifestations, eg the satnav freezes. A restart always clears the problem but it does suggest to me that some of the timing in the firmware start-up sequencing is not bulletproof. I'll mention it at the first service due imminently, but I'm guessing that since it's not a readily reproducible fault and it happens only very occasionally then there's nothing that can be done.

Chrysler, shudder.

Chrysler, shudder.

oh come on, they brought us some classic quality cars like, erm, the Hillman Imp?

oh come on, they brought us some classic quality cars like, erm, the Hillman Imp?

Now you're talking.

Fred

Those Grand Cherokees are pretty capable offroad not in the same league as Landcruiser but not bad at all but the build quality and quality of the interior I felt was a little poor given the initial new price. They depreciate a lot so used ones look very cheap.

About once a month (as a very rough average) I see a problem with Columbus hanging in one way or another, eg not displaying the parking display but there are other manifestations, eg the satnav freezes. A restart always clears the problem but it does suggest to me that some of the timing in the firmware start-up sequencing is not bulletproof. I'll mention it at the first service due imminently, but I'm guessing that since it's not a readily reproducible fault and it happens only very occasionally then there's nothing that can be done.

Interesting. Having thought about it further I think that's one of the few times I've pressed the button as soon as I've started the ignition and driven forwards.

And I'd tend to agree with previous regarding previous generations Cherokee and grand Cherokee but this new one is the equal to the best in class IMO.

Had a similar odd thing the other morning but with the lights. Had them in the off position but as it was foggy needed to put them in manual on. While going through Auto they fired up then down as we passed side and back on again (sure that doesn't do xenon's any good :S ). Anyway we set off but I realised the active headlights were not as active as normal. Pulled over turned off the ignition and back on again and all was back to normal; bizarre.

TP

....so I then wandered over to the Warranty Direct website and read all about Jeep reliability....and then read the JD Power 2011 survey.

I wondered why my neighbour's Jeep always seems to be immobile on their drive, but no longer.

Had them in the off position but as it was foggy needed to put them in manual on. While going through Auto they fired up then down as we passed side and back on again (sure that doesn't do xenon's any good :S )

Sorry slightly off topic but I too notice this.

If the xenon's lit up in Auto why didn't you leave them in Auto rather than pass through sidelights to manual dipped?

It bugs me that the light switch is designed this way. Other manufacturers seems to do it better by locating Auto as the last position.

It is possible to avoid the xenon's powering up and down and then up again, you just have to be quicker moving the switch through the sidelight position.

I've just bought my second Skoda, again with xenon's but this time without the Auto lights, more hassle than they are worth!

Edited 2 October, 201114 yr by silver1011

Sorry slightly off topic but I too notice this.

If the xenon's lit up in Auto why didn't you leave them in Auto rather than pass through sidelights to manual dipped?

It bugs me that the light switch is designed this way. Other manufacturers seems to do it better by locating Auto as the last position.

It is possible to avoid the xenon's powering up and down and then up again, you just have to be quicker moving the switch through the sidelight position.

I've just bought my second Skoda, again with xenon's but this time without the Auto lights, more hassle than they are worth!

Because it was foggy so presumably needed the fog lights on.

I simply click it round quickly and the xenons stay on throughout. :yes:

The new Grand Cherokee does look great. Far better than the old one and inside it also appears very nice. Yet every single test it gets no more than 3 measly stars out of 5. Every magazine and every test. Hmmm... No a big 4x4 like that is not in keeping with the zeitgeist. A Yeti is one of the few 4x4s you can get away with it and not upset those around you for being (in their eyes) un-green. Stick to Beti I say.