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Where It All Began: My 1962 Jeep CJ5
Before the Rubicon, there was a rusty 1962 CJ5 from a hillside farm in the Bernese Oberland. The story of my first Jeep, built with a friend and my dad, and how it started a lifelong passion.
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“Vehicle Traded, Ticket Closed” — What Jeep/Stellantis Customer Service Really Told Me
I’ve owned Jeeps for years. My current one is a Wrangler JL Rubicon — the flagship of the lineup, the vehicle Jeep uses to sell the idea of “Trail Rated” capability and premium off-road engineering. Before it, I owned a Wrangler 4xe, which I traded in after a safety incident I’m not going to forget anytime soon. Somewhere in the middle of all that, my sister bought a Jeep Avenger — largely because I wouldn’t stop talking about how much I loved this brand. That’s the kind of customer loyalty that’s supposed to matter to a manufacturer. So when the final word from Jeep/Stellantis customer service on my case was,…
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The Next Chapter? 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 3.6L V6
A visit to Garage Dutli in Zürich and a 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 3.6L V6 in Canada spec. Could this be the next chapter?
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Déjà Vu: The P0D94 Fault Code Is Back
I ran a fresh system scan on the Jeep the other day, mostly out of habit at this point, and the result made me laugh in that particular way you laugh when something is more frustrating than funny. Sitting there, stored, was code P0D94-00. If that code number looks familiar to regular readers, it should. It’s part of the same charging-system fault pair that I thought had been put to rest back in July with two separate software updates. Odometer at the time of the scan: just under 58,000 km. No warning lights on the dash, no drama while driving — just a quiet little entry sitting in the Hybrid…
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Fed Up: Why I’m Selling My Jeep Wrangler 4xe
Fed up with the 4xe now, I’ve had enough. After the Media Centre froze, stopped, and restarted on me a few times, along with those other problems, I decided to get rid of it. Don’t get me wrong, I love the driving (when it works), and I love the power, torque, and speed it can deliver. But with all these problems, I’m f***ed as soon as the warranty runs out and something breaks. I asked the salesman if he could make me an offer and maybe help me find something else. What I don’t want is another 2.0L engine — those are just too small and not powerful enough for…
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That Klausen Pass Scare: When My 4xe Lost Power Mid-Climb
If you’ve been following along, you know my Wrangler 4xe hasn’t had the smoothest few months. After the recent charging system error, the dealer performed two software updates. Charging has been reliable ever since — but the intermittent ECH cabin heating fault is still there, and now I’ve got a new, more serious issue to report. The Klausen Pass Incident I’d had eSave active for most of the drive, but switched it off just before the climb up the Klausenstrasse and selected full Electric mode to take on the mountain. Partway up, the vehicle suddenly lost power. I had to hit the hazard lights immediately, as the car behind me…
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Yet Another Problem: Service Charging System Error on my Jeep Wrangler 4xe
Let me back up a little. The car has been at the dealer multiple times over the past months. First the Electric Coolant Heater (ECH) was replaced. Then the cabin heating was still intermittent. Then the 3-Way Coolant Valve was replaced. And now this. I grabbed my JScan app and pulled the fault codes myself: • P0D94-00 (stored) — Battery Charger Coupler Lock Control Circuit Performance • P0D27-00 (active) — Battery Charger 1 Input Voltage Too Low The active P0D27 is what’s triggering the “Service Charging System” message. The IDCM (Integrated Dual Charging Module) is not getting enough input voltage to do its job. Is this related to the previous…
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Offroad 4×4 Garage Neftenbach – Exhibition Day
Today we visited Offroad 4×4 Garage in Neftenbach, where they were hosting an open day with various vehicles on display. Worth a visit, though the space is fairly compact. The standout was a beautifully restored Willys Jeep – very well kept and clearly a labour of love. Afterwards we headed over to the Museum Bistro in Neftenbach. Lovely old buildings, great views. We went for the zVieri-Plättli – local cheese and charcuterie. Highly recommended. For the drive home we skipped the motorway and took the back roads through Winterthur instead. Good call – the roads are a pleasure to drive, and with the roof off it doesn’t get much better…
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Mona Lisa Döner in Richterswil – and My Private Parking Spot
Great Dürüm at Mona Lisa in Richterswil — and a parking spot with a view, right outside the window.
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Recall 21D: My Wrangler 4xe Could Catch Fire. Even Parked.
Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator (2021-2025, incl. 4xe) recall 21D: EHPSP steering pump connector fire risk. NHTSA campaign 26V363 — what owners need to know.
