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2012+ head issue, AA, AB, AC - reman seen

6K views 16 replies 10 participants last post by  Sierrah 
#1 ·
I'm sorry this will be a short beginning today to a long story I'm sure. Bear with me. I have been trying to find the time to post for two weeks about it already.

This started with a visit to a friend who works at a dealer. We talk time to time and he knows I'm always on the lookout for upcoming issues. He ends up doing a lot of the engine work, so he sees a lot of stuff.

He brought up that lately he been noticing more head work again for the 3.6 engines. Not just Jeep, but in other models too, so there is that..

He was sent a replacement head for a Dodge 3.6 recently, and it came in as a reman, something he hasn't seen before. The head numbers were older on the 'new' head. I think I may have even taken photos of it, but I'll have to look when I have more time.

Bigger issue to note though is he has been watching head jobs a bit and says the newer heads, the AB and even some AC heads, are starting to show up now. These were supposed to be the good heads, at least the AC ones were.

They have been showing up for work between 70-90k miles now too, so those that don't drive as much won't see these issues for possible years, well beyond what a warranty covers now. In Oklahoma we tend to drive a lot, so I have a feeling that's why we're seeing it more, the OKC metro is 60 miles north Edmond to south Norman, and I've been known to drive a 100 miles in a day just running around town (my 2013 has 64k).

This issue may as well include the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 years too, since there currently isn't a guaranteed fix, and the AC heads are showing up time to time, it can't be ruled out that the issue that used to show up in 2012 heads at 8k or 12k - won't show up now in the 2013+ heads at 70k or 90k.

The difference right now is Jeep knows and acknowledged the issue is the early heads, extending the warranty out in writing - they haven't done this yet for the newer ones, and the 2016 model lowered the factory warranty mileage and time covered as well. I expect there will be cost increases in the Mopar extended warranties to follow as well since that will be the next thing to cover it, making this a good time to buy one if you are going to hold onto your Jeep.

This is all I have for now.
 
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#2 ·
#3 · (Edited)
WOW.. not good.....

I really thought that this problem had been resolved..:(

Thank you for Posting this..:thumb:
 
#5 ·
Sorry to bring up an old thread but I have a 2015 ticking pretty loud. My drivers side head where the tick is, reads

1805B
11380
011000


Dealer turned me away and said it is a normal tick.. it is far from normal as I have another 15 which purs. FI sound is much different then this tick. I am not sure what to do.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Sorry to bring up an old thread but I have a 2015 ticking pretty loud. My drivers side head where the tick is, reads

1805B
11380
011000


Dealer turned me away and said it is a normal tick.. it is far from normal as I have another 15 which purs. FI sound is much different then this tick. I am not sure what to do.
Based on posts here, your Julian date indicates it was made on June 29, 2015. I think the "B" stands for second shift.

What's the MDH on your driver door pillar?

Edit: This could be an interesting case study. You have two '15s.. one with and without "ticking"... can you provide stats on both? Let's call your ticking '15 case study #1 and non-ticking '15 case study #2.

Case Study 1:
Head Julian Date. June 29, 2015, second shift.
1805B
11380
011000

Vehicle build date.
MDH:
Month
Day
Hour

Engine Made in USA or Mexico:

Oil used:

Case Study 2:
Head Julian date.
xxxxx
xxxxx
xxxxxx

Vehicle build date.
MDH:
Month
Day
Hour

Engine Made in USA or Mexico:

Oil used:


.
 

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#10 ·
Great ideas guys, sorry I haven't followed up on this much, I had some work get in the way this year.

I may be able to poke around again and see what information I can gather this next week as well.
 
#11 ·
I'm starting to wonder if this isn't an abuse problem. Something having to do with driving style and common sense. When you have people coming back for their second head when some never have a problem. I imagine there's more than a few owners that take a Jeep off road and try to drive it like a go-cart. These engines get hot and driven hard in hot climates might have something to do with it. Nobody would want to admit to that though. Who me?
 
#12 ·
A friend of mine I worked with many years ago owns a machine shop and he's had a few of these heads apart. He believes it was a cooling design issue, and people beating on the engine before it is fully warmed up are more likely to have a problem, then those who drive easy while the engine is warming up. By warming up he means until the oil reaches operating temperature which can take about 20 minutes or so depending on temps and driving conditions. That coincides with what you're saying. I also believe it has merit.
 
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#13 ·
I just got mine back from the dealer today to fix a p0301 misfire,,had for about 1 hour and now i have a p0303 misfire. The pentastar is garbage,,, this engine has a normal operating temp of 230 f ,,this is a death blow to the heads.this engine do to the temp range will never be a solid engine. It will always have head issues.2016 Sahara wrangler.. new lifters,followers on no1 cyl,, now no3 cylinder takin a dump,, at only 15k
 
#14 ·
Welcome to the Forum.

Sorry about your engine problems.
 
#15 ·
I've got a '12 with the "bad" head... 61,000 miles and no issues so far. (bangs on coffee table)

I'm hard on mine, tow 2000+ lb trailer in the mountains at freeway speed all the time. Temp gauge climbs hard sometimes and I even got limp mode a couple times on hard climbs before re-gear.
 
#16 ·
My 2014, bought brand new and now have 33,000 miles had the engine tick on the left side after the first scheduled oil change. Took into the dealer they took it apart really couldn't find "anything" and said it was normal. approximately 18 months later guess what P0302, and you have a bad head. Wow what a surprise. This is a very expensive fix. No it's not. not for me maybe you. It's a known issue with the left head and top of that you looked at it and said it was ok with that tick. The dealer is contacting corporate to figure out what to do. All work to include oil changes done by the dealer. To top it off gang, I bought my Jeep in Japan as I live here, which may complicate things.
 
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