The Renegade Rumble

Discussion in 'Renegade Modified Tech' started by Melissa Myers, Apr 10, 2019.

  1. Melissa Myers

    Melissa Myers Member

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    Oct 16, 2018
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    Location:
    Waterbury, CT
    I thought we could use a dedicated thread for this issue. Our Renegade Trailhawk 2015 with just under 49k miles has a rumble that intermittently comes and goes. Usually when we accelerate and let off the gas it will start. It starts low and increases volume and then subsides to a low constant volume. It's like running over a rumble patch but softer, more muffled. My husband found that if the 4WD lock button is pressed the rumble will slow, then stop completely. It's as if something is turning off and the rumble starts then if we turn 4wd lock on it stops. I've read many Renegade owners have this issue. Any ideas?
     
  2. Melissa Myers

    Melissa Myers Member

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    Location:
    Waterbury, CT

    Hey, so we took our BU TH offroad and afterwards the rumble got a bit louder. We noticed the stock skid plate that covers the drivetrain / exhaust took a hit and it was making contact with the drivetrain bearing housing. Today he was able to remove the skid and un bend it in an arbor press. Once the reinstall was completed, we noticed the rumble was back to normal. The housing and skid have clearance again. So the contact between the housing and skid plate was making the rumble louder. We also noticed three ways to make the rumble stop. 1, turn the 4wd lock on, 2, turn off ESC, and 3, switching to manual shift mode. Now, from what I understand, the Renegade isn't full time AWD. The back tires only turn if a lack of traction is sensed. If I am correct, I think when the drivetrain switches from AWD to FWD the drivetrain kinda free spins causing the rumble. Does that make sense? If ESC is turned off, does it force the rear wheels to turn? Same with the 4WD lock and manual shift mode?
     
  3. Nerdsmith

    Nerdsmith Member

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    Sounds like a bigger issue that just a bent skid, Any noticeable signs of damage on the drivetrain that the skid was protecting? Definitely sounds like a trip to jeep for further investigation.
     
  4. JeepCares

    JeepCares Active Member

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    Location:
    Mopar Headquarters, MI
    Hi Melissa Myers,
    We understand why this may be concerning. We suggest having your dealer inspect this concern if you have not done so already. We are also available via private message if you would like any additional assistance during that process.
    Lydia
    Jeep Social Care Specialist
     
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  5. Moe-javeThawK

    Moe-javeThawK New Member

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    May 8, 2017
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    Location:
    NorCal Bay Area

    nothing will fix the rumble, you can make it go away by turning off traction control, shifting the transmission into manual mode, and or putting it into 4wd. Dealers cannot fix this, I've had the diff replaced by dealer and the sound actually got worse. Jeep/fiat do not have a fix its just one of those things that you'll have to live with if you want to keep the vehicle.
     
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  6. Melissa Myers

    Melissa Myers Member

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    Location:
    Waterbury, CT
    after all!

    We drive it in manual shift mode and the rumble never starts. If in automatic and the rumble starts, we can either turn off ESC, put it in manual shift, or turn on 4wd lock and the rumble smoothly dissipates until it completely stops. It's a subtle rumble, never loud or clunky sounding EXCEPT when the skid plate was pushed into the bearing housing. It was happening before our little rocky mishap, but the contact made it louder. Once the skid was fixed the rumble once again became the subtle noise that it was.
     
  7. Dgr401

    Dgr401 Well-Known Member

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    Location:
    Rhode Island, USA
    This is a well known "Feature" of the Renegade. The only remedy to it is what you described, 4wd lock, etc. It is amazing that most dealers cannot hear it, they need to hire technicians with better hearing.
     

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