Got my second oil change today. I also asked them to look at the fan belt due to "whistling" sounds. The said it was dirty and I should get the engine shampooed. Also asked them to check a vibration in the gear shifter. They said I have bent the tranny crossmember and need a new tranny mount lower bracket for the bargain price of $997. They also said my centerlink has been hit and I need a new one as well as both tie rods, also for a bargain price of $330, plus an alignment. Transfercase skid plate is dented and they quoted me $80. All that plus labour, for a total estimate of just under $2000. None of it will be covered by warrenty. And I've barely done any wheeling, mostly FSR's. Well that and the lower Hut lake.

So stopped by a buddie's place and we took a look for ourselves. The engine compartment is dirty. There were shreds of fan belt near one of the tensioner wheel things on the engine block. The crossmember is dented, maybe, slighty, but it didn't look bent or out of place. The vibration has been there for a while now, since before I hit the undercarraige at all I think. I'm not to worried about the skid plate. We couldn't see any signs of impact on the centerlink, but there were some on the diff. If you grab the centerlink, it's easy to move it and the tie rods by hand. Is this normal? I should have had them show me the damage.
So I'm thinking I'm gonna get a second opinion, mostly because of the shreds of fan belt and the lack of obvious damage to the centerlink.
They also said I couldn't do any work myself without voiding part or all of my warrenty. I should note that this is not the same dealor where I purchased the jeep, and this was my first visit to this dealor. They also said the jeep was safe to drive. I'm thinking about getting an alignment first to see if I really need the centerlink and tie rods. I can't see my tie rods being tanked after 10000kms.
What do you guys think, does it sound like I'm getting hosed? Any thoughts or advise would be appreciated.

 

Your engine needs a shampoo? Really?
Your tierod should have rotational/rocking back and forth movement, that is normal. Straight up and down or side to side play is not.
Alot of people bend their tierods. Just check your toe and adjust accordingly. Save for a beefy aftermarket one like the Rockrawler one.

Check your tranny and engine mount bolts , may find some loose.
Also, take a look at the Full Traction crossmember/tranny mount
http://www.full-traction.com/detail....TID=495&NOTES=

 

Yes I always get a second opinion on major repairs. There are no so honest dealers out there.

 

That sounds to me like your getting rooked, I work for a Nissan dealer and I think the jeep dealers in the USA are taking this whole thing way out of control, warrenty is against factory defects only, that's why there only covered for 3 years or 36k miles, it's not like that up here, if u brake something because your beating it off rocks or have changed a part that is the ruite cause of the failed component then no it should not be warrenty but if something like a tie rod has a lot of play and there are no signs of impact or anything to put more stress on it like big tires or lift then it should be considered a factory defect, I paid $26,000 for my jeep so I can touch or change what I want and use it for what it was meant to be used for, go to a different dealer and be friendly with them and ask for there opinion, tell them everything and they should treat you right, we would

 

I'm thinking that if i broke it or bent it, that's my problem, and I'm ok with that. I can either fix it myself or pay to have it fixed. The one's that are really bugging me are the belt and the centerlink. I went out and looked again, and I still couldn't see any damage to the link. I bought an aftermarket belt just to have with me incase it blows.
mkjeep, thanks for the advise and the FT link. I think I'm gonna hold off on replacing it, and get the toe adjusted first, or maybe try and do it myself. If I have to pay to replace it, I'm not replacing it with something thats already prooved to be weak.
I also saw some pics of other peoples crossmembers, and there's are way worse than mine. I think the gear shift vibration is probly just me getting to know the jeep and it's quirks and what not. Gonna stop by a friends later in the week for a comparison.

 

Holy run-on sentence, Batman!

 

It sounds like you and your buddy have a better handle on the situation. Take it to a different dealer and have them check the serpentine belt, pointing out the unusual wear. Or, if you don't mind buying the part, it's an easy job to change it yourself. Also, there's not much to align on your Jeep, but that won't keep a shop from charging you full price for an alignment. Better to do it yourself ...

Basic Do-it-Yourself Jeep JK Wrangler Front End Alignment