Wrangler 392 reliability
- Thread starter JKrob15
- Start date
So far so good for me and I could say the same for everyone else I know with one. The biggest weak point on the 392 is its transfer case as the clutch packs in it can go bad but again, that hasn't happened to me or anyone else that I personally know with one... or at least, not yet anyway.
RanchoRubi
Caught the Bug
I don’t have a 392, but recently experienced electrical issues on my 2020 JL 3.6.
Took the dealer 1 month to find. They brought in advanced techs from HQ that get involved when local tech can’t figure it out.
I got an opportunity to spend some 1 on 1 time with those techs and asked what’s their experience with electrical issues on the JL since I never had any issues on mine or my son’s JK after several mods.
Basically the HQ techs shared: that the electrical/computer issues on JLs have gotten increasingly worse with the newer models post 2020. The software code upgrades aren’t meshing with hardware in some cases. The unconnect and the SGW modules. He did say that the least problems they’ve seen electrically is on the 392.
So another anecdotal data point consistent with what Eddie said.
Took the dealer 1 month to find. They brought in advanced techs from HQ that get involved when local tech can’t figure it out.
I got an opportunity to spend some 1 on 1 time with those techs and asked what’s their experience with electrical issues on the JL since I never had any issues on mine or my son’s JK after several mods.
Basically the HQ techs shared: that the electrical/computer issues on JLs have gotten increasingly worse with the newer models post 2020. The software code upgrades aren’t meshing with hardware in some cases. The unconnect and the SGW modules. He did say that the least problems they’ve seen electrically is on the 392.
So another anecdotal data point consistent with what Eddie said.
AZVAJKU
Hooked
My 392 has been perfectly reliable over the last two years, however I only have about 9k on it. Also it’s a Pavement Princess that is completely stock.
As Eddie stated the transfer-case can cause issues but from what I have seen that seems to be dependent on tire size and use. I have witnessed two incidents of large tired (37+) 392’s with stock transfer-cases have clutch issues- that’s transfer-case clutches. Both occurred while climbing large ledges at EJS in Moab. If I ever intended to use my 392 in that capacity I would swap out my T-case.
Other than that I absolutely love my 392 and I am very glad that I bought it.
As Eddie stated the transfer-case can cause issues but from what I have seen that seems to be dependent on tire size and use. I have witnessed two incidents of large tired (37+) 392’s with stock transfer-cases have clutch issues- that’s transfer-case clutches. Both occurred while climbing large ledges at EJS in Moab. If I ever intended to use my 392 in that capacity I would swap out my T-case.
Other than that I absolutely love my 392 and I am very glad that I bought it.
Well now, that is interesting!! As you may or may not know, I am having all kinds of electrical problems on my 2020 Gladiator and it's kicking my butt!!
AZVAJKU
Hooked
Great points!
Which reminds me that there are no Start/Stop mechanism shenanigans or issues with the Mini-Me battery and the ‘battery isolater’ electronics.
There really is just so much plumbing on these things now that it doesn't take much to stop up the drain. It is nice that the 392 has a bit less of it.
HighwayTrout
Hooked
Funny enough. My 392 has been the only Jeep out of all my jeeps that hasn’t had a single quirk.
Thanks for jinxing me and I should go toss a flare below it and torch the fucker before it acts up.
Thanks for jinxing me and I should go toss a flare below it and torch the fucker before it acts up.
Brute
Hooked
I have a ‘22 392 with the XR package…it is still completely stock. Within first 3000 miles, developed an oil leak; leak source was misdiagnosed by the dealer I purchased it from. It was correctly resolved by dealer in Nevada as an oil filter mount gasket after several more visits to the dealer…took a month to completely wipe all the oil from the undercoat.
Currently sitting at the dealer for multiple dash warnings. A couple months ago took it in for battery voltage warning…sat at the dealer overnight, they could not diagnose the source. Since then, had several dozen battery voltage warnings, then it began to show hot steering oil warnings, which made steering difficult…hence why it is at the dealer for several days now.
I was considering buying another used 392 for my last offroad project…I have since decided against it.
Currently sitting at the dealer for multiple dash warnings. A couple months ago took it in for battery voltage warning…sat at the dealer overnight, they could not diagnose the source. Since then, had several dozen battery voltage warnings, then it began to show hot steering oil warnings, which made steering difficult…hence why it is at the dealer for several days now.
I was considering buying another used 392 for my last offroad project…I have since decided against it.
Jsouder53
Hooked
That’s a bummer, sorry to hear about all of the issues you’re having with it.
RanchoRubi
Caught the Bug
I’m sure many have read about different causes to the electrical gremlins, but I can share the different test steps the the tech tested in my case
1)aux battery
2)loose connections from aux battery to PDC
3)CAN BUS connectors. Apparently sits close to cabin heater so will bend the pins causing intermittent shorts
4) SGW module
5) Uconnent/radio
6) connection shorts inside the front wheel wells
7) how long after shut off Jeep goes fully to sleep. Apparently it’s a wide range Jeep to Jeep. 15 mins up to 60 mins with no reason
After all that, it was 2 bent pins in my original SGW module. I probably caused it when I disconnected and reconnected the cable to it that was being used with my miniTazer.
Fortunately they found my problem after trying all the other steps, though the elongated processes was an interesting journey into the unknown.
They did share that there have been jeeps they can never solve, So they negotiate some type of vehicle swap with the owner and keep the”electrical lemon vehicle” at certain dealers to scavenge parts.
1)aux battery
2)loose connections from aux battery to PDC
3)CAN BUS connectors. Apparently sits close to cabin heater so will bend the pins causing intermittent shorts
4) SGW module
5) Uconnent/radio
6) connection shorts inside the front wheel wells
7) how long after shut off Jeep goes fully to sleep. Apparently it’s a wide range Jeep to Jeep. 15 mins up to 60 mins with no reason
After all that, it was 2 bent pins in my original SGW module. I probably caused it when I disconnected and reconnected the cable to it that was being used with my miniTazer.
Fortunately they found my problem after trying all the other steps, though the elongated processes was an interesting journey into the unknown.
They did share that there have been jeeps they can never solve, So they negotiate some type of vehicle swap with the owner and keep the”electrical lemon vehicle” at certain dealers to scavenge parts.
Wow - that sucks.
Appreciate you posting all this up as I'm still in the process of chasing down the electrical gremlins in my big Gladiator.
1. I checked and all is good
2. I checked and all is good
3. I just replaced the CAN BUS and still have problems
4. SGW looks good or at least, so far as I can tell
5. This is something I'm not 100% sure of and I do get update screens on start up
6. I've looked as hard as I could and haven't been able to find anything obvious
7. I've taken this into account as well and waiting a lot longer does seem to make things better for a bit
After 5 years and 70k miles, my problems started out of nowhere and after a really rough wheeling trip. Still looking though.
Brute
Hooked
thank you for this...I sent it to my tech who is working on my 392
bobfriesenhahn
Hooked
Buying a 392 is similar to flushing a whole lot of money down the drain. The electrical horror stories associated with the JL in general make buying a JL seem risky. If even a dealership can not figure things out, how can issues be solved if they happen on the trail?
Buying an old low-tech Jeep like a TJ and rebuilding it to personal preferences seems somehow safer than depending on such overly-complex technology.
Buying an old low-tech Jeep like a TJ and rebuilding it to personal preferences seems somehow safer than depending on such overly-complex technology.
JKrob15
Member
I am actually bouncing that idea around. Maybe not a TJ but potentially a JK.
OverlanderJK
Resident Smartass
says the guy with a JL.
