What have you done to your Patriot today?

880974 Views 8424 Replies 678 Participants Last post by Flamewave, 17 d ago

Creation

Discussion Starter · Mar 18, 2012

Found this on another car enthusiast forum, and thought it would be fun to see here.

Note: If you're looking for somewhere to tell about your entire project plans, this isn't it.

Post just a little something about what you did today. Whether it's messing with your sound system, changed your oil, or finally finished up a big part of the project that you've been working on, or just anything and everything.

8281 - 8300 of 8425 Posts

Ibmikey

· #8,281 · 12 mo ago (Edited)

After having two previous Patriots that I loved (need pick up) I searched papers and used car lots for years thinking if I found the right one I would snap it up. This year I bought a new GMC Sierra and wrote a check for $65,000…needs changed shortly thereafter and at the same time a friend said he saw a “ like new” 2012 Patriot Limited 4x4 on a nearby Cadillac lot. With 104,000 on the clock not exactly new, but body and interior were immaculate ( according to friend) so I told him to have the Jeep delivered and I would pay with cashiers check ( funny but they did not want cash because of federal regulations). Love the little Jeep but found it needed front end work and a new pan gasket, had the Jeep dealer put on a new set of tires at the same time..$2000. Then the next week I took it back for vibration when in gear at a stop….4 motor mounts…had all fluids and filters changed in CVT and all wheel drive system, not a speck of rust anywhere on the undercarriage as it spent most of its life in Southern Nevada, $1800..( this dealer did not mind cash

). Pick up is six months old and 2000 miles on odometer..Patriot buzzes around town and makes trips to VA and shopping as most everything is an hour away (Texas) so far delivering an average of 26 to the gal on the road. As gas approaches $5 a gal. the pickup will be reserved for long trips where comfort and all the modern goo-gaas can be appreciated and the ten year old Patriot is carrying the load with head held high.

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RossoRacer

· #8,282 · 12 mo ago

Ibmikey said:
After having two previous Patriots that I loved (need pick up) I searched papers and used car lots for years thinking if I found the right one I would snap it up. This year I bought a new GMC Sierra and wrote a check for $65,000…needs changed shortly thereafter and at the same time a friend said he saw a “ like new” 2012 Patriot Limited 4x4 on a nearby Cadillac lot. With 104,000 on the clock not exactly new, but body and interior were immaculate ( according to friend) so I told him to have the Jeep delivered and I would pay with cashiers check ( funny but they did not want cash because of federal regulations). Love the little Jeep but found it needed front end work and a new pan gasket, had the Jeep dealer put on a new set of tires at the same time..$2000. Then the next week I took it back for vibration when in gear at a stop….4 motor mounts…had all fluids and filters changed in CVT and all wheel drive system, not a speck of rust anywhere on the undercarriage as it spent most of its life in Southern Nevada, $1800..( this dealer did not mind cash ). Pick up is six months old and 2000 miles on odometer..Patriot buzzes around town and makes trips to VA and shopping as most everything is an hour away (Texas) so far delivering an average of 26 to the gal on the road. As gas approaches $5 a gal. the pickup will be reserved for long trips where comfort and all the modern goo-gaas can be appreciated and the ten year old Patriot is carrying the load with head held high. View attachment 96716

Sounds about right. I've had my 2010 Patriot since December 2009 and my 2003 Impala since August 2018. Just picked up a 1998 Suburban K2500 a few weeks ago for $12,500 with almost no rust. Barely driven it so far as it's pretty much for range days and snowmobile hauling. And in case anybody needs help moving, haha. The Impala gets the best mpg and the Patriot needs minor repairs since Drummond Island about 6 weeks ago, so the Impala is seeing almost all the miles getting put on it.

Ibmikey

· #8,283 · 12 mo ago

Rosso, It is kind of odd that a person would drive a vehicle knowing there were serious problems in the steering components and motor mounts, both very obviously in need of repair. I guess priorities a re different between people but I want my vehicles running in top condition at all times and not have a need to worry about sitting on the side of the interstate waiting for AAA. You must race the Patriot? I did not know they were tough enough for that kid of use.

RossoRacer

· #8,284 · 12 mo ago

Not sure where you're getting anything about steering problems and motor mounts. I don't think there's problems with either of those on any of my vehicles, unless you count the control arms on the Suburban showing signs of "will need replaced in the next couple years" or a couple rear suspension components on the Patriot starting to wiggle a bit, though not seriously. All three of my vehicles are kept in as good shape as I can keep them in, and I even had the rocker panel/door frame pieces replaced on the Patriot a couple months back because Michigan salt had gotten to them. There's some things that need done here and there, but nothing causing any sort of immediate problem, and I've got rather limited spare time to get anything done on a 10 days out, 3 days home kind of trucking schedule. Always something to do while I'm gone and while I'm home, and it doesn't help that that limited hometime is often needed to just recharge after doing multiple deliveries on the west coast and driving hard to get back home.

As for racing, I had an idea years ago that maybe a Patriot could be modified for the Baja 1000, but that's on a far back burner these days as I grew up and realized I couldn't sit around waiting for sponsorship that probably won't come, and other priorities started showing themselves. The only racing action I've been blessed enough to put the Patriot through so far is a few "test and tune" open track days at a drag strip during my college days in southwest Ohio, and a couple friendly drag races at off road parks here in Michigan. To do more, it would need a chromaly roll cage, improvements to the CVT, bigger tires, a very custom suspension modification nobody seems to want to build a prototype of, and many other things I simply can't afford right now.

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Ibmikey

· #8,285 · 12 mo ago (Edited)

Sorry, I see where you thought that was directed at you…too many posts at one in the morning. I was referring to the last owner of my Patriot letting crucial parts go to pot and never replacing them. When the Patriot was delivered it was obviously in need of front end (steering) repairs and an alignment, it took me a week of shaking at stoplights to realize the motor mounts were gone, everything else was found during those repairs. I would never have allowed the problems to exist and then knowingly pass them on to someone else. I have a Car Shield warranty but paid for the repairs myself, now that the Jeep is up to snuff future problems can be submitted on the warranty. Yesterday the transmission was serviced with new fluid and filters so I should be good to go now.
As for your wish list for running the Patriot hard I for some reason look at this Jeep as more delicate than my WWII MB or the pile of CJ 5 and 7’s that I have had and had no thoughts it could be run hard. No one in these pastures and dense woods of East Texas seem to run Patriots hard, in fact most are FWD….Baah! They. run the heck out of the four wheel Yamahas and John Deer buggies ,however.
Once again my comments were not directed at your vehicles or maintenance schedule, just griping about the $4000 I have put into the Patriot after buying from a Cadillac dealer..just seems like they should have had the vehicle road ready before sale.

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RossoRacer

· #8,286 · 12 mo ago

Lol, I don't think a Cadillac dealer would care much about what's essentially the last vehicle to ever be as relatively basic as the VW Type 1 or Chevy Chevette. And to be fair, the Willy's MB had an expected shelf life of 90 days from one or two sources I've heard. I run my little orange klunker harder than Detroit/Toledo suit-and-tie folks probably expected when they designed it, but I have no delusions about what it's designed for. I just see extra potential on it, haha. No worries about the misunderstanding though, happens often enough I don't tend to care as long as things get sorted out.

cyberpunk409

· #8,287 · 11 mo ago

EmTay said:
No way! I’m gonna look that up and see if I can figure it out. Thanks!

Yes way 🙂 I used JScan to recalibrate for my 225/65r17 tyres. Easy peasy. I get MUCH better gas mileage now as well, about 15% better fuel efficiency.
you will need to buy a license which is valid for only your vehicle, about $20 or so

Flamewave

· #8,288 · 10 mo ago

Just ordered a new throttle body. It's been a bit chuggy under harder acceleration lately so I was suspecting it, but leaving work today it chugged hard and the ETC light came on for a few seconds. Looks like an easy fix though.

Seanhoffer

· #8,289 · 10 mo ago (Edited)

3

Modified and installed clear turn signal assemblies.

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BorderPlanet

· #8,290 · 10 mo ago

Nice job…on everything, Seanhoffer. I really like the look of your Patriot. The clear lens look nice against all the black.

I’m curious how you mounted your KC light bar. I’m assuming it’s bolted into the metal substructure of the bumper and I’m wondering how you avoided drilling into a side wall of the substructure and how you got nuts on the bolts. Did you drill all the way through and use really long bolts or is it a self-tapping type bolt?

tlind003

· #8,291 · 10 mo ago

I second what BorderPlanet said, looks awesome Seanhoffer!

BeaMe

· #8,292 · 10 mo ago

I wish I could do some for Patriot today. but I am still looking for one. Lol. Where do you guys usually get maintenance parts? Do you just do it yourself or let the mechanic do it? Someone referred me here for his spark plugs and fuel filter, but I couldnt just let that be the prio since I still don't have one. lol

mr_et2

· #8,293 · 10 mo ago

BeaMe said:
I wish I could do some for Patriot today. but I am still looking for one. Lol. Where do you guys usually get maintenance parts? Do you just do it yourself or let the mechanic do it? Someone referred me here for his spark plugs and fuel filter, but I couldnt just let that be the prio since I still don't have one. lol

I either use a local parts store or somewhere online (Amazon, Rockauto, eBay, etc.), depending on how soon I need the parts. Online is definitely cheaper, but local gets you the parts now. Also, for parts that have warranties (like CV axles and brake calipers), I prefer to buy locally because it's much easier to get warranty replacements from a local store than from an online store. But I do most of my own work. If you're taking your vehicle to a shop, then you almost always have to let them get the parts. In the past 35 years, I've only found one shop that would use my parts.

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Flamewave

· #8,294 · 10 mo ago

2

New throttle body is in and she runs like a beaut.

Although the very first thing I did today was break the battery terminal bolt.

Got a temporary bolt in there now, ordered some new terminals since it's easier to find them than it is bolts.

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BeaMe

· #8,295 · 10 mo ago

mr_et2 said:
I either use a local parts store or somewhere online (Amazon, Rockauto, eBay, etc.), depending on how soon I need the parts. Online is definitely cheaper, but local gets you the parts now. Also, for parts that have warranties (like CV axles and brake calipers), I prefer to buy locally because it's much easier to get warranty replacements from a local store than from an online store. But I do most of my own work. If you're taking your vehicle to a shop, then you almost always have to let them get the parts. In the past 35 years, I've only found one shop that would use my parts.

I dont think a girl like me can do it alone, haha that's why this Forum will help me a lot, as I can read some common issues about the said car here.

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JCali7

· #8,296 · 10 mo ago

Seanhoffer said:
Modified and installed clear turn signal assemblies. View attachment 96978
View attachment 96977
View attachment 96976

Two questions:
1.Which housing did you use to apply the headlights? and how much were the housing kit and headlight?
2. How did you modify the turn light signal?

Jeep Pirate

· #8,297 · 10 mo ago

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Kes Nomad

· #8,298 · 10 mo ago

The other day I replaced the standard antenna with a short one.

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Gonzo Norway

· #8,299 · 10 mo ago

Funny that USA Pats have the antenna there. The european Pats have a short one at the back of the roof.

Kes Nomad

· #8,300 · 10 mo ago

Gonzo Norway said:
Funny that USA Pats have the antenna there. The european Pats have a short one at the back of the roof.

We also have a back)))

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