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Topic: Jeep towing death-wobble (Read 1604 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Jeep towing death-wobble

Reply #20 –
As Roger stated above the simple wire harness solves the problem.  I had it installed before we ever towed the Cherokee.  Service rep at dealer ask if I had a problem and I explained I didn't  want to have the problem and I sure didn't want the problem to arise while we were on the road-- they put the harness on--and again as was stated before use the extra wire in the 7 blade taillight harness to run 12v to the battery from coach
Chris

Re: Jeep towing death-wobble

Reply #21 –
John when key is off there is no power to steering with the added wire harness it gives power to steering.
Chris

Re: Jeep towing death-wobble

Reply #22 –
Quote from: Larry Rubin –
Before you find and fix the problem, a temporary solution might be to use bungee cords to exert pressure on the steering wheel to center it after a large swing.

You know, we had to do the same thing with the geo tracker we pulled.  Something about the geometry of the tow bar overcoming the wheels tendency to return to center after a turn.  Sure worked well, bungee cord around center spoke of wheel on bottom, clipped to underside of seat. 

Re: Jeep towing death-wobble

Reply #23 –
Dan,
When you have the car hooked up to the coach is the tow bar level or rising up from the car to the coach?
It should be level.
If it's rising you are lifting some weight off the cars front wheels when towing  which may effect how the car behaves and how your cars tires wear.
You could use a drop hitch to level the tow bar to see if it helps.

Re: Jeep towing death-wobble

Reply #24 –
Quote from: John Duld –
Dan,
When you have the car hooked up to the coach is the tow bar level or rising up from the car to the coach?
It should be level.
If it's rising you are lifting some weight off the cars front wheels when towing  which may effect how the car behaves and how your cars tires wear.
You could use a drop hitch to level the tow bar to see if it helps.

The tow bar is level. Definitely one of the thing I checked when having it installed.

Re: Jeep towing death-wobble

Reply #25 –
Lot's of people stating they had the wiring harness installed. That's exactly the fix I'm looking for. No one though is telling me the specific part number or the Jeep technical service bulletin that references this problem for the 2017 Grand Cherokee.
Here is a sample of what can be found online for the earlier models with this problem, but there are tons of posts out there stating that this fix does not apply to 2017 Grand Cherokees.

"The specific issue is the new Electronic Power Steering System (EPS), that does not work with the ignition off. The "death wobble" issue was the result, and FCA finally issued a recall notice for 2014-2016 model years of the Cherokee. I found out because I just purchased a 2017 Cherokee Trailhawk and the owners manual still has the warning although it is not part of the recall "fix". Owners now must purchase (at their own expense) a wiring kit and have it installed that is basically a fuse and switch you must flip "on" when flat towing to provide power to the EPS. The part number is: 68321424AB and must be ordered at a dealership, not online.
FCMA has a lengthy thread on this, unfortunately I (and others) have no knowledge of this when looking for 2017 dingy tows as the 2017 Guide to Dingy Towing from MotorHome Magazine | RV Reviews, Dinghy Towing, RV How-To makes no mention of this requirement at all.
The uproar in the Jeep community is that Jeep promotional material (sales) also makes no disclaimer that the Cherokee is not flat-tow ready without the add-on wiring harness purchased separately.
This is coming to the Grand Cherokees as well, since they are going to the EPS system also."

Re: Jeep towing death-wobble

Reply #26 –
Here is an excellent example from the FMCA forum of people experiencing the same problem. They tried very hard working with Jeep back in 2017 and eventually gave up. I'm hoping that someone here has found a fix in the 4 years since this post. (Ignore the first posts and skip down to nelsons1948 on Sept 9, then keep going, especially to Rewillia on Oct 4.)
Info Needed On Toad: Grand Cherokee? - Toads-Towed Behind Motorhome - FMCA...

Re: Jeep towing death-wobble

Reply #27 –
I have a 2021 Grand Cherokee 80th anniversary model, which is based on the limited GC.

No death wobble, but a different issue with EPS steering system.

Anytime I put the transfer case in neutral, the EPS is disabled so very hard to turn the steering wheel. After taking tansfer case OUT of neutral, the EPS is STILL disabled.

I "think" it resets after around 5 minutes. I have done multiple restarts after transfer engaged again - but that does not help. Changing EPS assist level in the screen also does not help.

Today was our first time towing, and after disconnecting and transfer case back in gear very difficult to steer.

Since this first episode I have tested it 8 times in the campground with jeep not hooked to motorhome. Same result every time after transfer cas has been in neutral.

I will be contacting Jeep, but has anyone here exeperienced this? Or is it a new issue no one else has seen?  I also posted to the IRV forums where there are extensive posts about Jeep EPS steering systems.

Re: Jeep towing death-wobble

Reply #29 –
I resolved the no power to the steering issue (EPS) after transfer case neutral.

Once the transfer case is re-engaged and in gear, and the vehicle is turned off, power is still showing on the transmission lights by the shifter for a time. This tells the EPS to not enage steering assist (EPS thinks transfer case is still in neutral).

If on the "radio" head unit, under key off options, key off power delay and headlights off delay are enabled, add that time to key off (unless you open door to kill the delay time). In addition another 15 to 30 seconds of key off still required before lights on transmission display are off.

By setting the head unit key off options, key off power delay and headlight off power delay, to zero seconds, then 15 to 30 seconds of key off is enough time for the lights on the trans display to go out. At that point restarting the vehicle, EPS power steering works correctly.

So it is a timing issue of how long the Jeep must have no power before EPS steering assist works again.

Multiple restarts do not work to reset the EPS unless the total time off is met first.