Now that's Mopar/FCA quality (UPDATED)

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein) 11/02/2015 at 18:03 • Filed to: None

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This week I took my 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee to the dealer to replace its ignition switch, which like the Chevy Cobalt was recalled because it was !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

FCA took about a year from when they announced the recall to when they got parts and instructions out to dealers. Which would be a bigger deal if the ignition switch was closer to where the knees of actual humans are located, but it’s very far away from my knees. The parts list on the work order the service writer gave me when I dropped off the car included a new ignition switch that’s much stiffer in general and requires the driver to first push the key in before being able to turn the car off, and a sticker. At the time, I wondered what the sticker was for.

Well, now I know.

Even though having to push the key in before turning the car off is the normal mode of operation for many other car companies’ ignition switches, I guess FCA decided dealers needed to stick this lovely sticker on the dash next to the ignition switch so us stupid Jeep drivers would know how to operate our new, non-lethal ignition switches. Either that or their lawyers made them.

I’m also very happy that my dealer service department took the time and care to mangle the hell out of the hole in the dash for the ignition switch, and make sure the lock cylinder is totally off center in the hole.

I want nothing more than to peel away that sticker, but I think first I’m going to try to get the dealership to try a little harder to make the lock cylinder sit flush with the hole in the dash.

UPDATE: I checked the shop manual. The square panel below the ignition switch is actually all one piece with the round bezel around the ignition switch. To remove that bezel, you’re supposed to stick a trim tool in the bottom edge of the square part of the bezel.

I have a feeling someone got lazy and shoved the trim tool between the lock cylinder and the bezel, which mangled the inner edge of the bezel, and maybe moved the whole ignition lock assembly off center.

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2015 at 16:47

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This is the kind of thing that would drive me mad.

The thing about car fixes is that if I wanted it done poorly, I’d have done it myself - I wanted it done right, which is why I brought my car here.

I have a bad feeling this is one of those things where this is the best they could do. I really hope I’m wrong, though.

Dunnik > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2015 at 16:48

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I guess FCA decided dealers needed to stick this lovely sticker on the dash next to the ignition switch so us stupid Jeep drivers would know how to operate our new, non-lethal ignition switches. Either that or their lawyers made them.

Bit of column a, bit of column b, I’d say. To most operators, that sticker would be useless, but you could easily imagine scenarios where it might be useful: when selling the car, or say lending it to somebody who doesn’t know cars well.

Mostly column b, though: this is the classic “Now that we’ve told you about this, you can’t claim you didn’t know and therefore can’t sue us” sticker.

Mustafaluigi > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2015 at 16:48

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Holy Shit that fitment. Did they even try?

LongbowMkII > Mustafaluigi 11/02/2015 at 16:59

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Better than factory, what more do you people want?

pip bip - choose Corrour > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2015 at 17:02

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curious to see how the fix is with other vehicles before you complain , there may not be anything you can do about it.

Frank Grimes > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2015 at 17:17

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can’t fit round peg in round hole?

RazoE > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2015 at 17:17

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Is this factory fitment as well? What’s with the extra blank plastic doing nothing but being ugly?

LongbowMkII > RazoE 11/02/2015 at 17:24

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lowering costs by 0.6 cents per unit.

Textured Soy Protein > RazoE 11/02/2015 at 17:32

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I think the square part is to make accessing the round part easier? Not sure. I’ll see if I can find any info in the shop manual.

Textured Soy Protein > RazoE 11/02/2015 at 17:36

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The square part is also part of the round part. It’s one piece that’s supposed to be removed by sticking a trim pry tool along the bottom edge.

50 bucks says the tech got lazy and figured since they were removing the old lock cylinder they’d just jam the trim tool between the cylinder and the bezel, and they scratched up the inner edge of the bezel.

Gonna update my post...

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2015 at 18:23

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Gotta tailor your expectations man, it's not BMW!

Textured Soy Protein > Rico 11/02/2015 at 18:44

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All I ask is if they take something apart and put it back together again, that it look at least as good as it did before they took it apart.

Rico > Textured Soy Protein 11/02/2015 at 18:52

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I hear you man, you should expect it to be as good as before at the least.