JEEP COMPASS
Q We are owners of our second Jeep Compass Latitude 2.2 diesel. The engine is of Mercedes-Benz ancestry, not to be confused with the earlier VW-engined vehicles. Our first Latitude was a 61-reg model, which proved a reliable and comfortable vehicle for 100,000 miles. We updated for a 64-reg model with 30,000 miles and FSH in almost-new condition. Both vehicles have a manual six-speed gearbox and climate control. They also have the same irritating faults.
The DLRs blow bulbs on a regular basis. They are 21W-5W bulbs mounted in a plastic plug which push-fits into the wiring loom, with the ‘21W’ being the DLR element. It doesn’t matter if you use cheap or expensive bulbs – they all blow, sometimes after just a few hundred miles, presumably due to heat. Cleaning contacts makes no difference.
The second problem is coolant loss. This Mercedes engine has a Fiat/Chrysler-designed combined steering and water pump, which on earlier models was known to give trouble and cause water leaks from the inlet and outlet pipes. On our first Latitude, the pump failed and had to be replaced at a cost of £400 plus labour. The engine behaved normally except for continued slight water loss during the rest of our ownership.
Our new vehicle does exactly the same thing. Aware of the earlier faults, we have inspected hoses connections and pressure-checked everything, including the radiator, without success. We replaced the coolant cap with a new one, but the header tank still needs topping-up with about 75cl of water every 2000 miles. As with the previous vehicle, the engine drives normally and provides 44/45mpg.
A As you say, the DRLs have an inherent problem due to heat build-up in the lamp. When fitting the bulb, it may help to clean the bulb with a soft cloth before fitting it. The oils on skin cause the glass to retain heat and may contribute to shortening the life of the bulb. One alternative, which other Jeep owners have tried, is to use an LED bulb replacement, such as the ones on this website: https://bit.l
