Jeep Patriot Shuts Down While Driving (Common Causes)

If your Jeep Patriot is shutting down while driving, it’s a real safety hazard.  Vehicles are a lot harder to control without power brakes or steering. Below is a list of the most common reasons your Patriot would randomly die while driving.  Before looking at anything, is the check engine light on?  If it is, … Read more

Jeep Patriot:  Brake Lights Not Working Diagnosis

Brake lights are one of the most critical safety features that your Jeep Patriot has.  They let other drivers know when you are slowing down, and that they need to slow down too.  If your brake lights aren’t working, you’re way more likely to get rear ended than normal.  The good news is that troubleshooting … Read more

Jeep Patriot: What’s Causing That Rotten Egg Smell?

One of the most undervalued diagnostic tools is the human nose.  There’s a lot our nose can tell us about a vehicle with a few quick sniffs.  If you happen to smell a rotten egg smell coming from your Jeep Patriot, it is certainly a cause for concern.  It is most commonly associated with a … Read more

Jeep Patriot Dies After Starting Diagnosis

It can be very disconcerting if your Jeep Patriot is starting and then dies.  It is most likely caused by some type of issue with the electrical or fuel system.  But, there can be other causes as well. Your Patriot’s engine needs 3 things constantly and in the proper proportion to keep running. Air Fuel … Read more

Jeep Patriot: Brake Lights Stuck On → Diagnosis

It is both frustrating and unsafe to drive your Jeep Patriot if the brake lights are stuck on.  The most common reason that they stay on is a brake light switch that has failed.   How Brake Lights Work Brake lights work by having an electric current sent to the brake pedal switch at all … Read more

Jeep Patriot: Shaking When Accelerating → Diagnosis

One of the more common issues that can occur is a vehicle that shakes when accelerating.  If your Jeep Patriot is shaking when accelerating, it’s something that should not be ignored.  While the vibration can be annoying, it is often indicative of a serious problem.   Speed Matters Vehicle speed matters when you feel a … Read more

Jeep Patriot:  Lifter Ticking Diagnosis

One of the most annoying things that you can coming from under the hood of your Jeep Patriot is a ticking lifter.  The ticking noise makes it sound like the engine is going to give up the ghost at any time.  There are a few things that can cause a lifter to tick, such as … Read more

Jeep Patriot: P0171 and P0174 Diagnosis

P0171 and P0174 both indicate that there is a lean condition present in your Jeep Patriot.  By themselves, these are some of the most common OBD2 codes.   When they appear together, it indicates that the entire engine is running lean. Definition Both of these codes are generic, which means they have the same meaning … Read more

Jeep Patriot:  Clutch Slipping → Diagnosis

Your Jeep Patriot’s clutch provides a direct connection between the engine and transmission.  Without it, it can’t move at all. This connection requires a tremendous amount of pressure.  This guide is intended to help you determine why your clutch is slipping on the flywheel. Note:  This article is for manual cars only.  Here’s the automatic … Read more

Jeep Patriot:  Engine Sputtering (Causes + Diagnosis)

A sputtering engine can indicate a number of problems.  If your Jeep Patriot has a sputter, it is most likely going to be caused by bad fuel system, ignition system, MAF sensor, or bad catalytic converter.  Your Patriot’s engine is a giant pump.  It pulls in air (where it is measured by the mass airflow … Read more