This review is for recent service on my 2009 Jeep ...

This review is for recent service on my 2009 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon on 4/30/18, with a follow-up visit on 5/2/18.

I made the original appointment because of a leak coming from the driver's side of my front differential. I also wanted them to identify a noise (that sounds like the fan is sitting in water) when the Jeep is started with the vent fan on. I also needed an oil change. I dropped the Jeep off with no issues and went to work.

About 3 hours later, Lupe called to tell me that they determined that my front axle pinion seal was the source of the leak. I didn't see any leakage around the pinion seal when I was trying to find the leak, but I figured they are the experts and I just need to get the leak taken care of. He said it would be $371. I told him to do it. He also let me know that the blower motor needs to be replaced ($415), as does my oil pan gasket ($431), my air filter ($38), and they recommended that my transmission fluid be replaced ($216). I can take care of all of these things myself, so I declined. I questioned the oil pan gasket leak - I've not noticed any leakage around the oil pan or any drips when I park. Except for the leak dripping off of my differential/axle.

I picked the Jeep up on my lunch hour and drove it to work (a half mile away). When I went to leave work a few hours later, I noticed two small drip puddles under the Jeep - the same one from the differential/axle, and a new one under my oil pan. I drove home (4.5 miles away). I parked in my driveway, took all of my stuff inside, came back out to inspect, and there were two new puddles in my driveway. The oil that was dripping from the oil pan looked like it was just old oil that didn't get wiped off when they changed my oil, so I wiped it down as best I could. But it was totally obvious that the leak on my differential was still leaking like before.

I called the Service Department on 5/1/18 and explained the situation - they set me up with an appointment the following morning. I dropped it off again and went to work. Lupe called me a few hours later and said that the leak appeared to be coming from the axle tube where it meets the differential. He said the only way to fix it was to replace the entire axle assembly. I said "So, you charge me $400 to replace a front pinion seal that wasn't leaking." He said, "No. The pinion seal was leaking, but this is a different leak." He told me he would have my Jeep on a lift when I came so I could look for myself. I came at 4 PM, and we went under my Jeep. They must have cleaned around the pinion seal very well, because there wasn't any evidence that there had been a leak. You could still see the leak next to the differential, but couldn't tell where it was coming from.

Fast forward two weeks. I was able to take it to another mechanic. He crawled under, had me crank the steering wheel, and said "This might be your problem - when I touched the differential vent tube, it just fell out." He cleaned the area with a can of brake cleaner, put some gasket sealer on the end of the vent tube, and reinserted it. I went and drove it for about three miles and returned. No more leak. He checked the differential level - it was low, so he filled it. I drove it home (about 10 miles from their shop). No leak. I drove it again after I got home. No more leak. They didn't even charge me for the inspection, the 15 minutes he took to fix it, or the quart of differential oil they used.

If I can help it, I will never take my Jeep back to Baxter for service.

My paperwork says that Certified Technician #2999 did the work both times I brought it in.