Jeep Creep: Off-Road Tech and Maintenance

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Previous machine Creep Columns
November 2012

October 2012

September 2012

One machine recall this month.

12V-527: Chrysler is recalling sure model year 2002 and 2003 machine Liberty vehicles factory-made January nine, 2001, through March twenty eight, 2003, and 2002 through 2004 machine Grand Cherokee vehicles factory-made Gregorian calendar month thirteen, 2001, through could twenty three, 2003. A part within the bag management module could fail inflicting the front airbags, aspect curtain airbags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy unknowingly whereas the vehicle is being operated. unintended preparation of the airbags could increase the danger of injury and therefore the risk of a vehicle crash. Chrysler can inform homeowners, and dealers can install a supplemental jumper harness to the airbag management module, freed from charge. The recall is anticipated to start throughout January 2013. homeowners could contact Chrysler at 800-247-9753.

T-Case Fluid
A friend was serving to ME amendment all the fluids in my 1985 CJ-7 and that we didn’t have enough gear oil left to fully fill the Dana three hundred transfer case, therefore he finished filling it with some 20W50 engine oil. I didn’t assume it absolutely was right however he’s far more of a mechanic than I, therefore I didn’t argue however currently I’m disquieted. He aforesaid it absolutely was identical issue and that i haven’t detected any distinction in however it runs, sounds, or shifts. ought to i modify out the mixed material or not?
Nate Withers
Mesquite, NV

Well, Nate, ninety weight gear oil and 20W50 gasoline each flow at regarding identical rate, however they disagree greatly within the additives. while not going into nice detail, i will be able to say there ar additives geared oil that assists gears Associate in Nursingd bearings in living longer however would cause issues within an engine. fortunately for you, a Dana three hundred transfer case isn't a disagreeable place for gear lubricate, therefore I’m certain nothing has been broken up to now. However, I powerfully advocate you replace the mixed fluid with an honest quality gear oil before you go four wheeling once more.

Shaken Not Stirred
I have a ‘99 Wrangler Sport with a 3-inch chassis raise and 1-inch body raise (tires ar 33x12.5). late once I’m driving on road or street between thirty two to forty mph the side can suddenly begin shaking in such a violent method I even have to right away slap on the brakes and stop. All lug bonkers ar tight and obtaining beneath and visually checking I will see nothing wrong or disconnected or loose. 2 years past I had a heavy-duty steering cushion and serious rod put in. i attempted driving with all tires at twenty psi and additionally with thirty two psi however saw no distinction. What gives?
Bob Wick
Gold canon, AZ

You’ll ought to do many things to free yourself of what we have a tendency to decision the “death wobble.” Take your machine to an honest alignment look and have it aligned and every one the tires balanced. make certain they examine the ball joints—this is what caused the DW in my JK—and have them tighten each part, nut, and bolt within the suspension and steering systems. you may do the alteration yourself, however you continue to would like specialists to perform the alignment, balancing, and examination. every small little of placement or play will multiply with the larger tires and lifts into a significant drawback. Have the look additionally check the condition of the Pitman arm, gear mechanism box (mounting and internally), and every one rod ends (you could need to replace all the rod ends). And, if you happen to go to Kingman I will advocate a visit to preciseness automobile.

Kickin’ It Up!
Got Associate in Nursing recent CJ-2a machine and that i wish to exchange the devil a pair of.5 four banger with a V-8. would like additional power for competition.
Paulo

Paulo, I envy you however you are doing have plenty of labor prior to you. My initial conversion—in the mid-60s—involved a 1946 CJ-2a and a devil 265-cid tiny block V-8, therefore I even have some personal expertise with this project. initial of all, since it feels like you’ve already competed together with your flatty, I assume you’ve already upgraded the steering, brakes and clutch to accommodate the four holer, therefore i want not come in those details, right? You’ll need to amendment motor mounts and radiator; but, if you have already got an oversized four-core cross-flow radiator, you will solely ought to match the water and retailers to the new engine. You’ll even have to chop out all the additional metal behind the grille to maneuver the rad forward, and you will ought to do some cutting so resealing the firewall to accommodate the V-8’s distributor. however the bellhousing adapter and clutch linkage ought to still work. Take lots of footage, Paulo, and send them in, I’d wish to see them and know past.

Cherokee raise
Quite your time past I browse a writing on here regarding the BOR 6-inch spring kit for XJs however I can’t notice wherever to shop for them. What does one realize them or wherever am i able to get them?
Rob Maclin
Poplar Bluff, MO

BOR—Big Off-Road—was in Colorado however has since gone out of business while not feat any contact data, Rob. However, Skyjacker makes a 6-inch raise kit for the Cherokee XJ—see my article thereon within the archives—as do many alternative cross-country suspension makers.

No Four
I have a 1990 XJ with Associate in Nursing automobile transmission. the opposite day I went off road at a neighborhood beach and got stuck within the sand. I detected that it wasn’t participating in 4-wheel-drive; the rear tires unbroken spinning and excavation deeper. The indicator lights weren’t happening either (4L, 4H). somebody force ME out and once I got home I checked below the vehicle and detected that a line was disconnected on the front shaft. Would this be the vacuum line that engages the machine into 4-wheel-drive? it's on the traveller aspect of the shaft close to the tire. I haven’t reconnected something nevertheless. I needed to create certain what i used to be wiggling with initial. however does one check if it’s the solenoid? does one faucet it sort of a stuck starter? I verified the lines at lunch these days and located 2 wires going into a plastic piece. however wherever it connects to the shaft there's only 1 connecting purpose. i attempted the one protruding additional and zip happened. I then switched it to the shorter aspect and it engaged, however the sole indicator lightweight that came on was the “Part Time” lightweight, nothing came on in 4L. Any input on wherever the longer aspect association goes? As you'll be able to tell, I’m a newcomer, however you make a case for well.
Aloha – Eric Nakaguma
Honolulu, Hawaii

Make sure you clean out all of the sand initial therefore nothing gets adhesive up. If everything doesn’t begin operating once more once you reconnect the hose, check the coil. it should be stuck. That happened on a community I once in hand whereas i used to be “deep” in an exceedingly peninsula dry sandy river bottom for the Baja one thousand. I’d recommend you purchase a replacement coil and install it, even though your 4WD begins operating once more, and keep the recent one as a spare. you would like to “exercise” the 4WD around once a month to stay it in operation, and by exercise, I mean you have got to activate 4WD simply to create certain everything’s moving okay. once you reconnect the hose, place it in 4WD low vary on a soft surface and watch the front tires. If they need power, it’s okay. If they don’t, pull out the coil and watch it whereas activating the controls. If it doesn’t move, it has to get replaced. Eric, it's vacuum-operated by a switch. The pod on the shaft has 2 or 3 lines on it; one to tug it to disengage, the opposite to interact. i feel it’s time for you to require it to a machine concern to create certain everything is connected properly.

Eco Filter
When I was having my machine maintained at Oil will Henry’s recently, they replaced the filter. It had solely been sure regarding half-dozen,000 miles—I have my machine maintained each three,000 miles—but I do board the desert and do plenty of dust-covered trails. once I asked them why they modified it, they told ME the new filter would improve my fuel consumption rate. I did some web searches and a couple of sites aforesaid that it might improve mpg et al aforesaid it created no distinction. does one have any plan that is which?
Dennis Wolf
Tucson, AZ

Hey, Dennis, several recent tests just about mirror what you found in your ‘Net searches. Fuel economy isn't affected in the least by a rather restricted filter and atiny low quantity once the filter is practically blocked to the purpose wherever a performance degradation is noticeable. Some tests do indicate that carbureted engines ar additional affected than electronic fuel injected engines, and therefore the larger the engine (more air flow) the additional it's affected. That being said—and ME being old-school—I like a clean filter to a grimy one.

XJ ATF?
I’ve got a V6 ‘89 machine Cherokee port of entry with Associate in Nursing automatic and 266,000 miles on her. i would like to service the tranny (fluid, filter and seal only). what's the proper fluid to use? The fluid isn't burnt currently and that i don't have any shifting issues apart from it sometimes slips out of overdrive at low speeds. additionally would Associate in Nursing additive like Lucas be beneficial? I checked the gage and therefore the fluid sort isn't written thereon.
Robert Torres
Mobile, AL

First of all, Robert, it’s Associate in Nursing inline four.0L six, not a V6, and congrats on obtaining that a lot of miles on the clock. the proper variety of fluid is Dextron a pair of or three for the 1989 machine automatic drive. I additionally powerfully recommend that you simply order the suitable look manual for your machine from 4-Wheel Parts; it’ll answer all of your queries. thereupon several miles thereon, I’m certain your Cherokee would have the benefit of any extended mileage ATF and/or additive.

YJ V8?
I have a ‘92 machine YJ with its stock four cylinder engine. and that i have a ‘97 community with a five.7L V-8. i'd wish to swap the engine and the maximum amount of the Suburban’s drivetrain as attainable. am i able to do that and still be smogginess and street legal, ar there any sensible retailers in SoCal to contact?
Ken Nolan
Anaheim, CA

I once did identical variety of conversion in Colorado wherever I didn’t have the CA smogginess cops wanting over my shoulder. I force a ’76 Suburban’s 400-cid engine and TH350 tranny out and placed them in my ’82 CJ7 (see photo). I can’t ever sell it in CA however I’m certain enjoying it in Arizona! i feel you ought to do identical issue together with your combine of vehicles, Ken. Pull the engine, transmission, and wiring harness, then you'll be able to sell the Sub to a yard. And you’re in luck, there ar 4-Wheel elements retailers everywhere SoCal—their headquarters is in Compton—including one in Santa Ana. If they can’t do the conversion for you, they'll purpose you within the right direction. Tip: whereas consulting Advance Adapters for the transmission/transfer case adapter, you would possibly additionally take into account substitution your OEM T-case with Associate in Nursing Atlas two- or three-speed transfer case.