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Jeep Wrangler

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What is this discussion about? Jeep Wrangler, SUV

Messages Page 2186 of 2340

#21848 of 23393 Re: Unlimited [pirate8] by drewmeister

Jul 17, 2006 (10:15 am)

Replying to: pirate8 (Jul 17, 2006 7:51 am)
I think waiting till the 07 is out is a good choice. I know a lot of us crotchety Jeepers complain about change, but I'm thinking the JK is going to be very cool. I'm going to keep my current Unlimited, because it's just too painful to part with. How many vehicles can you hear that about repeatedly? That's the Jeep thing.
 
Anyway, like most people I've had more than one. Then I sell them, regret it, and a couple years later I buy another. However, and this is a big one, PLEASE BE SURE WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO! Wrangler people are a bit nuts. Tom and Ray on Car Talk even say so. We give ourselves kidney problems. We ignore rattles and squeaks. We get smashed and burned fingers from fiddling with difficult tops. We enjoy dirt in the interior. We cannot hear the stock radio. People constantly flip us off on high-speed freeways, because we're worried about the top coming off if we go too fast. This stuff is not normal. Your other two cars will feel light-years ahead in technology.
 
I cannot promise the new JK will be this way, but Daimler-Chrysler has promised all of us that it will still retain "Jeepness", so let's hope so.
 
If you just want to go for some mild-wheeling once a year, and like the small size for parking, a Liberty can do that. I've driven them, they're nice and ride pretty well. My Dad's Grand is fantastic in dirt, and rides pretty quiet on the highway and tows his boat. But he has no desire to get blown around in an open vehicle that's not on the water. (It's a similar experience, now that you think about it.)
 
Anyway, the reason I say this is that we've heard from quite a few unhappy people on this board, who don't like the mileage, ride, noise, or experience. It's kind of our duty to make sure you have a good experience. I'd say to rent one for a week, but I know not everyone can. I used to work at a used car lot in the service bay (1993), and used to drive them around on lunch and breaks. When they got an 89 trade-in with all the tops and 29k miles, I bit hard. Had to start actually commuting and sold it. Man I miss that one. So, don't say you weren't warned as you're flipping through the Quadratec catalog and trying to figure out where to store the tops

#21849 of 23393 Re: popping noise [glassgirl] by drewmeister

Jul 17, 2006 (10:18 am)

Replying to: glassgirl (Jul 17, 2006 10:14 am)
Hey,
Interior or suspension? Yes, they do rattle, as my windshield frame occasionally makes some "clicking" on hot days. Does it do it only when turning, or only on bumps? Or all the time on smooth roads?
 
Suspension issues can be serious. You might have someone drive around with you in the passenger seat so you can hear it better. If it is coming from the suspension, I'd get it to a shop to have it checked out.
 
You can also post this in the Problems and Solutions board for Wranglers. mac24 answers a bunch of questions like this over there.

#21850 of 23393 Excessive ?? Soft Top Flapping Noise by kginfjeep

Jul 17, 2006 (3:56 pm)

Hi, I have a '05 Unlimited that I have dual tops. Just put on the soft top for the second time, and it is making quite a "buzz"/flapping noise at the 2 bow (I believe I have the number right - the bow directly above the driver's head, held down via Velcro built into the soft top). I have full metal doors.
 
The sound is almost like the Velcro itself is buzzing. Sound appears to be coming from the sides of the top. Applying pressure to the top (from inside) doesn't affect the noise. I noticed that the top is noticably more taught between the windshield and this 2 bow than between the 2 bow and towards the rear.
 
I have checked the velcro on the side windows and don't see any looseness there.
 
Is this noise "normal"? Any ideas on how to correct, as I said, this is only 2nd time I have installed soft top, may have screwed up. Also, the top was not on the vehicle very long for the first time, still very new condition/tight.

#21851 of 23393 Re: Excessive ?? Soft Top Flapping Noise [kginfjeep] by mcrrt

Jul 18, 2006 (9:42 am)

Replying to: kginfjeep (Jul 17, 2006 3:56 pm)
While sitting inside the Jeep, look along either side of the soft top. Near the rear edge of each door is a metal bracket with a pull ring attached. Each side of the soft top frame has a block that should seat in that bracket and "snap" into place when it's secure (You'd have to pull the ring to release it again). If one or both of these blocks aren't latched into their brackets, it could account for the sound you're hearing. These attachments serve to hold the soft top down when you have the Sunrider open. I didn't describe this real well, so check your owner's manual for other details and pictures. Let us know if this solves your problem!
 
-Marcus

#21852 of 23393 Re: Excessive ?? Soft Top Flapping Noise [kginfjeep] by wpowell

Jul 18, 2006 (10:33 am)

Replying to: kginfjeep (Jul 17, 2006 3:56 pm)
I would suggest that you check the following things. Make sure that the pins above the rear of the door on each side are in place to hold the top in place (I think these are unique to our LJ's). There are also a couple of half round plastic "guides" near the same location that rest on top of the bows to make sure the bows are centered and extended all the way up. Make sure one or both haven't slipped to one side and created some slack in the top. Next, unfasten and refasten the velcro around both bows and get it as tight as you can. Then, do the same along the top of the rear windows pulling the top down as tight as you can over the windows. You should not have any flapping to speak of with a new top up to maybe 60+ mph, at least that's been my experience. Good luck, post results.

#21853 of 23393 Re: Excessive ?? Soft Top Flapping Noise [wpowell] by

Jul 18, 2006 (5:03 pm)

Replying to: wpowell (Jul 18, 2006 10:33 am)
Are the windows and top, stretching "in" or "out" at highway speeds? If they are going in, like pulling a vacuum, try turning your fan blower speed up to pressurize the cabin. The venting changed several years ago, maybe Mac24 can explain.

#21854 of 23393 Re: Excessive ?? Soft Top Flapping Noise [] by mac24

Jul 18, 2006 (5:26 pm)

Replying to: unknown (Jul 18, 2006 5:03 pm)
If they are going in, like pulling a vacuum, try turning your fan blower speed up to pressurize the cabin. The venting changed several years ago.............
 
The change of cabin venting through the tailgate in '03 doesn't make any difference to the behaviour of the soft top.
 
However, if the HVAC is set to recirculate then the top will be sucked in, regardless of the blower setting. This effect is caused by a low pressure area at the rear of the vehicle which increases with road speed. On any of the other settings (which will admit outside air through the grille below the windshield), the top will be pressurized. The degree to which it will be affected is controlled by a combination of vehicle speed and blower setting.

#21855 of 23393 Re: Unlimited [pirate8] by mtngal

Jul 18, 2006 (8:19 pm)

Replying to: pirate8 (Jul 17, 2006 7:51 am)
The Unlimited is better for long trips, and it isn't bad for parking in the city - more like a regular car. The gas mileage will be worse (or at least it was for me) - our manual Sport used to get about 2 mpg more than the auto Unlimited does (both of them are horrible in the city). Any of the Wranglers, including the Unlimited, will be fine for easy to moderate off-roading without any modifications.
 
As was pointed out, the Wrangler isn't for everyone. You do give up lots of creature comforts for the fun of it. The Unlimited is quite a bit quieter than the SWB Wranglers - they built it with extra padding to cut down on the road noise. It wouldn't surprise me if the new ones will continue this and be at least comparable to the Unlimited (that being said, it's still noisier than most cars - remember there's only either a fiberglass shell or a piece of cloth between you and the outdoors).
 
Forgot to mention - Wranglers hold their value so getting a late-model, low mileage vehicle will set you back almost as much as a new one. You probably are better buying new, unless you are looking for an older one as a project.

#21856 of 23393 Re: Excessive ?? Soft Top Flapping Noise [mac24] by kginfjeep

Jul 18, 2006 (9:45 pm)

Replying to: mac24 (Jul 18, 2006 5:26 pm)
Mac and everyone,
        thanks for the helpful tips, had too much on schedule tonight to test, just inspected, will try tomorrow.
      I definitely had the HVAC on recirculate, noticed windows bowing inward. So that is at least part of the problem.
      I also see that the velcro could be tighter near the corners of the 2 bow, will re-seat everything tomorrow. And the side windows velcro attachment looks reasonable, but will re-check
      The pins were already locked in place, had checked that before.
      Thanks again to all, will keep posted with progress.

#21857 of 23393 Saving Gas in a Jeep Wrangler by steve_ HOST

Jul 18, 2006 (11:00 pm)

Everything you wanted to know about saving gas in your Wrangler. (Strategies for Smart Car Buyers)
 
Tell us how you are doing in the Jeep Wrangler: MPG - Real World Numbers discussion.

Messages Page 2186 of 2340

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