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Jeep Wrangler Maintenance and Repair Questions (1997 - 2006)

1886 messages,  Last post on Mar 12, 2013 at 1:19 PM

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What is this discussion about? Jeep Wrangler, Scheduled Maintenance, Steering, Suspension, Tires, SUV

    
 
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Messages Page 149 of 189

#1480 of 1886 Why My Jeep Is Overcharging by leeke2005

Feb 11, 2009 (12:13 pm)

I have a 1997 Jeep Wrangler and have been having problems with it overcharging and cant figure out why... I have changed the alternator and regulator it is still overcharging... the gauge is reading 19 when the jeep is running... The other day the battery started smoking and leaking acid... I have tried everything and nothing seems to be working... So if anybody has an idea or whatnot or maybe knows what the problem is... I am open to your opinion... Thanks..

#1481 of 1886 Wrangler Won't Run by jmirabil1

Feb 11, 2009 (12:22 pm)

My 2006 Jeep Wrangler started missing and backfiring as I drove down the Interstate. Pulled off the road and it won't run without spitting and sputtering. Towed it home. Put the OBDII analyser on it. Got (2) codes: P0016- ?, and P0300-Multiple Cylinder Misfires. What should I look for?

#1482 of 1886 My Jeep costs me more than my mortgage!!! by lephnt5

Feb 11, 2009 (6:18 pm)

To say that I love my Jeep must be an understatement that must prove it's definitely a Jeep thing that others wouldn't understand. I bought my 98 Jeep Wrangler TJ from a dealership with 23,000mi and was told it was garage kept. I've driven it daily since and it now has 208k+miles. I started off two years in paying more than a $1000 for a sheered bolt in the engine that took 9 days for anyone to figure out and repair and then I read on this forum someone else who had this problem and that it wasn't uncommon in this year of Wrangler. Wish the mechanics had read the site so they could have figured it out a week sooner. Since then, I've replaced just about everything including transmission, torque converter, alternator, engine (yup, put in an ATK crate engine), starters-yes plural, O2 sensor, and when I had squeaking breaks checked along with my regular oil change, I was told that my steering box needs replacement because its leaking fluid and I had them short belt my Jeep because the A/C compressor went up and I didn't have the money to fix it just then. About a month after I had that done, the heat started coming and going as in the blower works and then doesn't and then does when it feels like it apparently. The last time I went in for an oil change, etc, I ended up with yet another starter because they broke something off of it when they dropped the oil filter down-so that makes 3 starters now, 1 of which was faulty and fell under warranty and now this one because the garage broke it. So they rotated my tires for free cause obviously I give them a lot of work. When I took it back, yet again because the new breaks were no longer grabbing, which was my clue that I needed new breaks, but now they were squeaking, the mechanic took it for a drive, found no squeaking when he applied the breaks so I hopped in and drove it around with him and also could not make the breaks squeak!!!! Left the lot, drove to work the next day, squeaked like junker at every stop! I took it back and they told me it was actually the rear breaks to which I asked why they didn't tell me I needed new back breaks too, at the time I got the new front ones, but whatever I didn't have time to do it that day as my 20 min oil change turned into the 3 hour wait for the new starter to go in that 3rd time. Yesterday I decided to go someplace else, a Meineke to check my breaks. I figured two hundred at worst. Turned out the lug nut was cross threaded so they had to break it to get it off $4 to replace $48 in labor and then when they took the shoes off one slipped right off and one wouldn't budge. They asked me if I'd ever been hit on that side, which I hadn't ever and so they had to break that off and replace both rear wheel cylinders and wheel stud and new shoes and new drum. He told me both rears were leaking and the pads would get saturated and if I didn't replace them both now, I'd have to eventually and it would cost more later. So I had them do it all and the mechanic test drove it found the front breaks to be squeaking, lubed them or whatever and 4 hours later and $512 and I finally got out of there. This morning I backed my Jeep out of it's space, rolled 3 car lengths to the street light and guess what? The breaks squeeled and I just wanted to blow the thing up.
 
I have fixed everything that has gone wrong, right away. I got regular oil changes, more than regular because I did a lot of driving for two years so monthly at that point. I use the same mechanics all the time if I can help it, and one is a Jeep owner. Everytime I fix something big and we are talking thousands of dollars into this vehicle by now including the $4000 for the new engine and exhaust and oh yeah that radiator thing way back with the sheered bolt and I'm asking, what did I do wrong? Why does this vehicle just keep breaking down on me? How is it that nothing ever seems to be truely fixed? The Airbag light comes on and goes off whenever it feels like it, I won't have air this summer and heat only sometimes the rest of the winter and I can't afford a new steering box but come on!!! I always thought Jeeps ran forever and were dependable and fun and hearty. I am so frustrated and yet I love being a Jeep owner, the top down, the open cabin; I don't even mind all the noise and bounciness. I'm so frustrated and disillusioned and I feel like an idiot for fixing anything. I should have just gotten rid of it right away I guess but how was I to know? And yet, I still want a Wrangler above all other vehicles even though I know I have to buy something new and dependable. Has anyone ever had so much trouble with one little truck?

#1483 of 1886 Re: My Jeep costs me more than my mortgage!!! [lephnt5] by erickpl

Feb 12, 2009 (6:34 am)

Replying to: lephnt5 (Feb 11, 2009 6:18 pm)
WOW! Paragraphs would really help!!!
 
My 97 TJ has been surprisingly problem free for the most part. Any problems are usually the result of my wheeling. Though the catalytic converter was covered under a recall, as was the cracked manifold.
 
Other than that, mine has been relatively problem free. I DID replace the water pump this past weekend at 114K miles, but that isn't a surprise. With routine maintenance, they are quite reliable - same as any other vehicle.
 
Squealing brakes may be a result of poor installation, poor brake material, or possibly dirt, rocks, etc between the rotor/drum and the pads. Hard to tell. I recommend EBC yellow or EBC green pads and a good solid cast rotor. Since my TJ is out of warranty, I have no problem going aftermarket for my parts! Usually cheaper AND better quality.
 
My rear cylinders have been fine and I just replaced the rear pads at 105K miles. They should RARELY require changing as most braking is done in front.
 
Honestly with the problems your mechanics induce, it sounds like a LOT of the issues stem from them screwing things up (starter, cross threading, etc). Personally, I'd learn to do a lot of it myself or find another mechanic that does more good than harm.
 
-Paul

#1484 of 1886 Re: Jeep will not start! HELP! [peacefrog1] by mac24

Feb 12, 2009 (7:49 am)

Replying to: peacefrog1 (Feb 11, 2009 9:56 am)
.......we talked about myabe a corroded gauge cluster or even ive read people having issues with their battery cables being corroded eventhough their headlights shined bright, but car didnt start. any additinal thoughts?
 
There's a fairly common issue in which the gauges become unresponsive, which is cured by a realignment of the connector pins, but it won't prevent starting and running.
It's possible for the battery cables to be corroded to the point that they can supply enough power for the headlights but not the starter, but in that case the headlights would dim or extinguish as soon as the starter was tried.
 
If this issue appeared overnight (and not after some other component was replaced or repair undertaken) I think it's probably a simple single issue such as a bad component ground or maybe a failed fusible link. Someone with an understanding of auto electrics should be able to solve this quickly, but a copy of the electrical information in the FSM (Factory Service Manual) will be almost essential.

#1485 of 1886 Re: My Jeep costs me more than my mortgage!!! [lephnt5] by mac24

Feb 12, 2009 (8:11 am)

Replying to: lephnt5 (Feb 11, 2009 6:18 pm)
Has anyone ever had so much trouble with one little truck?
 
Good grief, you've certainly had more than your share.
 
Sometimes a vehicle is just a lemon and nothing you can do will go right, but I really don't think that's the case here.
Maybe your Wrangler can carry 5% of the blame, but the other 95% has to go to the ham fisted monkeys who were allowed to brutalize the poor thing with wrenches.
 
I have a '99 that I've owned from new that's coming up to 100K, and apart from routine maintenance I haven't spent more $25 on failed components (steering pump bearing $5, wheel cylinder $20).
 
While mine may be an extreme case, it's a lot more typical of Wrangler reliability than yours has been. I think you've been taken advantage of, and just like some people need to change their dating habits, maybe you need to stop going to a certain type of mechanic.
Just saying, you know.

#1486 of 1886 Re: My Jeep costs me more than my mortgage!!! [mac24] by erickpl

Feb 12, 2009 (1:37 pm)

Replying to: mac24 (Feb 12, 2009 8:11 am)
WOW! Mac and I agree!!! Get another mechanic. I don't care how 'they've treated you' because they've treated your Jeep like crud.
 
-Paul

#1487 of 1886 Re: Jeep will not start! HELP! [mac24] by peacefrog1

Feb 12, 2009 (4:11 pm)

Replying to: mac24 (Feb 12, 2009 7:49 am)
Hey Mac.......yes the issue did happen overnight and i found a downloadable version of a factory service manual for a 2004 jeep. mine is a 98'. do u think wiring scheme is similar? if not do u know where i can find this manual to downlaod and not have to pay 40 bucks for it? i'll let you know how it goes. thanks again

#1488 of 1886 Re: Jeep will not start! HELP! [peacefrog1] by mac24

Feb 13, 2009 (8:02 am)

Replying to: peacefrog1 (Feb 12, 2009 4:11 pm)
i found a downloadable version of a factory service manual for a 2004 jeep. mine is a 98'. do u think wiring scheme is similar?
 
They might be similar but I wouldn't recommend it for troubleshooting.
You can access the factory manual for $27 for a year at ALLDATA.

#1489 of 1886 electric problems started with the turn signal... by shelbycricket

Feb 20, 2009 (7:36 pm)

Hi there,
 
A few weeks ago my tail lights got stuck on after I had turned the Jeep (a TJ '97 ) off and removed the key. Normally they will shut off automatically, there is no external switch. Nothing would shut them off! I finally disconnected the battery so I could get back inside. When I returned to my Jeep I reconnected the bat and the lights were back to normal.
 
Next week the left turn signal went out. I replaced the bulb but it didnt help, there was no juice reaching the socket. I traced it back to the terminal plug under the steering wheel. I unpluged it, found power reaching the socket peg and planned to splice the wire leading to the light socket. Funny thing tho...when I plugged it back in the turn signal started working.
 
But, the dash lights and tail lights stopped working. By now I had figured it was a connection problem, but where? I unplugged it today (same plug) and sprayed it lightly with electrical cleaner put in some grease. No good!
 
In fact, now the break lights don't work!!! And there is no power to the little metal socket peg for the break lights! That means power isn't even reaching the socket!
 
The turn signal/flashers work, but no breaks, tail lights, or dash illumination. (The odometer, dash turn signals, headlights, seatbelt lights,etc. all work on the dash. It's just the dials. Wipers work, radio is good...)
 
Is there a circuit board behind the terminal plugs? I'm thinking it could be cracked.
 
My problem is that the Haynes manual doesn't show a diagram of the terminal plugs and doesn't describe them at all. I'm kinda new to this so I just need some better instructions.
 
Any help please?

Messages Page 149 of 189

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