The new 'what did you do to your Jeep today?' thread

casm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 694

Apologies to everyone who had been participating in the old 'what did you do to your Jeep today?' thread. During the first and rather massive wave of purging spammers and their posts a couple of months ago, it seems as though the original thread was inadvertently deleted. From checking the logs, this was my fault; most likely, I meant to delete a post in the thread and instead took out the whole thing. I regret that this happened, and while it's not possible to bring back the old thread, a new one can at least be started.

Kicking off: yesterday, at 165,100 miles: replaced the swaybar bushings and end links. The front end is now considerably less klunky and steering feel is improved. Alignment scheduled for tomorrow.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2020 5:12 pm

Casm, thanks for all the hard work it took to root out thousands of spam posts. You’ve helped breathe new life into the forum.

I’ll help out, even though it was technically yesterday. I got an oil change and replaced the passengers side hub bearing, which had 171,000 miles on it.

layback40 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 28, 2020 9:09 pm

Sh*t happens casm! Small price to pay for all your hard work. It would have been one hell of a job looking for spam. We may have lost a little useful information but it will reappear in time.
You & WW have got the balance right with regard to what is ok & what is not.
What did I do today? Well actually your today is our yesterday!
I lifted the hood so I could connect my chainsaw sharpener & sharpen the chain. Checked the fluids while the hood was up. All good.
Today (Saturday), having a lazy morning. Probably wont go outside before lunch. Need to put my XJ battery on the charger.

casm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 694

Thanks, folks - it is appreciated

Full credit to WWDiesel as well - having him also dealing with the problem has been invaluable.

Today's stuff (which actually started on Thursday): hit the front wiper arms and plastic end supports on the roof rails with Rustoleum Truck Bed Coating. Preparation consisted of nothing more than removing the pieces, washing them in dish soap (Dawn, for anyone who may be wondering), giving them a good rinse, and then letting them sun-dry before hitting them with the bed liner spray.

No pictures because, frankly, my camera can't show the aftereffects well enough, but I'm pretty happy with how they came out. The Rustoleum bed liner spray has a rather fine grit to it, much less than something like a Line-X or Rhinoliner. It sprays like a slightly thicker paint, which it essentially is, and once dry feels very tactile without being grating.

These were my guinea pigs to see how the spray behaved on both plastic and metal with minimal prep; I've worked with heavy-duty spray-on bedliners before, but never something like this. For the price ($8/can at Home Depot), it's worth it if you're also looking for something to restore fading plastics and paint with as I was. Time will tell how it holds up, but given that I never want to have to redo this on the things it's intended to be used on, I'm optimistic that it will last.

MJCT208 · **Joined:** Mon Jul 08, 2013 10:13 pm **Posts:** 6

A 2012 limited jet sneaked into my driveway... afterlooking for many months. Needs a little help, but couldn’t pass it up! needed to get back into the Jeep life after selling my wrangler.

casm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 694

On Tuesday: finally got around to addressing the transmission drainback issue by replacing both transmission filters of unknown (possibly NAPA) origin with Mopar units. Part numbers were 5179267AD (spin-on filter) and 5013470AE (flat filter).

After four mornings of being able to get in, start the engine, and immediately drive off without having to wait 20 to 30 seconds for transmission pressure to build after the KJ was parked overnight, I'm calling it a success. Going to give the TCM a couple of weeks to relearn how to shift when pressures are correct, then order a Sonnax kit.

Yesterday: replaced the electrical connector to the IAP sensor with a Mercedes unit that was considerably cheaper than Chrysler's option. Details here.

Currently sitting here staring at the stack of CV axles and wheel bearings waiting to go in and wondering how many weekends I have left in the year to take care of those jobs before the weather turns cold and wet.

casm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 694

Made a trip to the dealer and finally had the speedo corrected for the 245/75R16 tyres. The half-hour of labour that they charged was pretty reasonable in comparison to a speeding ticket.

Per GPS, the speedo now reads a constant 2mph above actual speed. That's close enough to bang-on perfect to make me happy.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Sat Sep 26, 2020 2:09 pm

casm wrote:

Made a trip to the dealer and finally had the speedo corrected for the 245/75R16 tyres. The half-hour of labour that they charged was pretty reasonable in comparison to a speeding ticket.

Per GPS, the speedo now reads a constant 2mph above actual speed. That's close enough to bang-on perfect to make me happy.

In the KJ is that an electronic adjustment or changing out a physical speedometer gear?

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sat Sep 26, 2020 3:02 pm

lfhoward wrote:

casm wrote:

Made a trip to the dealer and finally had the speedo corrected for the 245/75R16 tyres. The half-hour of labour that they charged was pretty reasonable in comparison to a speeding ticket.

Per GPS, the speedo now reads a constant 2mph above actual speed. That's close enough to bang-on perfect to make me happy.

In the KJ is that an electronic adjustment or changing out a physical speedometer gear?

I believe it is done using the factory DRBIII tool that dealers have.
Some high end scanners and programmers like the SnapOn Verus and a few others are also capable of changing tire sizes in the OBC.

I don't think CRD's have any gear driven speed sensors. It is all done with electronic speed sensors. There are two sensors on the transmission and one on top of the real differential on 05 models.
06 models use speed sensors at each wheel.

dkcase · **Posted:** Tue Oct 13, 2020 9:55 pm

Replaced the right rear window regulator.
Was an aftermarket part already.
I think they have all been replaced.

dkcase · **Posted:** Tue Oct 13, 2020 10:05 pm

Recently installed a Scangauge monitor -- primarily to keep a close watch on engine temperature because the radiator fan has a history of not always operating. Heat rising when stalled at a drive-through , etc.

Added a manual switch to start the fan on command. Deciding now the parameters of when to engage it. I think around 215 degrees F.

In the process, I tried to add an "Ambient Air Temperature" reading using their "X-Gauge" programming feature, but it stays blank. The gauge manual says the vehicle simply may not report that. Does anyone know if that is right, or should it work ?

lfhoward · **Posted:** Wed Oct 14, 2020 5:17 pm

dkcase wrote:

Recently installed a Scangauge monitor -- primarily to keep a close watch on engine temperature because the radiator fan has a history of not always operating. Heat rising when stalled at a drive-through , etc.

Added a manual switch to start the fan on command. Deciding now the parameters of when to engage it. I think around 215 degrees F.

In the process, I tried to add an "Ambient Air Temperature" reading using their "X-Gauge" programming feature, but it stays blank. The gauge manual says the vehicle simply may not report that. Does anyone know if that is right, or should it work ?

The Scangauge has a built in function for engine temp, which is the degrees F Water Temp in the radiator (°FWT).

The Transmission Fluid Temp (TFT) is an Xgauge command and you can find details here:
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=84482

Ambient air temperature is the same as the outdoor temperature displayed on your dashboard: it comes from the sensor behind your bumper and in front of the radiator.

dkcase · **Posted:** Wed Oct 21, 2020 4:53 pm

Thanks for replying. I just saw it.

Mine is a 2002. Don't have ambient temp on the dash. The programmed ambient temp reading now gives random, erratic numbers, and is not always blank. For instance, when it started "working" the temp was about 50* and it all of a sudden said 93* and never changed.

Transmission is 45RFE. The Wrangler link talks about codes for the 42RLE, but I see they weren't successful for some who tried them too.

I followed these links and don't think I can get trans temp; would be the next thing I'd like. I actually have a digital trans temp gauge but mounting it and getting through the firewall is not going to happen.

citylone · **Joined:** Wed Feb 05, 2020 10:18 am **Posts:** 32

Gave it a long overdue wash and wax.

iakj11 · **Posted:** Sat Oct 31, 2020 6:21 pm

Today I started my Jeep!

This is a big deal for me as it has been sidelined for three weeks with a broken water pump bracket arm.

In the last three weeks:

New timing belt, idlers, tensioner, water pump.
New rockers and ARP head studs.
New Stant 188 degree thermostat.
New 5 volt Bosch glow plugs (7 volt programming).
New Hayden fan clutch (11 blade nylon fan).
New serpentine belt.
Repaired leaky trans cooler line.
Replaced damaged upper radiator hose.
Cleaned the intake.
Tapped for future boost gauge.
Modded the fan shroud.
Broke the fuel return bridge and replaced with new.
Put a hole in the radiator and had it repaired.

After what I did to it, I'm honestly surprised it started up and ran at all, but it did, thanks in no small part to the resources available at LOST. I feel like I've graduated from newb to whatever comes after that! Squire maybe?

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Fri Nov 06, 2020 10:40 pm

Guess what is coming soon.
VH delete kit.
Made some progress today.
More to come...
See this:> Viscous Heater Delete Kits Available

casm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 694

Today: replaced the fuel filter. That was... Not enjoyable.

The last time the fuel filter was replaced (at 145,000 miles), I was also replacing the entire fuel filter head due to it leaking at the manual pump after the in-tank pump was installed.

This afternoon, at 168,000 miles, I realised my folly: the filter head was shipped to me with the OEM filter already attached. I just installed the assembly as a single unit, checked that the filter was adequately screwed down, and went about my merry way after bleeding it.

That was a mistake. The filter seals had not been oiled prior to installation, and the f***ing filter was effectively cemented to the head. Nearly an hour of fighting later, it came off.

Moral of the story: if you replace the filter head and the replacement includes a new filter, unscrew the b***ard and lube up the seals before you install the SOB.

casm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 694

Finished up stuff I wasn't able to get to during this weekend's adventures in fuel filter replacement. At 168,150 miles, did an oil & filter change and replaced the PCV puck along with cleaning out the J-tube. My notes show that the puck lasted for around 45,000 miles before it started blowing oil out over the cam cover; not sure if this was due to crud in the J-tube or a failed puck.

casm · **Joined:** Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:05 pm **Posts:** 694

168,900 miles: replaced front wheel bearings, CV shafts, and CV shaft seals. Mild clicking had set in on full-ish steering lock a couple of months ago and the driver's side wheel bearing was getting louder than I'd like. With a 3,000 mile trip looming for the week after next, decided to bite the bullet and take care of them before something unpleasant happened on the road.

Used GSP NCV82013 (left) and NCV82014 (right) axle shafts; wheel bearings were Moog 513176 (left) and 513177 (right). CV seals: Timken SL260031 on both sides. No fitment issues.

lfhoward · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2020 8:26 pm

Casm, you’ve been doing some serious work to whip your KJ into shape. Nice job.

Mine’s been sitting mostly. There are not a lot of places to go during the pandemic, and when I do use it it’s all for local trips to the grocery store. I have been logging about 10-12 mpg these days due to no highway miles.

The new 'what did you do to your Jeep today?' thread

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