|
Anyone here own a early Pentastar Wrangler that has had problems? A 2012 JK popped up for sale near me for a pretty good price, but after reading about the head problems and casting sand issues on the Wrangler forums I'm not sure if I want to roll the dice or not.
|
#
¿
Jun 2, 2020 16:35
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ May 22, 2024 11:16 |
|
|
Well I finally got one!  1997 4cyl 5 speed, 125k miles, got it for $4k. I originally wanted the 4.0, but the price was right on this one. Compared to what I've been looking at I got a steal, really. Most wranglers in this price range are over 200k miles and completely trashed. Also came from the factory with no a/c which I love, that's rare in Florida 
|
|
#
¿
Jun 7, 2020 21:31
|
|
|
And honestly with the woeful 4cyl I'd rather not have the drag of an a/c compressor on it anyway. It's gonna need work, already getting a clunking noise from the left rear lol Probably gonna take it to the local Jeep shop and have them gimmie a rundown of what it's gonna need and I'll decide from there what to do first. I'm honestly just happy it's rust free and clean, mechanical poo poo can be fixed.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 7, 2020 22:12
|
|
|
So when I was looking at the Jeep the guy said it had been sitting for a few years, so he put a new battery in it, fuel pump, ecm and gave it a tune up (plugs cap rotor). Oil was also changed and new coolant put in. He mentioned that the 1997 MY doesn't have a fuel filter, just the sock on the pump does that sound right? If so I should probably get some sort of aftermarket in line fuel filter. [e] apparently the filter is a part of the pump assembly It runs really good so I didn't think much of it, then when I was scheduling an appointment to do the tax/tag/title (which won't be for another month because of loving covid) I see the Jeep was last registered in 2009, so it's been sitting for ten loving years apparently. It drove good for the most part considering it has old rear end tires on it and needs the front end rebuilt, but as far as the engine I did notice a lot of sluggishness with it feeling like it wanted to bog down in 5th gear, so I just left it in 4th. How much this relates to the 4cyl just being a dog I'm not sure but it did not want to go above 4th gear at all. I also noticed a burning smell when I got home.....Not oil or coolant but more of a plastic burning kind of smell.....Hope it's not the clutch  So this should be interesting. I either got a screaming deal or a money pit IOwnCalculus posted:I saw you mention the top was crap in the chat thread - I'm still happy with my $200ish import top a year into things. Unlike a Miata top it is very DIY-able without any real tricks. I'm just going to get a bikini top for it and then have a cab cover, this is gonna be a beach Jeep so I don't need a top 
Applebees Appetizer fucked around with this message at 13:31 on Jun 8, 2020 |
|
#
¿
Jun 8, 2020 13:12
|
|
|
IOwnCalculus posted:Why would that need to be replaced? He said the gauges weren't working and it was running like poo poo and a new ecm fixed it, sounded odd that the gauges had anything to do with it but everything works. It runs really well and is not over heating, it just bogs really bad in 5th. However I am a bit worried it may have been over heated at one time and cooked everything before it was parked for ten years, been there done that with old cheap cars. Taking it to Jeepetos, a local Jeep place on wednesday and they said they would go over it for free, so hopefully there isn't anything that's gonna make me have to empty my wallet [e] all the fluids are going to have to be replaced for sure I know that, and probably a U joint from the clunking. Who knows what the burning smell is either
Applebees Appetizer fucked around with this message at 17:03 on Jun 8, 2020 |
|
#
¿
Jun 8, 2020 16:58
|
|
|
It's like gambling, roll the dice! [e] I just messaged the PO who has been super cool about answering questions, he said he cleaned out the tank really good and added fresh gas when he did the fuel pump so it's at least not a bad gas issue. I should probably put some seafoam or techron in the tank and fill it up....Maybe it just needs an Italian tune up 
Applebees Appetizer fucked around with this message at 21:03 on Jun 8, 2020 |
|
#
¿
Jun 8, 2020 17:54
|
|
|
Ugh.....I figured out what the clunking in the left rear was 
|
|
#
¿
Jun 9, 2020 16:09
|
|
|
The PO put new brakes on so I'm assuming he used one lug nut to get the wheel on and forgot to put on the rest. Can't be too mad about it because I've done it myself. At least it was short ride home. Can't believe I didn't notice it tho.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 9, 2020 16:23
|
|
|
Are people still using Rotella in their Jeeps these days? May have to go get some.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 9, 2020 19:09
|
|
|
Messaged the PO about the *one* lug nut holding the left rear wheel on, his response:PO posted:All the lugs were on here and torqued to proper spec. Umm how can you torque them when they aren't even on the drat vehicle lol
|
|
#
¿
Jun 9, 2020 22:43
|
|
|
mashed_penguin posted:I guess he is trying to say someone took them off after you bought the car. Yeah I know, but I felt the clunking driving it home, stupidly didn't even look for some reason, and then I parked it in my fenced in back yard so no one could have got to it anyway. I didn't drive it again until this morning pulling it out of the back yard, and my dumb lizard brain finally said oh I better check the wheel [e] It's possible they were all on hand tight and four of them worked their way off i suppose, the last one was barely on I'm lucky I didn't lose the wheel while driving
|
|
#
¿
Jun 10, 2020 00:13
|
|
|
Took the jeep into Jeepetos, man this dude is a serious Jeep fanatic, runs his own shop and does everything by himself and has some serious rigs he takes to Moab and poo poo. Anyway, he found out why my jeep seems to be bogging down when he went to try to push it in neutral and it wouldn't budge....Calipers are seized up Everything else has a clean bill of health tho which is good (he said I got a good deal), I'm paying him to do the diffs/trans/transfer case service because I don't really feel like doing that messy and stinky job on my back in 90+ degrees, and then I'll replace the calipers and brake fluid, steering stabilizer which is blown and all the shocks. Already have a set of 5 stock alloys with good tires lined up for $200 so then all I'll need is a bikini top and cab cover and this Jeep is good to go
|
|
#
¿
Jun 10, 2020 16:44
|
|
|
Yeah I get it and I'm not trying to sue the guy I was just hoping to get the other lug nuts from him I told him no worries, I'll go to Advance and get some lug nuts
|
|
#
¿
Jun 10, 2020 16:49
|
|
|
Picked these up for $200, the wheels are worth more than that alone and the tires are in great condition. And now the wheels will be correct with hub centric instead of lug centric and I won't die from the tires coming apart  Replacing the calipers and brake hoses and it should be ready, can't wait to take it to the beach!  Question....I haven't taken the top off yet, but the header will work with a bikini top right? For some reason quadratec makes it seem like I need a header too 
|
|
#
¿
Jun 12, 2020 16:32
|
|
|
Ordered a bestop bikini top with header and a cab cover. Full top is going in the trash. Replaced the front calipers and brake hoses and flushed the old fluid out. Everything is good now and the Jeep runs and drives great, just gotta replace the leaky steering damper and the shocks and it will be good for awhile I think. Got pulled over in it today driving to the beach
|
|
#
¿
Jun 15, 2020 22:36
|
|
|
So I ordered a cab cover and bikini top with header and it turns out I didn't need the header But when I took the header off to chuck the soft top, I noticed the weather strip underneath had silicone on the ends and it was separating (from the rubber), so I took the entire strip off and it was just gobs of silicone everywhere and it took me forever to get all the poo poo off. It looks like it was originally attached with double sided tape and someone just gobbed on the silicone to stop a leak apparently. The rubber on the strip is still in good condition so I want to use it, should I go ahead and put another bead (not gobs) of silicone under it or use some new double stick tape? Is this a spot that tends to leak bad?
|
|
#
¿
Jun 21, 2020 23:49
|
|
|
Finally got my wrangler registered and the title transfer thanks to covid! Can finally drive it now......The bikini top and cab cover combo is perfect for my needs, gently caress a full top. Also ripped out the carpet and sold it for $50
|
|
#
¿
Jul 6, 2020 20:50
|
|
|
IOwnCalculus posted:How hot is the floor without it? My carpet is poo poo but I don't want my feet on / adjacent to bare sheet metal getting warmed by the exhaust. There is some heat but it seems to be coming from the the firewall not the floor. It was noticeable with the carpet as well so no change really. Kind of a bummer, because in the summer here the last thing I need is engine bay heat seeping in on my loving feet. I wonder if bed liner will help with that....Or I have a bunch of sound deadener with foil on it that I could stick up under the floor and firewall maybe. [e] after a bit of searching it looks like it probably is the exhaust (cat) producing the heat so I'm gonna try to put something up in there to shield it Applebees Appetizer fucked around with this message at 12:52 on Jul 8, 2020 |
|
#
¿
Jul 8, 2020 12:40
|
|
|
IOwnCalculus posted:Check your shifter boots, mine were both ripped and it was like a blast of hot air coming straight out of the console towards my shorts. On a hunch I stuffed the floor vent with a rag and that helped quite a bit, I had a feeling it was blowing hot air out. That being said tho, just got back from the beach and the trans tunnel was hot as hell, so I'm gonna try to put some of the sound deadener/insulation underneath. Of course there a skid plate in the way 
|
|
#
¿
Jul 8, 2020 17:51
|
|
|
Krakkles posted:Catalytic converters get "poo poo spontaneously bursts into flames due to temperature" hot, you know that, right? I wasn't planning on putting it anywhere near the cat, just in the trans tunnel.....Unless that's where the cat is lol I need to look again. I've been reading that people with old Jeeps like mine with original cats reduced heat a lot by just putting a new cat in, so that's an option if it's not too expensive. I was gonna get a new exhaust from the cat back anyway. [e] 150 for a new cat, not bad I might just have it put in with a new muffler Applebees Appetizer fucked around with this message at 21:11 on Jul 8, 2020 |
|
#
¿
Jul 8, 2020 21:07
|
|
|
kastein posted:E: if you want a heat shield and the factory ones aren't cutting it, one of those double layer aluminum baking pans works great. Might have to get clever mounting it since Tek screws up into the floor will be strenuously objected to by any passengers  What about aluminum tape? Do you think the adhesive would be able to hold it up without melting? [e] the hard part would be getting the surface clean enough for it to even stick tho Applebees Appetizer fucked around with this message at 13:17 on Jul 9, 2020 |
|
#
¿
Jul 9, 2020 13:15
|
|
|
Yeah been looking into that too, if I'm gonna spray the inside of the tub might as well do the ceramic.
|
|
#
¿
Jul 9, 2020 16:05
|
|
|
Thinking about getting bigger tires because 235's just don't look right. Will going to 30's effect a stock jeep much?
|
|
#
¿
Jul 20, 2020 19:02
|
|
|
Yeah it was just a thought, but if it's gonna gently caress with poo poo then probably not. I'm in Florida so it's all flat pavement. The spare has an old 31" KO2 on it and I was like drat that looks so much better
|
|
#
¿
Jul 20, 2020 21:44
|
|
|
Finally got my Wrangler to the way I wanted it  Before  After  Sold all the parts I took off of it and it went towards all the new stuff to bring it back to stock. Only thing left it needs is shocks and a steering stabilizer. Picked up a bikini top and a cab cover for when it's parked for longer periods. Took out the carpet, and added a newer set of seatbelts cuz the rear didn't have any. Got a matching spare tire which was a hell of a lot cheaper than getting 5 KO2's, all in all I'm about 5k into it which isn't bad at all. Picked up the yakima bike rack cheap, and my paddle board straps to the top easily so it's my toy that caries my other toys now
|
|
#
¿
Jul 28, 2020 17:23
|
|
|
I was kinda surprised how quick I sold the stuff I didn't want....Hitch, wide fenders, wheels.....Even sold the carpet for $50
|
|
#
¿
Jul 28, 2020 18:36
|
|
|
So how do you clean out the blower of a TJ? Mine was parked under a tree for ten years apparently, when i turn on the fan I get pelted in the face with dirt and debris
|
|
#
¿
Aug 23, 2020 04:27
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ May 22, 2024 11:16 |
|
|
IOwnCalculus posted:Turn it on and walk away? Remove the blower fan under the glovebox and see what you can yank out from there? There's A LOT of poo poo in the fan I can hear it......I don't think leaving it on would get it all out tbh. Sir Not Appearing posted:After the fan is removed, shut all vents but the farthest one from the blower motor and blow through it with a leaf blower and see what you can flush out. Didn't think of this, good idea. I could blow it through the cowl as well.
|
|
#
¿
Aug 23, 2020 13:40
|
|