mythreesons

Well, what did I say? Let me tell you a story......... I did go look at several XJ's. Got the wife to drive a couple. She wasn't repulsed. Stated that she really just wanted a reliable vehicle, the XJ would be fine. Take some getting used to after two big suburbans in a row. So I'm thinking, allright!!!!! Good to go here. Got Geonovast (Correy) to meet us at one place and look a couple over. He has been in a Jeep more than once, so I thought maybe he would have an opinion. Sure enough, he did, in fact he had a couple and they were pretty good. Long story short, didn't buy anything that day (non-hungry car dealer). :huh???: Look at another place on the way home and the wife sat in a 2001 Grand Cherokee (that's a WJ right?) I'm thinking, I am in heap big trouble. Oh yeah, she just found what she really likes, but would still settle for an regular plain XJ. So we head home to rethink this situation. Move ahead to a couple of days later.......... I head out to go look by myself. Get in her Suburban and head down the road. First place I look tests my truck and says the rod bearings are about to go out, haven't you heard that noise? Whoa!!!!!!!! Hold all plans!!!!! I'm about thirty miles from home and my truck has decided to start acting up??????? Call my trusty mechanic (got five running vehicles in the driveway so I keep a mechanic busy sometimes), he says hang the phone out the window, let me hear it. Oh yeah, something is about to go in that engine. I can rebuild electronic crap from PCB level, just never been in an engine. Ok, by now my head is killing me, plus I haven't eaten since last night so I stop in at a McD's to get some fake food and think this over. Start the truck to leave the parking lot and it starts sputtering and bucking like the fuel pump can't get enough fuel to the engine. Thank you truck, you just made my decision for me I'm dumping you before you can dump me. Go to a local dealer where I was and made a deal on a 2002 Grand Cherokee, 113K, cloth seats (I hate leather and I don't have to deal with seat heaters that burnout). She got home late last night so didn't look at it. Took her for a drive this morning and when we got home she pronounced that I did good, big smooch included. :banana: :banana: :banana: Total cost to me, a little cash, some frustration, worry, anger, and relief. I was in a bad spot and got out without being hurt. To top it off she is happy. That makes it all worth it. Scott Maybe I'll just buy an XJ to play with for myself, but where am I going to park it?

The wiring diag. is probably in the zip file for the 88FSM on Greatlakes. (I'm not sure as I have the files all seperated out on a flash drive.) Your mechanic did check the fuse for the tranny computer, didn't he? It should be on the harness very near the tranny computer. Scott

Try this one: http://www.greatlakesxj.com/tech.html Others of interest: http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Eng ... ostics.htm http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Eng ... Stator.htm http://www.scribd.com/doc/2922823/AW4-manual1 Those should get you started. I have gathered several PDF's from folks here. Keep reading, especially the the DIY area you'll find a bunch of links. Lot's of good stuff. Scott

I don't think I am sure enough of my answers to give you guidance, but what I can say is that YOUR GOLDEN!!!! The bay is open for clean-up, the engine has to be out in the air before putting it in which is the perfect time for any work you might want to look at. The under neath stuff is going to be a whole lot easier when you don't have axles and stuff in the way. Plus adding a bed later makes it super easy to undercoat!!! :D :D :D Scott

I getting great info and opinions on this. Thanks!!! :D Scott

That's what it was, the changeover year to OBDII. I knew there was something, but couldn't remember. Have fun in Laurie. I'll let you know and we'll see if we can get together. Thanks to everyone so far for your info and insights. Scott

I'll make sure that Lenard see's this. Maybe he can help. Scott

Gents, The time has come for my wife to get a new-to-her vehicle. Currently she has a 95 Suburban, 4X4, third row seating, rear A/C-heat, leather, and so forth. It is getting up there in miles, 203K, and still runs fine but I want to get her something else before it goes downhill. We don't need that much room, that low gas mileage and in all honesty, it has never been one of my favorite vehicles. Now that there has been two different MJ's around I am getting very comfortable with the idea of getting her a jeep, but I'm looking at XJ's not an MJ. I'm have been considering the 93-95, 97-2000 model years. ONLY considering the 4.0L, auto or manual (she can drive a stick just fine, grew up with it), and it HAS to have 4X4. With the latest snows and the winds, some of the drifts on our roads were pretty bad. The weather is going to break around here where I can get her out of the house to go look so I have questions: 1) I remember reading here that the 96 year was a switch-over year and the feeling I got was that it should be avoided. What were some of the problems with that model year? 2) What little gotcha's have you guys seen that might be of concern (certain models with known problems)? 3) I already expect to do some work to whatever I get, no car is perfect, but anything I should watch out for that is a "red flag" on an XJ? Personal to Correy: You going to be around next week? That dealer down by you has got some possibilities. Scott

When you said the color the first thing that I thought of was a Commando. So that is what I'll guess. Scott

Glad your using less, you need to go easy on that stuff it'll make your babies come out crooked and bald. :D Now, go get some heat in that truck, it can't be real warm up there these days. Scott

Yep, but I will come a swinging with that sensor if I pull it and there is a HUGE air pocket... :roll: Rob L. Rob, please for the love of MJs everywhere, bleed, burp, beat, whatever you have to do BEFORE he ruins the engine. Please?!?!?!?! Pretty please?!?!?!?!? While your there, you might take away his tube of RTV. I think he got some in his ears and it's affecting his hearing. :rotfl2: Scott JUST KIDDING JAKE!!!!!! You do know that diesels have thermostats as well, don't you? :wavey:

I agree. Used the 88 AW-4 FSM whatever diag for verification as well as the sensor diag listing on http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Eng ... ostics.htm That is why it seems odd to me. Backwards??? Only thing I can think of to cause this would be heavy-handed operation of the throttle might "spin" the part so that it ends up being backward in operation. Hence why I asked if anyone had seen this before. Kinda puzzling, Scott

Checking the TPS on a 88 MJ 4.0 Auto for random tranny issues. As far as I can tell, the TPS has been on the throttle body for a long time if not original (200K miles). When back probed, the voltage readings go from 4.76V at closed throttle to 0.83V at wide open. Tranny shop using their Snap-On computer with their hook-ups, ground lead hooked to the engine. Everything that I have read here says that the readings they got are exactly backwards. Things that make you go :huh???: A new TPS should get here today, but it seems a little odd (ok, to me it seems a lot odd) how it could be backwards. Anybody ever seen this before? If so, what was the problem? Thanks, Scott

Hope she doesn't have to go get it, she'll be pretty tired after shoveling all that. :D :D :D Scott

In this thread Lenard discusses his ongoing problem before this current happening......... viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19823 Eagle and others with long time knowledge on the AW-4: Does the TPS sound like a likely culprit considering he says that it shifted fine after having it towed? Or maybe the tranny computer with a hit/miss electrical connection (or a part going bad with heat)? Funky issues start then get more frequent but are not always present doesn't sound like mechanical (if it's broke, it's broke all the time) but rather electronic (heat, cold, vibration, etc. issues to consider here) in root cause. Am I leaning in the right direction on this or am I all wet? Scott Trying to understand these magical beasts

I found one on CL last night that is in Springfield, MO. It is an 89, though. I posted the link in the CL thread and a second post ............ Never mind, here is the link: http://springfield.craigslist.org/cto/1486935655.html Scott

Also added to the craigslist thread....... 89, 4.0, 4X4, blah, blah, blah in Springfield, MO $1900. http://springfield.craigslist.org/cto/1486935655.html It's not mine, I found it just looking aorund tonight. Son #3 has decided that an XJ would work better for what he does than a MJ and Dear Old Dad doesn't have the extra money right now so I thought that maybe somebody around here might have the extra cash. Big Sigh, Scott

http://springfield.craigslist.org/cto/1486935655.html Not mine, but would be a good start! Scott

Eagle, surely you jest!!!! :D :D :D Scott

I found this auction item just for those special occasions......... :D http://www.govdeals.com/eas/itmDisplay. ... acctID=596 Scott

Just for you, cause I know your hurting for another MJ........ http://kansascity.craigslist.org/cto/1476024464.html OR http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/cto/1476079279.html OR http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/ctd/1468409374.html (yes I know, not an MJ) Better yet? Scott

I am getting the same results as pilotblake with the ATF/acetone mix. I will keep trying as I have to work on the steering components on my old tractor in the next few days so we'll see how it does. Scott

SW2, I hate to tell you this, but .......... I think they're crooked. Oh, you left out a bolt and nut also they are right there on the floor...... :rotf:

That is an interesting use of Tin siding on the old XJ. :rotf: Good deal on the trailer too!! Scott

Besides, other's suggestions, I would make sure that the hood is not sitting on top of the coolant bottle cap when closed. Learned that the hard way with a replacement bottle from NAPA. The NAPA replacement unit has a taller cap than original. Repeated banging on the cap by the hood closing is not a good thing! Scott