Eagle Posted April 28, 2012 Share Posted April 28, 2012 We have NO idea how easy we have it with our MJs and older XJs. I was trying hard to convince myself the newer iron, with OBD-II for diagnostics, was better. It's not. I've been driving my wife's 2000 Cherokee while some work is pending on mine. Been noticing that the turn signal has been locking up -- sometimes it blinks, sometimes it lights up steady, and sometimes it blinks two or three times and then locks up. So, this afternoon I went to Auto Zone and bought a new flasher. Oh ... my ... Gawd. First, it takes a 5-prong combination flasher that costs $15. That's bad enough. But ... YOU HAVE TO DISASSEMBLE THE DASHBOARD TO REPLACE IT! The socket is up above the OBD-II port and driver's side footwell light. They could have pointed the socket down so you could just reach up and pull out the old flasher, but ... no. It's mounted horizontally, with the socket facing to where you can't reach it without removing the knee valance in front of the driver. Idjits. Whatever happened to "Let's design vehicles to be easier to work on"? Gotta keep my MJs running just as long as humanly possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvusse Posted April 28, 2012 Share Posted April 28, 2012 The 96 I disassembled had it in that same spot. If you think the Torx bolts on our upper control arms are bad, the tabbed bolts they use on the newer XJs are worse. The tab bends making it useless when trying to remove the nut, but the way they mount the tab messes up the bolt head to where you can't get a wrench on it. Both on Sparkles and the parts rig I ended up taking a cutting wheel to those bolts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted April 28, 2012 Share Posted April 28, 2012 We have NO idea how easy we have it with our MJs and older XJs. I was trying hard to convince myself the newer iron, with OBD-II for diagnostics, was better. It's not. That's only on the OBD-IIs. I've had a few and there are lots of idiosyncrasies on the 95+ models that suck. The OBD-Is are the best for me as they're not so stupid sensor dependent like the Renix models are, have on-board diagnostics, and are easier to work on. Saying that, I'd still take an OBD-II over any Renix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfreeman616 Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 i like my obdii 99xj, but then, i'm a tech, so i'm use to worse vehicles and like diagnosing. by the way, if anyone has an obd ii xj that keeps having tps problems, unplug the clock spring and see if it fixes it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Sam Posted April 29, 2012 Share Posted April 29, 2012 funny you mention this, I need to replace the flasher unit on my XJ. Gonna grab one from a junkyard tomorrow to toss it in. Last time I did it I just removed the kick panel, reached up and pulled it down, put in the new one. Took like 20 minutes. I just don't see why your bitching so much about such a simple thing to do that maybe needs to be done once out of every 200 years. (adding up the collective age of all the cherokees I've had and how many times I have had to do it) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle Posted April 29, 2012 Author Share Posted April 29, 2012 I just don't see why your bitching so much about such a simple thing to do that maybe needs to be done once out of every 200 years. Because on the old XJs and MJs that 20-minute job takes maybe 20 seconds. That's why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexia Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I just don't see why your bitching so much about such a simple thing to do that maybe needs to be done once out of every 200 years. Because on the old XJs and MJs that 20-minute job takes maybe 20 seconds. That's why. Maybe it is my age and flexibility, but I managed to reach up there to access it just fine in a quick time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Comanche County Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Give me Renix or Give me Death! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Took me 10 min. Not mad about that, only mad that there is no hd flasher available Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
500 MJ Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Saying that, I'd still take an OBD-II over any Renix. Ouch! Give me Renix or Give me Death! Amen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeepcoMJ Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 the only renix MJ I ever personally had (and drove more than once) was my 87. it took me under 12 months to remedy that problem. I do not like using a voltmeter to diagnose every damn issue. my brother's is renix and has absolutely never had an issue that wasn't plainly obvious and purely mechanical. but then, a few buddies have renix jeeps and end up having to go over them with a fine tooth comb if they so much as look at them the wrong way. OBDII is where it's at. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Sam Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 I just don't see why your bitching so much about such a simple thing to do that maybe needs to be done once out of every 200 years. Because on the old XJs and MJs that 20-minute job takes maybe 20 seconds. That's why. Replaced it today, timed it from start to end. 5 screws, and 134 seconds later it was all back together. I don't know why it was so hard for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Maybe it is my age and flexibility, but I managed to reach up there to access it just fine in a quick time. I did the same when I replaced mine. I'm not sure when the year was that Chrysler started doing the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) stuff to the 4.0L, but those are the only year XJ's that I want to own anymore. Going from my 88 Renix 4.0L to my 01XJ 4.0L is like night and day. One feels like a tank and the other feels, well, normal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Sam Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Maybe it is my age and flexibility, but I managed to reach up there to access it just fine in a quick time. I did the same when I replaced mine. I'm not sure when the year was that Chrysler started doing the NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) stuff to the 4.0L, but those are the only year XJ's that I want to own anymore. Going from my 88 Renix 4.0L to my 01XJ 4.0L is like night and day. One feels like a tank and the other feels, well, normal. oh man, the newer XJs are just so much more refined in many ways, the 97+ ac blows better, the 96+ engine bay isn't a cluster @#$% of wiring and vacuum hoses, the serpentine belt adjuster actually makes sense, is simple, and works great. And I love the distributor less ignition of the 00+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrawombat Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Ha, yes, the AC configuration on the 97+ style interiors is much, much better - mainly the airflow and the controls. I still wish there was an A/C on/off button so that I could have the blower running in the floor/vent position and NOT have the A/C compressor kick on. A simple add-on, but something I wish they would have incorporated into the controls from day 1. It almost seems like there is a spot for a button in the lower left hand corner of the 97+ controls... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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