Messages

16

Technical Advice and Questions / Re: 1997 ZJ 4.0 cuts out once in a while - fixed

« on: November 11, 2015, 05:00:55 pm »

pulled computer, removed cover, cleaned contacts, re-soldered 3, re-installed, cleaned plugs, applied dialectic grease, hooked up - driven about 500 miles so far - no issues.
Also replaced a knackered left front u-joint while I had her down - half the needle bearings were gone!

Maintenance, maintenance maintenance!  Currently at 204,000 miles - shooting for 300K!

Cheers

Steve

17

General Discussion / Squirrel through the turn signal!

« on: October 29, 2015, 06:40:15 pm »

Here's one for the record books (wish I had a dash cam to have recorded this!) - driving along on a 2 lane road - spot a bald eagle in a tree - dead squirrel about 200 meters ahead of me on the road - eagle swoops down to pick up the squirrel - I nail the brakes - apparently the sound startled the eagle who dropped the squirrel and passed about 3" over my windshield (talons extended!) - squirrel took out the drivers side turn signal lens ....

I pulled off the road for a bit to recover before heading on my way!

I've been hit by eagle poop before (covered the windshield of my 70 VW Bug) - but never by an animal DROPPED by an Eagle!

Cheers

Steve

18

Technical Advice and Questions / 1997 ZJ 4.0 cuts out once in a while

« on: October 29, 2015, 06:36:00 pm »

1997 ZJ - 200K on the clock - every once in a while, at a stop light or sign, the revs will drop and, if I don't pop it into neutral, die.  Re-starts at once.  No impact from weather (hot, cold, dry, wet, it'll die) - no CEL thrown, performance is the same as it has been since I bought it at 150K - plugs fresh last summer - might replace the cap, rotor and wires just to be sure.  Ideas?

19

Vendor Feedback / Experiences / Light buckets - '97 ZJ

« on: October 21, 2015, 05:51:39 pm »

ordered new light housings from Quadratec for my '97 ZJ - 20 minutes to install (15 on the first following instructions, 5 min on the 2nd ignoring them) - what an improvement - no longer feels like I'm holding a Bic lighter out the window at night!  $26 per side - gave the old gal a new life - or at least a new way to view life at night!  Pattern is good and apparently non-offensive (matters to me) -
Got new shocks and a lift kit at the same time - had a TIA episode last week so installation  is on hold until I get a clean bill of health from the doc - hope to get that tomorrow (10.22.2015) - if you're behind a ZJ with a "vintage" 4 wheel drive" sticker on it's tush that's me - give a wave but not a blink!

Cheers

Steve

20

Technical Advice and Questions / Re: 97 ZJ OBD1 code 12 -- found the source!

« on: October 21, 2015, 05:46:29 pm »

So she started cutting out (dead) when I'd hit a big bump (living in PA that happens a lot!) - started tracing the wiring (hood up, engine running, start shaking the wiring) apparently dodgy wiring by the previous (only other) owner caused the issue - replaced a wire nut last weekend with a soldered joint and shrink tube - no issues since in spite of yanking on the harness - note that when she cut out there was no CEL and she started right up - but damned inconvenient - if you were behind me in Dover last Wednesday apologies in advance (there was a lifted red TJ behind me when she died at the light on Canal) - no more nonsense

Cheers

Steve

21

Technical Advice and Questions / 97 ZJ OBD1 code 12

« on: September 06, 2015, 12:38:30 pm »

When I go on long (>6 hour) highway trips it's inevitable that I'll get a CEL code of 12 "12 - Direct battery input to PCM was disconnected within the last 50 Key-on cycles. " - curious how the direct battery input to the PCM can be disconnected while doing 80MPH on I81!  Any ideas?  It doesn't impact performance and I'm still getting 19MPG on trips to/from Gallatin TN (where, by the way, the gas is $1.97 gal) - just like to figure out why on long road trips I throw the same CEL!

cheers

Steve

22

Technical Advice and Questions / CEL 1997 ZJ 4.0

« on: June 18, 2015, 06:56:30 pm »

Had a CEL come on on my '97 ZJ 4.0 - any way to read this without an OBD2 computer hookup?  Funny thing is - CEL came on - performance and mileage improved (from 18.9 to 19.6!) - not sure if I want to "Fix" what's wrong or just put some tape over the CEL!

Cheers

Steve

23

For Sale - Jeep Related / Re: 1978 FSJ Cherokee... FS/trades? (central PA)

« on: May 04, 2015, 06:13:30 pm »

try clicking on the photo bucket link - you'll see more pictures of the Jeep

24

General Discussion / Re: QX 80 and a Compass

« on: April 29, 2015, 06:28:16 pm »

You missed the point of my post -

25

General Discussion / QX 80 and a Compass

« on: April 28, 2015, 10:26:25 pm »

Ok - I travel on business frequently, when I rent a vehicle I try to rent an SUV, as my DD is a ZJ, last week I had an Infinity QX 80 - terrible vehicle - obviously designed for those holding an MBA rather than a STEM (Science, Technology,Engineering, Math) degree - electronic nannies warned you when someone was intruding into your "space" (on I35 near Austin Texas a common thing), did that self braking thing and had a nav system that someone holding a masters in computer science (yours truly) couldn't figure out (although to the audience who lays down 60K for a behemoth the function is probably obvious) -
Contrast that with the Jeep Compass I drove to/from Rochester NY today - for a road vehicle it was a nice day trip (10 hours plus) companion - got something I'd never gotten with a Jeep before (good gas mileage) - although when I took it on a mild dirt road it didn't articulate very well - darned independent suspension! - but I felt more at home in the Compass than I did in the Infinity (might be my proletariat roots!_
Anyhow - I'll still take my ZJ - but in a pinch - the Compass is still a more competent vehicle than the yuppie infinity -

Damn glad I have a BS in math, MS in comp sci and a PhD in statistics rather than an MBA - I'd have a hell of a time adapting to a QX80!

Cheers

Steve

26

General Discussion / Re: 1920 oil field Dodge in the mud

« on: April 11, 2015, 09:10:37 am »

Next time you feel like complaining about the gas tax (that supports keeping the roads in decent repair) think about what the roads would be like without maintenance - and remember that video!

27

Technical Advice and Questions / Re: NP242 won't go out of 4WD

« on: March 22, 2015, 08:24:40 pm »

Cycled it in/out of 4WD in the dirt - 2nd time was the charm - once it warms up I'll crawl under and see what's out of adjustment - I noticed that full time 4WD engaged when I was just in Neutral, Neutral engaged "early" in Low range, low range required a mighty tug to get it in and out - obviously the shifter is not adjusted correctly - but since Saturday coming back from lunch the bearings in the jockey pulley for the serp belt opted to lock up adjusting the shift linkage will have to wait for another day.  Sometimes I think that's the best thing about owning VW's and Jeeps - no need for a hobby - they swallow and digest any and all free time!

Cheers

Steve

28

Technical Advice and Questions / Re: NP242 won't go out of 4WD

« on: March 19, 2015, 07:43:04 pm »

Thanks, I'll take a look over the weekend - might as well leave it in 4WD for tomorrow - 4-6" of snow!

Cheers

Steve

29

Technical Advice and Questions / NP242 won't go out of 4WD

« on: March 19, 2015, 06:48:55 am »

Morning,

Here's an odd one - '97 ZJ - goes into low range, neutral, full time and part time but does NOT seem to shift out of 4wd (get that binding tug at the wheel when making tight turns) - going to crawl under it Saturday to see what's going on, but what's the procedure for adjusting the shifter (if that's the culprit)?  I can run it in full time 4wd, I understand, but prefer to get 18MPG rather  than 14MPG.

Thanks in advance

Steve

30

Work In Progress / Re: The beginning of a "Grand" affair

« on: March 17, 2015, 08:36:25 pm »

Still driving the old girl, it's been a year or so, replaced the alternator and serp belt (whoo-hoo!) - recently (post thaw) the front suspension has started to groan over bumps - suspect a worn ball joint - will take a peek at that over the weekend... headed to Austria next month (business again) - have a G-Wagen reserved - interested to see how it does on the unrestricted 'bahn between Munich and the Austrian border on a Sunday (no trucks allowed!) - betcha it's better than the Renault Clio I had last year!  Yeah - the ZJ is a heck of a vehicle!  It's been a very good year ...