Wildman's TJ is getting a face lift

[Wildman]

One ting about those Spyder Locks, the rock ring protects the valve stems. Fairly well protect from trail damage.

Yes I remember you saying that and agree. Just figured since I don't carry a spare I'd cover my ass.

And I really do like having those broken in rims. This way I'm not crying when I scratch them.

 

[Wildman]

And of course I'm awake early today and was enjoying my coffee when the power goes out again.... WTF? We haven't had this many outages in years.

 

[Wildman]

Good power is back on so I can have another cup of coffee and then finish getting loaded and leave here earlier than I'd planned.

 

[FarFire70]

Hope you don't get this message for a while bc you're out on an offroad run!.....

Congrats getting the Jeep back driving regularly! Enjoy the trip(s)! These are the days we were all pulling for you to reach - through all the hard and dark times - now it's time to ride!

 

[Wildman]

Not leaving yet... chassis batteries are dead again on the motorhome.

 

[Wildman]

Made it to Kalispell, MT and had lunch with the group.

I think it's time for a new trail cover

We're heading out to camp in a few.

 

[Zorba]

Made it to Kalispell, MT and had lunch with the group.

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I think it's time for a new trail cover

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We're heading out to camp in a few.

Love Kalispell - we stayed there many years ago in an RV park on our way to Glacier NP. In an interesting coincidence, my Jeep lived in ID and MT for a few years and had new U-Joints installed in Kalispell, according to its CarFAX.

If you get to the other side of Glacier, there's a little town called St. Mary's - and there at least was a "complex" called Johnson's of St. Mary's - with RV park, gas station, general store, a very good restaurant, and maybe a motel - don't remember anymore.

 

[Wildman]

I'll make a trip report and stuff after I get home tomorrow. Visiting my cousins again on the way home.

It wasn't a trouble free week unfortunately but not terrible either.

1) Engine overheating
2) Dead spot in steering

Think I'm going to have to try the 500 watt version of the SPAL fan or the Camero fan. But first I want to try removing the A/C condenser and see if that helps.
I'd brought my scanner with me and so Friday was data logging. It'll run fine around 190⁰-195⁰ but then jumps up to 250⁰. If I turn on the fan override the SPAL fan is running on 100% and does cool it back off. Why it won't cool right from the start still baffles me.

This was their idea of modified Jeeps...

 

[bbaldwin237]

I'll make a trip report and stuff after I get home tomorrow. Visiting my cousins again on the way home.

It wasn't a trouble free week unfortunately but not terrible either.

1) Engine overheating
2) Dead spot in steering

Think I'm going to have to try the 500 watt version of the SPAL fan or the Camero fan. But first I want to try removing the A/C condenser and see if that helps.
I'd brought my scanner with me and so Friday was data logging. It'll run fine around 190⁰-195⁰ but then jumps up to 250⁰. If I turn on the fan override the SPAL fan is running on 100% and does cool it back off. Why it won't cool right from the start still baffles me.

This was their idea of modified Jeeps...

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Glad that the issues were at least minor in the grand scheme of things. And the transmission worked!

I mean they are "modified" in the literal sense. At least JL's are pretty capable in stock form. Trail Recon just put out a new video running a pretty good trail in a stock 4-door Willy's. Honestly, it was pretty impressive.

 

[Wildman]

Glad that the issues were at least minor in the grand scheme of things. And the transmission worked!

I mean they are "modified" in the literal sense. At least JL's are pretty capable in stock form. Trail Recon just put out a new video running a pretty good trail in a stock 4-door Willy's. Honestly, it was pretty impressive.
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Transmission shifter cable got a little sticky the 1st or 2nd day but that's it.

I think we drove more paved roads than unpaved during the week. And most of the group were excited to drive on the forest service roads.

I'll get it home and cleaned up then start addressing the issues.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Transmission shifter cable got a little sticky the 1st or 2nd day but that's it.

I think we drove more paved roads than unpaved during the week. And most of the group were excited to drive on the forest service roads.

I'll get it home and cleaned up then start addressing the issues.

Well if you're home by Friday and want to make a trip to the west side me and Pete will be at Tahuya. Feel free to join. It's got a little bit more than forest service roads. You can run the buggy climbs and I'll watch from the top.

 

[Wildman]

Well if you're home by Friday and want to make a trip to the west side me and Pete will be at Tahuya. Feel free to join. It's got a little bit more than forest service roads. You can run the buggy climbs and I'll watch from the top.

I'm not sure I'll have the Jeep ready by this weekend. I want to remove the A/C condenser and see if that helps before I spend the money on the 500 watt fan.
Hopefully it'll work.
Thanks for the invite.

 

[lBasket]

I'm not sure I'll have the Jeep ready by this weekend. I want to remove the A/C condenser and see if that helps before I spend the money on the 500 watt fan.
Hopefully it'll work.
Thanks for the invite.

Do you not use your AC

 

[Wildman]

Do you not use your AC

Haven't hooked it up yet. I was planning on doing that but if I find out removing the condenser fixed the overheating I can live without A/C.

 

[5632]

I've learned to never buy a car without A/C.

 

[Wildman]

I've learned to never buy a car without A/C.

Good thing I'm not YOU....

My Jeep had A/C when it had the stock 4 banger. Then never hooked it back up when I did the Magnum V-8 swap. Since it's a trail rig and not a DD IMO A/C isn't a nessacery feature. The only time I'm running a top is during the winter when it's raining or snowing.
And while having the cold blowing on your face is nice on the trail again it isn't the end of the world not to have it. I'd rather have a vehicle that isn't overheating than have A/C. And at this point I don't know yet if removing the condenser will help or not.
Tomorrow I'll be calling Wizard Cooling and PSC to see what troubleshooting steps they want me to do.

 

[bbaldwin237]

I've learned to never buy a car without A/C.

Good thing I'm not YOU....

My Jeep had A/C when it had the stock 4 banger. Then never hooked it back up when I did the Magnum V-8 swap. Since it's a trail rig and not a DD IMO A/C isn't a nessacery feature. The only time I'm running a top is during the winter when it's raining or snowing.
And while having the cold blowing on your face is nice on the trail again it isn't the end of the world not to have it. I'd rather have a vehicle that isn't overheating than have A/C. And at this point I don't know yet if removing the condenser will help or not.
Tomorrow I'll be calling Wizard Cooling and PSC to see what troubleshooting steps they want me to do.

Yea, Phoenix is a little different than the PNW. Even though you're on the east side, as you said, definitely not a necessity if you're not daily driving and not running a top.

 

[Wildman]

Yea, Phoenix is a little different than the PNW. Even though you're on the east side, as you said, definitely not a necessity if you're not daily driving and not running a top.

We didn't have A/C on our rigs in Iraq either...
Obviously if it turns out not to be a issue with the condenser I'll hook the A/C at some point.
I'd bought a condenser off Amazon too so it could just be a shitty design?
Won't know until I'm home and can work on it more.

 

[Wildman]

@NashvilleTJ before you installed the 500 watt SPAL fan were you having overheating issues? I don't remember now.

Back to what is happening.
Driving down a hardtop or dirt road for 30-50 minutes and it's running around 195⁰ ECT and then just boom jumps up to 255⁰ ECT next thing I know.
But can then hit the override switch on the Auxbeam turning the fan onto 100% and it'll cool back down to 200⁰ ECT.

1) Why isn't the ECT sensor making the fan run @ 100%? I'm running the 195⁰ ECT sensor I think. And a 185⁰ thermostat.

2) If it'll cool back down when I turn the fan on 100% then I'm not sure that the condenser could be a issue.

3) Did have the fan stop working at one point and found the relay plug loose.

4) Need to see if I could possibly fit a mechanical fan... Don't think it's possible but need to measure.

 

[lBasket]

@NashvilleTJ before you installed the 500 watt SPAL fan were you having overheating issues? I don't remember now.

Back to what is happening.
Driving down a hardtop or dirt road for 30-50 minutes and it's running around 195⁰ ECT and then just boom jumps up to 255⁰ ECT next thing I know.
But can then hit the override switch on the Auxbeam turning the fan onto 100% and it'll cool back down to 200⁰ ECT.

1) Why isn't the ECT sensor making the fan run @ 100%? I'm running the 195⁰ ECT sensor I think. And a 185⁰ thermostat.

2) If it'll cool back down when I turn the fan on 100% then I'm not sure that the condenser could be a issue.

3) Did have the fan stop working at one point and found the relay plug loose.

4) Need to see if I could possibly fit a mechanical fan... Don't think it's possible but need to measure.

Isn't that what air in the system will do?