Stupid questions (what I most appreciate about this forum)

I dig around on other forums - mostly for my XJ because this is pretty much the only place I hang out regarding my TJ - and I have noticed something.

With few exceptions, folks here are even kind to newbie questions of little to no technical knowledge and even questionable intelligence. I know, because I have posted some here myself. On other forums, I have seen some questions that were legitimate if asked in ignorance and were ignored. I just found one by way of a search on another forum dealing with XJs that was posted in 2010 and never answered! Again, it was not an intelligent question, but it was legitimately asked by someone new to the technology.

Anyway, I appreciate the patience and kindness that I have for the most part and with few exceptions encountered here. It's, honestly, one of my justifications for keeping the TJ when I argue with myself about selling it. There really is an uncommon sense of camaraderie that I just don't find in many on-line forums.

Just wanted to say that.

(And the goofy threads like the restaurant one definitely are fun.)

Still might be one two around...

bucky said:

It wasn’t always like this. Back when I joined there were some crabby people on here who thought everybody was born knowing everything about TJs and was a Master Mechanic.

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suicideking said:

Jerry Bransford quit though...

I learned most of what I know about cars from having a Jeep. Before I bought my first Jeep, I wouldn't be able to point to the driveshaft or many other parts. I had a plumber in my garage (tankless water heater problem). He was admiring my LJ and all the mods. I told him I'm pretty clueless regarding cars. He pointed to my take off Dana 30 and said BUT YOU HAVE A SPARE FRONT END SITTING HERE! At that time, I probably had half a dozen spare parts lying around.

Live and learn! If you don't ask questions, you will remain ignorant.

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My first real vehicle (after a 1976 Chevy Vega and a Pontiac Catalina) was a GMC 2500 4wd. I knew virtually nothing. A good set of Craftsman tools and a Haynes manual were my teachers. That and necessity.

They say that "necessity is the mother of invention." Sometimes necessity is just a mother. I learned quite a bit, but boy do I still have a lot to go!

ETA: It was a Chilton's, not a Haynes, that I learned on. A fellow in my FB Sport Trac group once told me that Chilton's was junk and good for nothing, so I apologized for being so stupid as to use it and said that I had no idea, then, how I figured out so much with such a useless guide .

bucky said:

I don’t consider myself a Mechanic but I’m mechanically inclined. I’m not afraid to tackle may auto repairs. I’m blessed in having a lot of tools and shop space. I started with Chiltons and Haynes manuals and have transitioned to YouTube videos along with reading on this forum. Fixing an issue is the easy part. Diagnosing the problem is the difficult problem so I don’t just start throwing unnecessary on to fix a problem.
My next project is to replace the slave cylinder and clutch on my 89 YJ. First time ever attempting both.

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Honestly, I have gotten a bit lazy. I live in Mexico and generally, for me, the labor for most work is just too cheap to pass up, and I don't really have a good place to work, just a dirt driveway, so often I pay people to do stuff. Feels like cheating sometimes, almost like if I paid somebody to make love to my wife for me, but I rationalize.

A few months ago, I brought my Sport Trac in to a shop in town that I completely trust and have a history with and told them to find what ever was needed and fix it up for an upcoming trip out of town. I, honestly, had not kept up with maintenance like I should have and I knew it, so I expected a lot of work. They did a full tune up, front wheel bearings, brake job, I think there was an alignment, several other things and the bill came to just over $1,000usd, parts, labor, everything.

Also, for stuff like getting discs turned and even some parts I wouldn't know where in town to go to get it done, so there's that.

Another issue now, though, is the heat. It is so hot here, and I sweat like a race horse. Rolling around in my dirt driveway while soaked in sweat does not appeal to me. I recently had to do that on the side of a dirt road in the mountains when a handbreak cable on my XJ seized up. Nasty! My wife was with me and I stripped down on a low-water crossing (cement) after on the way home and had her pour water over me to clean up. The darned arroyo was dry so I couldn't bathe.

I guess I should have let them pour a concrete slab when we put my carport in. They wanted to, but I said no.

Anyway, I have my excuses lined up real good!