Hello everyone. I am new to owning a jeep. Just purchased my first one.
1997 TJ Wrangler.
I do need to learn a little but about it. Runs and drives, but needs a little TLC.
And I want to do a little bit of changes to it to make it my own.
The Story, I have been waiting for them to put a diesel in a jeep for the past 4 years. Because it should be able to haul my trailer.
Well turns out I finally just got a truck instead. And would get a jeep later. As luck would have it. A friend of mine from work is getting a total remodel of his home and mentioned he was going to sell his jeep. So I bought it.
The body and frame is 100% rust free. Which is amazing. Inline 6, 4.0 manual trans. It has a few mods such as bumpers and reloacated spare tire rack, lift and 33s. And 2 inch body lift. I love the look.
List of work Needing to be addressed:
1. I would like to change to a two piece hard top.
2. I'm already working on the faded finders.
3. Also have the engine mount lift and trans in the jeep but not installed.
4. Has a small drip from power steering gearbox or line somewhere that area.
5. Headlight switch has a little dead spot or something. Because you got to play with it to get headlights to come on. Ordered a new one already.
6. Blower motor not working.
7. Radio comes on no sound, but non stock radio.
8.***Biggest issue is gauges are not working. Onboard diag. Did not show any codes. And the stepper motors and lights all cycled.
However, 2 days ago. The digital does not show and the diagnostic doesn't work anymore. Last night I tried again. And used my ob2 dongle to my phone with torque. Only thing I seen work there was the tach. But there was no option for selecting a jeep as the vehicle. (Does anyone have PIDs for Torque for this Jeep.?) I did notice someone had used thincardboard under the plugs for the cluster to maybe press harder into it for a connection. And a shotty ground that was not bolted on the other end. Just had a wire taped to it and runs behind the radio somewhere in there. Also under the column looks like a wire was spliced in to repair a cut wire. And a ground ripped loose that isn't stock to the jeep. Only thing left is the eye of the connector.
9. ***Last thing is, I want to change the gearing so it doesn't dog down driving over the 3 large bridges where I live with the 33s. This will take some research and money. To get right. And any advice from anyone who has done it.
And that is pretty much it for the most part.
I am a pretty good mechanic since I grew up doing it and my dad owned a junk yard. Only thing I wished I would of learned to do was rebuild transmissions. Other then that, it's all good.
I did look up what people have been finding with the instrument issue and blower problems. Some have shorts, others have grounds and even the plugs on the cluster itself. Looks like I'm in for some work lol.
I'm open to any feedback of what you think is going on. Any advice is appreciated.
1997 TJ Wrangler.
I do need to learn a little but about it. Runs and drives, but needs a little TLC.
And I want to do a little bit of changes to it to make it my own.
The Story, I have been waiting for them to put a diesel in a jeep for the past 4 years. Because it should be able to haul my trailer.
Well turns out I finally just got a truck instead. And would get a jeep later. As luck would have it. A friend of mine from work is getting a total remodel of his home and mentioned he was going to sell his jeep. So I bought it.
The body and frame is 100% rust free. Which is amazing. Inline 6, 4.0 manual trans. It has a few mods such as bumpers and reloacated spare tire rack, lift and 33s. And 2 inch body lift. I love the look.
List of work Needing to be addressed:
1. I would like to change to a two piece hard top.
2. I'm already working on the faded finders.
3. Also have the engine mount lift and trans in the jeep but not installed.
4. Has a small drip from power steering gearbox or line somewhere that area.
5. Headlight switch has a little dead spot or something. Because you got to play with it to get headlights to come on. Ordered a new one already.
6. Blower motor not working.
7. Radio comes on no sound, but non stock radio.
8.***Biggest issue is gauges are not working. Onboard diag. Did not show any codes. And the stepper motors and lights all cycled.
However, 2 days ago. The digital does not show and the diagnostic doesn't work anymore. Last night I tried again. And used my ob2 dongle to my phone with torque. Only thing I seen work there was the tach. But there was no option for selecting a jeep as the vehicle. (Does anyone have PIDs for Torque for this Jeep.?) I did notice someone had used thincardboard under the plugs for the cluster to maybe press harder into it for a connection. And a shotty ground that was not bolted on the other end. Just had a wire taped to it and runs behind the radio somewhere in there. Also under the column looks like a wire was spliced in to repair a cut wire. And a ground ripped loose that isn't stock to the jeep. Only thing left is the eye of the connector.
9. ***Last thing is, I want to change the gearing so it doesn't dog down driving over the 3 large bridges where I live with the 33s. This will take some research and money. To get right. And any advice from anyone who has done it.
And that is pretty much it for the most part.
I am a pretty good mechanic since I grew up doing it and my dad owned a junk yard. Only thing I wished I would of learned to do was rebuild transmissions. Other then that, it's all good.
I did look up what people have been finding with the instrument issue and blower problems. Some have shorts, others have grounds and even the plugs on the cluster itself. Looks like I'm in for some work lol.
I'm open to any feedback of what you think is going on. Any advice is appreciated.
