Jeep Wrangler PCM and module repair and replacement

A walk down OCD memory lane

Flivver250

Flivver250

TJ Addict
Original poster
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2018
Messages
2,419
Location
Dubai/Florida
I like working on my Jeep as much or perhaps more than driving it. Wrenching is therapeutic and satisfying for me. I bought a tortured and abused TJ and made it a quest to restore it to full glory. Here are just some of the things I did in no particular order. I have also had some painting done, but will have more painting to complete. CJ grill lights will be next. This is about 18 months worth of free time tinkering. It had a period of pimped out chrome bling and decals, but I moved away from my slutty side and have been blacking it out as the sled gets better and better. No need for it to be a painted lady. I have no doubt this list is no where near complete. Anything I omitted I probably did as well.

  • Hard Top-installed
  • Full doors-installed
  • Rear door-replaced
  • Re-code locks-finished
  • Remove old wiring-finished
  • Repair front bumper-finished
  • Replace rear bumper
  • Re-upholster 100%
  • Front rotors and pads
  • Rear pads
  • Rear emergency brake shoes
  • Rear rotors replaced
  • Flush brake fluid 100%
  • New U-Joints front drive shaft
  • Ball Joints
  • New pinion gears front and back 4.56
  • Totally rebuilt Dana 44
  • Totally rebuilt Dana 30
  • Lube lockers front and back
  • New front chromoly axles
  • Left rear axle new
  • Complete ZJ steering upgrade
  • New wheel hub/bearing MOPAR
  • New gaskets and seals everywhere
  • New engine
  • New fuel pump
  • New fuel injectors
  • New Cam position sensor
  • New transmission
  • New clutch system 100%
  • 100% rebuilt transfer case
  • AA SYE
  • Tom Woods Drive shaft
  • New four adjustable rear control arms
  • New front and rear adjustable track bars
  • Entire new exhaust
  • All new sensors everywhere
  • New power steering pump
  • New alternator
  • New starter
  • New AC compressor, evaporator and condenser
  • All new HVAC controls and blend door solenoid
  • New HVAC blower
  • New heater core
  • Injectors
  • Spark Plugs
  • All Fluids
  • Idler pulley
  • Tensioner
  • Belt
  • New Water Pump
  • T-Stat
  • New Cooling system hoses and tube
  • Mopar Radiator & Cap
  • O2 Sensor
  • 4-Rancho Shocks
  • Roof Boom Mat
  • LED Dash lights
  • LED extra reverse lights
  • Four new KC lights
  • Washer Pump
  • Antenna
  • New Stereo with 3 amps, eight speakers and one sub-woofer
  • 5 new wheels and tires
  • 100% Floor insulation
  • 10,000 lbs winch
  • 9 additional interior LED cabin lights installed
  • LED lighting under hood
 
Last edited:
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Reactions: AndrewLJR and Chris
Flivver250 said:
I like working on my Jeep as much or perhaps more than driving it. Wrenching is therapeutic and satisfying for me. I bought a tortured and abused TJ and made it a quest to restore it to full glory. Here are just some of the things I did in no particular order. I have also had some painting done, but will have more painting to complete. CJ grill lights will be next. This is about 18 months worth of free time tinkering. It had a period of pimped out chrome bling and decals, but I moved away from my slutty side and have been blacking it out as the sled gets better and better. No need for it to be a painted lady. I have no doubt this list is no where near complete. Anything I omitted I probably did as well.

  • Hard Top-installed
  • Full doors-installed
  • Rear door-replaced
  • Re-code locks-finished
  • Remove old wiring-finished
  • Repair front bumper-finished
  • Replace rear bumper
  • Re-upholster 100%
  • Front rotors and pads
  • Rear pads
  • Rear emergency brake shoes
  • Rear rotors replaced
  • Flush brake fluid 100%
  • New U-Joints front drive shaft
  • Ball Joints
  • New pinion gears front and back 4.56
  • Totally rebuilt Dana 44
  • Totally rebuilt Dana 30
  • Lube lockers front and back
  • New front chromoly axles
  • Left rear axle new
  • Complete ZJ steering upgrade
  • New wheel hub/bearing MOPAR
  • New gaskets and seals everywhere
  • New engine
  • New fuel pump
  • New fuel injectors
  • New Cam position sensor
  • New transmission
  • New clutch system 100%
  • 100% rebuilt transfer case
  • AA SYE
  • Tom Woods Drive shaft
  • New four adjustable rear control arms
  • New front and rear adjustable track bars
  • Entire new exhaust
  • All new sensors everywhere
  • New power steering pump
  • New alternator
  • New starter
  • New AC compressor, evaporator and condenser
  • All new HVAC controls and blend door solenoid
  • New HVAC blower
  • New heater core
  • Injectors
  • Spark Plugs
  • All Fluids
  • Idler pulley
  • Tensioner
  • Belt
  • New Water Pump
  • T-Stat
  • New Cooling system hoses and tube
  • Mopar Radiator & Cap
  • O2 Sensor
  • 4-Rancho Shocks
  • Roof Boom Mat
  • LED Dash lights
  • LED extra reverse lights
  • Four new KC lights
  • Washer Pump
  • Antenna
  • New Stereo with 3 amps, eight speakers and one sub-woofer
  • 5 new wheels and tires
  • 100% Floor insulation
  • 10,000 lbs winch
  • 9 additional interior LED cabin lights installed
  • LED lighting under hood
Click to expand...
Nice ride man!!!
Got a few questions for ya! Did you hook up your rear defroster?
8 speakers and 3 amps? Where?!? lol
9 LED Lights?! Glove box? center console?
starter and some of these other things, did they go out and you HAD to replace them or were you just upgrading?
 
I have not yet hooked up the rear defroster or wiper. My Jeep came stock with a soft top. I scavenged a wiring harness for it and will one day plumb and wire it.

I put 2 6x9 boxes on the rear wheel wells, 2 Kenwoods in the sound bar, 2 Alpine 5.25's in the dash and two tweeters on top of the dash. 12" JBL sub boxed in the back. The three amps lay under the rear seat, velcro'd down. The rear seat is not in and I placed a carpeted wooden platform about 5" high over them so I do not loose storage space. I can put the rear seat back in if need be, but only do that when I take a very infrequent rear passenger. Usually friend's kids.

I have five 12" long LED lights mounted to the sides and top rear of the hard top, two under the dash and two up center top on the panel where the visors snap into. I haven't wired the console because the interior lighting is bright enough as is.

Almost everything I have replaced was either to freshen up or improve. Most components were functioning. The mechanical and electrical work is my primary hobby, driving the rig is almost secondary, well, maybe it is a tie. I find it relaxing to twist a wrench or sling a multimeter.

Some people like to cook just as much as they do eat. Decades ago when I was a mechanic struggling from paycheck to paycheck, I rarely worked on Jeeps. CJ's were probably worked on by their owners or the dealer more so than the typical garages. Also, in Vermont back then they rusted out long before they wore out. We did see the occasional Wagoneer or the like with an old lady owner.

I don't recall one 4x4 or off road shop in Vermont in the 70's. So TJ wrenching is refreshing to me. Still have plenty of room under the hood for old eyes and hands to navigate, very familiar technology and a fun rig to tackle. I doubt I'd get a bang out of changing a water pump on a Prius.

BTW, I left the mechanical trade because I had only average skill and experience and I did not see a financial future for me in it. We had a 21 year old girl doing our books at the shop. She did not have to pay for paper, pens or adding machine and she made as much as I did. That was my eye opener. I invested 5 grand in tools in 1979 which was about a year's pay for a mechanic back then.

Financially, leaving that trade was the best thing I could have done and it left me with a pleasurable hobby. I do believe today mechanic's compensation is vastly upgraded.
 
I have OCD too. I`m starting to get it under control though ... apart from that one mistake. :)

J - OCD.jpg
 
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Love refresh builds like this. Sort of the approach I took on my LJ. Buy cheap, fix everything and build it. In for pictures as well
 

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