I've had some issues in the past with certain engines being unhappy with non OEM plugs. I guess I'm gun shy. I'm also cheap.
Charlotte the '99 Sahara
- Thread starter thekidwithquestions
- Start date
Installing the wrong model of any spark plug whether it's platinum, iridium, or plain copper will cause problems. Installing the correct model platinum or iridium plugs will cause more reliable ignition due to their 'fine wire' technology which fires the plug more reliably in difficult combustion conditions. Not to mention platinum plugs perform well for 100k miles and iridium plugs will perform well for somewhere north of 200k miles.
The problem that some report is with platinum plugs on newer 4.0 engines without a distributor, those with an ignition rail that is a "waste spark" ignition system. "Single-tipped" platinum plugs, those with the platinum coating on just one side of the gap, will cause bad idle and misfires. The factory even issued a TSB over the problem. Examples of single-tipped platinums are the Autolite AP-985 and Champion 3034. Both of which run fine in older 4.0 and 2.5 with a distributor. Just don't use them in a newer 4.0 engine. "Double-tipped", those with platinum on both sides of the gap, run very well and are the correct type to run on either older (with distributor) or newer 4.0 engines. Good example of appropriate/correct double-tipped platinum plugs are the Autolite APP-985 and Champion 7412.
One iridium plug that runs well in any of the 4.0 or 2.5 engines is the Autolite XP-985 which I've been running for around 14 years. It has an astounding life of over 200k miles.
There are significant benefits to running platinum and iridium spark plugs, that is clear. Not to mention their slight extra cost is made up for by lasting 3-6+ times as long as a conventional spark plug
I did a thread on flushing the clutch fluid out if you’re interested in tackling it.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-bleed-replace-your-clutch-fluid.24126/
Thanks to @SkylinesSuck I got my hands on a ZJ tie rod and a new (to me) TJ drag link (mine has a messed up stud)
I'll be installing these this weekend.
I'll be installing these this weekend.
Glad they made it safe and sound!! And I'm still surprised they were that cheap to ship. I actually forgot my wallet the first time I went to the post office and the next time I came back it was magically $5 cheaper? I think it's because I got the young chick that works there second time and I'm devastatingly handsome 
I guess I'm also tackling the shocks as well as the steering.... I'll probably get started pretty soon here
jesseshoots
TJ Enthusiast
If you don't already have a ball-joint tool go ahead and get one. It makes breaking the steering loose so much easier. They're around $20 from harbor freight.
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-inch-forged-ball-joint-separator-99849.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-inch-forged-ball-joint-separator-99849.html
Ok I got the 2 front shocks on, and as soon as I started on the rears my freaking 13mm decided to disappear off the end of my ratchet wrench and now I can't find it 
Earlier this week when I was working on mine, I found a screw from the headlight retainers that was resting perfectly between the steering box and the frame.Ok I got the 2 front shocks on, and as soon as I started on the rears my freaking 13mm decided to disappear off the end of my ratchet wrench and now I can't find it
my freaking 13mm decided to disappear off the end of my ratchet wrench and now I can't find it
It's in the 4th dimension. It will reappear somewhere, at some time. Very likely in a jar of peanut butter, or a stack of 10mm wrenches.
Most likely it's having a party with my set of torx head wrenches.... and my hammerIt's in the 4th dimension. It will reappear somewhere, at some time. Very likely in a jar of peanut butter, or a stack of 10mm wrenches.
I just got a fresh set of torx bits and I have several 13s. I got you if you need it.
I’ve almost lost a lot of those mini torx screws. One thing i’ve learned about TJ’s is that although their fenders make way too good of a table, never to put bolts on them otherwise i’ll be searching on the ground for an hour until i stand up and see them sitting on the fender…
Ok I got the 2 front shocks on, and as soon as I started on the rears my freaking 13mm decided to disappear off the end of my ratchet wrench and now I can't find it .
Several years ago I was working on the Jeep and mysteriously lost a 15mm socket. Fast forward a couple years and I was cleaning out some mud from inside the frame. Guess what I found when doing so? If you guessed the missing 15mm socket, you'd be correct. To this day I have no idea how the hell that socket got inside the frame, but there it was!It's in the 4th dimension. It will reappear somewhere, at some time. Very likely in a jar of peanut butter, or a stack of 10mm wrenches.
