Yep and doing the alignment is easy to do yourself. Don’t waste money on a shop.
Halle's first car - ‘97 Sahara
- Thread starter __steve__
- Start date
OP
Yeah I read up on that here. I like the idea of getting the aluminum tubing to help make the measuring easier / more accurate though.
The first time I did the alignment I was a bit sloppy and it was actually toed out 1/8”. It wandered all over the place till I found a thread here where toe in was mentioned as being a big contributor to that. I redid it now it’s at about 1/8” in and you could instantly tell the difference.
I’ve never checked the axles for parallel or square before though, going to look into that a bit more.
Yeah you got the toe right for sure. Squaring up the axles will make another significant difference as well. You don’t have to go with aluminum, steel works as well and is cheaper too.
OP
Last night the Jeep's battery was dead after my daughter finished work. She swears she didn't leave any lights on. Jumped it, got it home, and realize that the headlights will not turn off at all.
Found a few threads that talk about similar scenarios:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/help-my-headlights-stay-on-and-flatten-my-battery.862/https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/headlights-wont-turn-off-97-tj.238287/https://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/headlights-won-t-turn-off-474416/
The wiring in this Jeep has been messed with in the past. When we got it there was some kind of switch box that had been spliced in to all of the wiring in the steering column. I stripped that all out a while back but haven't had any electrical issues since then till now.
I'm looking at wiring diagrams to come up with a plan to test the headlamp switch, the DRL module, and to trace through to try and find any shorts. One of the threads talked about a horn wire (on a '97 as well) that I'm going to try to find as the head light behavior I'm seeing is just like he described where there was a short from the horn wire to the head lamp wire. Really dim when supposed to be off, brighter when lights actually turned on, and brightest when brights are turned on.
Side note: not sure if it is related but the airbag light started coming on last week too. Still have to look into that. I figured this was due to when I replaced the heater core I had the whole dash out and the steering column out and didn't take care not to turn it to far because I read that after I did it
Found a few threads that talk about similar scenarios:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/help-my-headlights-stay-on-and-flatten-my-battery.862/https://www.wranglerforum.com/threads/headlights-wont-turn-off-97-tj.238287/https://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/headlights-won-t-turn-off-474416/
The wiring in this Jeep has been messed with in the past. When we got it there was some kind of switch box that had been spliced in to all of the wiring in the steering column. I stripped that all out a while back but haven't had any electrical issues since then till now.
I'm looking at wiring diagrams to come up with a plan to test the headlamp switch, the DRL module, and to trace through to try and find any shorts. One of the threads talked about a horn wire (on a '97 as well) that I'm going to try to find as the head light behavior I'm seeing is just like he described where there was a short from the horn wire to the head lamp wire. Really dim when supposed to be off, brighter when lights actually turned on, and brightest when brights are turned on.
Side note: not sure if it is related but the airbag light started coming on last week too. Still have to look into that. I figured this was due to when I replaced the heater core I had the whole dash out and the steering column out and didn't take care not to turn it to far because I read that after I did it
Might want to get a new multifunction switch off AmazonLast night the Jeep's battery was dead after my daughter finished work. She swears she didn't leave any lights on. Jumped it, got it home, and realize that the headlights will not turn off at all.
Found a few threads that talk about similar scenarios:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/help-my-headlights-stay-on-and-flatten-my-battery.862/https://Wrangler Forum/threads/headlights-wont-turn-off-97-tj.238287/https://Jeep Forum/forum/f9/headlights-won-t-turn-off-474416/
The wiring in this Jeep has been messed with in the past. When we got it there was some kind of switch box that had been spliced in to all of the wiring in the steering column. I stripped that all out a while back but haven't had any electrical issues since then till now.
I'm looking at wiring diagrams to come up with a plan to test the headlamp switch, the DRL module, and to trace through to try and find any shorts. One of the threads talked about a horn wire (on a '97 as well) that I'm going to try to find as the head light behavior I'm seeing is just like he described where there was a short from the horn wire to the head lamp wire. Really dim when supposed to be off, brighter when lights actually turned on, and brightest when brights are turned on.
Side note: not sure if it is related but the airbag light started coming on last week too. Still have to look into that. I figured this was due to when I replaced the heater core I had the whole dash out and the steering column out and didn't take care not to turn it to far because I read that after I did it
OP
The previous owner did replace the multifunction switch probably about a year ago. After digesting the wiring diagrams for the front lighting in the service manual I was able to chase this down to a faulty DRL module. The good news is just unplugging it makes everything workable again. Obviously no DRL and that module powers the high beam indicator light so it doesn’t light up.
Ordered this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002D7Q1X8/?tag=wranglerorg-20
On a side note, I verified this Jeep was manufactured in Canada
Ah, glad you figured it out.The previous owner did replace the multifunction switch probably about a year ago. After digesting the wiring diagrams for the front lighting in the service manual I was able to chase this down to a faulty DRL module. The good news is just unplugging it makes everything workable again. Obviously no DRL and that module powers the high beam indicator light so it doesn’t light up.
Ordered this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002D7Q1X8/?tag=wranglerorg-20
On a side note, I verified this Jeep was manufactured in Canada
The civility in this thread is awesome. Nice to see everyone really can get along
If you soak that DRL module in Molson ICE and tell it the Leaf's are the best hockey team ever, it restores function. And can be reused.The previous owner did replace the multifunction switch probably about a year ago. After digesting the wiring diagrams for the front lighting in the service manual I was able to chase this down to a faulty DRL module. The good news is just unplugging it makes everything workable again. Obviously no DRL and that module powers the high beam indicator light so it doesn’t light up.
Ordered this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002D7Q1X8/?tag=wranglerorg-20
On a side note, I verified this Jeep was manufactured in Canada
OP
New clock spring today 
Thank you Force Built for your entire TJ playlist.
No more airbag light and the horn works again!
Thank you Force Built for your entire TJ playlist.
No more airbag light and the horn works again!
OP
OP
A flip and a twist and in the ditch she goes. I told her that 4.0 above her Sahara logo is now her diving score.
I was able to locate some new doors, windshield frame, and roll bar extensions locally which was great!
But I'm thinking she tweaked the whole roll cage a bit because on the passenger side with the new extension replacing the bent one I end up short.
If I line it up so I can get the bolt back in I can pull the windshield back far enough to get everything tight but the door hits the windshield frame and won't shut.
Looking for any ideas on the best way to resolve this. I could cut out the slot till it fits but I think I'd be cutting pretty much to the end of the piping and that doesn't seem to be a great idea for the structural integrity in another rollover. Should I be looking for a replacement roll cage? Would a shop custom fabricate a longer extension bar?
This might be a little red neck, but I'd take a tow strap and attach it to the top of the right b-pillar portion of the roll bar, then attach the other end of the strap to something solid that won't move. Put the jeep in 4 low, and give that b-pillar a little tug until the cross bar holes line up again.
Sounds like she made it through this Ok, thankfully. Could have been worse, glad to see you rebuilding.
OP
I was going to give this exact thing a try but my wife told me it was a little too “hold my beer” and got worried when i had the jeep strapped up to a tree
Might actually give it a go now that I have backup
OP
Yes, everyone was OK thankfully. I am nervous about rebuilding but she has convinced me she’s learned a lesson.
Use a winchI was going to give this exact thing a try but my wife told me it was a little too “hold my beer” and got worried when i had the jeep strapped up to a tree
Might actually give it a go now that I have backup