Soon to be obsolete

LJ owner

Member
Original poster
Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 6, 2024
Messages
71
Location
Flagstaff
I have a history of keeping vehicles many years but have run across the difficulty of finding reliable OEM electrical parts past the 20 year mark. When my pick up reached that age I could only find some replicas from China which had a very short life. Have any of you started to stock pile items like the coil rail and is there a jeep dealer out there will to sell at less than full retail?
 
I have a history of keeping vehicles many years but have run across the difficulty of finding reliable OEM electrical parts past the 20 year mark. When my pick up reached that age I could only find some replicas from China which had a very short life. Have any of you started to stock pile items like the coil rail and is there a jeep dealer out there will to sell at less than full retail?

Do a search and you will find several posts on the spare parts topic.
Shortly after I purchased my '01 in 2020 I started a spare parts cabinet for the hard to locate parts.
While aftermarket parts may fit; they seldom equal the quality of the Mopar parts.
I have purchased quite a few spare parts; Mopar OEM sensors, A/C controls and vacuum lines, fuel pump, alternator, coil rail, water pump, thermostatic clutch, radiator (still in the box) and numerous others.
As Mopar OEM parts become available at a reasonable price I continue to add them as spares.
 
Luckily I have a 05 and my brother has a 06. We have a decent stock of electrical sensors and other parts to hopefully keep them running.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LJ owner
That's for sure. I could have saved 1000$ going with a quadratec top that fits rather than the ill fitting bestop supertop with the floppy annoying sunrider crap.
I had a Quadratec trail cover and it ripped the first time I used it. The Bestop one has been used multiple times without issues
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ctdriver86
Thanks for the advice. I just looked at the Standard Motor Products website and have used some of their brands in the past with good result. Their manufacturing is spread over the globe including china. Hopefully the Jeep stuff will be from other countries.
I only buy a chinese part if I have absolutely no other alternative. Just handed the back an oil filter at the honda dealer when it said made in china. He was surprised and stated that they had not had any issues since the change from Japan. I explained that not only do I not trust the quality, I prefer to not send financial support to my enemy. Apologies for my rant
 
Good luck buying a part made other than China. Seems like most manufacturing is done in China now days. Hopefully the US has figured this out and brings manufacturing back.
 
  • USA Proud
Reactions: TheBoogieman
I had a Quadratec trail cover and it ripped the first time I used it. The Bestop one has been used multiple times without issues

The quatratec quadratop i put on my dads jeep is going strong almost ten years later. It gets a cover sometimes but the majority of that has been out in the sun
 
  • Like
Reactions: mjonesjr84
The quatratec quadratop i put on my dads jeep is going strong almost ten years later. It gets a cover sometimes but the majority of that has been out in the sun

Probably the same with anything now days. It depends on the manufacturing day.
 
Good luck buying a part made other than China. Seems like most manufacturing is done in China now days. Hopefully the US has figured this out and brings manufacturing back.

My cheap Chinese sensor failed within 4 hours of replacing it. I bought it just to see if that was my issue with backfiring and not running. I got a refund and bought this. So far so good after over a month.
NTK sensors2.jpg
 
Non MOPAR things that have been working reliably on my 06:

Standard Ign Blue Streak coil
Standard Ign HVAC control panel
Dorman OPDA and cam sensor
Dorman inside door handle
Dorman Idler pulley
Litens belt tensioner (OEM)
NTK O2s (OEM)
Dorman CCV elbows and grommets
Advance Auto starter
Advance Auto water pump
Robertshaw thermostat
Gates belt and hoses
 
Good luck buying a part made other than China. Seems like most manufacturing is done in China now days.

I hear that a lot. By putting in some effort and being willing to pay a premium, I have been successful at most things so far.

That really depends on the part type and company. I recently bought suspension parts (bushings, TRE, etc) for an upcoming project. I went with TRW parts and all the boxes were market "product of" Mexico, Canada, Taiwan or India. The last time I bought Moog parts, maybe 4-5 years ago, they were mostly products of China.