Just wanted to give a little update on the XJ. So, the wife and I went out to take a better look at the interior of the rig. It was the first time since getting it home that either of us could bear to do so (just a bit too heartbreaking to deal with). Anyways, here's some of what we discovered;
*The "wings" that surround the ignition switch are gone. Maybe this exposes something that aids them in starting it?
*The stereo was unplugged, vs. having the wires cut. They even did so without destroying the surrounding plastic dash pieces. Glad for that.
*The ashtray full of quarters is gone.
*Interior smells like a whorehouse. Who the hell actually wears that stanky-ass stuff?
*The door switch for the dome light was ripped out and tossed on the floor. I'm assuming this was so the dome light didn't illuminate their shenanigans.
*Left a joint on the package tray. (((flush))) "Dave's not here!"
And my favorite...
They left a receipt from a cash purchase of some junk food at a local minimart with the store's address, date, and exact time of purchase! It was from about 15 minutes before I discovered the Jeep was missing.
I called an officer a while ago, and told him what we had found. I asked if they would even bother with following up on it by seeing if the store had any surveillance footage of the individual making the purchase. He said he felt it was worthwhile to do so, but that it really kind of depends on the officers involved as to whether or not they would pursue it. I'll call them again tomorrow when I'm home, and see if I can get them to act upon it. I'd like to think they would. Maybe it's someone they're already are familiar with.
I also think I know what happened, as far as them abandoning it when and where they did. So, even though I had just put a new battery in it a couple of weeks ago, I always felt that the starter still cranked a little slow, like maybe it's dragging. It was something I was going to look into, in fact. Well, when I took a look down at the starter, I noticed that the new oil filter I had installed was all beat up on the top edge, like someone had been banging and/or prying something against it. XJs have an elbow oil filter adapter designed to have the filter run parallel with the engine block, due to clearance issues with the frame rail. Right underneath the end of the oil filter is the starter solenoid. The solenoid looks to be actually cocked over to one side, like someone was prying against it. Interesting.
I think they stopped to liberate the stereo from the rig, and when they went to restart it, the starter wouldn't comply. They then tried using the tire iron that was in the back to bang on the starter and/or pry on the solenoid, thereby causing the damage I'm seeing to both the oil filter and the starter solenoid. When that failed, they abandoned the vehicle. So, if I'm correct, I may simply need to replace the starter to get it operational again. Let's just hope I don't hear any internal knocking, or anything like that, once I get 'er going again.
