Hi, I'm a Newbie!

[SamSam02]

Im Liliana from NY

I recently bought a 2002 Jeep liberty. I have some questions about some issues here and there.
1. When I shift gears from park to drive it jerks a little, I have an automatic transmission. What can it be?
2. Noise, it recently started when turning the wheel?
3. The turning signal light (left): I recently fixed it but it went back to super-fast signal again?
4. Exhaust: is quite rusted, I’m changing it soon, but because of it would that be sending fumes through the heater?
5. Tires: 23570R16: what’s the thickest without replacing the rim I can go for?
If anyone have any input on any of these issues would be very helpful.
Thanks

 

[Luke]

Welcome .. and Congrats!

1. I have heard people say that the odd clunk is normal .. haven't experienced it myself though,
2. What kind of noise ... grinding? clicking? etc.
3. Usually indicates another bulb is now blown.
4. :shrug: ... is there a leak? and where?
5. Some have gone to 265 but the rim is not your limiting factor... clearance and weight will be.

All the best,

 

[SamSam02]

Hey Luke,

Thank you for the response. Well these sounds coming from the steering wheel are like when turning right is pulling and the steering wheel gets a bit hard to turn. I already checked the fluid and its seems to be fine. (maybe theres a leak im not seeing). Also I thought it was the weather since I mostly hear it in the morning as im going to work.
As for the bulb, aside from the bulb theres got to be a connection problem, I changed it. And it happened again.
The exhaust: there is a small hole in which we recently patched it temporarily.

Luke can you elaborate more on the tire…

Thank you.. 

 

[Luke]

Sure The wider the tire you run .. the closer it gets to the front sway bar (when turning - 245/75 will rub) as well as the pinch weld (behind front tire). The interior of the wheel well (front) and front air dam will also contact the tire. You can attempt to change this with different offset rims or wheel adapters and trimming.

With modest trimming and heat gun work and by pounding down the pinch weld you can get a 31" tire to fit. The Duratracs I have are 30.7". The bigger you go the more :superhack:

There is also the issue of the weight of the tire. The gearing etc. is set up to work with stock tire sizes. When you increase the weight and rolling resistance with heavier tires with more aggressive tread, performance suffers. How much (loss) is too much ... that's really up to the individual. But your KJ will have to work harder.

 

[Porkchop]

If you are smelling fumes from the heater you might want to check your valve cover gasket its not uncommon for it to leak on older KJs and get fumes in the cab from it.