What did you do to your jeep today?

[Johnny O]

I have a bunch of shirts like that. They weren't skin tight when I bought them, but...

(I have been hitting the gym like a maniac for seven weeks now so that is slowly getting corrected.)

Yeah, I had some too. All the work in the gym last year or so for me resulted in an entire new wardrobe...gained a buncha weight.

 

[lfhoward]

no DIY garages around here any more.
lawyers and liability insurance killed them.
in fact, lawyers and liability is killing damn near every biz around here.

The place I’m headed is in south Jersey. Is this anywhere close to you?

U Wrench It Auto

U Wrench It Auto · 4.9★(130) · Auto repair shop

705 NJ-73, Palmyra, NJ 08065

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[sota]

that's like 90 minutes to 2 hours from me, depending on traffic. halfway between me and methville.

 

[CherokeeLiberty]

My own vehicle is gaslighting me, after all the hundreds of gallons of gas I’ve given it. I checked both CVs, and the one in question has a touch of play perpendicular to the shaft, but not an insane amount more than the one I replaced a couple years ago. To top it off, I drove circles in a parking lot and got no noises. That was in 2wd, so I’ll try again in 4wd, I guess.


Update: No noises in 4wd, either.

 

[Johnny O]

The mad dash to get some upgrades and modifications done is real. My home workshop, usually reserved for fossil preparation and fine art, has become the staging area for Jeep Stuff. The fume hood in my personal lab at work has been converted to a paint booth. Got lazy and filled the glassware washer with parts to be coated. Why clean and degrease by hand when I can get a literal clinical steam clean?

It has been a such long time since I did the Winter Dash to build Bert I had forgotten how much fun it is to have a backlog of work and a strict deadline.

 

[Johnny O]

Deal Alert!!!!

The excellent portable refrigerator I use currently has a 40$ off coupon which takes the price down to just a little more than what I paid for it pre-pandemic price gouging.

Posting up an Honestly Blunt Review Shortly for those that might be interested.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RDPNT5G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

EDIT: Review is now posted of mine which has seen constant use since I bought it back in 2022.

 

[Jeremy-WI]

I was going to ask what would sound like an angry kitten under my hood but I found out shortly after leaving work. First the power steering quit, a block later the battery light came on, but I was only a couple blocks from O'Reilly's, the grooved pulley on the belt tensioner locked up. Fixed it in the parking lot in the rain and made it home

 

[turblediesel]

I was going to ask what would sound like an angry kitten under my hood but I found out shortly after leaving work. First the power steering quit, a block later the battery light came on, but I was only a couple blocks from O'Reilly's, the grooved pulley on the belt tensioner locked up. Fixed it in the parking lot in the rain and made it home

And the kitten?

 

[lfhoward]

Today I took Jeepy to U Wrench It Auto in Palmyra, NJ. I brought along way too many tools for too many projects. I had 6 hours in the bay but nothing comes easy on a 2008 that has had 16 years for bolts and nuts to corrode and fuse together.

I did get to work on my Jeep on a lift for the first time ever. That was awesome!

You must be registered for see images attach

I tried to replace those rear shocks from 2012 but admitted defeat when my electric impact, the shop’s air impact, and my breaker bar and breaker bar extension would not budge the bolts. I had an induction heater and got the bolts red hot, but not hot enough apparently. I will need to take it to the professionals who have stronger methods of persuasion.

The lower shock bolts did eventually come out but it was a fight.

You must be registered for see images attach

The upper shock bolts refused to budge. I got them free from that outer section under the bolt head, (paint now missing due to the induction heater) but not where they went into the frame.

You must be registered for see images attach

The sway bar links and bushings were on the docket for today but I never got to them. I reassembled the lower shock bolts and nuts so that I could drive home for now.

The day was far from a total loss though! I did a Mobil-1 oil change, lubed all the grease zerks on the JBA lift components, did a tire rotation, and fixed a bad electrical connection to my drivers side front blinker. I am happy with that.

Next weekend I will be back at U Wrench It Auto to do a water pump, thermostat, and fan clutch. I learned my lesson and will only bring one project at a time!

PS, the owner of the shop, Matt, was awesome to deal with. He was also super helpful and I learned things about working on my Jeep from him today that I didn’t know before. His shop is spotless and organized and the tools that are there are of good quality. I highly recommend this place if anyone (@sota ) is in the neighborhood and needs to work on their rig.

 

[profdlp]

^ I would love to get my Jeep up on a lift for an afternoon. I'm getting a little old to be doing the slug-crawl under and back.

 

[lfhoward]

^ I would love to get my Jeep up on a lift for an afternoon. I'm getting a little old to be doing the slug-crawl under and back.

I have to admit it was pretty cool.

 

[sota]

@lfhoward thanks but I have a home garage full of tools, a set of quckjacks, and a bunch of cardboard.
I only wish I had at least 1 more bay, so I could keep one tied up for weeks/months with a vehicle in the air during the winter, since i'm not allowed to have my beautiful big shed.

I'm also helping a family friend clean up his mother's house (she's not dead yet, but not living nearby any longer), and he's granted me use of at least 1 of the 2 garage bays there for storage and wrenching if I need. Which is good, because I still need to finish the Jeep for their daughter!

 

[Johnny O]

Today I took Jeepy to U Wrench It Auto in Palmyra, NJ. I brought along way too many tools for too many projects. I had 6 hours in the bay but nothing comes easy on a 2008 that has had 16 years for bolts and nuts to corrode and fuse together.

I did get to work on my Jeep on a lift for the first time ever. That was awesome!

You must be registered for see images attach

I tried to replace those rear shocks from 2012 but admitted defeat when my electric impact, the shop’s air impact, and my breaker bar and breaker bar extension would not budge the bolts. I had an induction heater and got the bolts red hot, but not hot enough apparently. I will need to take it to the professionals who have stronger methods of persuasion.

The lower shock bolts did eventually come out but it was a fight.

You must be registered for see images attach

The upper shock bolts refused to budge. I got them free from that outer section under the bolt head, (paint now missing due to the induction heater) but not where they went into the frame.

You must be registered for see images attach

The sway bar links and bushings were on the docket for today but I never got to them. I reassembled the lower shock bolts and nuts so that I could drive home for now.

The day was far from a total loss though! I did a Mobil-1 oil change, lubed all the grease zerks on the JBA lift components, did a tire rotation, and fixed a bad electrical connection to my drivers side front blinker. I am happy with that.

Next weekend I will be back at U Wrench It Auto to do a water pump, thermostat, and fan clutch. I learned my lesson and will only bring one project at a time!

PS, the owner of the shop, Matt, was awesome to deal with. He was also super helpful and I learned things about working on my Jeep from him today that I didn’t know before. His shop is spotless and organized and the tools that are there are of good quality. I highly recommend this place if anyone (@sota ) is in the neighborhood and needs to work on their rig.

Have you a can of Free All?

 

[lfhoward]

Have you a can of Free All?

I have been using AeroKroil, which has never failed me before. Is Free All more effective?

 

[Johnny O]

I have been using AeroKroil, which has never failed me before. Is Free All more effective?

Can be. Kroil for stuff that looks like it has been underwater for a decade and can be soaked in a tub. AeroKroil for g.p. use. Free All for dry stuff that may have rust seized threads with thread locker. I use both.

I think since Aero Kroil and heat failed, a good dose of Free All for a day or two may work.

In your case I would have already bought new stainless steel hardware and used the grinder wrench to get the old Grade 8s out.

 

[Johnny O]

Been up since 0400. Spent most of the day doing prep and paint on a bunch of goodies while getting a ton of work done in the Lab.

Was not impressed with the duplicolor acid etch primer. perhaps I just got a bad can, but it went on like fine sand. It did not bond well and came right off with wet sanding with 400 grit.

I stripped the primers off the test scraps with anhydrous ethyl acetate/acetone. I then compared and examined surfaces under the microscope. Duplicolor did not etch aluminum well. More on that in the other thread.

 

[lfhoward]

Can be. Kroil for stuff that looks like it has been underwater for a decade and can be soaked in a tub. AeroKroil for g.p. use. Free All for dry stuff that may have rust seized threads with thread locker. I use both.

I think since Aero Kroil and heat failed, a good dose of Free All for a day or two may work.

In your case I would have already bought new stainless steel hardware and used the grinder wrench to get the old Grade 8s out.

Yup, the first thing I did after getting home last night was order new hardware for the shocks and sway bar links since it is clear that the old is going to be destroyed. :thumbsup:

I will see if I can find Free All in my area. Is this an order it online kind of thing or is it at HD/Lowes/Ace?

 

[Jeremy-WI]

And the kitten?

Never found a kitten but it may have taken off when the serpentine belt flew off. I replaced the other pulley on the tensioner this morning even though it spun fine, likely needed it after 190k miles

 

[derekj]

Threw a new boomerang in the truck today - bushings were done. The great part is no more clunking from the rear now

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[lfhoward]

Waiting for a tow.

So I remember details later, here is what happened:
- Driving normally with no indication of an issue
- ⁠suddenly no power, can’t accelerate
- ⁠pressing gas pedal causes the rpm’s to drop, release, they come back up
- ⁠red lightning icon on dash for electronic throttle control issue
- ⁠Jeep now will not idle, stalls while driving, coast to a stop.
- ⁠none of this was violent, all silent and without bad vibrations
- ⁠no check engine light or codes (Scangauge)
- ⁠attemp to start multiple times. Sputters, runs a bit when accelerator is depressed but stalls immediately
- ⁠pending code P0300 for random misfires shows up after start attempts.
- ⁠suspect electrical issue with throttle, or maybe a fuel pressure issue.

No ETA yet from AAA… patience, Grasshopper