OK so my plans have changed a lot since I've last posted here. I was going to build my daily driver Jeep, but the opportunity came up to adopt a 1997 XJ with about 200,000 miles for free.

The bad:

It's been sitting for 7 months or so. Obviously it doesn't start, but ran perfect when put in the garage. They didn't drive it because when you put it in to 1st gear, it would stall and die. I have yet to verify this.

The good:

It has 4x4. It's in GREAT shape and looks to be fixable.

Questions:

1. What do I do first? Change out the fluids (fuel of course), but are the others necessary if it's only been sitting for 7 months?
2. Should I get it running before changing fluids?
3. Where would you start in getting this thing back in shape?

 

chainge fluids first, than run

 

Maybe the clutch is wayyy gone? Idle is off... hard to tell. I'd just throw some fuel stabilizer in it, check the coolant levels, charge a battery and try starting it up... It's hard to tell from what people have told you... That's what I'd do anyways. Once you know it runs then go ahead and change out the fluids.

 

I have to check the receipts but they put in either a new clutch or tranny before it died...also a new exhaust (stock). The Jeep came from my friends' mother whom I would not expect to lie to me as she gave it to me in good faith that I would try to restore it to functional.

So I'll have to check the papers tonight for that. Would fuel stabilizer work OK, or should I siphon it and refill it from a jerry can?

 

Fuel stabilizer is worthless after the fuel has been stored. It needs to go in beforehand. With that said, 7 months is not all that long for today's fuel and it's probably ok.

 

bump to top

 

i agree. id use cheap oil on your first oil change like wal mart brand, run that for about 100 miles then run it again for 50 then run good oil for 3000 +. possibly flush radiator or just fill if low. check all fluid levels and give it a whirl.

 

Not all Fuel stabilizers or worthless,In attempts to stabilize motor fuel toward oxidative degradation, it is often times found that sufficient oxidative stability is not imparted to the fuel by the use of a single antioxidant material. Hence, more than one specific oxidation-stabilizing material can be added to the fresh fuel to provide for the desired level of oxidative stability. In your situation I would use a fuel treatment and/or cleaner product a stabilizer should have been used before storage. I prefer to use Lucas products and I would add some just in case. http://www.autobarn.net/lucas.html. All of their products work great and I personally wouldn't use anything else. Also yes you should change ALL the fluids(just because it will only be good for the jeep) but I would just change the oil with the cheap oil like stated above then try to start it and drive it and then tell use how it runs. after you get it running go back and change ALL the fluids before driving it every day.

 

well if it were me the first thing i would do is check all the hoses and belts for sign of old age (cracked,torn,dry rotted, ect.). i would pull the tb and give it a good cleaning, same with spark pluggs, possibly the fuel filter too. get it running in the driveway and let it for awhile.change the oil and top off all other fluids start er up, listen to it and check it out before it go's out on the road. once i was satsfied with that i would then change all other fluids.

 

What he said ^^^

minus i would make sure it runs before spending the moneys on fluids... if it only sat for 7 months just make sure its topped off... mine sat for 8 months before i got it... got it running and drove it to jiffy lube once it was right... i just stuck some Lucas (best stuff ever) in the tank and went about my way... have fun with the weird shuts off when put in first... is it automatic or manuel?

 

it's a manual. From what I've been trying to research, there are some intake parts that may be dirty...

We'll cross that road when we get to it since it's not even running yet.

 

if it was running when it was parked... it shouldnt be a problem getting it started back... alittle starting fluid and a good battery or jump... do you know if it died when stuck in 1st gear or when the clutch was let out in first gear?

 

I don't know the details on the clutch issue yet...I wish I did, but I will this weekend once it's started and cleaned off.

 

I got it running today. I took the Throttle Body off and cleaned it...it was gross and probably sticking which in turn didn't let the car idle which is why they thought it was stalling.

I'll do fluids this weekend!

 

u lucky sob!!!!