I just recently purchased a 1993 xj sport for a daily driver. It has 208,000 miles. Brought it to a mechanic and said it needs u-joints and a pinion seal for the transfer case. It doesnt start as fast as it should takes a few turn overs for it to start. I've changed plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotar. Also while in gear I get a rattle that worries me. Any help tips for a new jeep owner?

Sounds perfectly normal for a jeep. 99% of these take a second to start, but they always do start and almost never die. Need to be a little more specific about the rattle though. Most of these have a rattle or tick of some kind but that doesn't mean yours doesn't have something else going on.

Thanks for the quick reply Donnie K!! I'm not wondering if it has to do with the transfercase as it sounds like its coming from that area, I haven't been able to take a look under there while it's in gear. It only starts doing it then. In the next month I'm hoping to replace the rockers (minnesota roads are horrible for salt in the winter). I'll post some pics for you to see.

probably the fuel pump in the tank

Hope this works....




Otherwise here's the direct link:
http://i1116.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_6368.jpg

Thanks NorCalJeep, that crossed my mind. Is this hard to do? Do I need do drain all the gas out and drop the tank?

Before messing with the fuel pump, check the easy stuff first. Make sure you're battery is strong under load. Does it sound like it's hard to turn over? You might need a new starter. A starter is MUCH easier to replace than the fuel pump. Run a bottle of Seafoam to clean out your fuel system.

I've seafoamed every tank for 1,500 miles or so. It does wonders. As for the rockers Looks like a candidate for boatsides I want to do it to mine but my rockers are flawless. LOL. I need to just do it.. oh on a sidenote check and clean connections, grounds etc. It really is worth it..

I did run a fuel system cleaner, and I'm still in the current tank. I'm gonna clean the positive and negative on the battery and throw in a new air filter. I'm pretty sure it's a fuel issue.

Just something to keep in mind. My Jeep started taking longer and longer to start. Not just turning, but for the engine to catch. I changed the battery which seemed to help, but didn't completely eliminate the problem. I just didn't think it was a starter problem. Then one day, it wouldn't start. I changed the starter and BAM! No problems since. Getting to the fuel pump is VERY involved. I hope you don't have to do that.

That sound might be your exhaust rattling around because i chopped off from the cat back and I thought same thing but its that rattling around ( If you did what i did) and the engine taking long might also be a bad connection....The wire that went from my battery to the rotor, theres like a plastic piece that you can seperate, that wasnt connecting all the way, so i stripped both wires and put a metal crimp on it and works great now.

I agree with Donnie. Mine has had a steady knock coming from under the center console area for the 4 years that I have had mine. Sounds kind of like someone tapping a finger on a table top. It is very cyclical and it only happens at an idle. Hasn't gotten any worse since the day I bought so I am not worried about it lol. I am learning that Jeeps are just inherently noisy, which sometimes makes it difficult to determine what is actually a problem. Good luck with it though, hope your Jeep lasts a while for you. Dad's has 280,000 and still runs strong, so it is looking good for you.

Yeah mine rattles while it's in gear. Hopefully within a few weeks Im going to change out the transfer case seal and see if that's it. I also have to change out the front u-joints are these two deals hard to do? Sorry this thread is so random...

That knock could be a loose flex plate.

The bolts on that thing are notorious for coming loose.

Easy to fix, unbolt the inspection cover, disconnect your coil, turn motor over by hand and remove each bolt, loctite and reinstall. Torque to correct setting and your done.

It really isnt hard. Puull the inspection cover and check them out.

When you hear this noise at idle, pull up slightly on the t-case shifter. If noise goes away the culprit is a worn tcase linkage bushing. It is mounted to the trans tunnel, mine has a bit of play also. Drove me nuts for a good while but took my friend 4 seconds to find it haha.