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Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go hereXJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.
Just got this 2000 cherokee sport about a week ago from an eBay auction (not my first jeep, but first jeep i plan on modifying). looking to get everything mechanically sound before I worry about changing suspensions/lifts and all that. I was hoping someone could tell me about the connector on top of the engine toward the fire wall? it is behind the oil cap, I took a close up photo of it if that helps. Mine is broken off...doesn't seem to effect how the Jeep runs, but I do want to know what it is so I can replace it.
Also, there is a connector that is just hanging there on the passenger side, also close to fire wall. Anyone know what that might be used for?
Thanks in advance
The one dangling from the hood is an unused under-hood lamp connector.
The one on the valve cover is what most call the PCV elbow. (though I think Chrysler called it the CCV - Crank Case Ventilation). The rear run routes to the rear area of the intake manifold. I believe the front one routes to the air filter box. (don't have my Jeep in front of me).
The light connector can be safely ignored, but you'll need to fix the PCV elbow and hose. It should improve the overall engine operation when you do.
Edit - Also, there are no dumb questions. Everybody has to start their Jeep journey somewhere - Welcome to the forum!
Edit 2 - Being that the beautiful Jeep in that picture is a 2000, you should educate yourself about the 0331 head defect if you aren't familiar with it.
The rear elbow is a CCV fixed orifice rather than a spring-loaded PCV valve like most other cars have. It's a fixed air bleed that the computer compensates for in setting mixtures and idle speed. It's designed to pull oil vapors from the crankcase and burn them in the engine. The major problem with this design is those oil vapors combine with fine dirt particles that the air filter doesn't catch and builds deposits in the intake manifold, especially on the back of the exhaust valves. Not a real problem until it becomes a high mileage engine with a lot of blowby. Just so you'll know.
Do the research on that 0331 head. It has a design weakness in the area around the valves between cyl 3 and 4. If it cracks and you catch it in time, you can save destroying the engine bearings. Watch for a sudden large loss of coolant and oil that looks like chocolate milk. They don't all crack, but they usually do between 150 to 175 thousand miles.
Given the appearance of that funky looking deposit on the CCV elbow you may want to check the cooling system/oil/oil pressure before making any long term plans.
I replaced the front and rear CCV elbows with dorman replacements on my 99 years ago. The problem with replacing them is the part pressed into the valve cover breaks into pieces and falls into a channel built into the top of the valve cover on the inside. I recommend removing the valve cover and changing the elbows, valve cover gasket, and valve cover bolt grommets at the same time.
I replaced the front and rear CCV elbows with dorman replacements on my 99 years ago. The problem with replacing them is the part pressed into the valve cover breaks into pieces and falls into a channel built into the top of the valve cover on the inside. I recommend removing the valve cover and changing the elbows, valve cover gasket, and valve cover bolt grommets at the same time.
11-13-2018, 12:32 PM
probably dumb questions
