I'm going on vacation in a few weeks to visit family and pick up my new '99 XJ Sport (4 door, 4x4, AW4)! I will then be driving and towing my ATV 750 miles (about 100 miles unpaved) and then take a couple ferries and be home. I have compiled a list of repairs I would like done at the shop before I arrive:

-Brake Job, front rotors and pads, rear resurfacing and shoes.....brake are worn
-Coolant Flush and Tstat inspection......no problems
-Tranny drain, filter and fill....no flush!

Anything else I should get worked on? It has 124,000 miles and runs good. The Airbag light comes on sporadically, should I fix this myself or have it done in the shop? I'll change the oil myself but i have a full schedule on my vacation and don't have spare time. Also, I don't have a good place to work on the XJ at home so I'd rather spend the money and get stuff done while I have access to a good mechanic (there's only 1 where I live). I don't have access to a garage or covered area and I live in one of the rainiest places in the US.

 

How exactly do you "inspect" a thermostat? I'd suggest spending the $10 on a new tstat from the dealer for peace of mind.

Maybe replace your air filter and run some injector cleaner (the product BG44K would do you some good).

Since you have an auto tranny and you'll be towing, I'd HIGHLY suggest throwing in an auxiliary tranny cooler and doing away with the mediocre factory cooler in the radiator. Your tranny would thank you.

Also, do you have a heavier weight gear oil in your differentials? That's something I'd do if I were towing for hundreds of miles

 

You inspect it by letting the vehicle warm up and see if coolant flows through.

 

Riiiiighhhttt. If I was driving that far, I'd want a new and reliable one. To make sure it wouldn't fail in the middle of nowhere and leave me stranded

 

Okay replace Tstat is an easy one and i will be driving in the middle if nowhere. I'll only be towing 1100lbs so I don't think a new tranny cooler is necessary but throwing some 75-140 oil in the rear diff is a good idea.

 

on the tranny cooler.... i would check to see if it has a factory external cooler. if not put one on it. once again it will make the trans happy. any kind of additional weight or heavy oversize tires are hard on an automatic if its not geared properly. example running 33s on an automatic xj without a transcooler will last a short time with stock gears. but that transfluid will get really really hot especially climbing hills.....

transcoolers are not much ,maybe 50-60 dollars....

 

Getting the trans cooler installed. Thanks Jeb. Any other suggestions?