Arizona
05-15-2018, 09:28 PM
#3346
CF Veteran
Lol... Had to ask. 
I have to be honest and admit that I have had to do that myself. Currently trying to reduce all my projects down to one or two for the same reasons. Finding that I am spread out too thin and not getting anything at all completed or have any time to just enjoy life.
I have to be honest and admit that I have had to do that myself. Currently trying to reduce all my projects down to one or two for the same reasons. Finding that I am spread out too thin and not getting anything at all completed or have any time to just enjoy life. 
05-17-2018, 08:10 PM
#3347
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Apache Junction, AZ
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
Year: 1993
Model: Grand Cherokee(ZJ)
Engine: 4.0
Welp... My ZJ has been completely reliable until recently. I noticed odd things with the steering, and the power steering pump has always leaked since I bought this Jeep. I kept the fluid level where it should be but the pump started locking up intermittently. So today I dropped it off at the same shop that services our fleet of vehicles at work. The owner quoted me a great price to replace the power steering pump. Only reason I don't do it myself is I live in an apartment where we are not allowed to work on vehicles. He just called me and said the harmonic balancer had come loose and was about to fall off. I guess that is the noise I was hearing at start up (thought it was the power steering pump). I'm also having him replace a leaking freeze plug, replace the valve cover gasket, replace the gasket on the water neck, and do an oil change. Hopefully that is all they find for now. But I will feel better getting these things taken care of.
05-20-2018, 12:19 AM
#3348
CF Veteran
Welp... My ZJ has been completely reliable until recently. I noticed odd things with the steering, and the power steering pump has always leaked since I bought this Jeep. I kept the fluid level where it should be but the pump started locking up intermittently. So today I dropped it off at the same shop that services our fleet of vehicles at work. The owner quoted me a great price to replace the power steering pump. Only reason I don't do it myself is I live in an apartment where we are not allowed to work on vehicles. He just called me and said the harmonic balancer had come loose and was about to fall off. I guess that is the noise I was hearing at start up (thought it was the power steering pump). I'm also having him replace a leaking freeze plug, replace the valve cover gasket, replace the gasket on the water neck, and do an oil change. Hopefully that is all they find for now. But I will feel better getting these things taken care of.
Also same thing here... can't do much more than an oil change or minor work to it where I live either... so even though there's a lot I know how to do myself, am forced to have it done elsewhere... which sucks.
05-20-2018, 09:04 AM
#3349
CF Veteran
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 4,481
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes
on
12 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
lol my friend... that first line of your post is an infamous one of many a Jeep owner. Seems like we're always chasing one project after the next. I guess some is to be expected on any vehicle of our Jeep's vintage... but as I've mentioned before jeeps tend to be "needy children". If we didn't love these damn things we'd drop them in the bin and roll it out to the curb. lol.
Also same thing here... can't do much more than an oil change or minor work to it where I live either... so even though there's a lot I know how to do myself, am forced to have it done elsewhere... which sucks.
Also same thing here... can't do much more than an oil change or minor work to it where I live either... so even though there's a lot I know how to do myself, am forced to have it done elsewhere... which sucks.
But you have to camp with the vehicle until it is done. lol
05-23-2018, 02:48 PM
#3350
CF Veteran
Here's a tip... As long as you are careful with the mess, most truckstops will allow you to work on your own car in the back corner of the parking lot out of the way. I have done several in frame rebuilds and transmission/clutch replacements in truckstop parking lots over the years.
But you have to camp with the vehicle until it is done. lol
But you have to camp with the vehicle until it is done. lol
Those that know me, know that I can be a bit retentive when it comes to my vehicles. People can think what they want, but I've always gone by the rule of that if you take care of your vehicles properly you're much more likely to catch something when it first starts to go.... then finding out once something blows up and makes an even bigger problem.... leaving you stranded or possibly worse. Even something as an unexplained drop in MPG could be the start of something. So I keep tabs on everything my vehicle is doing...or not doing. What can I say, I'm an IT nerd with attention to detail...
So while not spotless, the fact that I keep a pretty clean engine bay as well... is why I was able to spot this issue before it became a REAL issue. Especially since I'm taking her on a little road trip starting tomorrow.
She's old, but I've done a lot to get her in good nic, so I figure if I take it easy like I did the last time, she'll do good all the way there and back.
I'll still give a little peace offering to the Jeep gods before I leave just for extra insurance. lol.
Last edited by RocketMouse; 05-23-2018 at 02:51 PM.
05-26-2018, 07:54 AM
#3351
CF Veteran
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 4,481
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes
on
12 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Well my brake light switch was way out of adjustment so that was an easy fix...but I'll take that one as a blessing in disguise since if it weren't for that I may not have caught that the master cylinder had just literally started to go. So I caught it before it failed and F'd up the booster along with it. It was another expense, but it wasn't a dent, it was the brakes and you just don't mess around with something important like that.
Those that know me, know that I can be a bit retentive when it comes to my vehicles. People can think what they want, but I've always gone by the rule of that if you take care of your vehicles properly you're much more likely to catch something when it first starts to go.... then finding out once something blows up and makes an even bigger problem.... leaving you stranded or possibly worse. Even something as an unexplained drop in MPG could be the start of something. So I keep tabs on everything my vehicle is doing...or not doing. What can I say, I'm an IT nerd with attention to detail...
So while not spotless, the fact that I keep a pretty clean engine bay as well... is why I was able to spot this issue before it became a REAL issue. Especially since I'm taking her on a little road trip starting tomorrow.
She's old, but I've done a lot to get her in good nic, so I figure if I take it easy like I did the last time, she'll do good all the way there and back.
I'll still give a little peace offering to the Jeep gods before I leave just for extra insurance. lol.
Those that know me, know that I can be a bit retentive when it comes to my vehicles. People can think what they want, but I've always gone by the rule of that if you take care of your vehicles properly you're much more likely to catch something when it first starts to go.... then finding out once something blows up and makes an even bigger problem.... leaving you stranded or possibly worse. Even something as an unexplained drop in MPG could be the start of something. So I keep tabs on everything my vehicle is doing...or not doing. What can I say, I'm an IT nerd with attention to detail...
So while not spotless, the fact that I keep a pretty clean engine bay as well... is why I was able to spot this issue before it became a REAL issue. Especially since I'm taking her on a little road trip starting tomorrow.
She's old, but I've done a lot to get her in good nic, so I figure if I take it easy like I did the last time, she'll do good all the way there and back.
I'll still give a little peace offering to the Jeep gods before I leave just for extra insurance. lol.
06-01-2018, 09:41 PM
#3352
CF Veteran
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 4,481
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes
on
12 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Hey Arizona! I hope all is well with everyone! I come read when I get the chance but never have time to get involved. Not yet anyways... Dad is almost back up to par and hopefully things will get back to normal soon.
Take care everyone!
Take care everyone!
06-03-2018, 07:05 PM
#3353
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Apache Junction, AZ
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
Year: 1993
Model: Grand Cherokee(ZJ)
Engine: 4.0
So I put a thermometer in my Jeep just for curiosity. It's the kind used for cooking, basically a coiled spring hooked to a pointer, so pretty accurate and does not need batteries. Current temp here is 107. At noon when I got in my Jeep it was 145 degrees inside (yes the thermometer was shaded). I went and did some shopping and parked under a tree that provided shade. The temp was "only" 120 when parked under the shade tree. So the partial shade of the tree dropped the inside temp by 25 degrees. That is quite a lot. Just thought I would share.
06-03-2018, 09:16 PM
#3354
Member
So I put a thermometer in my Jeep just for curiosity. It's the kind used for cooking, basically a coiled spring hooked to a pointer, so pretty accurate and does not need batteries. Current temp here is 107. At noon when I got in my Jeep it was 145 degrees inside (yes the thermometer was shaded). I went and did some shopping and parked under a tree that provided shade. The temp was "only" 120 when parked under the shade tree. So the partial shade of the tree dropped the inside temp by 25 degrees. That is quite a lot. Just thought I would share.
06-03-2018, 10:19 PM
#3355
CF Veteran
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 4,481
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes
on
12 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
So I put a thermometer in my Jeep just for curiosity. It's the kind used for cooking, basically a coiled spring hooked to a pointer, so pretty accurate and does not need batteries. Current temp here is 107. At noon when I got in my Jeep it was 145 degrees inside (yes the thermometer was shaded). I went and did some shopping and parked under a tree that provided shade. The temp was "only" 120 when parked under the shade tree. So the partial shade of the tree dropped the inside temp by 25 degrees. That is quite a lot. Just thought I would share.
06-12-2018, 08:12 PM
#3356
CF Veteran
06-12-2018, 08:13 PM
#3357
CF Veteran
holy cow. ^^^^ that post proves that the mouse is still alive... the illusion is destroyed. lol
06-14-2018, 02:47 PM
#3360
CF Veteran
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 4,481
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes
on
12 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Eat your heart out... This is one of the reasons we like to live in the constitutional state of Az. Just had a few of my vehicles come due for registration at the same time this month. It's still pretty much "paper filing" fees here rather than in income tax/fee source like other states. We carry here so I don't foresee this changing anytime soon...
Thank you for using ServiceArizona.com.
Confirmation Number : Rxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Time : 07:54:57
Date : 06/14/2018
Customer : Bugout 4x4
Vehicle Make : CHEVY
Vehicle Year : 1975
Plate Number : 56&ugly
Account Number : ************0000
Audit Trace Number : 00000
Retrieval Ref. : 00xxxxxxxxxxxx
Approval Code : xxxxxxxx
Tracking Number : AZWxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sales Total : $20.00
Confirmation Number : Rxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Time : 08:01:48
Date : 06/14/2018
Customer : Bugout 4x4
Vehicle Make : JEEP
Vehicle Year : 1997
Plate Number : Broken4x4
Account Number : ************0000
Audit Trace Number : xxxxxxx
Retrieval Ref. : 00xxxxxxxxxxx
Approval Code : xxxxxxxxxx
Tracking Number : AZWxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sales Total : $20.00
Confirmation Number : Rxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Time : 08:06:45
Date : 06/14/2018
Customer : Bugout 4x4
Vehicle Make : ****
Vehicle Year : 1976
Plate Number : Byeseeya
Account Number : ************0000
Audit Trace Number : xxxxxxx
Retrieval Ref. : 00xxxxxxxxxxx
Approval Code : xxxxxxxx
Tracking Number : AZWxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sales Total : $21.00
Thank you for using ServiceArizona.com.
Confirmation Number : Rxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Time : 07:54:57
Date : 06/14/2018
Customer : Bugout 4x4
Vehicle Make : CHEVY
Vehicle Year : 1975
Plate Number : 56&ugly
Account Number : ************0000
Audit Trace Number : 00000
Retrieval Ref. : 00xxxxxxxxxxxx
Approval Code : xxxxxxxx
Tracking Number : AZWxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sales Total : $20.00
Confirmation Number : Rxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Time : 08:01:48
Date : 06/14/2018
Customer : Bugout 4x4
Vehicle Make : JEEP
Vehicle Year : 1997
Plate Number : Broken4x4
Account Number : ************0000
Audit Trace Number : xxxxxxx
Retrieval Ref. : 00xxxxxxxxxxx
Approval Code : xxxxxxxxxx
Tracking Number : AZWxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sales Total : $20.00
Confirmation Number : Rxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Time : 08:06:45
Date : 06/14/2018
Customer : Bugout 4x4
Vehicle Make : ****
Vehicle Year : 1976
Plate Number : Byeseeya
Account Number : ************0000
Audit Trace Number : xxxxxxx
Retrieval Ref. : 00xxxxxxxxxxx
Approval Code : xxxxxxxx
Tracking Number : AZWxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sales Total : $21.00