iamdgw

SO - my new to me 2000 XJ is at the garage being checked over.
I finally called and got the laundry list - but no pricing yet.

Some of you guys can field strip and reassemble an entire vehicle with your bare hands in less than 2 hours.

Unfortunately - that's not me. I CAN follow you tube videos and have done a few repairs.
I've done the rear brakes - so that qualifies me - right?
I've done the heater core in an s-10. But would have been lost with out the video.

So - now that you have an idea of my ability - here are the things he mentioned that needed work.
I'm wondering what I might be able to do - and what I should leave to the "professionals"

Cam crank seal (this was the sensors) - DONE
clock spring (air bag) - this looked easier per the video - DONE
hood release (this looked easier per the video) - DONE
valve cover is leaking oil - (new gasket) - DONE
oil filter adapter is leaking - DONE
battery is weak (parts store) - DONE
change tranny fluid
flush coolant - DONE
u-joints - DONE
front wheel bearings - not needed
steering stabilizer (not sure what was wrong with this) - DONE
power steering gearbox had lots of play and he said the lines were rusty
front lateral arms
new belt - DONE
and maybe something with the cat - code
but he said that could be related to the cam crank seal

It seems like most of this is the result of not having done maintenance for a while.
Gauge shows that it has great oil pressure - so the leaks can't be that bad
but def. think those are things that should be fixed.

Any help would be appreciated.
I'd like to make this a nice running clean daily.

Also - it does seem to have something done to lift it - but I asked if he could tell how much of a lift was on it
and he said that he couldn't tell what was done to lift it - no obvious kit - maybe the springs were replaced - anyway to tell?

iamdgw

iamdgw

I tried to research a lot of this last night -
most of it looks like it's doable for my level of expertise and not that expensive
Lots of videos out there - you guys are awesome

$ 10 - Cam crank seal - is this the "camshaft seal"? -
$250 - clock spring (air bag) w/ cc
$ 50 - hood release (this looked easier per the video)
$ 40 - valve cover is leaking oil
$ 5 - oil filter adapter is leaking
$200 - battery is weak (parts store)
$100 - change tranny fluid
$10 / 100 - flush coolant (looks easy but also cheap for shop for possibly better results - and then you don't have to worry about disposal)
$ more research - u-joints
$150 - front wheel bearings
$ 50 - steering stabilizer
$ varies - power steering gearbox had lots of play and he said the lines were rusty
$ varies - front lateral arms
$ 40 - new belt

Still - looking at like ~$1,500 in maintenance even if I do it all myself - plus buying whatever tools I don't have.
We'll see what the shop says and I'll go from there.

Spencer_P

IMO I think you could do it all yourself, I'm not sure what the cam seal consists of, but these xjs are pretty straight forward. Not to mention the money you'd be saving, but it's really a matter of if you have the time to do it all. From the picture I'd probably say it has a 3 inch lift, but I could be wrong. Good luck!

downs

"Cam Crank Seal" is probably the camshaft position sensor seal. Or Distributor seal if you had an Older non coil pack XJ. Pretty common leak point. Many folks replace it with an O-ring instead of a gasket for a more positive seal.

iamdgw

I'm getting a little frustrated with the shop that I've left it at.
I dropped it off Tuesday night - the looked at it Wednesday
I stopped by Wednesday afternoon about 4:30 - and he hadn't written it up yet
and expected it in 30 - 45 minutes (closes at 6)
no call that evening
no call Thursday morning so I called that afternoon
and got the list you see above but no pricing
no call Friday
no call Saturday

I'd go pick it up and say screw you guys but my wife is out of town for a couple more days
< sigh >

doesn't sound like anything that is keeping me from driving it as I get bits fixed.
I think I'll try a lot of it myself
Thanks
Will update as progress happens.

Spencer_P

downs

I have a hard time trusting mechanics and will only sub out vehicle work to one in the the most dire of circumstances or time constraints. Those are reasons why.

iamdgw

crank /sensor/ not seal - which is different
wife is back - think I'm going to go tomorrow and pick it up with his list of things that are bad
I -was- contemplating having them do -some- of the more obnoxious repairs

but I have changed my mind
IF it takes a week to get the price - how long does it take to do the work
IF he can't call when he says he will - 3x now - how can I trust him when it comes to the work
too bad, too - it's a nearby shop that gets good reviews online

must be too busy for his own good.
grr

iamdgw

OK - here's the list
Front end work - $1800
* front wheel bearings - FINE
* front U-joints - DONE
* steering shock (stabilizer?) - DONE
* Power steering gear box (rebuilt) -
* power steering pressure line & return lines - DONE
* front lower lateral arms
* front end alignment

Cam and Crank sensors - ~350 - DONE

Seals - Misc. ~275 - DONE
Valve cover gasket - DONE
Oil filter adapter - DONE
Oil change - DONE

Other Misc - ~800
Hood cable - DONE
Airbag clock spring (w/cc) - DONE
Battery - DONE
Coolant flush - DONE
Change tranny fluid

SO - a little more than 3K

So I'm thinking I'll try the wheels and seals and sensors
but maybe let them do the fluids and steering box

I need to figure out this mystery lift - which would impact the lower arms - right?
It's obvious that the jeep is lifted in some way - but they were telling me there was no obvious kit - or modifications.

So how can I tell what was done to lift this thing?
How high is stock? - is there something I can measure?

iamdgw

tires are:
LT225/75R16
Goodyear Wranglers

gat

Ask what he thinks is the #1 thing that it needs done and why. Let him do that. Tell him that you have an interest in maintaining your own vehicle. You want to do some of the simple things like the valve cover gasket, transmission filter and oil, and finding a blemished battery for real cheap. Tell him that you might do more after that depending on how comfortable that you feel. Also, inform him that you can't or won't be expending that much at once nor over a short amount of time for this vehicle.

Leaking oil isn't an emergency. Gushing oil is an emergency. Be honest and fair. If he did really review the vehicle, then he deserves some compensation.

iamdgw

I have told him from the start when it was first discovered that there would be some $$$ spent - that I wasn't in a position to do it all and I might try to do some myself.
he says he totally understands that -
he's told me that his initial concerns were the sensors I think - then the leaks - and then the (something with the wheel was pretty shot (wasn't the bearings - so I'm guessing the U-joints)
He did get $80 for his assessment of the vehicle - which I was told will be deducted if I bring it back for any of the work.

oh yeah - at one point he told me it needed a new belt - - that wasn't included in the estimates.

iamdgw

I've been watching lots of videos - and doing some forum research
I am going to start with the cam and crank sensors - WHEN IT GETS WARMER - 10-degrees is just too cold to work in an unheated garage.
From what I've read - these are best replaced with OEM items instead of aftermarket brands.

Will keep you posted as progress is made.

iamdgw

SO - some progress has been made.

I was gone for a weekend and the kids had left the dome lights in the back on
so when I got back Sunday and wanted to move it from the garage - already ailing battery was DEAD
- new battery - check!

I finally picked up the dorman hood release replacement from the local O'Reilly's and I got that installed this afternoon.
Fairly straight forward replacement. Now I don't have to pull the cable sticking up from side of the hood with pliers any more.

I discovered that the wheels - are the stock wheels - just painted black.
This was reinforced when I took the spare off the roof and saw it was the stock full size spare unpainted.

Have not figured out what lift is on there - but I'm starting to put together some ideas of where'd I like to go with it.
The ride is stiff as a board - which I've read is due to poor lift products. Since this is my DD - I would actually like to lower it ~2-inch lift
(thinking it has more than that on it now)
OME seems to be the way go to - but more research required.

I did the instrument cluster test and saw that my engine light was not working not a good sign
so I pulled that off tonight too and swapped the bulb with the "shift" indicator bulb - (it's an automatic - should be good right?)
A new LED bulb set is def. in my future.
And contrary to what the YouTube video says - it was more than just 4 screws to get the stupid dash off - more like 7..

Good news - engine light is working now - and did NOT come on when I started it up.
(why am I replacing the cam and crank sensors again?)
Those are ordered and on their way
so is a new blower motor resistor. Fan works on 1, 2, and 4 right now but not 3 - we'll see if it was the resistor or the switch.

After I get the sensors in I'm thinking I'll try the head gasket - IT"S FINALLY GETTING WARMER OUTSIDE