Thank you Dave!! Got it!!

I'll order that Mopar additive. I was told not to use the trans x. Not sure why.

 

Sorry to get so testy with you, Tony, but these models get confusing the newer they get, PLUS with available options, it becomes MORE complicated. The build sheet told the true story!

I ran into a problem with my WJ. I wanted to change the power steering fluid because it was dark and smelled burnt when I bought it. I got confusing information as to what fluid it was supposed to have in it EVEN FROM DEALERS! Come to find out someone put hydraulic fluid for the hydro-fan in it when it was supposed to have the simple stuff, BUT Chrysler had changed their specs around that time for a superseded fluid! I found a REALLY nice parts manager that said "Look. I've got 3 quarts of the old fluid on inventory that I'd like to clear out. I'll give you a deal on it!" You can't beat $2 a quart for genuine Mopar fluid! Hell yeah!

 

I didnt take it wrong Dave. I am pretty thick skinned. I was asking questions over and over quickly. I appreciate the help.

The built sheet did help. My local dealer is no help at all. Honestly the parts guys dont even know what their doing. I called a dealer out of town my buddy uses and they were helpful. Was trying to see if they had the fluids i needed. But I ordered them online they didnt have them. The out of town dealer told me I am lucky to have gotten the ZJ year I did with the motor, rear end and options? I dunno?

Wow...That Was a good deal at 2 bucks a quart!! I didnt even check my pwr steering fluid yet. I seen someone put a smaller serp belt on mine and by passed the idler pulley. This guy was very ocd about maintenace. But he didnt work on it. He handed me a folder filled wirh receipts. And on one said new idler pulley. I cant figure out some mechanics. I'll buy the proper belt. People do strange things.

Dont feel bad. I have a 27 year old Bmw. Bought it off an old lady. My pwr steering was a bit low. I poured in some synthetic tranny fluid. Oops...it takes some strange oem fluid. I need to flush my system now after I am done with my Jeep. My stupidity. Ugh..

 

Get that stuff out of there quick! If you don't you could screw up the pressure seals in the steering box and pump!

I had a hand-me-down POS 71 Monte Carlo with a leaking steering box. It wasn't leaking too bad until I put Dextron in it. Then it was like Niagara! OOPS!

My local Chrysler/Jeep dealer's parts manager is a really nice guy who pounded on jeeps as a kid and loved them so he's pretty knowledgeable about them. The service manager is an ******* in a suit! To him, any vehicle older than 5 years he doesn't want to work on! That's the kind of community I live in. He sent a guy I know with a lifted XJ across town to another dealership because he didn't want to work on a "modified" vehicle. It was a 2001 XJ with a 4" lift.

 

Soon as I finish the Jeep up in a few days Im going to put the bmw back in the garage for the winter. It had a very slight drip. I think one of the hoses. I pulled that stupid stunt with the tranny fluid and now noticed a huge puddle on the floor after running it. Steering box and pump seem dry. But the hoses look more wet. Ugh...I'll pull the return line and pour new stuff in while the old stuff runs out. Thats the only way I know to get it all out.
Hopefully I didnt cause any real damage. Only about 30 minutes running time on it after I did that.

Oh yeah...when I called my local dealer and asked about fluids and a few other things about my 1998...the guy was a complete ***.

I let him know I brought my son there last year and bought a brand new car. My mom..took her there...brand new car...I bought my wife a new Jeep Compass there... I asked for the parts manager. He said.."I am the parts manager" So I ended up saying something not very nice.

I called a different dealer out of town from me. They treated me like gold. And the parts guy told me I made a good purchase on a 1998 Limited...and take good care of her. Unreal.

 

Despite its generic usage, Posi is a brand name, like Kleenex or Thermos. Posi-Traction was the brand name of limited slip used by Chevrolet for decades. Trac-Lok is another brand name of a limited slip differential as made by Dana Corp. It had previously been used by Ford for decades. Sure-Grip used to be the limited slip set up for Chrysler products. Every manufacturer has had their own name for their limited slip devices used in their differentials. So yes, you have a limited slip differential in the rear end which will require the friction modifier.


Your build sheet tells you everything about everything in your vehicle. The absence of a code means you do not have that feature. If the front diff had a LSD in it, then there would a code under the axle denoting that feature. The absence of this code means it is a traditional open style differential.