Trying to get up to speed on the lingo, I am the new owner of a '91 XJ, 4.0, AW4, with about 95,000 miles. I live on the West side of Detroit.

My goal is to have it prepped to support a 36-hour relay race (teams of ten runners) through the scenic upper half of Northern Michigan in two weeks.

So I want it reliable as possible to get us through some two track, dirt roads, sand, hill climbing, and about 500 highway miles, etc., which I need to cover over three days; stopping and starting to get in and out of the car at about 20 different exchange points in the woods per day.

The guy I bought it from owned it for about two years. He showed me his repair records - significant break work, water pump, and some electronic device mounted on the side of the hood compartment near the air cleaner.

Last week I was able to repair a section of transmission fluid hose by the radiator that was leaking, and took it back to Valvoline Instant Oil Change to have them top off the fluid. I didn't know what she was doing with her thoroughness - putting me through a series of gear changes while she waited, checked the fluid, then added a bit more fluid about 3-4 times total. She said it was about two pints overall that she added.

So I've been driving it around town and had it out on the hwy at about 70 mph. It sort of vibrated a bit at that speed, which I'm thinking may be due to what looks like cheap tires with marginal tread. I also engaged the 4x4 lever, but being on regular pavement I don't know if it was much of test, other than I could continue driving.

I'm assuming that the 02 sensor wasn't replaced because the guy said the maint. req. light came on, and nothing seemed wrong with it. Thinking it was the check engine light, I asked him to do the ignition code check and it came back 55.

Anyway, if you haven't fallen asleep yet from reading my dissertation, my help is what should I look for in a shop(s) to do the work, and suggestions for maintenance I should do before heading up north.

 

Coming from someone who works at a dealership, the two biggest things I'd look for is whether or not they'll escort you back into the shop to see a problem first hand and talk to the technician and the second is if they roll diagnostic charges into your final price if you have the service performed there.

The first shows how honest they are and if they're gonna try to hide things from you. The second goes to show if they're gonna try to suck you dry or just fix what needs to be fixed. There's no reason to charge you an hour for diagnostic on top of fixing it if you get it fixed through them. Only time they should do that is if you get it fixed somewhere else so it covers their time looking at it.

 

Honestly i would use a 1ton truck something that can carry a lot of weight.Just think of all the tools parts spare wheels will need to be carried it all adds up fast.