downs

24 year old Jeep if it still has the factory springs are going to need a full suspension refresh, springs, bushings, ect ect no question. Suspension parts are consumable items, even springs. Replace as needed.

Ralph77

So of course it is 80 degrees and probably going to get into the low 90's so what do I decide to do?


Play with some heated seats I bought yesterday of course.
So about $150, tough to know how to break it down cause I paid $250 for 4 Agate fake woodgrain trim door panels and the matching bezel,
and the Agate leather seats, fronts and back, with the power seat bases for both sides, wiring harness, and the heated seat switches with the
bezel that goes where the ashtray goes. Think I overpaid but I really wanted all this stuff. I am determined to get factory heated seats in the Jeep.
So the driver's side was taped up pretty good. I pulled off the tape on that one panel, see where I pulled up the leather, cause that is a part that heats.
But the rest of the seat is in pretty good shape and believe it or not the heaters work on that seat.
.

The passenger side is in really good shape but the heater doesn't work. Go figure.
Anyway checking with my meter for continuity I found it was the bottom.
Opened her up and found this.


So I fixed the break, checked with the meter again and all is good.



So the thing is my interior is Camel. But I use those black CoverKing Seat covers so.......
Not how it came from the factory but going to have to do. At least for the moment.
Now I need to remove my ashtray so I can put the switches there.
Seats need to be cleaned up. Covers put on and then both seats put on the existing power seat bases.
Cause I refreshed those up awhile ago.

So since I have extra plastic seat trim in Agate which way do you guys think I should go with this?
Now remember the Camel interior is two tone.

Ralph77

Does anybody know how to get the ashtray out of the console?

So I tried to remove the ashtray cause that is where the switches and bezel for the heated seats go. No luck. Removed the console to try and still can't get it out. Not without breaking something. Thinking I am going to have to ruin the ashtray with my Dremel tool to get it out.

But since I had the console off I figured I would throw this in. Forgot to mention it before. Picked it up for an extra $20 from the guy I bought the seats from.

I never really noticed my console being loose and wobbly but when I was removing the factory bracket noticed one of the legs was busted.

So that worked out.

SatiricalHen

I've never personally removed an ash tray, but I found a few just sitting in Cherokees in the junkyard and it looks to me as though they just pop out with some convincing. If I remember correctly it just had 4 little tabs that hook the console. I could be wrong though.

Ralph77

Finally got it out. At the 9 and 3 o'clock positions on the ashtray there is a little tab.
That when pressed into the opening on the console of a '97 and up it clicks in.
The problem is that the ashtray is solid. There really is not a lot of give to push the tab in to get it to clear.
Using a small pry bar to try and push it in just kept on slipping on me. Part of that is me. My hands are not what they used to be.
So I got the bright idea to drill a 5/32" hole right from the bottom of the console just above the tab on the ashtray.
Then used my 5/32" punch to push in the hole. Cause punches are tapered the punch only goes in so far and then starts
pushing on the ashtray. I got the tab clear. And cause of the hole it was not slipping anywhere.

Bluelight

Personally I like the Camel, and think it looks sharp against the black. But than again, my XJ had the Camel interior.

Ralph77

Everybody says the same thing and to stick with the Camel.
Which is probably what I will do.
It does break up the black color of the seat cover.

Ralph77

So what do you guys think?
Forward folding passenger seat in a 4 door XJ.
The leather bunches up some when folded forward.
I got it in my head that this would be a good idea.
Be able to fold the seat forward when you need that extra bit of space
if hauling something longer.

Ralph77

So beat from yesterday I just did a couple little things.
Plus it is probably going to rain in a couple hours.
Cleaned my console. Amazing how much crap gets down and under the bezels.
Cleaned up the passenger seat with carpet cleaner and leather cleaner.
Took the power seat base off the driver's seat.
I just realized when I put the seats that are in the Jeep now I not only refreshed the
power seat bases but also the framework and springs attached to the lower part of the seat.
So I get take the bottoms apart on both sets to use the ones I refreshed.

ElMartillo

Hi, I searched for the post about the interior hatch release but couldn't find it. Yours looks better than mine, I have a loop of wire sticking out a hole. How did you do yours?

Thanks!

Ralph77

I always thought that my carpet was in pretty good shape. Sure a couple unknown stains and some rust stains left over from the manual seat bases before I did the swap.
Taking off the console made me realize maybe not so much.
All vacuumed and now I just have to put it back together. I did squirt a little white lithium grease down into where the TC, tranny, and E-brake handles are.
I also checked out all the power seat bases I have accumulated. Since the seats are out I have access to the plug.
I have 7 freaking bases. 4 drivers and 3 passengers. 2 of which are in the Jeep.
Marked what motors worked and did not. Maybe some day I will build a couple out of all of them. LOL

JeepWoman

You wouldn't by any chance have any manual trcks for a 94 would you?

Ralph77

Is an old body style Jeep the same as a newer one?
Might have a passenger side that I would be willing to part with.

Tgramsey

I as well love the 🐪, mine is just grey ☹️

Ralph77

So I put the console and whatnot back together as much as needed. Still a little buttoning up to do there.


I noticed that the duct work in the dash had this black foam around the outside of it. Pretty much deteriorated.
So I had this 3M foam tape that I used to replace it. Figured it was easier to put it on the inside of the duct that
runs under the console. Checked it for tightness and leaks before I put the console back.



I got another wood grain bezel with the wood grain door panels I bought when I bought the seats.
Mine has a couple scratches in it with one being really long. If you look at the one on the right under
where the radio would be you can see it. Since the other one is better going to use that one instead.


So I started with the passenger seat. I removed my old seat from the power seat base, and then removed the framework
to use with the heated seat. I had refreshed both when I did the previous swap to removable headrest leather non heated
seats. The POR 15 that I used on both seems to be holding up well. Not that it takes a lot of abuse inside the Jeep.
But yet seat bases and lower framework still have a way of rusting.


So I put the seat covers on, resembled the seat, bolted it in, and checked the heater function. To hot to tell but
the light did not blink and that is a good sign. It also occurred to me to rotate the seat covers. Nobody ever rides in
the passenger seat so the driver's is the only one getting any real wear.
So one forward folding. 6 way power, heated seat.


One of the couple places that you can see that they are not Camel and really Agate.