So I had to park my XJ in a temperature controlled garage around August. I tried starting it every now and again but due to being too busy, I was unable to keep that up. It's gotten cold out recently, but it's not freezing inside there. I had to move the Jeep over the weekend and jumped it and it started up. Much to my surprise, my CEL was on, steering was very loose, and I appeared to be rubbing easily, but then again I haven't driven it in months so that could be normal.

My question is.. What's a good list of things that I should do when the XJ can be driven again? I'm thinking essential tune up (plugs and cap, maybe wires. I replaced the plugs last year though) I was going to do an oil change and maybe even run Seafoam before I do, since it's been sitting? I'm already leaking oil, so that can't hurt much.. right? Now this may or may not be good, but I stored the Jeep with a little gas in it. I drove it there and my light was on, so I should be fairly low. Could that cause condensation? This was my first time storing a vehicle for this long, and I hate to neglect it. So what needs to be done?



Cheers

 

I'd definately throw some more go-go juice in it and perhaps some stabil depending on how long you plan to have it sit. Remember, the last time you put gas in it we were on "summer blend" so you may get some starting issues.

Also, if you're allowed were it's at: put a trickle charger on it. Starting and running it with jumps is going to shorten battery and alternator life.

Once returned to service, do as you suspect, some basic maintenance and away you go.

 

My ******* didn't know about Stabil or a trickle charger until half way into storing it. lol It'll only be sitting for another month or so. Worth filling it up with gas and Stabil during that time? It's a storage unit, so I'll have to check for outlets.

So there's no long term issues with having it sit this long? Once I do my tune up and replace fluids and such, should be good to go?

Is there anything that I'm missing that I should do? Anything in the spark plug holes when I swap them?


Thanks

 

If it's only gong to be another month or so, then skip the stabil. But definatley the trickle charger, why replace a battery long before its needed only due to neglect?

Other than that, it'll be fine. Like I said, when it goes back into use, replace the oil, check the belt, coolant, brake fluid, etc and go.

Had an AMC that sat for 12 years down state. Changed the fluids, fresh gas and she fired right up.

 

Right on. Could I take the battery to an auto store to get charged or something? It's an Optima red top that I bought a few years ago (before they changed) and it's been problem-free since. Or is the battery messed up now?

 

I would have it deep charged. Since you'll have it out, you could just p/up a trickle charger and keep it at home with you then, they're very cheap.

 

OK sounds good. While I'm doing all this work, I may as well swap in my exhaust mani and 703s that have been collecting dust lol.


Will my gearbox fix it self (felt really loose when turning, turning wheel several times to turn), or should I swap in a reman?

 

Steering doesnt make sense. Are you sure it just hasnt been so long that you've driven it versus something much "tighter" feeling and now you notice? Everything is sold, proper and tight on my XJ, but yet, it is the slopiest steering I've ever had.

 

Its probably that I'm not used to it like you said. Thanks for the tips

 

If you're going to store it away from home for a while, take the battery out and bring it home with you and trickle charge it there. Get that CEL pulled. I'm going to guess it's an emissions/ignition related thing based on reasons listed above.

 

I'd put $20 on the table the CEL is due to low voltage on the battery, once the voltage gets low with these things they throw random codes, probably due in part to the common grounding probelms and PCM regulating the voltage in the first place. I had a weak undersized battery in mine when I first got it and the CEL was almost always on. Replaced the battery, CEL has never been on since.

 

Its a 92 and hasn't had an o2 since last October. You think a tune up would help it? Cap, rotor, plugs, etc? Could the oil have been frozen/stuck to the bottom since it hasn't moved in so long that for the short time I ran it, it got little to no oil?

 

True, I didn't think about that. I left mine sit (battery disconnected) for 2 months, hooked it up without charging and it fired right up without any CEL or problems.. Guess it's a pretty decent battery for a crappy Battery Warehouse brand.

 

O2 since last last October? Do you mean emissions test?

The oil would definately be thicker and flow slower, that's where viscocity ratings come into play, but "frozen", unlikely, it hasn't been THAT cold (albeit it's colder than witches nipple out there now).

You said you did the plugs and all last year? If so and it's less than 30k miles since, nah, why fix what ain't broken? Wouldn't hurt to pull the plugs and read and clean them tho.

 

My o2 sensor broke while lifting my jeep in October '12. Where I live vehicles older than 96 don't get emission tested. I have a new one, but it's rusted to the down pipe. I have a new exhaust manifold for it so maybe I'll just swap it then. And would it be wise to put anything in the spark plug ports when I pull them? Wd 40? Oil?