Jeep Wrangler

mtngal

madman - let us all know how it goes on your long drive to Colorado. It's funny how many people don't realize how comfortable the Wrangler can be on the highway. When we stopped for the night in Portland, Ore. the desk clerk at the hotel couldn't believe that we had driven all the way from So. Cal. in it! Let's keep it a secret - if more people find out, they might start demanding other "civilizing" changes until the Wrangler will look like a CRV or something dumb like that...

nkelly1

Called my dealer this week to ask about the carbon build up on the tail pipe. A "ring" of carbon, about a quarter of an inch up (not thick), right at the end of the exhaust. I rubbed the inside of the pipe and discovered the carbon is inside the exhaust pipe as far as I can reach. The service dept. at the dealer says this is normal. It is the way DC has to "tune" them to meet emissions.

Anyone else notice this?

I mentioned the "rattling" noise it makes (especially when I shut it off), he said not to worry about this either. Something about the exhaust system having to brake in. He said after 10,000 miles it will quit. Anyone one else ever hear of this?

BammaTazz- I asked (like I said I would), it has nothing to do with the trans.

bamatazz

I's with tsjay...I know your a gladman now..
I'm sure you will enjoy your road trip to CO.
I think i would replace the dash speaker 1st..
Will you be doing the installing? If they are definatly get the dash speakers replaced. they are the hardest..The Soundbar speakers are very easy to replace..
Nkelly...I havent noticed in build up on TAZZ...
plus no rattling noise either..got 1400 miles on it now.

Got Jeep!
BamaTazz

tsjay

Well, my Jeepin' friends, I FINALLY got Thelma's top and doors off this evening! I have been intending to do that ever since I bought the S-10 as a work truck on July 16th, but we have had so much rain that I just hadn't seen the need in doing it until today.

I took Ross Allen and Momma for a topless/doorless ride right after sundown, and WOW! What a pleasant, wonderful experience that was!

I hope Thelma never sees that top and those doors again until winter! I have something else to drive now, so I ought to be able to leave her like that all the rest of the summer and just drive the S-10 when there is a chance of rain.

tsjay

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

blb3318

Can someone explain to me the differences between a YJ and a TJ and the other _J's?

madmax74

Hello to all Jeep fanatics out there! I have a 1999 TJ (Sahara) with the optional OE Goodyear GSA 30"x9.5"R15 tires. I'm currently over 50K miles and the tires are wearing down. I would like to upgrade to bigger tires, keep the OE 15"x8" rims, but do NOT want to lift my Jeep. I've been told that the 31"X10.5"R15 tires are the largest tires I can get without lifting. Will the 31s clear the side body walls and fenders or will there be some rubbing? I'm leaning towards the BF Goodrich All-Terrain T/A KOs. Any first-hand experience with BF Goodrich tires? How about suggestions for other brands? Thanks in advance to everyone for your help!

madmax74

I recently had to return a Bestop Safari Top since the color didn't match the color of the OE roll bar cover. I have a 1999 TJ with camel/dark green cloth seats (standard on Sahara). I assume that the sport bar covers are also "camel." When I ordered the safari top, I was told that "dark tan" would be a factory match. NOT! There is one other color called "spice" that is available for TJs. The problem is that judging from the catalog, this color doesn't match my interior either! So what color of Bestop soft tops is the perfect match for my "camel" interior? Any suggestion or help is greatly appreciated.

tsjay

I have responded to your email on the tire question, but for the benefit of others that may have the same question, I will also answer here on the board.

I learned through other posts here and on other message boards that the 31 x 10.50's are the largest tires that you can go with on a Wrangler with no lift.

They are working just fine on my Thelma Jane. There is no rubbing or anything negative about them at all.

Now, someone please answer my question... when people say that the 31's are the largest tire that can be put on a stock Wrangler, are they talking about for offroading or for ANY kind of use? Sure looks like plenty of room left on my Jeep to go bigger on the tires. But, I don't know what would happen in offroad situations, especially with the sway bars disconnected. I don't offroad anyway, or at least I haven't yet.

So, if a guy is going to stay on pavement, can he go even larger than 31 X 10.50 without a lift?

tsjay

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

jeepboy727

The max size tire you can use without a lift also depends on the rim width. If you have the 15X8 rims, you can put 31X10.50 tires on it. I believe if you go any wider on the tires, then may start to rub underneath on full turns even with a lift. You could probably get deeper dish rims for wider tires to prevent the rubbing on frame, but as far as the height of the wider tire, you may need a lift to get it under the fender and fender flairs. I may be off on this but when I put 30 X 9.50 tires on the stock 15X7 rims on my YJ, they rubbed on full turns.

mac24

Madmax,
The top you returned, dark tan, was the correct color for the vehicle. However....... it's not a match for the interior and never was. The dash, seat backs, and roll bar covers are all camel, which is a lighter and brighter tan. '97/'98 models used a brighter tan, but it's still not the same as camel. Dark tan is what you would have got if you'd ordered the top with the vehicle from new. Hope this helps.

bamatazz

All those J's...

i'm not really sure on the years...

cj (civilian Jeep) older jeeps...

 cj-2...cj-5 cj-7

YJ...have square headlights... 82-95

TJ round headlights...97 to present..

that it I think...

Well looks like Barry is heading my way...

gotta get that top up...Now I can see is TAZZ is water proof..

Got Jeep?

BamaTazz

http://www.geocities.com/bamatazz2001/index.html

madmax74

Mac24, thanks for your input. That explains things a lot better. Actually, the dark tan color of the soft top matches the OE carpet perfectly. By the way, are you familiar with the Bestop safari top (the one that covers both front and rear seats)? I had to return it since I had to constantly retighten the endstraps (the ones that loop around the rear seat belt posts) since they would loosen over time and cause the rear to flap wildly (especially on freeways speeds). Those enstraps were made way too short! I read the instructions carefully several times. I'm sure that I installed them right. Any suggestions? If these safari tops are really that way, then I guess I'll have to settle for the bikini tops. Besides, I hardly see any Jeeps with safari tops. Does this have anything to do with the poor fitting?

goducks1

somebody asked about speaker replacements earlier...you should replace the soundbar ones first, since they are the ones you can really hear. 4x6s just cannot deliver that much sound. The 4x6s are not that hard to replace, and you probably do not need a bracket. I didn't on my '98, see

http://www.visi.com/~tam/tjstereo.html#frontspkr

for help. I put in Polks all the way around.

jacorob

The other day i finally took my doors off - awesome. Anyways, even though i tried to be as careful as possible taking them off i still nicked the side of the jeep with the screws which left a small gouge mark in the paint. While i'm all fine and dandy with scratchin up my jeep i'd prefer it to be offroad damage rather then taking doors off. And since i plan on taking them off quite a bit now, i gotta feeling i'll be scratchin it up quite a bit.

So i was wondering is if anyone has used or knows of a good clear tape that i can put there to help protect the sides but wouldn't fry to the paint in 100+ degree weather. I'll want to take it off and replace it occasionally so it'd need to weather well.

Thanks,
Bob

mac24

Glad it made sense. Can't help with the safari top though. I'd thought about getting one, but decided to just use my existing top without the sides and back when I wanted that effect. I actually prefer the look, and it's a lot less work than the safari top.

mac24

Instead of applying clear tape permanently, I usually put a strip of duct tape under each hinge before door removal and replacement. Just stick it gently, then peel it off as soon as you're done.

goducks1

this isn't perfect, but this is what I remember for the common short-wheelbase Jeeps:

CJ5: '55-'83, even shorter than a Wrangler, with the s-shaped lower doors, round headlights

CJ7: '76-'86, about the same size as a Wrangler, round headlights

YJ: '87-'95, Wranglers with the square headlights. There are no '96 Wranglers.

TJ: '97 to current Wranglers, round headlights and coil springs.

FYI, postal Jeeps are DJs. I still see those around occasionally.

texasjeep

Why are people having problems scratching their Jeep taking the doors off? Is it because they are full doors?
I just lift straight up and then step away. I do have half doors though.

blb3318
Here is a cover you may want to check out
http://www.jeepcovers.com/

The tonneau cover/bikini top/wind breaker may be a good way to go. This setup would not keep all the water out though. You would be able use those when you are driving and you wouldn't have to put the top up if it is raining.

madmax74
I have the same color interior as you. I just went with a black top to match the color of my Jeep. I don't know if that will work for you.

Maybe because the Safari Tops are newer you won't see them as much. I have heard some other people complain about the same problem you had. I like the look of the bikini top better so that is what I have. (and I don't care about my backseat passengers)

tsjay

Yep, "doors off" is, like you said, AWESOME!

Sorry about your scratch. I did the same thing the first time I took the doors off of Thelma.

It sounds like you are talking about applying clear tape to the Jeep itself, but I don't think that should be necessary. I would be afraid of what the tape might do to the paint.

As long as you come up very slowly and perfectly straight with the doors, those hinge bolt threads should not come in contact with the Jeep.

If you feel that you need some protection, however, maybe you could put some electrical tape around the exposed threads before pulling the doors off. You couldn't put it on too thick, I guess, or you wouldn't be able to pull the bolt through the hole in the lower hinge.

I haven't had a problem since I learned my lesson that first time (I wasn't prepared for how heavy those full doors were the first time). I just go real slow and easy, being sure that I am pulling straight up. I get my knee under the bottom of the door to help support part of the weight.

Another little item that you need for "doorless" is a protective strip for the top of the rocker panel, the part you step over to get into the Jeep. Some of my passengers rested the bottom of their shoes on the top of the rocker panel while we were riding around doorless! You can get these things for only about $20 a pair from Q-tec. They go on very easily, and they are called "entry guards," if you want to look them up.

I would take the factory clear plastic strip off of the top of the threshold before installing the entry guards. This might help the adhesive on the new entry guards to stick better.

tsjay

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

sandmaan

I really can't decide between the 5-spd and the auto tranny. I keep reading bad things about the auto and the crappy mileage you get with it. plus, I really want the control of a stick right now. but you know that clutch always gets old sooner or later .....

also, I plan to get the canyon wheel package. I figure that'd also make the auto a bit more sluggish.

maybe I just need 2 jeeps ? If I had the money, I seriously would ..........

mtngal

I have the 5 speed on a '98 Wrangler that I bought new. It now has 90,000 miles on it and it hasn't had any problems with the clutch. You can replace lots of clutches for the price of a new transmission. We went through 2 automatic trannys in one year when we moved up here, but haven't had to replace a clutch on either the Wrangler or the 5 speed Taco that replaced the auto tranny Nissan pickup. If you want the 5 speed, get it and don't worry about it - they are tough.

sandmaan

I really can't decide between the 5-spd and the auto tranny. I keep reading bad things about the auto and the crappy mileage you get with it. plus, I really want the control of a stick right now. but you know that clutch always gets old sooner or later .....

also, I plan to get the canyon wheel package. I figure that'd also make the auto a bit more sluggish.

maybe I just need 2 jeeps ? If I had the money, I seriously would ..........

sfjeeps

The major difference between the YJ and TJ is the YJ had a leaf suspension and the TJ has a coil suspension. The TJ also had the factory option for a Dana 44 rear end. There are '96 Wranglers but they were identical to the '95 Wranglers. The '97 is the first year the coil suspension was used in the Wranglers (TJs). There are also a few other small changes like the round headlights, the angle of the windshield, air bags and the rear seat is wider in the TJs. The bumpers are also different on the TJs and the windshield wipers stow all the way down on the TJs.

In my opinion the TJ is a much better vehicle because the suspension is so much more refined and comfortable.

jeephead

Ah, the age old question of "auto vs. manual". I personally love the manual transmission. I have yet to buy a car with an auto tranny (I'm young and my Jeep is the third vehicle I bought), but I don't intend to ever go auto again. After driving for the first time on the snow with a manual, I have never looked back. I like the ability to be able to shift when you want/need to, versus when the car thinks it should. I find this especially helpful for when driving on 2 lane highways. If you need to pass, you can downshift to get the extra power right away, instead of waiting for the auto to catch up to what you want to do. There is some discussion as to which is better offroad, with a lot of people saying that an auto tranny is better for wheelin'. If you know what you are doing with the manual, you can do just as good (or better - starter climbs with the manual) as an auto off road. I have done some moderate off road stuff (mostly in light mud/clay) and have yet to get stuck with the manual. (Just this past weekend, the manual helped me rock out of a small ditch that I got stopped in when I accidently knocked the hi/low 4 wheel selecter in "N" - It took me a little bit to figure out why I had stopped!) Off road and on, I've had much better experience with the manual tranny.

dfahy68

I have a '99 Sport with 5 spd tranny, 30" wheel/tire option, and 35K miles. I noticed a popping noise coming from the rear end when taking off, especially turning a corner. I thought it was U-joints going bad, but the dealer said my shocks were blown out. He said the larger tires are hell on suspensions because they were intended for a much heavier vehicle than a Wrangler. I hadn't noticed a deterioration in the ride quality, but the technician who drove it said the ride was far worse than it should be. I live in the city and have been offroad only a handful of times (It must've been those potholes). Anyway, the dealer ordered heavier duty shocks saying they would improve the ride. I don't have them installed yet so we shall see. Anyone else experience this?

[Deleted User]

Hi, I leave the top off on my Jeep constantly, and it is starting to take it's toll on the roll bars - they are fading to a really nasty purple instead of their original black. Is there any way to dye or otherwise re-color the pads? Thanks!

sandmaan

how old is your jeep ?

sounds like you just need new pads, unless the jeep is
fairly new ....

(if you really wanna go cheap, I guess you could try a
black magic marker)

[Deleted User]

Um, it's about 2 years old. I live in San Diego - we get a lot of sun around here. They look pretty bad...

jacknimble

tsjay, which ones did you get? I think the aluminum ones would be a good way to go, but not sure if I want to deal with the hassles of drilling and reviting. Plastic with adhesive sure seems easy, but may come off.

sandmaan

how old is your jeep ?

sounds like you just need new pads, unless the jeep is
fairly new ....

(if you really wanna go cheap, I guess you could try a
black magic marker)

madmax74

I just recently got in the mail several samples of material from Bestop. For TJ's, only 2 colors in the tan area are offered: dark tan and spice. For those of you who have the dark green/camel interior, spice is a closer match to camel than dark tan. So I'll probably end up ordering a spice bikini top with header and the duster cover. I like driving my Jeep with the seat reclined slightly so i don't think the windbreaker will work for me (my seat breaks the plane of where the windbreaker would be located). For those of you who have a Bestop bikini top, how is the ride on freeway speeds? Is the top pretty secure or is there any flapping?

goducks1

I've got the Bestop bikini, though I haven't used it in two years. It does not flap, but I have two complaints. It is a lot of work to attach it, especially if you have the soundbar, since there are so many straps that have to be threaded. I can put my Sunrider soft top up just as quickly so I usually do. The no-drill header seems to scratch the paint a bit too.

tsjay

Jack, I bought the rubicon black entry guards (Quadratec product number 13113 10), and they are metal, not plastic. They are attached by some kind of two sided tape.

They have stayed in place very well so far, and they sure do the job as far as giving you a good surface that is not easily marred by people's shoes. They look good too. I highly recommend them.

I took twylie's suggestion and split the adhesive strip that they give you to attach them with into several smaller sections. They only send one strip for each side and suggest that you apply the strips in the center of the entry guard. I cut my strips into four pieces and applied them near either end and two in between.

tsjay

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

bamatazz

ahhh my fav debate...
Auto..for me...need the free hand for the "jeep Wave" and for radio controls...
Maunual..is a hassel to me..slow down..clutch..brake...shift..gas...clutch..brake..
sheesh...i like to just drive and go...

just my opinion..
BamaTazz

nkelly1

I got this response off another list..

…the up-shift light is distracting, annoying, and illuminating ..at night. But that's about all it is good for. The bulb makes a nice replacement for
the clock. Pull it.

All that light tells you is the government wants you to shift at this point to save gas-optimal shift points … As for carbon build-up, yes, you'll have to clean the throttle body every once in awhile,you may need to replace the O2 sensor every 2 or so years...but that engine will go forever if you take care of her. But the carbon, wont go away.

twylie

nkelly - I too, have the carbon tipped tailpipe on the Jeep. My Exploder with 100k+ miles has had the same look since it was new and no fuel or emission problems to date.

madmax - welcome to the board (I'm behind on the boards lately)! I have the Bestop bikini with the drill style header. As goducks mentioned, it take a couple of minutes to attach, but we have been running the duster unless we have a back seat passenger (rare for us), so the bikini alone is quicker for us than removing the duster and putting up the factory softop. We have run for 2 hours on the highway at 75mph with no excess noise from the bikini. The wind pattern changes with more wind from behind you, but it's great to keep the sun or rain off of your head. Pics and a writeup: http://www.ewylie.com/jeep/mods.htm Feel free to drop me an email if you have any specific questions.

Sandmann - go with the 5 speed. ala Animal Farm... All Jeeps are fun, but some Jeeps (5-speeds) are more fun. One thing to consider on the auto is that your final gearing will be lower (higher RPMs or do I have this backwards...). At 70MPH, the auto will run about 500-750 rpms higher than the manual. This coupled with the auto will hurt your mileage a bit, but Wrangler owners can't and shouldn't worry about such things... The 5 speed is easy to drive and the clutch is light enough that I'm not worried about it getting "old". My commuter and long distance cruiser are both auto's but the Jeep deserves to be driven <grin>.

-twylie

thebigbird35

Thanks to all you folks for the great commentary and advice over the past months. After reading 3000 plus messages, I went out and bought a 2001 Wrangler Sport two weeks ago, and have been on a high ever since. You all know that top down feeling, with the tunes blasting on a beautiful day... The only downer is the bad gas mileage, but I knew that going in. Everything else has been pure fun, and I'm emptying the bank account at Quadratec now. I will say that this has been by far the best purchase of my life. Got the History Channel video on the history of jeeps from the wife for my birthday last week, and that just pumped me up even more. I highly recommend it to all (you can order it from their web site). I've got a million questions, but will save for some other time. Right now, just basking in the fun of it all. Happy jeepin!

tsjay

Congratulations! You made a wise choice in getting a Wrangler, but you already know that.

The fun doesn't go away either! This is the first time in my life that I have ever owned a vehicle for several months and not become bored with it.

How about a post in "meet the members" to introduce yourself and give all the details on that new Jeep?

Post some pics too!

Hope you will be a regular and frequent poster.

tsjay

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

madmax74

I would like to thank everyone here who has helped me in one way or another with great tips and suggestions! What a great forum for Jeep owners!

Twylie, thanks for the link to your site! The detailed pictures and descriptions are very informative! I suggest that anyone who hasn't visited your site, do so now!

Twylie, I had previously ordered the Bestop safari top and duster. I returned them since the dark tan didn't match the camel-colored roll bar covers. I also didn't like the way the safari top's rear area flapped especially after a half hour to an hour on the freeway at 65 mph. Sometimes, one of the rear loops loosened completely and the top was flapping all over the place! I don't know why but the rear straps that go over the seat belt post are way too short! Other than that, I had no problems installing the safari top. The no-drill header was installed in about 5 to 10 minutes. Luckily for me, there's just enough ample room to insert the straps between the soundbar and middle roll bar. I have noticed that for every Jeep that I see with a top, 9 out of 10 have the bikini top. I hardly see any with the safari top (maybe due to the poor fit?). Anyways, this is what I'm planning to get from www.performanceproducts.com (15% off if you buy 3 or more Bestop products, I think)
1. no-drill header
2. spice (closer match to camel than dark tan) bikini top
3. spice duster cover

Sorry this is so long. Thanks for reading all the way down here!

madmax

madmax74

As you all know, the stock door straps are way too long. As we all know from experience, if you don't hold that door when it swings out, it'll crash into something! I've found shorter door straps that are very, very good in quality. I've had them for over 3 months and there's no sign of wear and tear. I ordered them through www.performanceproducts.com (out of Southern California). Reference # is 159205. $19.95 for a pair. Hope this helps!

madmax

madmax74

This is my 3rd post in a row! How addicting!

Anyways, I would like confirmation on an observation of mine (applies to TJs): It seems to me that the fender flares (which are body colored) for the Sahara are wider than the black fender flares for Sport/SE models. I have 30" tires on my Sahara with no lift. The outer edge of the tires are lined up with the outer edge of the fender flares. I've seen a Sport with 30" tires and no lift and the outer edge of the tires go past the edge of the flare, giving the tires a bigger look (which looks cooler to me). Anyone have thoughts about this? Sorry if this sounds so anal, mundane, or what not, but I'm picky!

madmax

sfjeeps

The Sahara fenders are wider then the Sport flares by about an inch. The will fit the 30 tires better.

jacorob

or you can just do what i did - unattach them twist them around a couple times and put them back on. Sure, they're twisted and don't looks as "neat", but takes 2 seconds and does the job for free.

Bob

goducks1

Does anyone have a Bestop tire cover and if so is it quality? I have 30" BGF A/T tires on my Jeep right now with a matching spare, and now that I am living in a sunny climate rather than a rainy one, I figure it might be a good idea. I like that it would match the soft-top fabric. I generally like Bestop but if anyone has an opinion on this please post.

saenzski

Speaking of tops...
I am selling the tops I just bought about two months ago. Were on the Jeep less than two weeks.
Still new and smell like out of the box. I have a black Bestop Safari bikini, the drill in kind for $55 "channel not included."

and a matching black Bestop Duster deck cover for $60.

Cheaper than quadratec & no tax or shipping, thats were I got them.

I am selling them because I am selling my Jeep to get an older CJ.

email me saenzski@yahoo.com

jacknimble

Thanks, tsjay.

How do you post a picture in here anyway? I was going to put a picture of ... well, I dont have a name yet, but dont know how.

tsjay

Just go to the Members Photo Gallery section and look at the first post. They tell you there how to post a pic.

You have to have the pic stored somewhere on a web site and then type the link to it in the message. They tell you how to do that in that first article.

And, you are very welcome for the info on the entry guards.

tsjay

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

nkelly1

I have modified my shifting pattern and it seems to be working. The "rattling" sound I hear when I shut her off is all but gone (me thinks it was loading up) and the carbon at the tail pipe is less than it was, I'll have to run a few tanks of gas to see. I am going to have my mechanic check the timing next, then the dealer (just to see if they get different results).

This business of "it's normal they all do it" is a kin to "don't worry your pretty little head about it" …. I ain't that pretty or little.

bamatazz

I got a question...
What do all of you use to wash & detail your jeep?
I've been looking at Meguiar's products.
They seem to have everything I need.
I use Blue Coral car wash..then Maguiar's for detailing..
Let me know...

BamaTazz

wheelshigh

Wow thanks you Tazz for posting something...nobody seems to be posting much these days. Anyway I use a pressure washer and a brillo pad to scrub my jeep and have yet to wax the thing. J/K about the brillo, but I just use a sponge and some dishwashing liquid in a bucket.......only the best for my jeep LOL.