52! Man thats old. I dont know how you can still climb into that jeep? You should be able to get the Mcdonalds Senior discount by now. Thats one thing you have going for you.
Get what your comfortable with, just be aware of the limitations. Auto's are easier to deal with driving wise. They are better for city driving in that your not constantly "going thru the gears". I don't know much about the jeeps auto trany, but I do know I don't want to be "on the cutting edge" of anything.
There have been many times, in the woods, where I missed the ability to "shift down" to slow down instead of "riding the break". Also putting it into "granny gear" (1st) and idling through and/or over something is better done with a stick shift. Stick shifts have 4 distinct gears (5th being overdrive) autos do not. First and second will get out of a lot of things (especially in 4 low), but they are a lot of "work" to drive. You have to be more focused.
I have driven both for about 40 years (happy birthday TsJay) and I like both types of tranys. I chose the manual be cause I believe it is the best choice for what I want they are stronger.
Having said that the is one more thing to consider here if you are hurt an auto trany is easier to "drive out" with, assuming your able to drive at all I always carry a radio and cell phone when I am in the woods. If your disabled the auto trany is the only way to go.
The week part of the manual is the clutch, they will ware fast if you use them a lot. Personally, I would rather deal with that than having to deal with trany problems. They are usually easier (cheaper) to work on than auto's and there are heavier duty clutches you can install the advent of the hydraulic clutch has gone a long way to ease the work involved with using them. Once you get the hang of them stick shifts are more efficient. Just my $.02 here we are going into the "high" country today to scout for elk .. I will let you know how it goes.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TSJAY!!! Have a great one and enjoy it buddy. And no matter what these guys say you're not old Heck, you act younger than I do... and that's NOT a bad thing at all. Have fun buddy.
Happy birthday to the biggest, heartiest supporter of a Wrangler I've ever (virtually) met, Tsjay!
As for transmissions, I got a manual for a few reasons: (1) I wanted to learn, (2) my buddy told me girls would be impressed, (3) I heard the auto on a Wrangler was somewhat sluggish, particularly on an SE, which was what I was getting, (4) I'd had transmission problems with my previous car and didn't want to risk more expensive auto transmission repairs ($2000 or more!!).
On my last car, a 95 Saturn, I had to replace the transmission at 77,000 miles, which by most accounts was way too soon. Then at 119,000 miles it started giving me problems again. The symptom was that it would hesitate when you put it in reverse, before actually going into reverse. My mechanic said I'd need a new one, and that was when I made the decision to go with a new vehicle. 3 months later my Wrangler was on the way!
With this talk about heat affecting an auto, I wonder if that was part of my problem. Obviously in Southern California it gets pretty hot in the summer, and I had the Saturn for two years in Tucson, Arizona when I was in grad school, where the temp can get up to 115 or even higher.
Mtngal: I'll email you about those trails in Kern County - thanks for the offer! And I know you must have known the temperature in Baker - home of the largest outdoor thermometer in the world! You must have been on your way to Vegas, baby, Vegas!!
I am a little "younger" than you are(not by much), but I started driving at 8 or 9 years old tractors,hay trucks and cars that would not be allowedon the road.
Some of them, as I recall, didn't have a floor we had to rest our feet on the bell housing and the "throttle" was a rod with a "knob" on the end of it hooked directly to the carb.
(Do not try this at home kids)
The first car I got to drive/learn on was a 52(?) ford "three on the tree", it took 2 of us one to drive and shift, the other one to push in the clutch and stat the car. (The starter peddle was next to the gas peddle) .. enough of this.
Age is a relative thing, relative to gravity mostly, relative past lifestyle, relative to just about every ache and pain (insert children here) . what age do we become "old farts" anyway?
We're off to you know where to scout for you know what cya soon . Dread Ned
yellowman - yes, I was on my way to Vegas. I have family there, so have a free place to stay. I always make a point to take the Wrangler there for 3 day weekends (even though it drinks gas like crazy), since the traffic going home can be horrible. I've found that the So. California AAA maps are great for showing dirt roads! Since I live near Gorman, I drive Hwy 58 from Barstow to Mojave and the intersection of 58 and Hwy 395,can take 2 hours to get through. There are a number of dirt roads that parallelboth I5 and the 58. So next time you head that way, get some AAA maps and go 4 wheeling before (or after) you lose all your money!
Let's certainly spend our time here in Wrangler IV, everyone, but in addition, let's get together at http://itsajeep.org/public/chat.html to chat for a while!
Hi! Just wanted to say happy b-day! Anyone buy you a soft top?
Wow, this board has been active, lately! I've been away from my computer a lot. I came back once and saw 22 new postings. I didn't even have time to read them all in one sitting. Pretty exciting!
Got word from the Jeep dealership on Friday that my Sahara is being built. It'll be here in 10-15 days, according to the salesman.
Gotta go! My eldest son graduated from high school on Friday! My middle son graduated from elemetary! We're having a big party today, so needless to say, I'm very busy!!
Happy belated birthday Tom. I was away from the board until today and just saw all of the grief about your age. I wouldn't normally go there..., but since we're among friends.
Auto vs man. my two cents......I have been driving a manual for the past 15 + years and will never drive an auto again. I currently drive a 97 cherokee sport with a manual. I prefer the manual because:
1.) gives you the abilty to better control the car in snow and rain.
2.) better MPG's (I average 22 - 23 in my cherokee with 50 % of driving in traffic)
3.) a clutch is certainly cheaper to replace than an auto tranny.
4.) manual is easier on the engine and brakes.
5.) when driven properly, a clutch may last a long long time. The least amount of miles I've ever gotten out of a clutch is approx. 95,000.
6.) is just pure fun. I drive my cherokee like a sports car. 49,000 thousand miles and still have the original brakes, belts and clutch. Just changed the tires for the first time at 43,000 miles.
First things first .. most of the driving I did in the woods was in 4 hi, mostly 1st and 2nd gear. Up and down fairly steep grades light mud and gravel. I got 15.7 mpg. The engine is tuned perfectly for "idling" along in 4 hi.
This didn't spook the elk at all. We were able to get as close as 200/250 yards to them and watch them chew their lunch. (the camera we had is not good enough to get them at that distance) I was a small group, 5 or 6. I stopped and talked to one of the local loggers and he told us there were elk all over the place . 30 minutes later one jump out in the middle of the road we were on and gave us a tour of the road for a 100 feet or so. Idling in first doesn't seem to bother them.
It was windy and raining. The jeep did well in the wind, the rear window wiper was worth its weight in gold when it came to backing up an old logging road. Next time I think I will remove the rear view mirror from the windshield, it really got in the way. There were a lot of extreme hair pin corners and the thing is right in the way.
At 30 or 35 it road real good on the old roads, but when we got back on to the pavement we found that those wrangler tires picked up a lot of rocks, they will have to go . mud flaps are a must.
Cleaning was a breeze. Went to a car wash, with the wand on rinse it was easy to wash off the under carriage. It may have been built to get muddy, but sure was made to clean up easy. Now we are planning a trip through the Cascades, north to south.
Sounds like a great trip in the woods. We spent yesterday afternoon exploring some land that has been used for hunting. Never needed 4LO, but 4HI was needed to get through a few spots and cross some swampy areas.
On the rearview mirror, I grabbed ours and raised it up toward the top of the windshield frame. This gave me at least a couple of inches more visibility in that part of the windshield. This might offer you enough visibility across the hood and front fender.
I've found that I need to go slow for the first few miles when we've been on gravel roads. This gives the tires a chance to trhrow the rocks at slow speed, but occasionally we'll hear a loud thump as it throws a stuck rock. I debated mudflaps but think you give up too much clearance and expect they would get ripped off eventually. The TurboCity sidebars I installed actually serve to keep debris from bouncing aganst the rocker panels.
sounds like alot of you all ask about which tranny for off road. If I get another jeep (had one 20 years ago) it will RARELY see much off road time. For me, it's one of the few convertibles I can fit it (very tall), and wranglers are fun to drive.
For suburban driving, with the occassional dirt/sand use, and about 3 feet of snow a year, is there any serious reason not to buy an auto?? Oh, btw, wife stinks with a manual; but for now ignore that factor.
I still got rocks in those tires, even after a 40 minute drive on the highway. Some of the roads had pea gravel on them, a little more gap in the tread and it will be just right.... don't want "mud slingers" though.
The mirror comes off with one screw, I'll just put it back on when I come out (maybe)... I have one on each side why do I need one stuck in the midle of the window?
I've heard that the Wrangler will likely get a different (4 speed auto) tranny when they shift to the V6 that is used in the Liberty. The V6 isn't as long and will accomodate a wider variety of trannys. Doubtful this will happen in '02 production but is a better chance with '03. However, everything is hearsay until DC announces changes, but the above seems to be the consensus on the DC and Jeep boards.
As for life on trannys for auto, the engine size doesn't really affect the life much. Heat does! There has been an on going debate on which is better for off road use. Autos or manuals. Auto are great for rock crawling, hill climbs and being much easier to drive but they cost more for repairs and purchase cost. Autos require fluid to work and don't help much when going down really steep grades and may jam if placed in park in a really steep grade. Manuals offer great control for steep grades, you can use the starter to move you for really sticky situations, you can push start a manual,they are cheaper to repair and own and generally stronger then autos because there are few parts and things to wear out. The down side is you do have to know how to drive a manual, you do have to shift, clutches will wear out and they can be a burden on certain trails and in stop and go traffic.
For rugged off roading there is no set standard, just pick your guns and go for it. For the auto owners, if your on a steep grade, use the parking brake to hold the vehicle and not tranny. This will save you from jamming the tranny and or shearing the parking pin (expensive to replace). When going down a really steep grade, use the lower gears and turn on the AC. The extra load on the AC will aid in slowing down the motor and slowing you down as well.
"Dual Tranny! I like the idea. But where do you store the automatic when your using the manual?"
...OR they could beat the Santa Fe and use the Shifttronic (name?) tranny that some of the other Chrysler products use. You know, the one which is a hybrid of manual and auto? Similar to Porsche?
"I am a little "younger" than you are(not by much), but I started driving at 8 or 9 years old tractors,hay trucks and cars that would not be allowedon the road.
Some of them, as I recall, didn't have a floor we had to rest our feet on the bell housing and the "throttle" was a rod with a "knob" on the end of it hooked directly to the carb.
"First things first .. most of the driving I did in the woods was in 4 hi, mostly 1st and 2nd gear. Up and down fairly steep grades light mud and gravel. I got 15.7 mpg. The engine is tuned perfectly for "idling" along in 4 hi. "
auto or manual?
"This didn't spook the elk at all. We were able to get as close as 200/250 yards to them and watch them chew their lunch."
Just think if you got out on foot. When is hunting season?
"Next time I think I will remove the rear view mirror from the windshield, it really got in the way. There were a lot of extreme hair pin corners and the thing is right in the way."
If it wasn't raining, you could just put down the windshield!!!
I had a '78 Dodge Magnum with 318 V8 motor and 3 speed auto. That thing finally died with 150K miles on it maybe (electrical problem with Lean Burn ignition). The tranny outlasted the car. In fact, after I had the junkyard tow it, I saw it on the street a few months later! If it weren't for the rusty rear quarters and 140 HP V8, I'd love to have that car right now. The motor and tranny were bulletproof!
Second car was an '85 Toyota Corolla 5 door (like Chevy "Nova"). That had a 5 speed manual. At one point I had to put in (replace) a slave cylinder to help it shift gears. The clutch finally went on way to Honda dealer in August of 1992. My then girlfriend had to push it up the hill to dealer with her car. They probably put in $200 worth of clutch work and sold the car for $2000. (I got $300 for it). It had over 130,000 miles on it.
My current 1992 Civic has a 5 speed manual with original clutch at 128,000 miles and I drive it pretty hard and even take her off road a little.
I would prefer a reliable transmission above all else. Manual gives YOU more control. Also, better performance and economy. Auto gives convenience.
After the rain we've been having, I noticed a little pool of water on the passenger side floor. I cleaned it up, then noticed it again two weeks later. The thing is, that it doesn't happen all the time. We've had heavy rain before, and I've washed the car with no leak probems. Does this problem sound familiar to anyone? If so, could ya tell me what the problem is, and how you fixed it. The Jeep is a 97 tj sport that I bought used only a few months ago.
#11 on the list of Service Bulletins lists as "Water Leak Diagnostic and Repair Procedure".
I seem to remember reading that others had issues with this in the early TJ's. You can probably have your servicing dealer run the VIN to see if there has ever been an attempt to solve a leaking problem on your Jeep.
If you're only getting water in the cockpit when you drive in the rain, it's probably a leak somewhere in the firewall area (maybe coming off the tires into the wheelwells?) and when you wash the Jeep, you don't spray water in that area for long enough to reproduce the problem. I don't know why it would be intermittant and have not shown up more frequently in heavy rains.
Hope this helps and let us know what the problem turned out to be.
I got that mileage from a manual trany. Hunting season is November (modern rifle) for elk, with 4 days tacked on the end for late buck. Your not going to flop the windshield down this time of year.
I can get a lot closer on foot, although 200/250 yards is an easy shot. Right now we are just finding the heard and watching their behavior. We saw a few deer as well. Next thing is to rig up a way to carry the guns.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY Tsjay I haven't been able to get online at all lately. Did you run around topless for your birthday or what?
ghinson Don't worry about bringing up new topics if you are wanting the info. I don't care for the look of landrunners. I also wouldn't want to try make a Jeep look like something else. If you want to do the roof rack, lights, brush guard and all that, it can look good. I just don't like making it look like a hummer. I believe this is the company that does the conversions. www.landrunnersocal.com Get in touch with them and see if you can get a price off them and then see how much the dealer is marking them up. They have a breakdown of (dealer) prices on that site.
I don't find it that difficult to bring the top up and down on a Jeep once you know how. It takes longer than a miata but not bad. You could throw a cover over it when parked instead or just don't take the whole top down when you want the open air feel. I will run it with the all windows out and top half doors off sometimes. This works great on hot days. It keeps the sun off but you get all the wind to stay cool.
The only time I have hauled coolers in my TJ is with a bunch of other junk, so I had my rear seat removed anyway. A cooler fit fine in YJs rear cargo area but the TJs area looks smaller. I haven't tried that rear cargo area on a TJ yet. You can add a receiver rack, trail rack or roof rack for more cargo space. Trail rack mounts over the spare tire. Good for clearance if on trails or taking your Jeep over some sand dunes. The receiver rack comes out of the receiver and it is easier to load and unload but ruins your departure angle. Order a catalog from www.quadratec.com or any Jeep catalog and you can check out all kinds of Jeep accesories to give you good idea.
I have had the same problem with rocks getting caught up in my ATs. They seem to clear out quicker than stock tires based on what you are saying. I think MTs are the only way to go to avoid it completely.
I know someone that removed there rearview mirror and never put it back in. He almost had an accident because the mirror completely blocked a car coming at him.
Thans for the info. My dealer apparently has very good prices because he is having trouble moving a yellow and a black one (the landrunners). They are nicely outfitted, but I too don't like the squashed front end look. Right now I have my eye on a 2001 with 12K miles on it, green 5-spd Sport. It has a 4" ProComp lift in it, and 33" BFG ATs. Has the Dayna and Trac-loc. I think the mods that I will add is a nerf/step, 2 front fogs, a fishing rod holder, and either a trail rack or a roof rack. Have to decide about the roof rack and what it will do to my speed of taking the top on and off.
Well, the Jeep is a couple blocks away at my local dealer getting the oil changed. As I mentioned, I'm going to do a standard oil change this time (3,000 miles) and then go with synthetic starting at 5,000 miles. I would wait until 6,000 but I have a free oil change at the dealership in Thousand Oaks where I bought it, and that deal expires on July 27. Speaking of price, this place is charging $36 for the oil change!!! Seems pretty damn high to me, but I have to get it done now, because I'm going on a day trip to San Diego on Thursday.
Now on to my question. For those of you that use synthetic: How do you go about doing that? Do you do it yourself? Do you buy the oil you want and then take it in to have it changed? Do you request a certain kind of oil when you're at the dealer or oil change place? Do you go to the dealer or Jiffy Lube? I used to take my Saturn to Jiffy Lube, but I don't want to take chances with the new TJ.
On a side note, I also had them listen to that low rumbling/rattling sound I hear when I shift into third and fourth gear (the noise then fades away over 2-3 seconds once I'm in the gear). The service manager told me it's "shift linkage" - that there are a number of metal rods in a casing in the tranny and that when you get to a certain speed they aren't quite linked together perfectly and you hear that sound. He said it's normal and that they've wasted many an hour in the past trying to diagnose it another way before deciding it's just the "nature of the beast" as he put it. Since I'm new to Jeeps and to manual transmissions, I really couldn't argue with him. What's everyone's take? Sound like a reasonable explanation? When I take it into the Thousand Oaks dealership for the free oil change at 5,000 miles, I'll ask them about it too.
I've seen pictures of that in the Quadratec catalog. They're pretty unique, I wouldn't mind having one. But I don't like it enough to give up the classic look of the TJ (not to mention giving up the warranty, which I imagine this would do).
ghinson I also don't like the way the sides look with the extended flares. Maybe it would look better with some lift and larger tires. How much for the used one? That sounds like a nice one. If you ever plan on off-roading I would look at some rock rails instead of nerf/step. It gives you better clearance and in most cases stronger. Turbo city has some good ones. http://www.turbocity.com/JeepBumpers.htm Here is a link to a roof rack. I have heard good things about this one and I think a couple of guys on here have it. The top just flips up and you can take the soft top up and down. I don't care for the roof racks. I just don't need that much cargo space and when I have my top down I don't want anything over my head. It can also make your already low gas mileage worse. http://www.garvin-industries.com/expedition_rack.html\
I don't know how things are out there in LA, but around here, the dealers have had to lower their oil change prices due to competition from the quick lube places. You can have a dealer change your oil around here for very little more than you would pay at the jiffy lube type places.
I have a GM dealer that I have bought several cars from that changes oil for $5.95, if you bring your own oil and filter! That includes chasis lubrication too! That is not a special deal for me because I have bought so many cars there: anyone can take advantage of it.
I trust a dealer to change the oil and lube a vehicle better than some jiffy lube place. (But I still watch the work as it is being performed. They allow that around here, but I hear that that is unusual elsewhere.)
As for the synthetic oil, you know that I am a big believer in it. But it costs a fortune if you buy it where they change your oil! I buy my Mobil 1 at Walmart for about $4.25 per quart or something close to that. I take it to the dealer that changes my oil. Most of those quick lube places allow you to bring your own oil and will knock a little off the price of the oil change, since you brought your own oil.
I brought my jeep to a dealer who sent me to a leak specialist they deal with. He took the cowling off and put silicone around the heater air intake, put a special rubberized compound on the rubber moulding under the windshield and put compound along the metal seams. He plugged up a few spots in the fire wall, a/c drain and around the heater box. He also filled the passenger side windshield hinge with silicone. He said in real bad weather while driving water can be forced up under the hinge. It was no major job, but he charged $100 CAD. thanks, Mark
The landrunners I'm looking at must have about a 4" lift. They have 33" MT tires. I like the fenders; they just cover the tires actually. Nonetheless, the ones here are $29,900. I'm getting the used one I mentioned for $18 and change.
I think I'll need a roof rack, or at least a trail rack, because I will be going out for a day at the beach quite often, at times carrying a ocean kayak. That will be the bulk of my off-roading, sand. Hence I wasn't worried about the nerfs. But I like the turbocity product better. These side bars have a step built into them and should serve the purpose of getting my shorter wife in without problems.
I think I llike the Garvin roof rack as well as any I have seen. Won't need the lights, though I will add some fog lamps to the front bumper. No sense putting fog lamps that high, right? Will fog lamps attach directly to the front bumper, or do I need a bracket?
I stay away from "jiffy lubes", a lot of them don't put the oil pan plug back in... they put a plug that has to be driven in instead (looks like a soft plug). I have heard of several engines that those plugs fell out of (jiffy bought the engine) and fried the engine.
I talked to my dealer about oil changes. I am having my mechanic do it, the thing is staple the receipt/record to the owners manual for warranty purposes. Although changing the oil is easy, I would rather have a record of it and $25.00 isn't that bad.
I found a trailer hitch for $125.00 (3500 lb rating) and a trailer 40"x6' for $300.00. Haven't seen it yet they said it has 13 or 14 inch wheels on it, so it may (or may not) be what I am looking for. I would like one similar (or exactly) to the ones the military used.
Foot note: The "Wrangler Wave" do all wrangler owners wave at each other?
Thanks for the info about oil changes, tsjay. I kind of buried my other question in my last post, so I'll bring it out here again. Ever since I got my TJ, I've heard a low rumbling/rattling noise when I shift into 3rd and (more prominently) into 4th gear. The sound fades away after 2-3 seconds of acceleration. The service manager at a local dealership listened to it and said it was "shift linkage", where at certain speeds the metal rods in the tranny aren't quite aligned properly and it creates that sound. Does that explanation make sense?
The only thing I have experienced with my jeep is that it is a little muley going into reverse at times (manual trans), that is covered in the owners manual. As far as what you are experiencing I haven't had any of those problems.
If the "metal rods in the tranny aren't quite aligned properly" then I would say this is a problem they had better fix. I can't imagine why the factory would let one go in this condition.
This "explanation" sounds a tad bit fishy, to me anyway.
The Jeep wave is suppose to be a universal phenomenon, but in my parts, I only get about 20% return waves. I actually get more waves per day from people in their yards or walking down the road.
On oil changes... I know many people don't do this themselves anymore, but changing your own oil has many other benefits in my mind. 1.) you know the qualtiy of the job 2.) you get to know your vehicle a little better 3.) you can take the time under the hood and under the Jeep to look around for anything else that may need attention 4.) you feel good, knowing you've done something good for your Jeep.
As tsjay mentioned, many dealerships will do it for less than $10 if you supply the oil and filter so the money thing really isn't the issue. If you have never worked on cars before, changing your oil is a great first step toward becoming more mechanically minded. There are only a few tools needed, only a few things that you need to make sure get done properly (oil the filter gasket and replace the drain plug are the most critical), and after you've done it once or twice, the whole process takes 15-30 min. depending on how difficult it is to get to everything. Since I live in the sticks, it would take me that long to drive to and from the dealership. The only downside I have to changing my own oil is that the oil has to be disposed of properly. My solution is to save a handful of gallon containers (Gatoraid are great for this; heavy plastic) and fill them up. After 3 or 4 oil changes, I take them to an auto parts store or WalMart that has oil disposal facilities. They will generally let you dispose of used oil for free.
I know some people who use one of those bug sprayers to spray under their vehicle to prevent rust. Mostly in the wheel wells and rocker panels, but you can also spray it down inside the doors and fenders if you find an opening.
I've got the Garvin and it is pretty nice. You have to drill two holes about the rear taillight and one down at the bottom on each side. It isn't too bad if you take your time with it. The rack is very sturdy. It will easily handle it's rated 300lbs. The tilting is fairly easy. I put wing nuts on the front instead of the normal nuts that are included. Still need pliars if you want it tight enough not to rattle. It takes me an extra 10 minutes or so to take down the top, but it isn't too bad. And don't worry about your gas mileage...my 4.0 I6 is still getting around 18 on the highway at 65-70mph. I am buying some 6" off road lights for mine though...just think they look cool.
Just thought i'd share some free info about the rack. I know spyrodragon has the same rack and will attest to it's abilities as well.
caveat: I'm not a mechanic, but I play one on TV...
I'm not sure the explanation your dealer gave you makes sense. The following is what I would question: "...at certain speeds the metal rods in the tranny aren't quite aligned properly and it creates that sound. ". If this is in fact the truth, then ask them if shifting at different speeds will make the problem disappear. They will probably say "yes" in an effort to get you out the door. If you get a "yes" then try this fix (shifting at different speeds) and see if it goes away. If it doesn't go away, you can challenge thier diagnosis. If they say "no" to the initial question, then their explanation holds no water from what I can see. If you go through these gyrations and they give you the "nature of the beast" explanation, ask them to take you out in a couple of SE's on the lot to reassure you that they all do this. This should give you confirmation one way or the other. If all else fails, try a different dealership. If you think something is wrong, at a minimum, make sure they give you a service ticket clearly stating what your concern is as well as there explanation closing the issue. This will log it in the DC service system. If you don't have it in writing, you can run into problems after the fact. If it's documented, it makes it easier to get them to see a pattern if the noise gets worse, etc.
Be polite, but firm. Be sure to tell them that you love your Jeep and that many of your friends are asking how it is; they want one too! Even though it shouldn't matter, you sometimes get better service if they think they have future sales on the line (ask a friend to come along!).
OK..who will we nominate for our community leader? its gotta be someone who is here all the time.. who always participates in Wrangler IV Who is very Knowlegble in Jeeps Who could that be...
I think theres only one person we should have in mind for the Community Leader; Tsjay. After all, he taught me a new word that i've never heard before, rudeassdamnyankee. Whatever it means he calls me it all the time. He meets the criteria of being at the weekly chat, and he posts often. Do I have a second to this nomination?
Comments
******************************* HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUDDY *******************************************
Hope you have a great day..
you deserve it!
Nut
the limitations. Auto's are easier to deal with
driving wise. They are better for city driving in
that your not constantly "going thru the gears".
I don't know much about the jeeps auto trany, but
I do know I don't want to be "on the cutting edge"
of anything.
There have been many times, in the woods, where I
missed the ability to "shift down" to slow down
instead of "riding the break". Also putting it
into "granny gear" (1st) and idling through and/or
over something is better done with a stick shift.
Stick shifts have 4 distinct gears (5th being
overdrive) autos do not. First and second will get
out of a lot of things (especially in 4 low), but
they are a lot of "work" to drive. You have to be
more focused.
I have driven both for about 40 years (happy
birthday TsJay) and I like both types of tranys.
I chose the manual be cause I believe it is the
best choice for what I want they are stronger.
Having said that the is one more thing to consider
here if you are hurt an auto trany is easier to
"drive out" with, assuming your able to drive at
all I always carry a radio and cell phone when I
am in the woods. If your disabled the auto trany
is the only way to go.
The week part of the manual is the clutch, they
will ware fast if you use them a lot. Personally,
I would rather deal with that than having to deal
with trany problems. They are usually easier
(cheaper) to work on than auto's and there are
heavier duty clutches you can install the advent
of the hydraulic clutch has gone a long way to
ease the work involved with using them. Once you
get the hang of them stick shifts are more efficient.
Just my $.02 here we are going into
the "high" country today to scout for elk .. I
will let you know how it goes.
You lucky dog!
Thanks for the b'day wishes.
You must be older than I am! "Have been driving 40 years," you said.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Have a great one and enjoy it buddy.
And no matter what these guys say you're not old
Happy Jeepin'
Happy birthday to the biggest, heartiest supporter of a Wrangler I've ever (virtually) met, Tsjay!
As for transmissions, I got a manual for a few reasons: (1) I wanted to learn, (2) my buddy told me girls would be impressed, (3) I heard the auto on a Wrangler was somewhat sluggish, particularly on an SE, which was what I was getting, (4) I'd had transmission problems with my previous car and didn't want to risk more expensive auto transmission repairs ($2000 or more!!).
On my last car, a 95 Saturn, I had to replace the transmission at 77,000 miles, which by most accounts was way too soon. Then at 119,000 miles it started giving me problems again. The symptom was that it would hesitate when you put it in reverse, before actually going into reverse. My mechanic said I'd need a new one, and that was when I made the decision to go with a new vehicle. 3 months later my Wrangler was on the way!
With this talk about heat affecting an auto, I wonder if that was part of my problem. Obviously in Southern California it gets pretty hot in the summer, and I had the Saturn for two years in Tucson, Arizona when I was in grad school, where the temp can get up to 115 or even higher.
Mtngal: I'll email you about those trails in Kern County - thanks for the offer! And I know you must have known the temperature in Baker - home of the largest outdoor thermometer in the world! You must have been on your way to Vegas, baby, Vegas!!
yellowman
but I started driving at 8 or 9 years old tractors,hay trucks and cars that would not be allowedon the road.
Some of them, as I recall, didn't have a floor we
had to rest our feet on the bell housing and the "throttle" was a rod with a "knob" on the end of
it hooked directly to the carb.
(Do not try this at home kids)
The first car I got to drive/learn on was a 52(?)
ford "three on the tree", it took 2 of us one to
drive and shift, the other one to push in the
clutch and stat the car. (The starter peddle was
next to the gas peddle) .. enough of this.
Age is a relative thing, relative to gravity mostly, relative past lifestyle, relative to just about every ache and pain (insert children here) .
what age do we become "old farts" anyway?
We're off to you know where to scout for you know
what cya soon . Dread Ned
Happy birthday. Don't let these guys kid you about this senior stuff. It ain't all that bad.
nkelly1
tsjay is not in the "old fart" catagory yet, he is closing in on it.
Chicago area is has had crumby weather for the last three weeks, just can't get in any top down time.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Wow, this board has been active, lately! I've been away from my computer a lot. I came back once and saw 22 new postings. I didn't even have time to read them all in one sitting. Pretty exciting!
Got word from the Jeep dealership on Friday that my Sahara is being built. It'll be here in 10-15 days, according to the salesman.
Gotta go! My eldest son graduated from high school on Friday! My middle son graduated from elemetary! We're having a big party today, so needless to say, I'm very busy!!
Congratulations on the birth of your Sahara! I assume that you have definitely decided on that one????
You will absolutely love a Jeep! I promise!
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
http://greetings.yahoo.com/greet/view?DM7CQJCUG2ET6
Hope you had a great day. Did Mrs. tsjay take you through the McDonalds drive through?
-twylie
Hope you will be able to keep up with the postings now and do some posting yourself.
Been busy, huh?
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Auto vs man. my two cents......I have been driving a manual for the past 15 + years and will never drive an auto again. I currently drive a 97 cherokee sport with a manual. I prefer the manual because:
1.) gives you the abilty to better control the car in snow and rain.
2.) better MPG's (I average 22 - 23 in my cherokee with 50 % of driving in traffic)
3.) a clutch is certainly cheaper to replace than an auto tranny.
4.) manual is easier on the engine and brakes.
5.) when driven properly, a clutch may last a long long time. The least amount of miles I've ever gotten out of a clutch is approx. 95,000.
6.) is just pure fun. I drive my cherokee like a sports car. 49,000 thousand miles and still have the original brakes, belts and clutch. Just changed the tires for the first time at 43,000 miles.
enjoy your b-day tsjay.....
This didn't spook the elk at all. We were able to get as close as 200/250 yards to them and watch them chew their lunch. (the camera we had is not good enough to get them at that distance) I was a small group, 5 or 6. I stopped and talked to one of the local loggers and he told us there were elk all over the place . 30 minutes later one jump out in the middle of the road we were on and gave us a tour of the road for a 100 feet or so. Idling in first doesn't seem to bother them.
It was windy and raining. The jeep did well in the wind, the rear window wiper was worth its weight in gold when it came to backing up an old logging road. Next time I think I will remove the rear view mirror from the windshield, it really got in the way. There were a lot of extreme hair pin corners and the thing is right in the way.
At 30 or 35 it road real good on the old roads, but when we got back on to the pavement we found that those wrangler tires picked up a lot of rocks, they will have to go . mud flaps are a must.
Cleaning was a breeze. Went to a car wash, with the wand on rinse it was easy to wash off the under carriage. It may have been built to get muddy, but sure was made to clean up easy.
Now we are planning a trip through the Cascades, north to south.
On the rearview mirror, I grabbed ours and raised it up toward the top of the windshield frame. This gave me at least a couple of inches more visibility in that part of the windshield. This might offer you enough visibility across the hood and front fender.
I've found that I need to go slow for the first few miles when we've been on gravel roads. This gives the tires a chance to trhrow the rocks at slow speed, but occasionally we'll hear a loud thump as it throws a stuck rock. I debated mudflaps but think you give up too much clearance and expect they would get ripped off eventually. The TurboCity sidebars I installed actually serve to keep debris from bouncing aganst the rocker panels.
-twylie
For suburban driving, with the occassional dirt/sand use, and about 3 feet of snow a year, is there any serious reason not to buy an auto?? Oh, btw, wife stinks with a manual; but for now ignore that factor.
Will Jeep ever put in a 4 speed auto??
The mirror comes off with one screw, I'll just put it back on when I come out (maybe)... I have one on each side why do I need one stuck in the midle of the window?
-twylie
For rugged off roading there is no set standard, just pick your guns and go for it. For the auto owners, if your on a steep grade, use the parking brake to hold the vehicle and not tranny. This will save you from jamming the tranny and or shearing the parking pin (expensive to replace). When going down a really steep grade, use the lower gears and turn on the AC. The extra load on the AC will aid in slowing down the motor and slowing you down as well.
...OR they could beat the Santa Fe and use the Shifttronic (name?) tranny that some of the other Chrysler products use. You know, the one which is a hybrid of manual and auto? Similar to Porsche?
best choice for what I want they are stronger."
Then how come some manufacturers (not sure if Jeep is one of them) give better towing ratings for autos?
Some of them, as I recall, didn't have a floor we
had to rest our feet on the bell housing and the "throttle" was a rod with a "knob" on the end of it hooked directly to the carb.
(Do not try this at home kids)"
...But YOU did!!
;-)
auto or manual?
"This didn't spook the elk at all. We were able to get as close as 200/250 yards to them and watch them chew their lunch."
Just think if you got out on foot. When is hunting season?
"Next time I think I will remove the rear view mirror from the windshield, it really got in the way. There were a lot of extreme hair pin corners and the thing is right in the way."
If it wasn't raining, you could just put down the windshield!!!
Second car was an '85 Toyota Corolla 5 door (like Chevy "Nova"). That had a 5 speed manual. At one point I had to put in (replace) a slave cylinder to help it shift gears. The clutch finally went on way to Honda dealer in August of 1992. My then girlfriend had to push it up the hill to dealer with her car. They probably put in $200 worth of clutch work and sold the car for $2000. (I got $300 for it). It had over 130,000 miles on it.
My current 1992 Civic has a 5 speed manual with original clutch at 128,000 miles and I drive it pretty hard and even take her off road a little.
I would prefer a reliable transmission above all else. Manual gives YOU more control. Also, better performance and economy. Auto gives convenience.
I dont wanna do more work than I have too...
Convience is the American way!
Snut..
Terry
thanks,
Mark
http://www.alldata.com/TSB/04/970406D2.html
#11 on the list of Service Bulletins lists as "Water Leak Diagnostic and Repair Procedure".
I seem to remember reading that others had issues with this in the early TJ's. You can probably have your servicing dealer run the VIN to see if there has ever been an attempt to solve a leaking problem on your Jeep.
If you're only getting water in the cockpit when you drive in the rain, it's probably a leak somewhere in the firewall area (maybe coming off the tires into the wheelwells?) and when you wash the Jeep, you don't spray water in that area for long enough to reproduce the problem. I don't know why it would be intermittant and have not shown up more frequently in heavy rains.
Hope this helps and let us know what the problem turned out to be.
-twylie
I can get a lot closer on foot, although 200/250 yards is an easy shot. Right now we are just finding the heard and watching their behavior. We saw a few deer as well. Next thing is to rig up a way to carry the guns.
I haven't been able to get online at all lately. Did you run around topless for your birthday or what?
ghinson
Don't worry about bringing up new topics if you are wanting the info. I don't care for the look of landrunners. I also wouldn't want to try make a Jeep look like something else. If you want to do the roof rack, lights, brush guard and all that, it can look good. I just don't like making it look like a hummer. I believe this is the company that does the conversions. www.landrunnersocal.com
Get in touch with them and see if you can get a price off them and then see how much the dealer is marking them up. They have a breakdown of (dealer) prices on that site.
I don't find it that difficult to bring the top up and down on a Jeep once you know how. It takes longer than a miata but not bad. You could throw a cover over it when parked instead or just don't take the whole top down when you want the open air feel. I will run it with the all windows out and top half doors off sometimes. This works great on hot days. It keeps the sun off but you get all the wind to stay cool.
The only time I have hauled coolers in my TJ is with a bunch of other junk, so I had my rear seat removed anyway. A cooler fit fine in YJs rear cargo area but the TJs area looks smaller. I haven't tried that rear cargo area on a TJ yet. You can add a receiver rack, trail rack or roof rack for more cargo space. Trail rack mounts over the spare tire. Good for clearance if on trails or taking your Jeep over some sand dunes. The receiver rack comes out of the receiver and it is easier to load and unload but ruins your departure angle. Order a catalog from www.quadratec.com or any Jeep catalog and you can check out all kinds of Jeep accesories to give you good idea.
nkelly1
These guys have some gun racks you may want to check out.
http://www.thinkjeep.com/manufacturers/sanangelo/
I have had the same problem with rocks getting caught up in my ATs. They seem to clear out quicker than stock tires based on what you are saying. I think MTs are the only way to go to avoid it completely.
I know someone that removed there rearview mirror and never put it back in. He almost had an accident because the mirror completely blocked a car coming at him.
Greg
Well, the Jeep is a couple blocks away at my local dealer getting the oil changed. As I mentioned, I'm going to do a standard oil change this time (3,000 miles) and then go with synthetic starting at 5,000 miles. I would wait until 6,000 but I have a free oil change at the dealership in Thousand Oaks where I bought it, and that deal expires on July 27. Speaking of price, this place is charging $36 for the oil change!!! Seems pretty damn high to me, but I have to get it done now, because I'm going on a day trip to San Diego on Thursday.
Now on to my question. For those of you that use synthetic: How do you go about doing that? Do you do it yourself? Do you buy the oil you want and then take it in to have it changed? Do you request a certain kind of oil when you're at the dealer or oil change place? Do you go to the dealer or Jiffy Lube? I used to take my Saturn to Jiffy Lube, but I don't want to take chances with the new TJ.
On a side note, I also had them listen to that low rumbling/rattling sound I hear when I shift into third and fourth gear (the noise then fades away over 2-3 seconds once I'm in the gear). The service manager told me it's "shift linkage" - that there are a number of metal rods in a casing in the tranny and that when you get to a certain speed they aren't quite linked together perfectly and you hear that sound. He said it's normal and that they've wasted many an hour in the past trying to diagnose it another way before deciding it's just the "nature of the beast" as he put it. Since I'm new to Jeeps and to manual transmissions, I really couldn't argue with him. What's everyone's take? Sound like a reasonable explanation? When I take it into the Thousand Oaks dealership for the free oil change at 5,000 miles, I'll ask them about it too.
yellowman
yellowman
I also don't like the way the sides look with the extended flares. Maybe it would look better with some lift and larger tires.
How much for the used one? That sounds like a nice one.
If you ever plan on off-roading I would look at some rock rails instead of nerf/step. It gives you better clearance and in most cases stronger. Turbo city has some good ones.
http://www.turbocity.com/JeepBumpers.htm
Here is a link to a roof rack. I have heard good things about this one and I think a couple of guys on here have it. The top just flips up and you can take the soft top up and down. I don't care for the roof racks. I just don't need that much cargo space and when I have my top down I don't want anything over my head. It can also make your already low gas mileage worse.
http://www.garvin-industries.com/expedition_rack.html\
I don't know how things are out there in LA, but around here, the dealers have had to lower their oil change prices due to competition from the quick lube places. You can have a dealer change your oil around here for very little more than you would pay at the jiffy lube type places.
I have a GM dealer that I have bought several cars from that changes oil for $5.95, if you bring your own oil and filter! That includes chasis lubrication too! That is not a special deal for me because I have bought so many cars there: anyone can take advantage of it.
I trust a dealer to change the oil and lube a vehicle better than some jiffy lube place. (But I still watch the work as it is being performed. They allow that around here, but I hear that that is unusual elsewhere.)
As for the synthetic oil, you know that I am a big believer in it. But it costs a fortune if you buy it where they change your oil! I buy my Mobil 1 at Walmart for about $4.25 per quart or something close to that. I take it to the dealer that changes my oil. Most of those quick lube places allow you to bring your own oil and will knock a little off the price of the oil change, since you brought your own oil.
tsjay
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
thanks, Mark
I think I'll need a roof rack, or at least a trail rack, because I will be going out for a day at the beach quite often, at times carrying a ocean kayak. That will be the bulk of my off-roading, sand. Hence I wasn't worried about the nerfs. But I like the turbocity product better. These side bars have a step built into them and should serve the purpose of getting my shorter wife in without problems.
I think I llike the Garvin roof rack as well as any I have seen. Won't need the lights, though I will add some fog lamps to the front bumper. No sense putting fog lamps that high, right? Will fog lamps attach directly to the front bumper, or do I need a bracket?
Thanks!
I talked to my dealer about oil changes. I am having my mechanic do it, the thing is staple the receipt/record to the owners manual for warranty purposes. Although changing the oil is easy, I would rather have a record of it and $25.00 isn't that bad.
I found a trailer hitch for $125.00 (3500 lb rating) and a trailer 40"x6' for $300.00. Haven't seen it yet they said it has 13 or 14 inch wheels on it, so it may (or may not) be what I am looking for. I would like one similar (or exactly) to the ones the military used.
Foot note: The "Wrangler Wave" do all wrangler owners wave at each other?
texasjeep
Thanx for the info on the gun racks.
Thanks for the info about oil changes, tsjay. I kind of buried my other question in my last post, so I'll bring it out here again. Ever since I got my TJ, I've heard a low rumbling/rattling noise when I shift into 3rd and (more prominently) into 4th gear. The sound fades away after 2-3 seconds of acceleration. The service manager at a local dealership listened to it and said it was "shift linkage", where at certain speeds the metal rods in the tranny aren't quite aligned properly and it creates that sound. Does that explanation make sense?
yellowman
If the "metal rods in the tranny aren't quite aligned properly" then I would say this is a problem they had better fix. I can't imagine why the factory would let one go in this condition.
This "explanation" sounds a tad bit fishy, to me anyway.
one of the many guides on the web:
http://www.hrja.org/jeep_wave.htm
On oil changes... I know many people don't do this themselves anymore, but changing your own oil has many other benefits in my mind. 1.) you know the qualtiy of the job 2.) you get to know your vehicle a little better 3.) you can take the time under the hood and under the Jeep to look around for anything else that may need attention 4.) you feel good, knowing you've done something good for your Jeep.
As tsjay mentioned, many dealerships will do it for less than $10 if you supply the oil and filter so the money thing really isn't the issue. If you have never worked on cars before, changing your oil is a great first step toward becoming more mechanically minded. There are only a few tools needed, only a few things that you need to make sure get done properly (oil the filter gasket and replace the drain plug are the most critical), and after you've done it once or twice, the whole process takes 15-30 min. depending on how difficult it is to get to everything. Since I live in the sticks, it would take me that long to drive to and from the dealership. The only downside I have to changing my own oil is that the oil has to be disposed of properly. My solution is to save a handful of gallon containers (Gatoraid are great for this; heavy plastic) and fill them up. After 3 or 4 oil changes, I take them to an auto parts store or WalMart that has oil disposal facilities. They will generally let you dispose of used oil for free.
-twylie
I've got the Garvin and it is pretty nice. You have to drill two holes about the rear taillight and one down at the bottom on each side. It isn't too bad if you take your time with it. The rack is very sturdy. It will easily handle it's rated 300lbs. The tilting is fairly easy. I put wing nuts on the front instead of the normal nuts that are included. Still need pliars if you want it tight enough not to rattle. It takes me an extra 10 minutes or so to take down the top, but it isn't too bad. And don't worry about your gas mileage...my 4.0 I6 is still getting around 18 on the highway at 65-70mph. I am buying some 6" off road lights for mine though...just think they look cool.
Just thought i'd share some free info about the rack. I know spyrodragon has the same rack and will attest to it's abilities as well.
Keep jeepin'
-pizzadude
I'm not sure the explanation your dealer gave you makes sense. The following is what I would question: "...at certain speeds the metal rods in the tranny aren't quite aligned properly and it creates that sound. ". If this is in fact the truth, then ask them if shifting at different speeds will make the problem disappear. They will probably say "yes" in an effort to get you out the door. If you get a "yes" then try this fix (shifting at different speeds) and see if it goes away. If it doesn't go away, you can challenge thier diagnosis. If they say "no" to the initial question, then their explanation holds no water from what I can see. If you go through these gyrations and they give you the "nature of the beast" explanation, ask them to take you out in a couple of SE's on the lot to reassure you that they all do this. This should give you confirmation one way or the other. If all else fails, try a different dealership. If you think something is wrong, at a minimum, make sure they give you a service ticket clearly stating what your concern is as well as there explanation closing the issue. This will log it in the DC service system. If you don't have it in writing, you can run into problems after the fact. If it's documented, it makes it easier to get them to see a pattern if the noise gets worse, etc.
Be polite, but firm. Be sure to tell them that you love your Jeep and that many of your friends are asking how it is; they want one too! Even though it shouldn't matter, you sometimes get better service if they think they have future sales on the line (ask a friend to come along!).
Good luck and keep us posted on what happens.
-twylie
its gotta be someone who is here all the time..
who always participates in Wrangler IV
Who is very Knowlegble in Jeeps
Who could that be...
Input..input..input
Snut
Terry
Tsjay, when do I get my five bucks?