Jeep Wrangler

mcrrt · July 2002

Thanks for the replies-it was looking like the factory hard top/add a soft top later was going to be the way to go (really want a wiper/defog here in Michigan), but I wanted to put it out there to the folks "in the know". Appreciate it!

Mcrrt

yellowman · July 2002

Well, for the second time in 9 months, my Jeep was broken into. Just like the last time back in November, it seemed as though they were flat out trying to steal it (as opposed to going for CDs or parts). The ignition had been pulled out, and the Sentry Key system had kicked in, killing the engine. I had just had it washed and waxed and it was looking especially nice, so maybe that's what attracted them to it. Fortunately, this time there was less damage. No damage to the glass or body, no scratches...Just a messed up key mechanism on the passenger side full steel door, and of course the ignition chamber itself. It's in the shop now, waiting for an insurance adjuster to look at it before they can fix everything. Basically it's going to amount to a $500 nuisance (the amount of my insurance deductable, which now I'm kicking myself for not lowering to $0 or $100). ARGH!!! Still, part of me is relieved I still have my Jeep at all.

I've been avoiding it, but now I'm going to go ahead and get both The Club AND an alarm for my Jeep. I'm thinking about a "silent" alarm. Any thoughts on these? How do they work? Are they more expensive than a standard alarm?

Finally...To anyone just ordering their Wranglers now....Unless you're going to be parking it in a VERY secure location and rarely if ever parking it on a city street, PLEASE get the "Sentry Key Theft Deterrant System" as an option. I think it's between $90 and $150 when ordering, but it has flat out SAVED my Jeep from being stolen TWICE now. And keep in mind, I have the "more" secure hard top and lockable full steel doors!

yellowman

tsjay · July 2002

I think you should MOVE! Good Lord! Enough's enough!

Sorry, Pal. Hope they get everything taken care of, but it makes me sick to think that you will have payed $1000 out of your pocket for these two instances. That would have bought some nice mods.

Keep you chin up.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

markwarren66 · July 2002

Thanks for the feedback. I think the Sun rocker guards will be the way I go. I'm 6'4", and the wife is 5'10", so we don't really need side steps. I'll email you Tom when I get them. I'm not gifted mechanically, so any help is definitely appreciated. I already have the tow hooks, and agree that they are a must. I was going to wait on the skid plates, but I think I'll put them higher up on the list now.

And after reading Yellowman's comments (sorry for the bad luck lately) I think I'll have to add some sort of club-type security. I like the one I've seen on tv that clamps on to the clutch, not allowing it to be depressed. That seems like a good way to go. Anyone have this? I'm sorry I can't remember the name of it, but it costs about 50 bucks.

Happy Jeeping!

desno · July 2002

Sorry about the bad news. You would think with the hard doors and hardtop that your jeep would be just like other cars out there, but I guess that isn't the case. A few posts ago, I mentioned this security thing called the ravelco ( http://www.ravelco.com ) I'm not sure how well it works, but they claim that no vehicle has been stolen that has used the system since like 1975 or so. It may be something for you and anyone else to look at.

des'

jmdum · July 2002

Does anybody know if the new model available in fall will have a new engine ? Where could I find info (mainly power and miles per gallon?)
Thank you.

JM

bamatazz · July 2002

Sorry about your JEEP..I hate these car thieves Ive been bit but them too, My Cutless was stolen in 1988. Im with TOM get out of L.A. Ive looked at that ravelco. Sounds interesting.
I feel for ya dude.
JEEP-CAM good idea Tidester. Will edmunds sponsor it? lol
mcrrt, I believe u made the right decision. Like with everything is a personal/financial preferance.
HEY RICKGOODMAN.. u still out there?

KEEP JEEPIN
BAMA

mtngal · July 2002

Move.

This is getting terrible, and it won't get any better anytime soon. You could always move up my way - it is much safer. And since it is just across the Kern County line, insurance is much cheaper. And you would have easy access to some of those lovely forest service roads I've told you about.

And just think - that would give you more opportunity to drive your jeep!

yellowman · July 2002

Hey everyone

Thanks for the kind support. I looked at the Ravelco - seems pretty good, although at this point I'm not so much concerned with someone actually *stealing* the Jeep as I am with someone just messing with it or *attempting* to steal it. Of course, nothing is 100%, but so far the Sentry Key has worked great in preventing theft. What I think I need now is a deterrent, something that says to a thief, forget about trying it on this Jeep. I'll look into alarms, both silent and non-silent, and I will get a Club or maybe that clutch-style one...Someone else on my block has that, with the yellow cover that goes on the steering wheel. There's another 2001 hard-top Wrangler on my street and I notice he has both an LED light and a (yellow!) Club. I'll probably follow his lead. As for moving...I guess crime is just one of those things you deal with living in a big city. I also have to be relatively close to work. I was born and raised in the city, so I don't think I'd do too well living in mtngal's neighborhood up in the mountains - it was hard enough for me living in Tucson, Arizona for two years while I was in grad school! I love nature, but just for weekend trips, getaways, and maybe a little off-roading...Otherwise, I'm a cityboy at heart! Thanks again for all the kind words. I should have my Jeep back in tip-top condition within a couple days, then it's off to Al and Ed's Autosound to look at alarms!

yellowman

mcrrt · July 2002

The '03 Wranglers are supposed to have a new base engine replacing the old 2.5L 4cyl. It'll be the 2.4L 16-valve 4cyl that is the base engine in the Liberty (and I assume also the PT Cruiser). I believe the inline 6cyl will continue, although there is scuttlebutt about it being replaced with the Liberty's 3.7L V6 for '04. Power for the new 4cyl should mirror that of the Liberty-about 150hp and 165lb-ft of torque. As far as mileage, I would assume it will be close to the outgoing 4cyl...I wouldn't hope for more than about 17-19 mpg average with the manual-kinda hard to get good economy out of a barn door...

Mcrrt

mcrrt · July 2002

Sorry to hear about your break-in, man, twice in 9 months!?! My old VW Golf got broken in to a few years back, and I remember the horrible sinking feeling when I realized what had happened. Feels like you've been violated somehow-I feel for ya. Happy alarm shopping-even though you have Sentry key, still get an alarm with an independent starter interrupt relay; it can be piggy-backed to work with the Sentry Key system, and is one more obstacle for the scoundrels to work around. Time is a thief's worst enemy. Good luck!

Mcrrt

markwarren66 · July 2002

In case anyone is interested, this is what I was referring to earlier.

http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/t%20rex%20auto%20lock.html

I've seen it for sale at the local Pep Boys or AutoZone, so you could probably pick it up there. I haven't used it, just think it looks like a good option.

rickagoodman · July 2002

Based on some prices that I've seen being posted for the new Rubicons, I'm thinking about going that route. Then I'll definitely have to get that baby off road a lot! It looks like it's going to be about 3k more than what I was going to get. Do you think the add-ons are worth the 3k? I'd be interested in anyone's opinion.

rickagoodman · July 2002

Yep, still here. Coming up on time to dump this Mustang and get the Jeep. Know anyone who wants a 2000 Mustang?

dwrangler · July 2002

Sorry to hear about the repeat performance of the dumb and dumber twins...they never learn do they?

Hang in there guy.

The clutch "club" if you will is what I've seen on the tv...can't remember what it was called though. DO NOT BUY THE CLUB FOR THE STEERING WHEEL! They aren't much of a deterant for a theif with half a brain and a saw or a cutter to cut the stearing wheel.

I'll have to check out the Jeep.com and Jeepwarehouse.com sites...need some inspiration:)

Well, Hug your Jeeps for me til I get mine...

dwrangler

tsjay · August 2002

Definitely go for the Ruby! You couldn't begin to get the mods necessary to bring a stock Wrangler up to the capabilities of the Ruby for that extra 3K.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mtngal · August 2002

Well, my noble black steed now has new brakes and rotors, along with a bath (courtesy of my other half who is on vacation while I slave away at work). I couldn't believe how wonderful he looks all shined up. He looked so sharp, I just had to drive him into work today. You know, just to test the brakes and all...

twylie · August 2002

Rick, I agree with Tom in that you can't come close to getting the same performance for the same money, much less keep your warranty intact. Ballpark aftermarket costs for the additional features.

- Tires: $300-500 (depending if you get a great trade in on old ones)
- Rocker guards: $100-200 (these appear to be angle iron which is less expensive than the Sun, etc. designs.)
- 4.10 gears: $750-1000 to reagear around here
- 4:1 transfer case + SYE: $1500-2000 for installed kits
- lockers: $1200-1500 (could be a bit cheaper if you did the labor at the same time as the gears)

I think that's the big stuff, but that's $3850-5000+ if you did it aftermarket vs. $3200 I think for checking the Rubicon box.

The upside is your Rubi Jeep is extremely capable and is under full warranty. For us, the options I'd most like to have would be the lockers, the SYE, and the rear disc brakes (now available on the Sport). For the kind of trails we have been on, out transfer case is geared low enough. We have 3.73 gears which are fine for 31" tires, but if we ever go to 33"+, I'm guessing I'll want to regear. If you're going to be wheeling the Jeep on tough trails, it's hard to beat the value the Rubi offers.

Ooooops, forgot that you get the D44 front axle as well, add another $1000+ to my numbers above! DC can do this stuff cheaper becuase the actual parts costs isn't nearly what you pay to buy the parts aftermarket (i.e. 4.10 gears don't cost much if anything more than 3.73 and the install cost should be the same to them).

Assuming the offroad perfromance is important to you and $ isn't the issue, I say go for it. I bet you'll never wish you hadn't gotten it, and I'd love to know someone with one to go wheeling with! I'l let you lead, so you can "unstuck" me!

Even if you opt not to get the Rubi, you'll be able to go places in your Jeep that most other SUVs only dream of. I know I've still got a long way to go before:
Jeep's ability < Driver's ability

-twylie

twylie · August 2002

http://www.rockcrawler.com/reviews/jeep/wrangler_2003_rubicon_first_impressions/index.asp

-twylie

bamatazz · August 2002

I agree..get that rubicon.. cheaper goin that route to me. PlUS...I will get to see it..

Good link twylie..lots of info there

Keep Jeepin
BAMA

mtngal · August 2002

My noble black steed is no longer so clean - we went hiking today (vacation from work). A little tip from my other half - don't drive a steep, rocky forest service road with a full cup of coffee in the cup holder...

bamatazz · August 2002

OOPS!

tsjay · August 2002

I finally got my Bud at work, Mike, to get a Jeep, and I was hoping he would be a "wheelin' buddy."

So, what's he doin'? Is he ordering tow hooks, installing a CB, getting a tow strap, looking into more aggressive tires? NO! He's worried about improving his stereo!

He is so proud of that Jeep that he doesn't want to get it in the bushes. (OK, I was that way about Thelma Jane for the first 14 months that I had her.)

I was also hoping that Mike would join us in here. Geez!

Oh well, at least he is lovin' that Jeep.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

yellowman · August 2002

Hey all

Well I FINALLY got my Jeep back today - took 3 1/2 days, mostly because of the insurance company (Geico Insurance). The ironic thing is, after waiting 72 hours for the insurance adjuster to look at it, the whole job wound up being $20 less than my deductible, so I wound up canceling the insurance claim altogether. If it wasn't for my mechanical breakdown/extended warranty coverage through Geico, I think I'd switch to 21st Century.

Anyway, I picked the Jeep up a couple hours ago and IMMEDIATELY drove to AutoZone to get some type of Club device. After reading dwrangler's post (thanks for the support, dwrangler!), I'm glad I got the clutch-style Club and not the steering-wheel style one. Thanks also to markwarren66 for the informational link. It seems like it might be a little more of a deterrant than the steering wheel Club that everyone seems to have.

I tried it for the first time and it seems to work okay. However, because of the way the clutch and brake pedals on the Wrangler are, the angle at which the Club is positioned is much "flatter" than I thought it would be. I thought it would stand up straighter, closer to a 45 degree angle. Instead it's down around a 5 or 10 degree angle. Because of this, the bottom is not as firmly pressed against the floor/firewall. However, I intentionally knocked it sideways and I still can't depress the clutch, so the upshot is it still works even if you kick it around. It comes with a cloth steering wheel cover that's more visible than the one shown on markwarren66's link. It's yellow (cool - hopefully it won't blend in too much) with red writing and a big red sherrif's badge offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone seen tampering with the vehicle.

I also bought a flashing red "fake LED" light that plugs into the cigarette lighter outlet. It worked great until I turned off the engine - evidently power stops running through the lighter when the car is off. Tsjay, didn't you experience something similar when you were trying to charge your cellphone while Thelma Jane was parked and turned off? Did you ever find a way around it? Anyway, I'll probably wind up returning it - it only cost $2.99.

If you look closely, you can see some minor paint chipping around the passenger keyhole where they broke in. Not a big deal, but I might get some touch-up paint to hide it. I'll also be doing some shopping for alarms this weekend (and lowering my insurance deductable!)

Again, thanks to all for your support. Thankfully, I have my Jeep back and looking good and HOPEFULLY now won't have to deal with these wack people messing with it again.

yellowman

bamatazz · August 2002

Go mike.. Dont get that jeep dirty..
dont let tom talk you into anything
glad to know there is someone else that doenst believe in getting a $25,000 vehicle muddy & dirty ewwww. That stereo is the important thing
(just joking to the JEEP purist)
YELLER..
sorry about all your problems dude.
Hopefully the club will make a differance.

Keep Jeepin
BAMA

tsjay · August 2002

I was looking for my first ever post in "Wrangler," so I went back to the archived "Wrangler III."

Here's a post I found, but I don't think it is my first ever post in here. Thought I would share this one with you guys and then go back and look some more for my first ever post.

The Jeep I talk about in this post is that one that I stopped and looked at every trip up to Illinois, both going up there and coming back. I did this for several weeks until they finally sold it. This is the Jeep that inspired me to order Thelma Jane in white with a black hard top.

#286 of 505 jeep4u: need your help (others welcome to respond) by tsjay Jul 23, 2000 (12:48 am)
I was looking at a 2000 Wrangler Sport today that I have fallen in love with, and I was wondering what kind of deal I should be able to get.

My trade-in is a 2000 Grand Prix GT 4 dr sedan with tan leather interior (white exterior). It has 10,000 miles on it and is in showroom new condition. The original sticker price was $24,225.

The Jeep I'm looking at is white with a black hard top. It's a Sport with the manual 5-speed transmission and 30" tires. I remember that it had the 25D package, but I can't remember all the additional goodies. The sticker was $23,345.

What should I consider a good deal? I'm not one of those people who expect a dealer to run a non-profit organization. When I say a "good deal" I mean a reasonable deal for both me and the dealer.

Any help would be appreciated.

thanks

tsjay

tsjay · August 2002

Couldn't find any earlier posts in Wrangler, so I guess that was my first post.

I posted in the Grand Cherokee and in the Grand Prix message boards here in Edmunds when I owned those vehicles.

Man, goducks and texasjeep were already here when I first started posting. We sure don't hear enough from those guys any more. Old goducks was a regular blabber mouth back in those days, posting all the time. Tex posted a lot back then too. Why don't you guys get busy again?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

tsjay · August 2002

I wasn't hooked up with anyone to go wheelin' with today, but it is so hot around here that I wouldn't have wanted to go anyway.

Now, here it is Saturday, and I ought to be wheelin', but I'm sitting here posting messages on the puter.

The temperatures have been mid nineties around here lately with lots of humidity. That's really pretty typical for this area at this time of year, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

It's too hard on my best bud, Ross Allen, when I take him wheelin' in this kind of weather. It would break his heart and mine too, if I went without him.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

bamatazz · August 2002

On a cigarette light "plug" Witch wire is the HOT lead & which in the ground?.
I know my JEEP buds can help me.
TOM, I know what ya mean its a HOT one in DIXIE today too. IM just playing around with TAZZ.

KEEP JEEPIN
BAMA

oceantoad · August 2002

Tom, I would rather be at home playing on the computer, than taking a break at work and playing on the computer like I am now. Been doing lots of overtime the past couple of weeks. The heat index is staying between 107 and 110 down this way. Try taking Mike out with you to Turkey Bay a couple of more times.

Yellowman, hope the deterrent items work out for you. Sorry to read about your 2nd involvement with "Jeep Enthusiasts" (must be that popular yellow color). Glad my family moved out of South Gate when I was a kid. Your story reminds me why we are rated as 2nd most stolen vehicle.

yellowman · August 2002

Really? I didn't know Wranglers were the 2nd most stolen vehicle. I always thought the top 5 or so were Hondas, Toyotas, Acuras, and Nissans. How recent was that stat? Anyway, still hoping to find a "fake LED" that will work without the cigarette lighter, maybe just something that runs on batteries that I can have on at night...

yellowman

wheelsdown · August 2002

Next time you are at your dealer, ask them if they will move the cigarette lighter hot wire to the un-switched fuse. Then you can use the fake flasher. I have one of those and use it all the time. It looks real.

wheelerman · August 2002

i just got back from the rubicon today. [did not take the jeep] we had are drit bikes up there . man was it nice at loon lake [the trail start] it felt good to get out of the city. can't wait to get the jeep up there so many good trails.

mtngal · August 2002

I remember hearing just before I bought my jeep that the Wrangler was the #1 most stolen jeep (either '97 or '98), and I vaguely remember hearing something (relatively) recently on the radio that it was #2. The only reason I remember it was because I was pleased it was lower on the list. I have no idea which list it was!

Wheelerman - Doesn't the Rubicon trail start somewhere around Tahoe? I've wanted to take the jeep up there because there are tons of trails in the area - easy and hard. Since mine is stock, I'm not planning on doing the Rubicon itself.

Yesterday we had dinner at the Excaliber and there was a black Wrangler with a lift, 33" wheels, custom rims, extra skid plates under it, chrome nerf bars and bumpers, and who knows what else (I couldn't get close enough to read the sticker). Needless to say, we didn't win it.

tsjay · August 2002

Sorry if this shows up three or four times, but I tried to post it and it didn't appear on the message board.

High yesterday was 99° and today is supposed to be 98°. The humidity is awful too! I didn't even go wheelin' yesterday because of the heat.

Come on cooler weather! Heck, I would take winter over this kind of weather.

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

oceantoad · August 2002

Don't remember where I first heard that the Wrangler was #2, but did a search on CNN.COM for "stolen vehicles". Found an article dated 15 May, 02 that was titled "Accura Integra tops the list of most stolen vehicles". The article has a list compiled by the Highway Loss Data Institute that shows the Wrangler as #2 and the Cherokee 4WD as #3. The Wrangler is stolen at a rate of 8.5 per 1000 vehicles insured according to the article for the period 1999-2001.

This article really made my day since it appeared 2 weeks after I had picked up my Wrangler. Helps to explain why my insurance rates are so high.

wheelsdown · August 2002

No Tom, No! Not winter!

tsjay · August 2002

Since I don't live in the Windy City area like you do any more (grew up in Hammond, Indiana), I can say that I prefer winter over this miserable heat and humidity.

I guess if I still lived up there I wouldn't say that. Being 300 miles south of there, our winters aren't as bad.

All I know is that I hate this weather! Did I mention that?

Tom

Have you hugged your Jeep today?

mtngal · August 2002

tsjay - I agree with you about wanting to see some winter, especially since we didn't have much winter last year. Actually, other than the really hot weather we had in June (or was it early July?) it hasn't been that bad. Of course, the worst is yet to come. Today I'm sitting here where it is around 105 - cooler than the 116 it was here several weeks ago. I guess I'm glad that we didn't bring the jeep this trip. Weahter like this is reason for me to be glad I have a hard top!

wheelerman · August 2002

mtngal the rubicon is not to far from tahoe and there is tons of trails up there . my jeep is stock too . it would be cool to go up there with another jeep. it's free to camp in some spots and the lakes are the best ! i like loon lake the best , thats where one of the starts of the rubicon is. hope to hear back from you .

mcrrt · August 2002

...at a local dealer. 2003 Sahara, VERY loaded-dual tops, 4sp auto, ABS, TracLok, and VERY pricey at almost 28 large. Besides the 4sp auto, no big changes I could see; new "sound pods" instead of the sound bar, 4 spoke steering wheel from the Grand Cherokee, new interior color-khaki (although I preferred the camel), new style radio, solid color seats instead of green and tan, revised "Sahara" grapics outside, no more graphics anywhere that say "Wrangler", and new all plastic outside mirrors. I like the more subtle graphics on the outside-looks cleaner and simpler, like a Jeep should (IMHO). Still not finding any '02 models that fit what I want. I came close with a Sienna/Camel Sport with dual tops, but it didn't have AC, and it had the 30 inch wheel group which I don't want (stop laughing at me!) I dunno...can a dealer add the actual factory AC as a retrofit?

Mcrrt

Hug your Jeeps 'til I get mine (or until I get over my infatuation with 'em!).

twylie · August 2002

Just curious... Did the seats appear to be the same type of material that have been on the Sports, Xs, and SEs or were they khaki colored trailcloth?

I don't think the dealer could easily add A/C as a retrofit. It might be technically possible, but aside from the install of the compressor, I think there would be enough significant changes behind the dash (switch, electronics, etc.) to make it cost prohibitive.

-twylie

twylie · August 2002

per the FSM, there should be two wires running to the cig lighter plug. The black one should be the ground, the other one (code LB - Lt Green/w/ Black stripe?) should be the hot lead. It is switched to the ACC but should not be hot with the ignition in OFF position. Be sure to use a test light, but this should be what you needed.

-twylie

madebw00 · August 2002

LB = light blue

anonymous02 · August 2002

I got mine with the soft top.

I picked up a used hard top 3 hours away for $650.

I have never heard of nor understand a sunroof in a jeep. Just take the top off if you want sun.

anonymous02 · August 2002

I think it is time for you to move out of that crummy neighborhood.

Good luck, guy.

anonymous02 · August 2002

A local shop had a club mounted on a steering wheel, or what was left of the steering wheel after they cut off the section the club was attached to. They might not cut the club, but it is still easy to cut the wheel and still use it to drive with.

anonymous02 · August 2002

"... this is what I was referring to earlier.

http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/t%20rex%20auto%20lock.html "

"...just think it looks like a good option."

Step 4: saw off steering wheel around device!

anonymous02 · August 2002

I guess it doesn't go from the clutch to steering wheel. Of course, they could still saw off the end of the clutch pedal and still actuate the clutch.

mtngal · August 2002

I'm not going anywhere for a while - need a new roof on the house first. We'd also probably stay at a timeshare we own - my camping days ended when my Army days did!

We may try to get up to Bass Lake this fall, after the roof is on (Sept), but don't think we'll make it as far as Tahoe. Next summer is a possibility, though.

Now that the noble black steed has new brakes and rotors, I'll wander further away than the local ridge. One of my favorite spots isn't much of an off-road area since the Wolf Fire. They graded and repaired the road so anyone can get in there now (they used the area to stage out of). It's still nice, just not as much fun getting there...

Jeep Wrangler

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