Well, I finally go tired of the factory Stereo in Pepe. The system was tinny, had no bass, no CD, and distorted a loud volume. Unfortunatly you have to turn it up loud to hear it when your top down on the road.
My goals were not blow the next car off the road bass, but distortion free sound with CD and reasonable Bass. All at a paupers price...
I got an Alpine Head unit with 50 watts per channel, with In dash CD player and removable head unit for security. I am replacing the front speakers with component units and the rears with alpine.
In Hi Fi Buys this sounded great and I am sure it will transform the Jeep.
The good news is that I cen re-install the factory system if I ever sell it.
I can't wait to get it installed.
Still saving for the super 35, 4.56, and Ox lockers... SIGH
I don't know if the rain made something rusty, or what? It feels like when I push the clutch in, there is some "crunchy" resistance. It almost feels like there is a bunch of hay or twigs under there.
????
stereo: I got a Pioneer (don't really like Pioneer, but the price was right). I put it in myself before a trip to Maine (not many stations up there). I got Polk 4x6 front speakers, and JBL? GT speakers for the sound bar. I wish I got 5.25 speakers for the front, and 6 1/2 for the rear now, but it is still a vast improvement over stock. The Pioneer has some technology which puts a lot of the sound through the front speakers, and more just filler bass in the back, so as to improve the "front soundstage" effect. It works pretty well, too!
I had to replace the clutch on my '85 CJ a few years back. Ended up where I had to keep it engaged forever and rev-up the engine before it would even shift. For goodness sake, if it heads in that direction, don't wait to fix it (I was in college and broke). Once you do, it'll cost you. But, I don't remember it getting spongy, just started taking longer and longer to fully engage.
I have lurked here for quite a while and even posted a few questions. While I was shopping a Liberty, my heart said Wrangler, so here I am.
We live in Flagstaff, AZ at 7,000 feet. Snow is coming and after last year's missing ski season, we are pretty excited. The Jeep is a '99 Wrangler Sport with 21,800 soft miles. It has chrome tube bumbers and nerf bars, rocker panels, custom alloy wheels, full trim and duel tops. A local fellow had just retired and this was going to be his show Jeep. He hurt his leg and after a couple of years, gave up on the clutch and traded the Jeep in on an auto Xterra. The color is a deep purple, almost black and although it is more tricked out than I would have chosen, it is a nice ride and I am pretty lucky grab it. I have never had real chrome before. Hope it looks as good in dirt and mud. : )
No lift and average 30" tires (Wrangler I believe, they are replacing them today since he had never rotated them and they were oddly worn).
Man is this different than my old CJ. It seems almost plush, but compared to the Liberty, it is still nicely rustic.
My 2002 Wrangler X 6cyl 5-spd makes a lot of noise when at idle in neutral and clutch out. The noise gets louder the hotter it is.
Also, I noticed it is hard to shift out of 5th gear after I've been driving down the highway a while (20+ miles).
I see a couple of TSB's (21-002-01 & 21-003-01A) that may be related, but they're for a 2000. I can only view the TSB headers. If someone can post the whole TSB, I'd sure appreciate it. Could this be as simple as changing gear oil wt. or even going to synthetic?
Thanks for the responses. I checked the reservoir for the clutch fluid. It was low so I added brake fluid. I hope that's right. I was told brake fluid would do it. Anyway, the clutch still feels spongy but the shifting seems a little better. (I think.) It still grinds a lot going into reverse. I think I'm going to have my mechanic check it out.
By the way, my YJ only has 50,000 miles on it even though it's a 90.
The noise you hear is very typical for the NV3550 tranny and is no cause for alarm. EVERY ONE of those puppies makes that noise in neutral with the engine running and the clutch out.
There is a TSB on them (for the 01's at least), but all it does is attempt to reduce the amount of noise that is transmitted into the cabin through the transfer case lever. It does nothing to address the source of the noise, so I didn't even bother having it done.
My Jeep has 23K miles on her, and she has made that noise since day one. Well, I NOTICED it within the first couple weeks, so I assume it was there from day one. The tranny is fine, just noisy.
First off, I love coming to this forum. Everyone here is knowlegable and helpful. I actually bought a Liberty back in May. I wasn't sure if a Wrangler was the right choice for me at the time. We recently hired a young woman for our office ans she came with a Wrangler. One day we all decided to go out to lunch and we rode in Jeep. Topless!!! (the Jeep of course) Okay, I'm hooked. I ahd been toying with the idea of getting a little 2 seater convertible, but now I think I just may have to get that Wrangler. Of course I'll keep my Liberty, cos she is great, but I think a Wrangler parked right next to her will be just fine. I'll keep you posted on how when I'll get htis done. Thanks for giving me a great place to come to and people to get to know.
Welcome, and glad ya finally posted. That's what we need around here... POSTS. It gets way too quiet at times.
You won't regret getting a Wrangler. Good luck in your search for one. Glad to hear that you are happy with your Liberty, but the fun factor for a Wrangler goes off the scale.
It might not hurt to take the Jeep to a dealer just to confirm that we are talking about the same thing. If they tell you that it is normal, then you can believe them.
It sure sounds like what you are describing is just the good old NV3550 being itself, but why not get confirmation of that through a dealer?
Keep posting! Tell us how you are enjoying that Jeep.
Man, a beautiful day went to waste last Saturday because I had no one to hook up with down at Turkey Bay for some wheelin'. This is Friday, and I don't have anyone lined up for tomorrow.
Hey, I'm not gonna miss two weekends in a row, so I'm going tomorrow, even if I just take pot luck and try to find someone to hook up with once I get down there.
luca1 - Welcome! I've been thinking of getting a Liberty (or a Subie) to go with our TJ, but can't swing it yet (as others know, I have a 2000 Taco I'd LOVE to dump but can't afford to yet). It's nice to hear from another happy Jeep dealer. We love our Wrangler and it sounds like you will to.
tsjay - you just live too far away for me to come 'wheeling with you! But I sure wish I could. Last weekend was opening weekend for hunting season and since the national forest next to us is closed, everyone headed our direction. My poor dog only got walks around the block instead of his usual hikes, so my noble black steed stayed home. I'm considering heading to one of the big hiking areas tomorrow in the hopes that the rush is over and only responsible hunters would be around here this weekend.
Sounds like a lot of fun, tsjay! Roughly how far is Turkey Bay from Indianapolis? I'm busy this weekend, but that sounds like it would be a fun trip. Good luck finding someone!
I have been wanting a Jeep since about 1998. Unfortunately, never really could justify or afford it. I am glad that I had to wait, so I could come across this website to get some insight into the Jeeps. I was looking for a sport, but ended up with a Sahara. I was unable to find a sport in the specs I was looking for.
It is a 2002 Green Sahara. Dual Tops. Automatic I went back in forth on which top I wanted. The decision was kind of made for me. Since this was the only 2002 that I could find that met my wants. I like the green, but my wife really wanted the green. I just really wanted a Jeep. So I would go with whatever color she chose.
I am very happy with the purchase.
I think the car was on the dealer lot for about 6 months before I bought it do to the inspection sticker. The 0% for 60 months is what pushed us into getting one.
The only real problem is the paint is not smooth on top of the hood and fender flares. I am not sure what causes this. I did try waxing, but that did not help.
Since this is a fun vehicle I want to upgrade the stereo. It has the 7 speakers, but I think I will want to change out some of the speakers, and possibly add an amp. I am not sure if the subwoofer needs to be upgraded or not.
anyway thats some background - thanks for the information on storage of the hard top
I just had new tires put on my '99 Wrangler (30") and on the way home I had a rhythmic thumping from the rear when driving above 35 mph and a strong vibration and shimmy when driving into work at 15 mph (our parking lot speed limit is tightly enforced).
I assume that one of the tires was not balanced properly since I did not have this before the swap. Has anyone had any experience with something like this? I did not notice it until I got closer to home because the roads were all slush and ice, creating their own vibrations.
Bummer, I had hoped to do some exploring this weekend, but looks like I will have to take it back in on Monday
Yes, I agree, I'll get a second opinion from my dealer about the tranny noise. I don't mind the noise so much if it's normal, but I'm wondering about the difficulty coming out of a gear. It's smooth shifting in and out while it's cold, but when it's hot it get's almost stuck in the gear.
Oh, goody - someone from Washington! Loved your pictures - great scenery. Where were you last year when I was planning a trip (later cancelled) to your beautiful state? I don't think I'll get up that way this year, but if you could email me (my email address is in my profile) with some interesting and relatively easy (I run stock) trails up in the Cascades, I would be grateful. Scenic is more important than difficulty. I'll get up there one of these days (I have a timeshare that has places all over Washington and Oregon).
I would definitely talk to your dealer. My '98 MT isn't noisy in neutral. When it is really cold it is stiff going from 1st to 2nd, but only when it is really cold. Otherwise it shifts very easily.
Tom, It's nice to see some pictures back up on the Photo Gallery. Nice collection and they also serve to remind me of the summer that has faded away. One of these days I will get around to reposting my pictures. As you know when I went to the 12.5 x 33's tires and I did not have much use for my 30's that came with the Jeep. I just sold them to a friend who was in need of tires. They had about 1000 miles on them and he got all four for $200.00. He was happy and I was glad to be rid of them. Where I bought my tires they were not interested in trading so this was my best option.
I have been sort of keeping track of the comment about my vanity plate. It seems that about half of the people who comment know what it means and the other half don't have any idea.
AU ZILLA That was a clue! It's been fun.
This is sort of an update of what is going on with the new Jeep.
Let's see, Turkey Bay is about an hour and a half from here, but you would cut maybe a half hour off of that the way you would be coming in. It should be about two hours from Evansville, so you can figure from there. How long would it take you to get to Evansville? It might be better for you to go through Louisville instead of Evansville, though. From Louisville, it would take about four hours. You can be in Louisville a lot quicker than you could get to Evansville, right?
Best bet would be to go to mapquest and check it out.
Man, I would LOVE for you to come down and wheel with me! Let's try to get together.
Have you ever been to Badlands? That would be nice and close for you, and it's a great place to wheel. I've been there a couple times. I'll bet you could be there in two hours or so from Indy. Badlands is in Attica, Indiana.
That Sahara sounds nice. I guess it is that new green they came out with in 02, which is sort of a grey-green. I think they call it shale green?? Anyway, I really, really like that color, whatever they call it.
I was just like you. I had Wrangler fever long before buying one, and this group helped me immensely in getting the best options and the best deal. I knew from this message board that I should be able to get a new Jeep for $200 over invoice, since several people in here had gotten their's for that amount.
There doesn't seem to be as many posts in here about how much people are paying for their Jeeps as there was a couple years ago. Those posts were really helpful to those who were in the market.
Those are some beautiful pics! Why don't ya add them to the Edmunds gallery too? There's a Jeep Owners Photo Gallery here in the Jeep Owners Club, in case you weren't aware of it. You can link your pics in there to Gill's site (itsajeep).
Man, you are so lucky to have country like that to wheel in! Like mtngal said, the scenery would mean more to me than the difficulty of the trail.
Mtngal, I think you would have the AX-15 tranny in your 98 Wrangler. I'm not sure when they went to the NV3550, but I think some of the 2000's had them and then from 01 on up they all had them. Anyone know???
01r1 - my '01 Sport had the same issue with a "catch" coming out of 5th when we first got it. It eventually got smoother and I only notice it occasionally now.
The NV3550 was introduced in the 2000 model year and continues to the current models.
I'm suppose to go wheeling with a Pinzgauer in late Nov. Should be fun!
Hey tom...I would go with ya..but..i would Ride..not drive Scotty Stereo upgrade!! Let me know what you decide.. I wanna do that as well. Been looking at Crutchfield I wanna change out the front speakers 1st. They are horrible. I have an amp i wanna get installed now, just gotta find the $$ to do it. Personally I dont believe the Sub really need to be replace. Keep us posted.
Man, a vibration or shimmy at 15 MPH must be more than just a tire out of balance. Are you sure the tires are mounted properly and the lug nuts tight?
I would get that checked out ASAP! If I were you, I wouldn't drive that Jeep anywhere, except very carefully back to where you got tires. I wouldn't even do that without checking the lug nuts first.
I had a similar problem after having my tires balanced and rotated. Turned out I had a bent wheel. The problem was not apparent until the bent wheel was on the front. I could feel it really bad through the steering wheel at lower speeds. I put the same tire on the spare wheel and that stopped the problem. My Jeep dealer replaced the wheel under warranty.
Tom has the right idea about checking the lug nuts first.
Tom, The Pinzgauer is an Austrian vehicle used by many euro militaries. Light weight, can carry a bunch of people or stuff (ton and a half in 6x6), portal hubs, swing axles, hydraulic diff locks F and R. Suppose to be almost unstopable. A guy I used to work with has one and I've seen it at his house a few times, but never on the trails. Should be interesting to say the least. I think his is a 710M.
Curious, has anyone bought the Wrangler Rubicon yet? I have seen reviews in publications but not many reviews from personal experiences. I am sure they are great off road. I also wondered how they handle on road.
Hi. I've read all 6,895 messages in the last week and I thank all of you for your input in my decision on what to order on my new Jeep. I do have a question but first some background. I will be using the Wrangler Sport for mostly around town and highway transportation with mild to moderate off road use (thank my brothers for that) in Southern New England. Due to the planned use for the Jeep, I am leaning toward the 3.07 engine with hopes of better highway mileage. I don't expect to go above a 30 inch wheel and am planning on getting the P225 tires and the rear trac-loc limited differential. Question - Is there anything else you would suggest I add for better handling on road? Especially in bad weather? I notice that ABS is not popular and I've never driven a car with it. Thanks.
Wow! ALL the posts in here in a week? That's amazing.
Ok, let me help you with something. The 3.07 you mention is not an engine: it's a gear ratio for the differentials. It means that your drive shaft will turn 3.07 times for each turn of the tires. It's really the ratio obtained by dividing the number of teeth on the ring gear by the number of teeth on the pinion gear (these are the two main gears in a differential). This means that, other things being equal, your engine will run lower RPMs for the same speed compared to the RPMs it would be turning with a 3.73 ratio in the differentials.
Other factors are important in deciding the gear ratio for the differentials, like what type of transmission you will be getting. If you get a five speed, then you have an overdrive gear that reduces your engine RPMs, allowing you to have a taller gear ratio, like 3.73 in the differentials. Now that DC offers the four speed auto instead of a three speed auto, you can have an automatic transmission in a Jeep and still have overdrive.
Ok, so your engine choices are either the 4.0 L inline six cylinder, or the 2.5 L four cylinder. Maybe the 03s have a new, more powerful four cylinder engine? Anybody know?
If you are going to be driving much on the highway, then I would recommend the 4.0 L engine for better power. Isn't your area hilly? That's where you really see the difference between the four cylinder and the six cylinder... climbing hills.
Also, you talk about a 30" wheel, but it is the tire that is 30" in diameter, not the wheel. Jeeps have 15" wheels.
Hope you don't think I'm being a smarty pants, but I just thought you might like to know the proper terms, since you're gonna be a Jeeper.
I think you will LOVE your Jeep and have an absolute ball with it. There just "ain't nothin' like a Jeep!"
Feel free to ask any and all questions. This is a great place for that, because we all try to help each other in here. You probably already know that after reading all the posts, huh?
Good luck in your selection of options.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
P.S. You mentioned gas mileage. I hope you know that a Jeep, no matter how it is set up, will not get very good gas mileage. About the best you can hope for would be 14 or 15 around town and no more than 18 or 19 on the highway. Most people get much less. There is VERY little difference in gas mileage between the four cylinder and the six cylinder, so you might as well get the six from that standpoint. I think the difference is usually something like one or two miles per gallon between the two.
Thanks for the clarification - I'll get the lingo down eventually. I'm getting the 4.0L. The 2.4L wasn't considered due to it's lack of power. I'm also going for the 5 speed manual as I prefer manual to automatic. It looks like ABS is definitely out.
Sorry to keep asking questions but I want to make sure I get this right. I've been waiting a long time to take the plung and buy a jeep - to heck with the gas mileage. My research indicates that I would need the Dana 44 if I did a lot of challenging off road driving. Is that not the case? I'm thinking trail roads which the standard axle should be okay for, correct? As far as the 4 four disc breaks, that's doable. Is the 3.73 that much better then the 3.07?
I can only give your MY opinion about the ABS vs Dana 44 choice. I would personally go with the Dana 44 and forget the ABS.
My reasoning is that we are talking about a Jeep, not a car. A Jeep will see many more diverse driving conditions than a car, assuming the owner will take it offroad. I'm sure there are situations where the ABS might be desirable, but in offroad situations there would probably be situations where you wouldn't want it.
Now, this is second hand info, and not personal experience, but I have heard from more than one source that ABS does not work well at all after larger tires have been put on the vehicle.
As far as the Dana 44, it is very desirable for its durability offroad, and it will accomodate larger tires and lockers much better than will the Dana 35. The Dana 35 has a rubber plug for the fill hole, while the Dana 44 has a threaded metal plug. That ought to tell you something. The axle shafts are beefier on the Dana 44 also.
I never thought that I would do any serious offroading with my Jeep, but I still thought the Dana 44 would be a good investment. I thought that even if I didn't offroad, why not go with the better rear end? I figured it sure couldn't HURT anything, and I figured that if it was stronger, it would last longer than the Dana 35, even if I never put big tires on the Jeep.
Well, as you guys know, I got into offroading, even though I never thought I would. I am SO glad I got that Dana 44!
Guys, if this is gonna be your first Jeep, you might THINK you know what you are going to want to do with it, but once you own one, your plans could change, just like mine did. All it took was one trip offroading, and I was hooked!
Consider the Dana 44 to be a good foundation that keeps future options open for you. You MIGHT be OK with a Dana 35, but you KNOW you are OK with the Dana 44.
Now for you "X" owners, don't get upset with me. You didn't have a choice, and you HAD to get the Dana 35. That rear end may serve you well, and I hope it does, but for those with a choice in the matter, I strongly recommend the Dana 44.
You are welcome, and good choice on the engine! I know of no one that is sorry they got the six cylinder over the four cylinder, but I know several people who were very sorry they got the four cylinder. There are a couple folks on this board, Lvchef and TheBigKahuna, who traded in their four cylinder Jeeps to get six cylinder Jeeps, even though their four cylinder Jeeps were almost new.
Hey, the four cylinder has its place. For mostly around town and for offroading, the four is every bit as good as the six. I said in an earlier post that I would still buy a Jeep, even if the four cylinder was the only engine option, and I meant that. But, I wouldn't like the lack of power on the highway. I'm not talking about racing someone: I'm talking about power to maintain speed on long or steep hills or when fighting a strong headwind.
If you get the five speed tranny and the 30" tire and Dana 44 combination package, then you will get the 3.73 gears, which you will like.
I went to Turkey Bay again today (surprise, surprise), and I went without having arrangements to hook up with another Jeep. I have done that before, only to find nothing but four wheelers and dirt bikes once I got down there. I didn't go last Saturday because of no one to go with, so there was NO WAY I was going to miss two weeks in a row!
I got lucky this time and hooked up with a couple fairly built-up CJs. Those guys were locked front and rear and had some pretty good sized tires. I was afraid they would go places that I had no business trying to go. Well, to some extent they did, but good old Thelma Jane stayed with them!
It was raining the whole time we were there, and the place was as slick as I have ever seen it.
That new Detroit locker finally got a good workout today, and it performed great. I went up a steeper bank today than I had ever attempted before, even without the rain and mud. It took a couple tries, but Thelma Jane went up that bank. There is NO WAY I could have made it without that locker.
I also learned that people weren't kidding when they said you lose control of the rear end when both rear wheels are spinning because they are locked. I was in mud a lot today, and when you lose traction on that rear axle with the locker making both tires spin, that back end will go to the low side of the ground you are on. If there is any slope at all to the ground, the rear end goes to the downhill side no matter what you do with the steering wheel. Hey, it was fun where I was doing that today, because I wasn't on a serious side hill or anything, so if the back end wanted to go downhill, it was no big deal. But, man, if I had been on a steep side hill... well, let's just say I'm glad that I wasn't!
A locker will give you much better forward bite, but when both back tires are spinning, you lose your lateral traction that you would have with an open rear end and only one tire spinning (the other tire, which is NOT spinning, provides resistance to side-ways movement of the rear end).
I can see where a locker in the snow or on ice could be a challenge when the road slopes to one side or the other. I'll have to remember that if we get some snow this winter. I love snow, but we just don't get much of that here in western Ky.
I test drove one with the 30 inch which was fine but I have read that the P225's are better on roads. I also test drove a Jeep with those. I figure I'll buy snow tires if needed during the winter.
I'm still not clear on the benefits of the 3.73 vs the 3.07. Wouldn't the engine have to work harder at 3.73? Do you like the 3.73 because of durability?
I'm pretty good at chosing options like air conditioning, dual top vs hard or soft and such but axles and differentials are throwing me for a loop.
Once I nail down these two options, I'm off to order it. I'm bringing one of my brothers with me to back me up. Negotiating is the hardest part although I do have the Edmunds info, Consumer Reports info and BJ's info to name a few.
I've only waited 10 years to buy this vehicle. :-)
Comments
I finally go tired of the factory Stereo in Pepe. The system was tinny, had no bass, no CD, and distorted a loud volume. Unfortunatly you have to turn it up loud to hear it when your top down on the road.
My goals were not blow the next car off the road bass, but distortion free sound with CD and reasonable Bass. All at a paupers price...
I got an Alpine Head unit with 50 watts per channel, with In dash CD player and removable head unit for security. I am replacing the front speakers with component units and the rears with alpine.
In Hi Fi Buys this sounded great and I am sure it will transform the Jeep.
The good news is that I cen re-install the factory system if I ever sell it.
I can't wait to get it installed.
Still saving for the super 35, 4.56, and Ox lockers... SIGH
I don't know if the rain made something rusty, or what? It feels like when I push the clutch in, there is some "crunchy" resistance. It almost feels like there is a bunch of hay or twigs under there.
????
stereo: I got a Pioneer (don't really like Pioneer, but the price was right). I put it in myself before a trip to Maine (not many stations up there). I got Polk 4x6 front speakers, and JBL? GT speakers for the sound bar. I wish I got 5.25 speakers for the front, and 6 1/2 for the rear now, but it is still a vast improvement over stock. The Pioneer has some technology which puts a lot of the sound through the front speakers, and more just filler bass in the back, so as to improve the "front soundstage" effect. It works pretty well, too!
We live in Flagstaff, AZ at 7,000 feet. Snow is coming and after last year's missing ski season, we are pretty excited. The Jeep is a '99 Wrangler Sport with 21,800 soft miles. It has chrome tube bumbers and nerf bars, rocker panels, custom alloy wheels, full trim and duel tops. A local fellow had just retired and this was going to be his show Jeep. He hurt his leg and after a couple of years, gave up on the clutch and traded the Jeep in on an auto Xterra. The color is a deep purple, almost black and although it is more tricked out than I would have chosen, it is a nice ride and I am pretty lucky grab it. I have never had real chrome before. Hope it looks as good in dirt and mud. : )
No lift and average 30" tires (Wrangler I believe, they are replacing them today since he had never rotated them and they were oddly worn).
Man is this different than my old CJ. It seems almost plush, but compared to the Liberty, it is still nicely rustic.
Keep the posts coming.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Also, I noticed it is hard to shift out of 5th gear after I've been driving down the highway a while (20+ miles).
I see a couple of TSB's (21-002-01 & 21-003-01A) that may be related, but they're for a 2000. I can only view the TSB headers. If someone can post the whole TSB, I'd sure appreciate it. Could this be as simple as changing gear oil wt. or even going to synthetic?
By the way, my YJ only has 50,000 miles on it even though it's a 90.
I'll keep you posted.
Jay
There is a TSB on them (for the 01's at least), but all it does is attempt to reduce the amount of noise that is transmitted into the cabin through the transfer case lever. It does nothing to address the source of the noise, so I didn't even bother having it done.
My Jeep has 23K miles on her, and she has made that noise since day one. Well, I NOTICED it within the first couple weeks, so I assume it was there from day one. The tranny is fine, just noisy.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
First off, I love coming to this forum. Everyone here is knowlegable and helpful. I actually bought a Liberty back in May. I wasn't sure if a Wrangler was the right choice for me at the time. We recently hired a young woman for our office ans she came with a Wrangler. One day we all decided to go out to lunch and we rode in Jeep. Topless!!! (the Jeep of course) Okay, I'm hooked. I ahd been toying with the idea of getting a little 2 seater convertible, but now I think I just may have to get that Wrangler. Of course I'll keep my Liberty, cos she is great, but I think a Wrangler parked right next to her will be just fine. I'll keep you posted on how when I'll get htis done. Thanks for giving me a great place to come to and people to get to know.
luca
P.S. Yes Tom, I have hugged my Jeep today ! :=))
tidester
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SUVs; Aftermarket & Accessories
You won't regret getting a Wrangler. Good luck in your search for one. Glad to hear that you are happy with your Liberty, but the fun factor for a Wrangler goes off the scale.
Please do keep us posted during your search.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
It might not hurt to take the Jeep to a dealer just to confirm that we are talking about the same thing. If they tell you that it is normal, then you can believe them.
It sure sounds like what you are describing is just the good old NV3550 being itself, but why not get confirmation of that through a dealer?
Keep posting! Tell us how you are enjoying that Jeep.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Hey, I'm not gonna miss two weekends in a row, so I'm going tomorrow, even if I just take pot luck and try to find someone to hook up with once I get down there.
Anybody wanna go???
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
tsjay - you just live too far away for me to come 'wheeling with you! But I sure wish I could. Last weekend was opening weekend for hunting season and since the national forest next to us is closed, everyone headed our direction. My poor dog only got walks around the block instead of his usual hikes, so my noble black steed stayed home. I'm considering heading to one of the big hiking areas tomorrow in the hopes that the rush is over and only responsible hunters would be around here this weekend.
Jeephead
I was looking for a sport, but ended up with a Sahara. I was unable to find a sport in the specs I was looking for.
It is a 2002 Green Sahara. Dual Tops. Automatic
I went back in forth on which top I wanted. The decision was kind of made for me. Since this was the only 2002 that I could find that met my wants. I like the green, but my wife really wanted the green. I just really wanted a Jeep. So I would go with whatever color she chose.
I am very happy with the purchase.
I think the car was on the dealer lot for about 6 months before I bought it do to the inspection sticker. The 0% for 60 months is what pushed us into getting one.
The only real problem is the paint is not smooth on top of the hood and fender flares. I am not sure what causes this. I did try waxing, but that did not help.
Since this is a fun vehicle I want to upgrade the stereo. It has the 7 speakers, but I think I will want to change out some of the speakers, and possibly add an amp. I am not sure if the subwoofer needs to be upgraded or not.
anyway thats some background -
thanks for the information on storage of the hard top
I assume that one of the tires was not balanced properly since I did not have this before the swap. Has anyone had any experience with something like this? I did not notice it until I got closer to home because the roads were all slush and ice, creating their own vibrations.
Bummer, I had hoped to do some exploring this weekend, but looks like I will have to take it back in on Monday
How do they do that?
Where do you live with slushy, icy roads?
(P.S. An out of balance tire shouldn't affect your off road performance. You go less than 3MPH and deflate the tires anyhow!)
http://itsajeep.org/
(Member's Rides)
Yes, I agree, I'll get a second opinion from my dealer about the tranny noise. I don't mind the noise so much if it's normal, but I'm wondering about the difficulty coming out of a gear. It's smooth shifting in and out while it's cold, but when it's hot it get's almost stuck in the gear.
-Pete
I would definitely talk to your dealer. My '98 MT isn't noisy in neutral. When it is really cold it is stiff going from 1st to 2nd, but only when it is really cold. Otherwise it shifts very easily.
I have been sort of keeping track of the comment about my vanity plate. It seems that about half of the people who comment know what it means and the other half don't have any idea.
AU ZILLA
That was a clue! It's been fun.
This is sort of an update of what is going on with the new Jeep.
Welcome to the new poster.
"OtherTom"
Best bet would be to go to mapquest and check it out.
Man, I would LOVE for you to come down and wheel with me! Let's try to get together.
Have you ever been to Badlands? That would be nice and close for you, and it's a great place to wheel. I've been there a couple times. I'll bet you could be there in two hours or so from Indy. Badlands is in Attica, Indiana.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I was just like you. I had Wrangler fever long before buying one, and this group helped me immensely in getting the best options and the best deal. I knew from this message board that I should be able to get a new Jeep for $200 over invoice, since several people in here had gotten their's for that amount.
There doesn't seem to be as many posts in here about how much people are paying for their Jeeps as there was a couple years ago. Those posts were really helpful to those who were in the market.
Anyway, keep posting and be part of the family.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Those are some beautiful pics! Why don't ya add them to the Edmunds gallery too? There's a Jeep Owners Photo Gallery here in the Jeep Owners Club, in case you weren't aware of it. You can link your pics in there to Gill's site (itsajeep).
Man, you are so lucky to have country like that to wheel in! Like mtngal said, the scenery would mean more to me than the difficulty of the trail.
Post some more pics!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
The NV3550 was introduced in the 2000 model year and continues to the current models.
I'm suppose to go wheeling with a Pinzgauer in late Nov. Should be fun!
-twylie
Scotty Stereo upgrade!! Let me know what you decide.. I wanna do that as well. Been looking at Crutchfield I wanna change out the front speakers 1st. They are horrible. I have an amp i wanna get installed now, just gotta find the $$ to do it.
Personally I dont believe the Sub really need to be replace.
Keep us posted.
WOW you guys are posting like crazy KEEP IT UP
KEEP JEEPIN
BAMA!
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I would get that checked out ASAP! If I were you, I wouldn't drive that Jeep anywhere, except very carefully back to where you got tires. I wouldn't even do that without checking the lug nuts first.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Tom has the right idea about checking the lug nuts first.
T.
http://www.pinzgauer.com/
http://www.pinzgauerus.com/pinzhome.html
-twylie
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Offroad, they should be much better with lockers front and rear, among otherr things.
Ok, let me help you with something. The 3.07 you mention is not an engine: it's a gear ratio for the differentials. It means that your drive shaft will turn 3.07 times for each turn of the tires. It's really the ratio obtained by dividing the number of teeth on the ring gear by the number of teeth on the pinion gear (these are the two main gears in a differential). This means that, other things being equal, your engine will run lower RPMs for the same speed compared to the RPMs it would be turning with a 3.73 ratio in the differentials.
Other factors are important in deciding the gear ratio for the differentials, like what type of transmission you will be getting. If you get a five speed, then you have an overdrive gear that reduces your engine RPMs, allowing you to have a taller gear ratio, like 3.73 in the differentials. Now that DC offers the four speed auto instead of a three speed auto, you can have an automatic transmission in a Jeep and still have overdrive.
Ok, so your engine choices are either the 4.0 L inline six cylinder, or the 2.5 L four cylinder. Maybe the 03s have a new, more powerful four cylinder engine? Anybody know?
If you are going to be driving much on the highway, then I would recommend the 4.0 L engine for better power. Isn't your area hilly? That's where you really see the difference between the four cylinder and the six cylinder... climbing hills.
Also, you talk about a 30" wheel, but it is the tire that is 30" in diameter, not the wheel. Jeeps have 15" wheels.
Hope you don't think I'm being a smarty pants, but I just thought you might like to know the proper terms, since you're gonna be a Jeeper.
I think you will LOVE your Jeep and have an absolute ball with it. There just "ain't nothin' like a Jeep!"
Feel free to ask any and all questions. This is a great place for that, because we all try to help each other in here. You probably already know that after reading all the posts, huh?
Good luck in your selection of options.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
P.S. You mentioned gas mileage. I hope you know that a Jeep, no matter how it is set up, will not get very good gas mileage. About the best you can hope for would be 14 or 15 around town and no more than 18 or 19 on the highway. Most people get much less. There is VERY little difference in gas mileage between the four cylinder and the six cylinder, so you might as well get the six from that standpoint. I think the difference is usually something like one or two miles per gallon between the two.
I have the 3.07 (Central Mass.), and wish I had the 3.73.
I have the 4.0 I6, but hear there is a new 4 cylinder out or coming out which should be a lot better than the current one. I'd get that if available.
If I were buying today, and COULD get it, I'd get:
new 4 cylinder
dana 44
NO ABS
4 discs
5 speed manual
Actually, I'd ideally get the turbodiesel if it were available here, but it is not.
If you're sticking to stock sizes, that also allows you the option of chains.
Good luck.
Steve, Host
My reasoning is that we are talking about a Jeep, not a car. A Jeep will see many more diverse driving conditions than a car, assuming the owner will take it offroad. I'm sure there are situations where the ABS might be desirable, but in offroad situations there would probably be situations where you wouldn't want it.
Now, this is second hand info, and not personal experience, but I have heard from more than one source that ABS does not work well at all after larger tires have been put on the vehicle.
As far as the Dana 44, it is very desirable for its durability offroad, and it will accomodate larger tires and lockers much better than will the Dana 35. The Dana 35 has a rubber plug for the fill hole, while the Dana 44 has a threaded metal plug. That ought to tell you something. The axle shafts are beefier on the Dana 44 also.
I never thought that I would do any serious offroading with my Jeep, but I still thought the Dana 44 would be a good investment. I thought that even if I didn't offroad, why not go with the better rear end? I figured it sure couldn't HURT anything, and I figured that if it was stronger, it would last longer than the Dana 35, even if I never put big tires on the Jeep.
Well, as you guys know, I got into offroading, even though I never thought I would. I am SO glad I got that Dana 44!
Guys, if this is gonna be your first Jeep, you might THINK you know what you are going to want to do with it, but once you own one, your plans could change, just like mine did. All it took was one trip offroading, and I was hooked!
Consider the Dana 44 to be a good foundation that keeps future options open for you. You MIGHT be OK with a Dana 35, but you KNOW you are OK with the Dana 44.
Now for you "X" owners, don't get upset with me. You didn't have a choice, and you HAD to get the Dana 35. That rear end may serve you well, and I hope it does, but for those with a choice in the matter, I strongly recommend the Dana 44.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
Hey, the four cylinder has its place. For mostly around town and for offroading, the four is every bit as good as the six. I said in an earlier post that I would still buy a Jeep, even if the four cylinder was the only engine option, and I meant that. But, I wouldn't like the lack of power on the highway. I'm not talking about racing someone: I'm talking about power to maintain speed on long or steep hills or when fighting a strong headwind.
If you get the five speed tranny and the 30" tire and Dana 44 combination package, then you will get the 3.73 gears, which you will like.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I got lucky this time and hooked up with a couple fairly built-up CJs. Those guys were locked front and rear and had some pretty good sized tires. I was afraid they would go places that I had no business trying to go. Well, to some extent they did, but good old Thelma Jane stayed with them!
It was raining the whole time we were there, and the place was as slick as I have ever seen it.
That new Detroit locker finally got a good workout today, and it performed great. I went up a steeper bank today than I had ever attempted before, even without the rain and mud. It took a couple tries, but Thelma Jane went up that bank. There is NO WAY I could have made it without that locker.
I also learned that people weren't kidding when they said you lose control of the rear end when both rear wheels are spinning because they are locked. I was in mud a lot today, and when you lose traction on that rear axle with the locker making both tires spin, that back end will go to the low side of the ground you are on. If there is any slope at all to the ground, the rear end goes to the downhill side no matter what you do with the steering wheel. Hey, it was fun where I was doing that today, because I wasn't on a serious side hill or anything, so if the back end wanted to go downhill, it was no big deal. But, man, if I had been on a steep side hill... well, let's just say I'm glad that I wasn't!
A locker will give you much better forward bite, but when both back tires are spinning, you lose your lateral traction that you would have with an open rear end and only one tire spinning (the other tire, which is NOT spinning, provides resistance to side-ways movement of the rear end).
I can see where a locker in the snow or on ice could be a challenge when the road slopes to one side or the other. I'll have to remember that if we get some snow this winter. I love snow, but we just don't get much of that here in western Ky.
Tom
Have you hugged your Jeep today?
I'm still not clear on the benefits of the 3.73 vs the 3.07. Wouldn't the engine have to work harder at 3.73? Do you like the 3.73 because of durability?
I'm pretty good at chosing options like air conditioning, dual top vs hard or soft and such but axles and differentials are throwing me for a loop.
Once I nail down these two options, I'm off to order it. I'm bringing one of my brothers with me to back me up. Negotiating is the hardest part although I do have the Edmunds info, Consumer Reports info and BJ's info to name a few.
I've only waited 10 years to buy this vehicle. :-)
Thanks again for your assistance.
Susan