What did you do to your jeep today?

Brendon Holt · May 3, 2020

Went to the auto store and got a short antenna to put on it because the one that was on it wasn't even the right thread size.

Oh and when I went to leave the Jeep didn't start. Turned the key to start it and got one solitary click and then nothing. Tried this several times. Each time just one click and nothing. No crank, no start. Everything else worked fine. All the gauges and dash lights, radio, etc performed like they're supposed to. I sat there for a few minutes and several more turns of the key before it mysteriously just came to life again.

It's never had a problem firing right up so I'm not sure what to make of it. The only thing that's changed is the new cam sensor I put in yesterday.

lfhoward · May 3, 2020

Lug nut saga, chapter 2.

A couple of weeks ago I replaced 18 of the 20 lug nuts on my Jeep with new Mopar, because most of them were in bad shape (all but 8 were toast when I took them off). Two were pretty stuck, and I broke the end off my 1/4” breaker bar. So, I got some impact-quality sockets and a 1/2” drive breaker bar and tried that today.

I hammered a socket onto the broken lug nuts before attempting to twist them off. This worked on one of them. The other, all I did was round it off. This is the one where the chrome outside came off. The 19 mm socket was of course too big now. So was the 18, so I hammered on the 17 cm socket. Here is the result.

You must be registered for see images attach

I don’t know if you can tell, but the nut is deformed now, completely rounded off, and remains just as stuck.

Is it time to drill and replace the stud?

edit:
I could try penetrating oil and one of those bolt remover tools. Or I could see if an air impact might budge it at a local shop. Other than that, I’m out of ideas.

lfhoward · May 3, 2020

Brendon Holt said:
Went to the auto store and got a short antenna to put on it because the one that was on it wasn't even the right thread size.

Oh and when I went to leave the Jeep didn't start. Turned the key to start it and got one solitary click and then nothing. Tried this several times. Each time just one click and nothing. No crank, no start. Everything else worked fine. All the gauges and dash lights, radio, etc performed like they're supposed to. I sat there for a few minutes and several more turns of the key before it mysteriously just came to life again.

It's never had a problem firing right up so I'm not sure what to make of it. The only thing that's changed is the new cam sensor I put in yesterday.

Maybe a broken actuator pin behind the ignition cylinder in the steering wheel? They tend to break with age in these Jeeps. Here is a good video about that diagnosis and how to repair it.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

Brendon Holt · May 3, 2020

lfhoward said:
Maybe a broken actuator pin behind the ignition cylinder in the steering wheel? They tend to break with age in these Jeeps. Here is a good video about that diagnosis and how to repair it.

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

I was just reading about that and related components. I'm hoping it's something easy like that. The fact that it worked after repeated attempts turning the key and nothing else makes me somewhat hopeful? I'll dig into the actuator pin and see if there's debris/signs of damage. If anything now I'd just like it to do it again in the driveway so I can do some diagnostics! Hahaha.

profdlp · May 3, 2020

lfhoward said:
...I could try penetrating oil and one of those bolt remover tools. Or I could see if an air impact might budge it at a local shop. Other than that, I’m out of ideas.

I think both of those are worth a shot. I'd try them before I'd start drilling.

Brendon Holt · May 3, 2020

profdlp said:
I think both of those are worth a shot. I'd try them before I'd start drilling.

Seconded. Penetrating oil is your best friend

lfhoward · May 3, 2020

Brendon Holt said:
Seconded. Penetrating oil is your best friend

I gave the lug nut a shot of Aerokroil, both behind and inside. Fingers crossed.

lfhoward · May 3, 2020

Now onto the other project I had planned this afternoon: Replacing the crispy, disintegrating wire looms in the engine bay. Here is how it looked before I started. Clearly, 13 years of heat had taken its toll on the plastic. Most looms had disintegrated entirely and others looked solid until I touched them, and then they broke into bits.

You must be registered for see images attach

Here's the same areas repaired.

You must be registered for see images attach

Very few old sections of loom survived to make it to the recycle bin. Here are a few that did.

You must be registered for see images attach

I have a good amount of spare loom and tape left, so next time I have the center console etc. off, I'll tidy up my own wiring projects (CB radio, 12V power plug, bluetooth, etc.). Hopefully that won't be too far in the future, because I have some auxiliary LED lighting to install on my roof rack.

Brendon Holt · May 3, 2020

Those look good, @lfhoward!

Also, just got back inside from digging into the ignition switch actuator pin and mine isn't broken. Was hoping to find it broken for an easy fix but alas.

lfhoward · May 3, 2020

Brendon Holt said:
Those look good, @lfhoward!

Also, just got back inside from digging into the ignition switch actuator pin and mine isn't broken. Was hoping to find it broken for an easy fix but alas.

Bummer! Hoping it was that simple.

Another easy thing to check is ground straps in the engine bay. Make sure they are solidly attached.

Palozo · May 4, 2020

Change t-case oil after 4 years.

turblediesel · May 4, 2020

lfhoward said:
Lug nut saga, chapter 2.

A couple of weeks ago I replaced 18 of the 20 lug nuts on my Jeep with new Mopar, because most of them were in bad shape (all but 8 were toast when I took them off). Two were pretty stuck, and I broke the end off my 1/4” breaker bar. So, I got some impact-quality sockets and a 1/2” drive breaker bar and tried that today.

I hammered a socket onto the broken lug nuts before attempting to twist them off. This worked on one of them. The other, all I did was round it off. This is the one where the chrome outside came off. The 19 mm socket was of course too big now. So was the 18, so I hammered on the 17 cm socket. Here is the result.

You must be registered for see images attach

I don’t know if you can tell, but the nut is deformed now, completely rounded off, and remains just as stuck.

Is it time to drill and replace the stud?

edit:
I could try penetrating oil and one of those bolt remover tools. Or I could see if an air impact might budge it at a local shop. Other than that, I’m out of ideas.

Since you have that nice protruding lip above the stud try the hammer and chisel method working counterclockwise. Swap to a punch once you have a good surface from the chisel.

On your start problem try cleaning battery terminals and grounds. Bendix drive could be bad too.

lfhoward · May 4, 2020

I got these to deal with the lug nut.

You must be registered for see images attach

Zapped it with Aerokroil again this evening. Hopefully by the time these arrive the corrosion will be a little weaker.

tommudd · May 4, 2020

lfhoward said:
I got these to deal with the lug nut.

You must be registered for see images attach

Zapped it with Aerokroil again this evening. Hopefully by the time these arrive the corrosion will be a little weaker.

Good luck

Brendon Holt · May 4, 2020

lfhoward said:
Another easy thing to check is ground straps in the engine bay. Make sure they are solidly attached.

So, I found two ground straps attached to the firewall that went to two separate parts on the engine. Are there some more I should be finding? I feel like there are.

EDIT: Nevermind I found the answer

profdlp · May 4, 2020

Turned over 98,000 miles. Not too bad for a 13-year-old.

Billwill · May 5, 2020

Brendon Holt said:
So, I found two ground straps attached to the firewall that went to two separate parts on the engine. Are there some more I should be finding? I feel like there are.

EDIT: Nevermind I found the answer

What is the answer?

42?

Brendon Holt · May 5, 2020

Billwill said:
What is the answer?

42?

Yes, I just can't remember the question...

renegade 04 · May 6, 2020

Brendon Holt said:
Went to the auto store and got a short antenna to put on it because the one that was on it wasn't even the right thread size.

Oh and when I went to leave the Jeep didn't start. Turned the key to start it and got one solitary click and then nothing. Tried this several times. Each time just one click and nothing. No crank, no start. Everything else worked fine. All the gauges and dash lights, radio, etc performed like they're supposed to. I sat there for a few minutes and several more turns of the key before it mysteriously just came to life again.

It's never had a problem firing right up so I'm not sure what to make of it. The only thing that's changed is the new cam sensor I put in yesterday.

Firstly you should have a cam position sensor relearn preformed at a dealer or shop. Next I would replace the ignition switch, then lastly the starter.

CherokeeLiberty · May 6, 2020

My guage cluster started beeping 'Gas Cap' at me today. I took the cap off, put it back on, and it still lit up. Any ideas?

What did you do to your jeep today?

Full Access Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Full Access Member

Counting My Blessings

Full Access Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Full Access Member

Well-Known Member

New Member

memberable

Well-Known Member

Moderator

Full Access Member

Counting My Blessings

Full Access Member

Full Access Member

Full Access Member

Full Access Member

Similar threads