Just bought another KJ

[metalmoto]

Hi everyone! First I must say, Thanks for all the help!
As some of you might know, I bought a 02' 8 months ago, she dropped a valve, and is now just sitting in my driveway. Still runs, but with a heavy shaking...
The cost of a used or rebuilt engine, it about the same, as buying another used KJ. So, I bought an 03" this time. And it's got almost the same amount of miles on it. I put $2000 of new parts into my 02' before it died. So I want to swap most if not all of the new parts, onto my new 03". After comparing the build sheets, it seems identical, except for the transmission. The 02' has a 45 and the 03' has a 42. The 02' trans made a lot of funky noises, especially the buzz, or "wind up a spring" sound it made, when shifting from reverse to drive, or perhaps it't the other way around, I forget.
Anyway, I plan to swap all the new parts from the 02' into the 03' and a few body parts, that aren't so nice on the 03'. Strange the the 02' had key locks on all the doors, but the 03' only has it on the drivers door!

I'm just wondering what parts are interchangeable with the 02"?
I noticed the radiator fan shroud is bigger on the 03' and it has a trans cooler.
The 02' just has the power steering cooler. The 03' does not.

Lots of hard work ahead, swapping the front bumper, as the 03' is damaged.
And I can tell the alternator is dying on the 03' but I can swap the brand new one from the 02'. Plus the tires and wheels... and perhaps the better radio on the 02". No ash tray on the 03" nor the cig and aux socket, that is on the 02'.
I use the ashtray to hold my GPS, not for smoking!

Also the rear glass is tinted and nice on the 02'. I guess it will be an easy swap? Then I just plan to save all the new parts I put into the 02' and junk it.
The computers are different, because of the different trans.

But I hope the exhaust system is the same, as the 02' has a brand new one?

Any help would be appreciated... I liked my 02' so much, I just had to buy another KJ. I won't get the 03' until next week, but can't wait to have my own car again. Hate driving my wife's Impala to work!

I will contribute my experiences to this forum, to help others, as much as you have helped me!

Oh, the 03' has rear disc brakes...As the 02' drum brakes were such a pain to fix.

Thanks again!

Dave

 

[TwoBobsKJ]

If the '03 has the larger fan shroud it's very likely you have the HD cooling, which includes the mechanical fan screwed on the nose of the water pump. It's possible you have just the shroud and not the mechanical fan (some KJ's came like that from the factory) but more likely you have the full HD cooling system.

Also, your '03 DOES have a power steering cooler along with the trans cooler. The PS cooler is behind the grill, in front of the radiator, on the driver's side; it's a vertical cooler that is about 3 inches wide and 8 or 9 inches tall. The trans cooler runs in front of the condenser which is in front of the radiator. Virtually ALL Libertys came with the power steering cooler - there are a few oddballs out there that didn't but they are very rare.

What model is the '03 - Sport, Limited, Renegade? That will help with telling you what you can swap.

The exhaust will not transfer over from the '02. The different transmissions means the exhaust routing is different too, so they won't swap over. If you want to use the muffler from your '02 it will swap but that's about it.

Great find! :waytogo:

Bob

 

[uss2defiant]

since your 02 has the 45rfe ******, it has the in radiator ****** cooler.
You should notice to hard lines on the passenger side of the radiator.

Since the 03 has the 42rle, it has the external ****** cooler.
It should also have a P/s cooler like what Bob mentioned right next to the driver side head light.

The PCV system most likely is the same.
Resonator box should also still be the same. everything for the and electronics should be identical.

If you're selling parts off your 02 let us know!

 

[metalmoto]

The build sheet says its a 2004. Sorry my mistake! It has an electric fan, with the larger shroud, unfortunately. On my 02' I could clearly see the PS cooler through the front grill.
Perhaps it is there, but moved further to the right, to accommodate the trans cooler?
The dealer said it was a Limited, but the build sheet says it's a Sport?
My 02' clearly has "Sport" on the front doors. But the 04' just has "Liberty"...
The 04' just has chrome accents around the grill openings.
I was really hoping to be able to use the whole new exhaust, darn!
Also, will the rear flipper glass fit the 04'? As my 02' is dark tinted. The only difference i can see, is the 04' has a plastic piece on the outside bottom middle of the glass. The 02' does not. Yes, I will be parting out, and selling "most" of the 02' parts.

 

[uss2defiant]

you should be able to use the glass on the 04.

Do you have the clutch fan on the 02? you can just move that to your new 04.

Dealership lied!!!!!!

 

[metalmoto]

Since I'll be parting out the 02' Liberty... Is there anything in particular I should save, in case someone would need or want it? As I will have a limited time to disassemble it.
Or should I post this under a different thread?
Soon I will be taking ownership of my father's 1965 Ford Falcon Futura. Totally stock, but has be stored for 25 years in a garage. Sure I'm excited, I remember it as a teenager, and spent many great times traveling to to the Poconos in it. This was in the early 1980's, and the Falcon never left us stranded. Just hoping it's still able to be restored, after sitting for so many years. It brings back great memories!

 

[teeje]

Anything on the interior like switches, bulbs, and trim pieces. I'd save those.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[metalmoto]

Just got my new Jeep today!

Yep, She runs good. But still a lot of work to be done, swapping parts from the 02' into the 04'. Especially all the brand new parts, from the 02'. I've got lots of experience, from fixing the 02'. But I still have many questions for you guys!

Some questions about the key and remote, for the new Jeep? My 02' never had a remote, and just had a regular flat key. As the 04' came with only one key and remote. Does the new key have a chip inside? So it will only start with this key?
If I can get another remote,from eBay or someplace. Can I program it myself, or does a Jeep dealer have to do this?

This is my first car to have a remote, and a "chip" key, as I believe it has.
With only one key and remote, if it gets lost, I don't want to be stranded somewhere!

Please help, or direct me to more info about this. Thanks in advance!

 

[uss2defiant]

I am not sure how you can tell from looking at the key whether it has a transponder chip. You can to go to your local locksmith, hardware store or LAP, they should have something to tell if your key has a transponder chip.

However, you will need minimum 2 transponder chipped key to program additional keys.

The remote has no minimum unit requirement.

I have bought both from ebay with no issues.
So I have 3 sets of keys and remote in case I loose one I can still have at least 2 to program additional transponder chipped key.