Need a mechanic...

[Jaxom]

My family and I moved to St. Louis in 2013. It's been a rough few years due to health issues, but I kept the faith and after being off work for several years due to health issues tossed in on top of a weak economy. Now I need to take care of some issues our KJ has.

Now some would wonder why I'd wanna put any money in to a vehicle that's 11 years old and has 75k miles on it. Well mainly, we're basically starting over and we own it. No worries about making a monthly payment. And while KJ's were the most sought after of all the Jeep models, we've grown fond of our Limited.

I'd would normally attempt to do some of the work that needs to be done, well except I don't think I'd try to replaced the windshield, never did that before. Biggest problem we currently have that prevents my wife from driving the 2004 kj is the driver's side seat frame cracked in an accident earlier this year. I've tried searching every bone yard within 100 miles of St. Louis...can't find any driver's seats let alone a grey motorized one. My next bet would see if a generic seat from J.C Whitney would fit or not, does anyone have any comment on their seats? Either way, I don't have a shop and I don't know anyone whom I can borrow their garage to do work in. Suggestions?

 

[Jbergun]

I was on craigslist yesterday seen a few jeep liberties being parted out. Might get a good deal on the seats from one that was wrecked out. As for a garage i dont got one i use the in laws.

 

[M38 Bob]

Take the seat out, pull the upholstery, and have a muffler shop, or someone in a welding shop. put it back together. My next door (business) neighbor is a used car lot, over the years they've pull lots of seats, peeled the upholstery back and I've welded the schit out of em. Upholstery ain't normally that hard to get off with common hand tools.

Bob

 

[Jaxom]

Not sure I'd need to have to pull the upholstery out? Only 4 bolts to remove the thing. I might still have to pull the seat anyways, there's a short somewhere in the seat belt wiring harness. Even with the seat properly attached while driving, I get the error that I'm driving with it off. I also get that annoying beeping about two minutes after I start moving. I know there's a way to turn that beeping off, but it has to be working correctly in the first place.

I would still need a mechanic though. While it would be no issues to change the rear shocks, I don't have the tools to do the front struts. I also need some body work done. I was hit in January, took out the trim around right rear wheel. My wife hit a parked car a few weeks ago, this time not only taking off the trim around the left front wheel, the wheel well piece of plastic and what looks like a plastic door stop fell off.

Other planned repairs... Windshield cracked, rock from truck. I have two original tires that are near balled, one is newer and I've another brand brand new tire. Someone also stold my spare. So I need 3 tires and a generic steel rim with a lock! Trans is hesitating and struggles to switch gears at the 35-40mph range. Then just have the whole thing gone over, make sure there isn't something on the verge of going on me. Until I can get wife a 2nd vehicle, this is our life line to starting over.

 

[libertybob]

Starting Over

Jaxom, you have our sympathies on having to start over. It is tough at any age but especially at 50. Forum members, can anyone in the St Louis area lend a helping hand with Jaxom's Liberty? Perhaps a steel rim spare tire or help with other repairs? Let's remember there is more happiness in giving and that by the grace of God there goes me.

 

[SWilliams]

Not sure I'd need to have to pull the upholstery out? Only 4 bolts to remove the thing. I might still have to pull the seat anyways, there's a short somewhere in the seat belt wiring harness. Even with the seat properly attached while driving, I get the error that I'm driving with it off. I also get that annoying beeping about two minutes after I start moving. I know there's a way to turn that beeping off, but it has to be working correctly in the first place.

Could be related, The broken seat track may have damaged the harness.

As for pulling the upholstery, You would remove the seat, then strip the seat and back upholstery off the frame, then the steel frame can be welded and you put the foam/covers back on. Unless the issue is the motorized track assembly itself and not inside the seat?
Did find a seat at Rebuildable Vehicles | Surplus & Recycled Parts | Wheels & Motors but don't know how close they really are to you.

As for the glass, MUCH better to let a glass outfit handle that. They bring the right stuff and in a couple hours you have new glass & a guarantee!

Trans issue could be costly, I would take it to a dealer or someone with a dealer level scan tool. They can check for trans codes that don't trigger the CEL, and it may be something like a bad solenoid pack or other easier repair.
Or it may be time for a rebuilt.

Tire wise, hit a U-Pull it type yard (should be a few out there) Usually you can buy the rims with a tire on it for 20-40 bucks. Just pick ones with good tread! (Usually the ones that are wrecked are better, those were at least running when they wrecked, ones that look "pretty" but are in a boneyard you want to look close, If it was nice, why is it there?)

Another option would be to find a parts vehicle (or maybe a better one) and pull the parts you need and sell off the rest.
Seat - $275.00, Trans - $200-$400.00 used (reman $1800.00), Trim parts and misc. - $100.00 VS. 04-06 parts rig - 1,500-2,000 and you could pull the parts you need.

Wish I was closer but NY would be a drive...

 

[flair1111]

heres a mechanic. not sure how good he is though...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIKG08sWU1I

 

[CactusJacked]

79 views and 2 thumbs down....make that 3, lol... you be the judge!

 

[flair1111]

79 views and 2 thumbs down....make that 3, lol... you be the judge!

sorry to have tried to make you laugh. ill stop
^^^ biggest sad face ever!

 

[Lester]

This one on ebay may have a lot of the major parts that you are looking for.
I found it interesting that it has the 45RFE auto ******



Jeep Liberty Limited Sport Utility 4 Door | eBay

Here are the build sheet specs:

VIN 1J4GL58K73W502881
Vehicle Description 2003 JEEP LIBERTY LTD EDITION 4X4 SPORT UTILITY 4-DR
Convenience Group I
Power Convenience Group
Monotone Paint
136 Amp Alternator
600 Amp Maintenance Free Battery
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
2nd Row Buckets, Power Fold/Tumble
Child Seat Anchor System-LATCH Ready
Next Gen Multistage Front Air Bags**
Cargo Compartment Carpet
Cargo Tie Down Loops
Plastic Swing Gate Trim Panel
Front & Rear Floor Mats
Spare Tire Cover
Cargo Compartment Cover
Passenger Assist Handles
Driver Assist Handle
Full Length Floor Console
All 4-Speed Automatic Transmissions
Dana 30/186MM Front Axle
3.73 Rear Axle Ratio
Corporate 8.25 Rear Axle
Tinted Windshield Glass

STANDARD EQUIPMENT

Front Door Tinted Glass
Flipper Swing Gate Glass
Rear Window Defroster
Air Conditioning
Instrument Cluster w/Tach
120 MPH Primary Speedometer
Var Intermittent Windshield Wipers
Rear Window Wiper/Washer
Dual Note Electric Horns
12V Auxiliary Power Outlet
Pwr Windows, Front 1-Touch Down
BLACK CLEAR COAT - Molding
BLACK CLEAR COAT - Fender Flares
Headlamp Off Time Delay
Halogen Headlamps
Fog Lamps
CHMSL Lamp
Front License Plate Bracket
Body Color Grille
Body Color Fascias
Limited Edition Badge
Jeep Badge
4X4 Badge
Side Roof Rails
Liberty Badge
18.5 Gallon Fuel Tank
Power Steering Cooler
Speed Control
Black Clear Coat

Fixed Long Mast Antenna
Power Rack and Pinion Steering
Jeep IS43 Suspension
Tilt Steering Column
Full Size Spare Tire
Outside Tire Carrier
P235/70R16 BSW All Season Tires
Matching Spare Wheel
16X7.0 Lux Aluminum Wheels
Front Suspension Skid Plate
Grocery Bag Hooks
Tethered Fuel Filler Cap
Protective Coating and Remover

Four Wheel Drive (4WD)/(4X4)
Left Hand Drive (LHD)
KJ-Vehicle Family
Prem Leather Trimmed Bucket Seats
Lt Taupe/Dk Slate Gray
Security Group
3.7L Eng(EKG)/4Spd A/T 45RFE(DG4)

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT

Floor Carpet
Cargo Trim Panel w/Storage Net
Luxury Door Trim Panel
Mini Overhead Console
Multi-Speed Auto 45RFE Transmission
Lock-Up Torque Converter
Selec-Trac Full Time 4WD System
3.7L V6 Engine
Deep Tint Sunscreen Glass
Sun Visors w/Illum Vanity Mirrors
Rear View Auto Dim Mirror
Pwr Htd F/Away,Drvr Auto Dim Mirrors
All Vehicles W/Power Mirrors
Power Sunroof
Remote Keyless Entry
Sentry Key Theft Deterrent System
Auxiliary 12-Volt Rear Power Outlet
Speed Sensitive Power Locks
Heated Front Seats
Power Front Driver/Passenger Seats
Illuminated Entry
Vehicle Information Center
Courtesy Lamps
Map/Dome Reading Lamps
Cargo Compartment Lamp
Traveler/Mini Trip Computer
Security Alarm
3.7L Badge
50 State Emissions
Euro Stage 6 Emissions w/EOBD2
Black Clear Coat
All Radio Equipped Vehicles
AM/FM Cass/CD Radio w/Changer Ctrl
6 Premium Infinity Speakers
Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Ctrls
Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
Goodyear Brand Tires
All Aluminum Wheels
Universal Garage Door Opener
Spring - Left Front
Spring - Left Rear
Spring - Right Front
Spring - Right Rear
GVW Rating - 5600#
Customer Preferred Package 2TG
Customer Preferred Package 27G