Going on a trip in the YJ, what should I do to it beforehand?

**YJake** · 09-30-2009, 07:35 PM

::Ride report with pics on page 5!::

I plan to go to Tennessee at the end of October with the lady friend. She has never been there in the fall and since I used to go every fall when I was a kid I thought I'd take her.

The only problem is the YJ. It's been fairly reliable in the past year+ that I've had it but I've never really taken a trip this far in it before. I drove from Orlando to Miami to Tampa and back to Orlando and that was the longest I've ever traveled in it. It holds 70mph just fine in 5th gear on flat pavement so I'm not worried about power, just reliability. I travel with full hard doors and a hard top.

How it stands today (minus snorkel, lost the top)

I want to know what you guys think I should do to it before going on this trip and teh stuff I should bring along. I'll post what maintenance I've done to it in the past since I've kept decent records of that stuff.

Engine Oil
-Last changed July 22, 2009.
-Mileage 138,500 (Current 140,500).
-Valvoline High Mileage Synthetic Blend.

Spark Plugs
-Last changed May 18, 2008

Radiator
-Brand new July 2008 (Coolant still lime green).
-Autozone brand fluid.

Brakes
-Overhauled August 2009
-New shoes and pads all around.(Duralast lifetime warantee)
-New springs and E-brake linkage for drums.
-2 new wheel cylinders.
-Autozone DOT3 brake fluid in lines.

Transmission (AX-5)
-Rebuilt November 2008.
-New slave cylinder May 2009.
-Fluid last changed August 2009 (Pennzoil Synchromesh).

Tires (30x9.5 R15 BFG A/T)
-Bought brand new September 9, 2008 (Mileage at 134,072)
-Balanced July 20, 2009 Mileage at 138,xxx

Transfer case
-Never touched since purchase. ::EDIT:: (Fluid changed Oct 4, 2009)

Power Steering
-Never changed fluid. ::EDIT:: (Fluid changed Oct 2, 2009)

Differentials
-Fluid topped off when purchased (May 2008)
-Otherwise, never touched.

Distributor cap/wires
-Never touched since purchase.

Serpentine/pulleys
-Belt never touched since purchase.
::Note:: Idler pully fell off this past week, was replaced.

The Bad.

-My brake booster doesn't "boost" very well. I can hear it hiss when I pump the brakes while the YJ is running. The peal holds firm when off but while running it won't get completely solid.

-The belt or one of the pulleys still squeeks something terrible! I'm tempted to buy a new belt soon and see if that fixes the problem. If anybody knows a way to tell if the bearing on a pulley is bad I'm open to suggestions. I may replace the other idler pulley for the heck of it, having the other one fall off in traffic was bad.

-The steering wheel has to be turned to the left a quarter turn for me to drive strait. This is probably an easy fix, but for now it's beyond me. ::EDIT:: (Steering has been adjusted)

-Valve cover has a small leak towards the front of the cover. It's not gushing oil or anything but it is slowly seeping out. Oil pressure still reads at 40 while driving and hasen't changed. Not sure if it's something worth worrying about.

I'm going to turn this thread into a kind of work log for the stuff I'll be doing to it to make sure it makes it all the way up there and back.

All suggestions will be appreciated!

tclaremont · 09-30-2009, 07:38 PM

Go get AAA and a cell phone. Fill up with gas and go.

**hotelconucc93** · 09-30-2009, 07:44 PM

I second that.

If you really are worried, go see your mechanic and ask him for a look over, but only if you trust him

...dont need to spend on a whim. I would go for it..with AAA.

Chet

**YJake** · 09-30-2009, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tclaremont

Go get AAA and a cell phone. Fill up with gas and go.

Awwww that's too simple for me

Whether I broke down with our without them, I'd still end up missing work the following monday due to being stranded in the hills.

**YJake** · 09-30-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotelconucc93

I second that.

If you really are worried, go see your mechanic and ask him for a look over, but only if you trust him

Chet

Never took it to a mechanic before. Except for the transmission guys anyway.

JRayRussell02 · 09-30-2009, 08:48 PM

if it was me i would take another ride there. you shouldn't need a 4wd in oct. where you going gatlinburg? i've been considering going there the last weekend of oct. myself.

**YJake** · 09-30-2009, 08:54 PM

Yeah, I'm staying in a cabin just NW of Galinburg. But I plan to spend most of my time hiking in the park and spending the evenings in Gatlinburg. If you go there PM me if you feel like going on a hike or eating at the pancake pantry

I would just take her car, but I've always wanted to take a road trip in the Jeep, just kind of always been a dream of mine, hince the thread. Figured it would be a good start

provinT13 · 09-30-2009, 09:20 PM

Change the diff fluids, the t-case fluid, and the distributor cap and wires. Bring a few extra quarts of oil, and a serp. belt. Bring a big set of sockets, end wrenches, and torx bits. And if you haven't already, print off the OBDI Codes from the jeepwiki

OBDI Error/Check Engine Codes - JeepForum.com Community Jeep Wiki

RebuildRookie · 09-30-2009, 09:43 PM

jumper cables, a tire repair kit(for nail holes and such), a can of fix a flat, a belt and the tools to change it with, a nice bottle of wine or champaigne to celebrate making it there

**YJake** · 09-30-2009, 09:46 PM

I'll be ordering some reusable diff gaskets from quadratec and looking into the other stuff soon.

Thanks for the suggestions provin, that T-case maintenance is long past due as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RebuildRookie

jumper cables, a tire repair kit(for nail holes and such), a can of fix a flat, a belt and the tools to change it with, a nice bottle of wine or champaigne to celebrate making it there

I may get the belt taken care of now instead of bringing an extra, I'll just keep the old one as a spare.
Any suggestions on a good replacement belt? I've heard good things about some goodyear model.

provinT13 · 09-30-2009, 10:12 PM

Nothing special really. Some people say gator belt, but I usually take the normal, cheaper one.

ugmo · 09-30-2009, 10:17 PM

1. Before you change the belt, tighten it down as good as you can get it. These jeeps are finicky like that. Put in a little muscle and show it who is boss.

2. No need for diff gaskets. Just use rtv.

3. Take tools and the obd code sheet.

4. Change whatever fluids you "topped off."

5. Transfer case - change oil.

6. Dis cap and wires: replace (appearance can be deceiving)

7. Belt: inspect and replace if worn, cracked, etc.

8. Steering wheel - minor adjustment

9. brakes - leave distance when following others; the biggest issue I see in this scenario

10. Take extra fluids for everything. And rags.

11. Everything else that everyone has said.

12. If you can diagnose problems and turn a wrench, then you're good to go. Otherwise, AAA and cell phone looks like a plan.

buckshot500 · 09-30-2009, 10:34 PM

Take a good look at your tires & spare. If you travel on a Sunday, tires can become an issue. I was lucky to find a place in Jacksonville that was open a few months back. They hooked me up with a used tire when one blew out on the minivan coming back to S.C.

**YJake** · 09-30-2009, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ugmo

4. Change whatever fluids you "topped off."
Darn, you caught me there

5. Transfer case - change oil.
It's on my list.

6. Dis cap and wires: replace (appearance can be deceiving)
This will be the most expensive thing me thinks but I have no idea when the PO did it so it must be done.

8. Steering wheel - minor adjustment
Okay, how do I go about this? I've never messed with alignment before so I don't knwo where to begin on this one.

12. If you can diagnose problems and turn a wrench, then you're good to go.
Good to hear. I've become quite the grease monkey since owning this thing and know my engine/drivetrain like the back of my hand now.

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10 char

whitie_08 · 10-01-2009, 07:57 AM

take some pain killers...