Hot Floor Boards and a front end Squeek

archimeech · 06-25-2008, 06:52 AM

Hey all, Virgin Jeep Owner here. I just bought my first, have had it now about 20 days and absolutely love it. Got a couple of questions though. first the stats:
2002 TJ Sport
4.0 I-6
Automatic
70K miles
still has stock 30x9.5 Wrangler TAs on it
No modifications
strut bracket on front differential must have come loose, has been welded back on and case is seeping, but Jeep Dealer isn't worried about it.

I bought it from a college kid that's owned it since '05 and he really didn't do any work to it at all. I pulled the floor mats and carpet out of it so that I could get it lined, but I've noticed that the floorboards get really hot to the touch on long trips. (took it about 50 miles highway the second day I had it) the engine doesn't show any signs of overheating, gauge reads 215 degrees.
Don't know that the Cat-converter has been changed, but it's not cherry red at night. Are there any other issues with this Jeep that might be causing this or is it simply the cat-converter going?

No. 2 I've got a squeek coming from the front of the body, I think. It's not constant and seems to get worse at 2 different speeds. one about 30mph and the other at highway speeds. It's pretty loud and doesn't speed up with the engine. I got out of it the other day and jerked up and down on the driver side full metal door and I could hear it mildly squeeking as the body was bouncing up and down. I've got no idea what this could be. any suggestions?

thanks guys, I've all ready learned a lot about my new best friend and can't wait to enjoy it for years to come.
M_

95GreenWrangler · 06-25-2008, 08:52 AM

A possible reason it could be getting hot on long trips because the transmission is getting hot and that is the only place the heat has to go because it rises and distributes itself along the floor boards.

On a long trip back from Philly this weekend, I noticed while we were in traffic how hot the area under the center console had gotten, that would be where the transmission is. Once you line the tub with something, that should act as more of an insulation so that the heat won't be as noticeable. Jeeps normally run at 210* so that is just fine.

Not sure about the squeaking, could be various things. Maybe do an overall greasing of the jeep, something just might dry and not lubricated. Since you think it is coming from the body, maybe one of the body mounts is drying out and rubbing causing the noise. My Jeep does have some squeaking here and there when its shaken but nothing that I am overly concerned about. Hope I helped a bit. Good luck.

jbo667 · 06-25-2008, 08:59 AM

The floorboards just get hot with no liner, especially at the tranny hump. Not much sound deadening or insulation in Jeeps, so you need carpet, bedliner of some kind or just watch your feet in sandals!

I run no carpet quite a bit and can't let my 3 year old loose in there when getting him out so he doesn't get burned, the floorpan can get VERY warm as the floor sticker says.

2000TJDude · 06-25-2008, 09:49 AM

My .02 about the squeak is to lube the hood release latch. I have a 00 and even though there is a plastic thing in there the keep the latch from making metal to metal squeak, If I don't keep WD-40 or white grease on it it drives me insane. Its funny to see how much the hood "bounces" when going down the highway even though I have new hood hold downs.

archimeech · 06-25-2008, 09:54 AM

Thanks Guys!

I'll try the white grease on the hood latches. I was wondering if it was hood movement that was causing it. Mine shakes like a girl out at a dance club.

I was wondering if the hot floor boards was normal. I don't want to put in any kind of carpet so I think I'll get it Rino-lined as soon as I can. till then I'll put some rubber mats in for comfort from the heat.

BlueFlame · 06-25-2008, 01:41 PM

The engine, transmission, cat, and muffler are all HUGE heat radiating objects right under a metal floor. Of course it gets hot. Bedliner won't help that.

The hood shouldn't move.
There are 2 pads right next to the latches that it should rest solidly on. There are 2 more on the top of grill but those don't really take the weight. Either the pads next to the latches are worn/soft/missing or the latches themselves are worn or soft (they are plastic and rubber.)

When latched down, it should be solid as a rock.

2000TJDude · 06-25-2008, 10:05 PM

Just to clarify a bit, its not the hood latches on the fenders on mine that squeek, its the safety hood latch in the center that keeps the hood from accidentally opening if the primaries fail. My hood latches are brand new from Smittybilt. They seem a little soft in my opinion but at least they aren't broke. (I had a pair fail on the trail last year in my prior 98 and had to wire it shut with bailing wire to get back home)

archimeech · 09-24-2008, 07:41 PM

I finally figured out what was squeaking. My left(driver side) windshield bolts that attache the removable roll bar at the top of the door on a TJ was loose. I took a torque bit and ratchet to it and no more squeek!

Blue, so no way to do away with the heat issue? bummer...

BlueFlame · 09-25-2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by archimeech

Blue, so no way to do away with the heat issue? bummer...

of course there is.
Insulation.

archimeech · 11-01-2008, 07:43 PM

Yes, sorry. I meant is there any other way other than insulating underneath the mat or carpet. I don't plan on putting anything back in except maybe getting the thick coat bedliner that is made out of sprayed in rubber. It rains around here so much that it's hard to keep everything dry. I don't have covered parking at the house for my Jeep. Still trying to convince the wife that her architect of a husband can design an integral carport that doesn't detract from the look of our house. But we(meaning the married guys) all know how easy it is to convince our wives of anything, right?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueFlame

of course there is.
Insulation.