Well, I'm gettin ready to take my '91 XJ about 200 miles to pick up a riding mower, matress, and bedframe with my mother and little sister. The whole weight of everything on the trailer should only be about 600 pounds if not less (the mower isn't huge at all). Here's my q's

1) My right front coil needs replaced (my mechanic simply said, it needs replaced.. it popped one day, and every since the only time I notice it is when I go over a bump the right front makes a groan or creak, whichever you prefer). Do I need this replaced before I go on this trip?

2) I have the automatic tranny 3-speed with O/D and the comfort/power switch. Should I just run in regular Drive-Overdrive or only to 3rd? And I figure power to get up to speed, then just comfort when cruising. Comments?

3) I have a small oil leak near the rear of my valve cover (the seal just needs redone.. nothing major, no exploding oil dripping everywhere or smoke spewing from the hood) As long as I keep my oil in check I should be fine right?

Thanks for all the input everyone.

 

It should be fine, but If you have the money replace it.

Its actually 4 speed with TC lock, I guess youre technically right though, since 4th is OD. Use the power setting, I dont know why you whould want the TC to lock up at 35 anyway, newer cherokees are locked in "power".

Just keep it in drive, the 4.0 will do fine and the AW4 is a strong trans. We haul a 8-10ft trailer with a riding mower, 5 gals gas, push mower, and weedwhacker all the time, youll be fine.

Just keep an eye on it..

 

Thanks, I always thought the 4.0 was a hell of a beast, and now I suppose the AW4 tranny runnin behind it is good too. As soon as I get my new harmonic balancer, front seal, rad hoses, rad flush, and oil change done, Im gonna head down. The ol' girl always runs strong (and gotta love that single-port exhaust diesel sound). Btw, you mentioned newer cherokees being built in power mode, and the older comfort mode would make the TC (i guess this is torque converter right? sadly im not very mech savy lol) lock up earlier.. is this why when Im driving through town on comfort my tranny will go up and down from 2nd-3rd at the 35mph mark everytime I have to slow just a bit? Lol because if so I will just run in power mode.

 

yup, I ran mine in comfort for a week and got tired of that... the speedlimit through town is 35 and it will lock/unlock all the time. TC=Torque converter.

Another thing to check while youre doing everything is your TV cable.

 

Thanks for the advice, and Im sorry I keep askin q's, but what is the TV cable? Does it have to be adjusted often?

 

It is located right next to/by the throttle cable by the throttle body.. You will see the little button.
It controls line pressure in the trans and some say it controls downshifts.
Doesnt need to be done often, but its always a good thing to check.

 

so basically just push in the button, slide the thing in as far it will go, release the button, and turn the throttle all the way open? Simple as that? I take it this readjustes the throttle so that when my foot is on the gas the throttle responds exactly how it should, not stay less open. Thanks.

 

Yup...

It just adjusts the cable going to the trans so it can "tell" how much throttle youre giving it and adjust line pressure.