If I do not have proven info that any shortcut will work, I follow procedures outlined in the FSM when working on any equipment ?

luckily mine have the alternator up top.

I did have to unbolt the compressor (and mount) for some job, that lets you move the A/C lines around a bit, only added a couple of hrs at most to the job lol

 

I replaced the alternator on my '99 from the bottom and as I recall it took some finagling but was pretty straightforward. Maybe a couple of hours work. I've certainly had to deal with worse.

 

Remove fan, don't remove fan.
Remove from top, remove from bottom.
Remove A/C lines, don't remove A/C lines.
Remove battery tray, don't remove battery tray.

Ask 10 people get 10 different answers.
You just never know what the hell you're getting when you take tools to an XJ.

That is what I realize I truly hate about working on it.
Every other car has perfectly detailed step by step directions.
Unambiguous.

That is why XJ is only suitable to be worked on by master experts who can improvise decades of experience.

 

One day you would have worked on almost all of your XJ and then you will know what you will be getting into . I work on cars for a living so I already know what can go wrong will and almost always does .

 

I guess it depends on what you're used to. I've found the XJ to be pretty easy to work on for most things aside from some obvious "gotchas" like the heater core and evaporator. (Though many other vehicles are just as tough for those.) However rust can certainly turn what should be a simple job into a nightmare.

 

Well IMO they're just saying there may be a couple different ways to do things.

 

And that's what the mindset needs to be-- how to get the bolts out and nuts off AND the backup plan when they break.

 

I have always found the xj and zj to be easier than the other cars I have had, that is why I bought them. For one, you can crawl under without a jack. Two, you can change plugs or do a tune up without removing the engine. Etc.