NuttinFancy

Hi guys and gals,

I just bought a 1998 XJ.I've been wanting one for a very long time. It has 219,000 miles on it. I hope I didn't waste my $1,500.00. It has the 4.0. The body looks good, the interior is good also. My problems are this.

1. It has an oil leak coming from the valve cover.
2. The power steering is leaking also.
3. The heater only works sometimes.
4. I was told the A/C was leaking too.
5. The blinkers only work when you manually lift them up or down.

I know the valve cover gasket is an easy fix. I just hope that's all it is.I can replace the power steering pretty cheap also. I have no idea how much the heater core will cost to replace nor do I know how much labor will cost on that repair. The A/C and blinkers are a bit of a concern for me also.

My next question is this. What is the best way to clean the engine from all that built up oil? Any advice will help tons.

One more thing. I would love to dump about 3 grand in this jeep. What would you do to a stock XJ to give it a cool factor look?

Pics are on the way!

firebane

Leave it as is

EEVEE

Well id just use ALOT of gunk in the bay and f course cover the electrics as they do NOT like water at all and then pressure wash, But do keep in mind these engines typically weep oil so it will stay clean for a bit but then start to get oily again unless you keep up with cleaning it monthly. As for the cool factor and this is personal preference id do an upcountry replica with beefier tires and a few lights especially pillar lights lol, But also if you want functionality then get limited slips or lockers as this is a MUST if you wanna so any offroading without getting stuck very quickly lol. Also before you go doing all of this how is it mechanical wise? Any front end work done to it? Trans good and anything else powertrain wise? Also to sleep easier at night try sending an oil sample to blackstone labs and see what your engine is doing. Also how is the cooling system? Redone at some point? The coolant nice and clean or green (or whatever is in it)? Any Death Wobble? Brakes good and as for the turn signal stalk i think that is an easy replacement :http://www.carparts.com/details/Jeep...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

And the heater core... What do you mean it works sometimes? And the ac id stick some uv dye in it but my jeep it leaks from the shrader valves, Try tightening those up first then pump it downa nd see if it holds a vacuum then recharge. 2 Cans of refrigerant from rural king or walfart costs like 5 bucks a can and if you dont have the proper tools then purchase those quick trigger things, Thats what i use to charge mine as i already know what the "Full" mark is on the totally inaccurate gauge is. NEVER trust it just use it as a reference. Jeep systems take 20 oz to be full, So put 1 full can in which is typically 12 oz then guestimate 8 oz which is like a quarter of refrigerant left in the next can. Then fine tune your ac with a temp gauge the good range is 51 to 45 degrees on a pretty hot day. But i HIGHLY recommend using proper gauges first, Borrow or rent some to make sure your system isnt destroyed from being overcharged. And if theres a tiny leak for me it isnt worth fixing it just top it off every so often. Its cheaper that way for me personally. But this is the extremely poor mans way of doing it lol. These systems get surprisingly cold when the outside temp is just right. They take a while to get fully cold but once they do they will chill you out on a 99 degree day with 96% humidity. I would say tho gm makes epic ac systems in their older vehicles and those will make your face an ice cube and finger tips get frostbitten. Coldest my dads blazer ever got from the vent was 37 degrees lol but not "tweaking" the system it was typically 44 degrees, He modified his pressure switches to stay on a little longer than whats considered safe.... Dont follow his ways lol

Martlor13

terrible advice.

he needs to put a 6 inch long arm lift, with front and rear lockers, bumpers, upgrade his axles, winch, swing out tire carrier, quarter panel armor, rock rails, frame stiffened, sye, 40 inch tires, steel flares, and fresh gears.

5-Speed

Dude are you serious? You forgot the most important thing, LS swap! I cant believe you sometimes.

RocketMouse

If it looks good on the outside too... that IS a cool factor with an XJ .... and welcome to the family.
WARNING:.... there is NO known cure for the modding bug. Once you start...there is no end. LOL
As for how to clean an engine bay and not risk damaging anything.... check this vid out.. came across it a few weeks back.. well worth a watch and great results....

EEVEE

*gasps* you cant just forget the 50 inch led bar like that! And maybe an exo cage as well

RocketMouse

you're absolutely right there 5-Speed.... that should be the first mod... because what's that they say? Go big or go home?

Martlor13

was trying to keep it under 3 grand line op wants haha!! Looking back I still might have gone over

RocketMouse

^^^ lol... no matter what you suggest it will eventually go over....as we all know there's no cure for the modding bug once you start.

PatHenry

The turn signal switch is a pretty simple fix. It's a single unit that you can get at Autozone for under $40 and it's a straightforward remove and replace. You'll need torx screwdrivers.
The heater core is a beast to replace and if you're having it done can cost over 1k since there's so much labor involved. I'd be dang sure yours is bad first. You might just need a good cooling system flush.

xjnm

x2 on this. I just got done doing mine and its a PAIN!! I saw another post where the guy saved himself from replacing the heater core by messing with the blend door from behind the glovebox and fixed his heat. It was called "Another lack of heat post" I believe.
btw congrats! I bought my 1998 with 220,000 miles for $1700 and runs great xD

PatHenry

Just to follow up on the Heater core - the tell-tale signs of a bad heater core are: 1 - Coolant leaking onto your passenger side floor. and 2 - Window fog
What I would recommend is to get a VERY GOOD understanding of the symptoms. Once you know all the symptoms, then you can pose the question on the forum and get help. There are a lot of extremely knowledgeable folks that are active on this forum, but even an expert can't help you out without specific details of what your problem is. Then, once you get guidance - follow it and report back - especially when you solve a problem so others can find answers. If you don't understand something, don't be afraid to seek clarification.

PatHenry

or the 5 point harness seatbelts on your racing seats!

RocketMouse

or the full exoskeleton..lol