Yeah. I had a look at it with my FSM open right there. Step one tells me to remove the washer fluid reservoir. And I searched for a way to do that online and in the manual, and failed utterly.

I bet, if I just tried, I could figure it out. Apply the same thinking I use when I tear down a laptop. Look for the obvious anchor points. Then the less obvious. Then the sneaky ones. Don't just yank because that breaks important things.

 

Well, as I said there are three attachment points that you can't miss. The fun can be in getting to the lower screw but you aren't going to mess anything up (unlike the laptop) so just get at it.

If I ever decide to take my laptop (actually my wife's old unit that I use as a stationary CPU) apart, I will let you tell me how easy it is and to just get on with it. Then we will likely have a real mess. lol

Post any problems.

 

I hope to be able to get to the blower motor tomorrow. Today is out because I'm not going into another fix-it situation on no sleep, on a high UV day, when I have nothing to treat the migraine I could end up with.

As for computers, the great secret is not knowing what you're doing. You just have to know exactly what to ask google.

It works for a lot of things. Google brought me here way back in January, when all this started for me.

...and it will never end. Oh no. I'm stuck now. Because I'm only tackling the things I know I can do in my driveway safely right now. There are a few more things, but my driveway is a slight hill and that makes everything unsafe.

 

3 8mm bolts and wiggle it out. I took two out at the JY. I do not believe I had to deal with a ww fluid bottle.

 

Got to the blower motor today, which means I just decided to figure out how the washer fluid bottle came out on my own. Three bolts and two wires, and I was able to just pick it up and move it to the side.

And I definitely had to remove it, because the blower motor wasn't even visible until I moved the thing.

That's done, at least.

 

ha neverminddddd

 

Stupid, erratic weather.

I was just out there, under the Jeep, getting a feel for all the wacky contortions I might have to go through for the rear shocks when...sudden downpour.

I started plotting toward other things while I was under there, though. Looking at the differential, since it's, y'know, right there, seeing what condition the cover is in. Might be leaking from the plug, so I cleaned everything off to see what's gong on there.

Shame about my driveway being a 3 degree slope, because that thing looks like a real pain to get at without jacking things up a little. It might be doable, but it might also be seriously unpleasant.

I've got fluid, and I plan to make an attempt at topping off once it stops raining, before we go anywhere.

 

I posted pics of how to do this awhile back. It's so simple you wonder why folks cut theirs floors open to do this.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/bro...4/#post1607784

 

Yup. I've got various 'thread it through' options available to me now, and a way to punch them out by hand if the worst happens.

Just need a clear few hours to tackle it all in, because my shocks are finally here.

Seriously thinking about telling my therapist that they need to start a group therapy group that's all about fixing cars, because this is doing me a ton of good, depression-wise.

 

Ran into a slight problem yesterday, when I finally felt up to installing the shocks. I opened them up to get familiar with them before going out, and discovered that the bag of extras for one of the front shocks was missing a...the rubber bit. Bushing? Not up on the lingo yet.

So I called the manufacturer [Monroe. Yes, I went pretty cheap. Don't judge. I also just had to replace my fridge, and my cat recently spent the night at the emergency vet, but at least I'm not also paying a mechanic] and they're sending me a replacement bag-o-parts.

That'll give me a bit more time to keep soaking those bolts. Maybe I'll get really lucky and they'll just come out all nice-like.

Oh, any opinions on anti-seize on those threads when installing the new ones? Yea or nay?

 

I would honestly prepare for the bolts to break - I soaked mine down for a f-ing week straight with PB blaster, still broke one.

Replaced it with grade 10 hardware though, all is well. I honestly dont think I would keep the stock bolts if they are rusty, they may break the next time you need to pull the shocks out, etc.

I live in Broomfield but I work ~80hrs a week. LMK if you get real stuck though, and I can lend a hand if needed

As for the diff cover. I would find some level ground. You cant even properly the diffs unless you are leveled out a little bit anyways...

 

Yeah. Working on the level ground thing. Not a lot of friends. Comes from being not too social.

I've got the hardware mentioned in the writeup ahead of time, because it doesn't hurt to be prepared. But the PB soaking is getting to be a sort of pre-repair ritual for me. Some people have to wear a special shirt on game day, I have to spray things with PB.

And now I'm wondering if those companies that buy your trackable purchasing information have a flag for purchasing lots of PB Blaster that automatically slots you into 'Jeep owner'.

Yes. That's where my mind usually is. Data mining and technology. Before January, I don't think I even knew what a differential was. And I was terrified of the automatic transmission, and accidentally destroying it by looking at it wrong. Now? "I seem to be losing transmission fluid still. I wonder why. Oh, my pan gasket is seeping. Well, that makes sense. Probably original. Welp, I'll just pull out my phone and search cherokeeforum while my PDF reader runs its search on the FSM. And dig up my first thread so I have the steps for when I refill."

As for the differential, I cleaned it up as best I could, pried off the cap, checked the level [again, to the best of my ability], added a bit, and put the cap back on. And walked around smelling differential fluid for about three days--and that was after I scrubbed with the bottle of that orangey stuff with pumice that I keep in my Necessary Stuff For Car box.

 

Thought I should report in. Finally got to the shocks.

Just finished, in fact.

No broken bolts.

 

those shocks aren't black, are they? with next to nothing printed on them...? I bought some discontinued/warehouse closeout (or something of the sort) shocks from rockauto, I believe they are monroes.


worst. riding. shocks. ever. I would take the old bowl of soup over what I have now. it almost literally feels like I replaced the old shocks with rebar.

 

The ones I took off were black. The ones I put on are blue.

I'm not expecting anything amazing from them, honestly. I know they're cheap, but they will serve until I'm in a better financial position.

And, now that I know I can do it? I can do it again.