97 TJ/SE - New owner problems

Hi, I've got my Jeep 2 weeks ago. It is 97 TJ/SE. Since then I was experiencing some minor problems that I can't solve.

Heating system - I have big problem with warming my car when in floor heating position. It is blowing alright, and its hot air too, but my legs and knees are cold. Maybe it is the carpet I'am missing (previous owner removed whole carpet for some reason).

Do you have any recomendation how to make your TJ warmer from the floor up?

Do you have any recommendation about the carpet? factory original or one piece replacement carpet?

"Clonking" noise when driving off-road - Location unknown... but it seams to be somewhere in the engine compartment, i can feel it threw the floor (no carpet).

Is it common th hear these sounds from the engine compartment?

Taking care of the rubber - Door rubber seal, rear rubber seal. I was using glycerine but the last couple of days the temperature is way below -20C and the rubber is freezing to the doors.

Do you have any suggestions about the rubber conservation? Thank You!

Sausage Dog

97 Jeep TJ/SE snipped-for-privacy@criticalmass.com
Reply to
Sausage Cat
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Congrats on the TJ, there are a lot of quirks that come with owing a jeep. First throw out everything you feel and hear or have been a custom to from all other vehicles or just turn up the radio.

Jeeps unlike all other vehicles are not insulated and transmit copious amounts of noise carpeting or a rubber floor mat does help to insulate both noise and keep you warmer in the north country. A good place to get everything is

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I just got back from visiting my son at FT. Drum who was on R&R from Iraq and it was -10 there. I use Dow Corning 55 O-ring lubricant for just about everything rubber or a facsimile there of I have been in -40 degree temps and nothing will stick. It is kind of pricy for a large tube but I have found nothing better for protection or keeping rubber soft. Use a light weight synthetic water displacing oil on all your hinges, a couple of drops every six months will provide years of head ache free use, I use a product called HILCO LUBE which is manufactured by the Hill Manufacturing Company and can only be bought. commercially.

Jeeps are in a class by themselves and many get disgusted with them because they are not the grocery getter of the Lexus SUV, they are hard workers and can take al ot of abuse providing you do the and keep up on the proper maintenance. Do not sweat the small stuff enjoy it and you will be happy.

HarryS

Reply to
HarryS

Congrats on the TJ, there are a lot of quirks that come with owing a jeep. First throw out everything you feel and hear or have been a custom to from all other vehicles or just turn up the radio.

Jeeps unlike all other vehicles are not insulated and transmit copious amounts of noise carpeting or a rubber floor mat does help to insulate both noise and keep you warmer in the north country. A good place to get everything is

formatting link
or
formatting link

I just got back from visiting my son at FT. Drum who was on R&R from Iraq and it was -10 there. I use Dow Corning 55 O-ring lubricant for just about everything rubber or a facsimile there of I have been in -40 degree temps and nothing will stick. It is kind of pricy for a large tube but I have found nothing better for protection or keeping rubber soft. Use a light weight synthetic water displacing oil on all your hinges, a couple of drops every six months will provide years of head ache free use, I use a product called HILCO LUBE which is manufactured by the Hill Manufacturing Company and can only be bought. commercially.

Jeeps are in a class by themselves and many get disgusted with them because they are not the grocery getter of the Lexus SUV, they are hard workers and can take al ot of abuse providing you do the and keep up on the proper maintenance. Do not sweat the small stuff enjoy it and you will be happy.

HarryS

Reply to
HarryS

Carpet helps insulate things. Carpet also collects crud. Pick what you want more.

You have GOT to be more precise than that. There are any number of places something could be making noise. What action does it coincide with? Braking, steering, revving the engine, shifting, transitioning weight? Whenever you've got a noise the chief thing you should seek is REPEATABILITY. Any time you can make something happen through deliberate and repeated actions will help debug what's causing it.

And you expect heat, in a Jeep? At those temperatures? Good luck.

Reply to
wkearney99

Thank You all for the advice. Now I need some product recommendation:

Carpet

PROLINE CARPET SET TJ-CHARCOAL 66013 or DELUXE CARPET SET 97+ TJ GRAY 79702-15 Thank You.

Sausage Cat

97 Jeep TJ/SE
Reply to
Sausage Cat

Hi Sausage Cat, Congrads, I own a 97 also!! I would question putting carpet in a jeep if you off road or mud alot....less cleaning out and you can drain it easier. Check the engine mounts to make sure they are alright. Check the Transfercase pad between the skid plate and the transfercase. How many miles on this jeep? Is it a standard or auto. Over Christmas I just put a

4 inch lift in mine, prior to that it was a valve job. I think next will be a shorter shaft for the transfercase and a slip yoke elminator (less vibrations). Oh, yes, put a tuffy console in it. thanks, paul

snipped-for-privacy@houston.rr.com

Reply to
pbarton

Paul, what'd your valve job cost you? And what symptoms were you having that led you to have it done? I know my valve seats are shot from how my '97 TJ's 4.0L engine is starting to stumble and get more and more '43' codes. I just got a quote of $413 for the work on the head itself which includes new hardened intake and exhaust seats.

Jerry

pbart> Hi Sausage Cat,

Reply to
Jerry Bransford

Hi Jerry, It was done summer '04. I took the head to a local machine shop. They did the cleaning and even milled down the head (a little warped). I bought the upper engine seal kit from O'Rielly for about $70. It came with the valve seals that I just gave the machine shop. The machine shop charged $150. I took the head off myself. It was not that hard, however, be sure to label all your wires at both ends. I was told by mechanics in the industry not to pay over $200 for a valve job. The reason I did it was the following: I had just purchased the jeep (used with 97000) and after about 200 miles the check engine light came on. I had a local shop look at it and they indicated I had about 70~90psi in the cylinder closest to the front bumper, all the others were fine. They quoted me about 1,500~1,700 for a valve job. I told them to button it up and I would think about it. I went out and purchased a compression gauge and started reseach on what it would take for me to do this. The last time I went this deep into an engine was High School shop class, about 30 years ago, and that was a 1 cylinder engine. It was not really a big deal to change it out and it worked the first time I put it all back together.

good luck,

paul 97TJ 4.0L

Reply to
pbarton

Thanks Paul, that was great information. Sheesh, I will look at how I can get the valve work done for less $$$ after hearing what you paid for yours. A friend of mine who is in the auto biz as well paid about what I was planning on paying the machine shop, not sure why my price quote was so much higher... but I'll sure shop around a little more now. Thanks!

Jerry

pbart> Hi Jerry,

Reply to
Jerry Bransford

You should be getting more than adequate heat even in the coldest weather. I have a 99TJ 2.5L engine and soft top and I keep warm in the coldest weather up here in North Dakota. After it warms up I usually have the heater on the 2nd setting. You might want to have someone check the temperature of the air coming out of your heat vents. A knowledgable mechanic will know about how hot it should be.

Larry Greenwood

Reply to
Larry Greenwood

Spent a couple of winters in Nebraska with my 99 TJ 2.5L with a soft top. Kept me nice and toasty. I'm sure full doors helped keep some of the heat in -- but it does lose heat a lot faster due to the soft top when just sitting outside.

Reply to
Eric

pbarton: I agree, having carpet is pain when taking your Jeep off-road. I get the noise only in 4WD position and only while on the snow bumpy road.

Larry Greenwood: I was traveling threw the Canadian Rockies 2 days ago. The temperature was (-28C, with wind -38C), speed 120 - 140km/h on the highway. I set the heater to 3rd setting and on the floor position only... I was freezing to death, the heat just barely warm my right leg. I checked the air just by putting my hand in front of the vent, and it was just warm. I changed the position to upper vents and momentarily the air became hot like hell !!! I had to change to 2nd power setting, but nothing of the heat got to my legs and floor.

I would rather repair the heater in my car than spent money on the carpet, but I don't know if it's broken or not. It is natural to have such a difference in the air temperature between floor and upper vents setting ???

Maybe I should put cardboard behind the grill or tape the exterior vents and secure them from the air intake?

I don't have any holes in the floor or behind the dash, I checked for that today. All my rubber elements around the doors are in Very Good shape and I they stick to the hard top excellent.

I don't have much $$$ so I 'am doing simple repairs myself... (it's fun and I learn about the vehicle).

Previous owner did not left me lots of things, I don't have the manual and I don't know how hard is to remove the dash elements to get to the heater.

Can anyone scan for me the dash detailing process from it's owners manual or recommend good book about Jeep repairs? Thank You for all your help!

Sausage Cat

Reply to
Sausage Cat

could it be the little motor that controls where the air flows to? I don't know if this can get in to a position that limits air altogether. How forceful is the air coming out? Does it feel like it's coming out at full force?

Reply to
SteveBrady

This is not normal.

This is normal.

I guess the problem is most likely the door that controls where the air is blown. Or maybe the floor vents are blocked by some foreign matter stuck in the dash (maybe leaves or something fell in and need to be cleaned out?). These are just guesses, but since you get heat from the dash vents that means the heater core is working just fine.

On my '05 I get plenty of heat from either the floor or the dash. I usually leave it set towards the floor because heat rises and it warms the entire vehicle, but if my hands are really cold I'll mix it so I can put my hands right over the vents. It's much better than the '88 Pontiac I drove two winters ago -- it never warmed up if it was cold outside!

-D

Reply to
Derrick Hudson

I dont find that much of a blast from the floor setting - the air is hot, but nothing like the gale that comes out the front vents.

Dave Milne, Scotland '91 Grand Wag>

Reply to
Dave Milne

It does sound to me like some air passages are blocked or maybe disconnected. You should have enough hot air coming from below to keep warm even on a mid setting once the engine warms up.

To day we are at about -22 (f) and once my 99TJ warmed up it kept me comfortable. And I have a softop and soft upper doors.

Do you have someone who can check it for you?

A while back someone in this group posted a link to jeep manuals in pdf. I think that there was a manual specifically for the 97TJ. It is a hugh file but broken up into chapters for easy download. Maybe someone would be kind enough to post that link again or you could do a google search in this group. That document would give you a picture of the heating system vents.

Larry Greenwood

Reply to
Larry Greenwood

I was searching for FSM PDF's online but no luck with that. Can anyone post the link again?

Sausage Cat

Reply to
Sausage Cat

Reply to
L.W.(ßill) Hughes III

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