Jeep could be running better...

[Saurian]

Been a while, comp crashed out again, and haven't been online, so hello again to everyone; you've all been so very helpful... Regarding my Jeep... 2000 XJ, 4.0 I-6, 66000 miles on it... Due for an oil change in about 100 miles, plan on doing some light maintanance on it when I do that, but I need some suggestions... Firstly and foremostly, when I turn the wheel sometimes, there is like a moaning noise, and the wheel can be just a trifle hard to turn... Could this be from me being terrible , and not greasing anything up in the front axle area?

Performance is becoming a minor issue too... After it's last oil change, the oil pressure went from flatlining to hanging out between 24-45 ish, depending on idling and driving conditions... This makes me happy, I guess that a filthy old filter, and some nasty oil is really not the diet for a successful Jeep... Lately, especially when I come to an idle, the Jeep is idling rough, not really too rough, but there is a putter to the engine, where there used to just be a pleasant running purr... And I notice, as of late that it seems to be losing some power somewhere along the line when I floor the pedal (yeah, I'm a leadfoot... I do the speed limit, I just like to get up there quickly.) It seems to be almost bogging down, feels almost like a 4-banger on it's bad days, like it's being governed down. Spark plugs were last done at 56211 miles, air filter around the same time... Any suggestions on things that I could tighten/clean? Keeping in mind that I am hurting on spare cash, and limited on time... Any suggestions to bring my engine performance up would be greatly appreciated...

I'm thinking maybe fuel filter/fuel injectors, any good cleaning products, and how hard is the fuel filter to change on Jeep?

 

[mud4feet]

Party lines and good (at least might have been) men lost...

Sounds like you're a bit tardy on all the "normal" maintenance stuff - Jeep or not - just speaking of internal combustion machines. Consider going with a K&N type air filter - little steep on the up front cost but much more efficient and easier to maintain. Do it right and go with the whole cold air intake set-up...helped my little "4-banger" tremendously. Get yourself a grease gun and grease all the fittings every time you change your oil (hopefully, every 3000-5000 miles) else you'll be posting here again about other problems. Foremost, remember it's just a machine - it needs lubricated, it needs lots of air, good strong spark, and it needs gas......take care of it and it'll take care of you (as long as some dude on the assembly line wasn't having a bad day when yours came through!). Best of luck to you. I'm constantly seeking more ooomph from my little 4-banger so I know where you're coming from.

mud

 

[XJNick]

Hi,

It is normal for there to be a groaning noise when the steering wheel is turned to either stop. The moaning is the Power Steering Pump, and they do do this since they are under very high pressure when the wheel is at the stops.

-Nick :!:

 

[mujaman]

if your wheel seems hard to turn or if you hear a moaning noise (when it isn't turned lock-to-lock) you may just be low on power steering fluid. give that a quick check just to make sure!

 

[jeepmaster]

mine started idling rough when i bottomed out the cat... that can affect your performance

 

[Saurian]

Steering noise is when turned from center position, doesn't sound like the steering pump noise (which I know ALL too well after my Reliant's system failed)... Pump has right amount of fluid, no leaks. As for the idling, the comment about the crushed cat made me start thinking... I need to inspect closer, but I have noticed that it's been noisier lately, would an exhaust leak up near the engine be causing it to run a little rougher? Like I said, plugs, air filter, oil are all within new to normal life, oil changes are faithfully at 3,000 miles, more or less if I've been on a long stretch of freeway for most of 'em... How long are the fuel filters rated for, anyway? I jsut wonder, because it seems almost like fuel delivery is the problem, either at the tank, or the injectors... It's not an extremely huge deal, but it is causing me some displeasure when I hit the gas, and all I hear is a hwhrmmmmmm, while the tach creeps up there... Used to slam up right away...

 

[TwistedCU]

Steering noise is when turned from center position, doesn't sound like the steering pump noise (which I know ALL too well after my Reliant's system failed)... Pump has right amount of fluid, no leaks.

Funny thing, My '00 XJ just started doing that the other day. I think you're right in saying it is not the pump. Mine gets lubed regularly so I don't think it's that either. We have close to the same mileage too...

HHHmmmmmmm...

I'll let ya know if I figure mine out, please do the same.

TC

 

[Saurian]

Will do... My mom's '98 Grand Caravan was doing the same thing, unfortunately, I do not know what it was that was doing it, and she no longer has that vehicle. If I find anything, I'll let you know.

 

[Saurian]

Ok, so I take Jeepy (that's it's name) out to my grandpa's garage, and get into the throes of a routine oil change... I was good and greased the front end grease fittings, and it definitely made a difference in the steering... Oil change went as it should, and then I went to start the Jeep... It started, revved up, and then all the gauges dropped. Everything; battery, oil pressure, tach, fuel, and temperature. They dropped gradually and slowly too, the rpms dropped, and the engine stalled. Would not start back up again, no power at all. So, I started checking connections and such. I found a chunk of tire up in one of the wire harnesses, and the steel belting in the tire was shorting out a couple wires. I repaired that, then had to charge the battery. 3 fuses and 2 light bulbs later, everything was running normally... And better, I guess this was the problem... I remember having to run over a shredded tire, could not get over in time... I would have never thought that this would cause an angry short... So, Jeepy's happy now, running strong and smooth, cannot wait to take it to some mud at the end of the month...

That steering noise is still there. Sounds like something is just sticking behind the knee plate inside the Jeep... I'll look for that one to see what it is later.

Oh yeh, for those of you who are evil like me and neglect greasing... Finding grease points, really easy... Look where 2 things interconnect; if it is sort of stained darker between the 2, there is almost surely a grease fitting there.

 

[mud4feet]

Great news to hear that Jeepy's healthy! Good find on the shredded tire - it's always something - ya' never really know 'til you crawl around and look. Maybe some of that tire's up in the steering, too - who knows?!? Once you get 'er on the trails and in the mud, expect to find a whole lotta stuff underneath - it pays to make regular checks and keep it all cleaned out! Happy Jeepin'!!

mud