Getting The Jeep worked On.
buddyb
Member Posts: 5,368 ✭✭✭✭
My wife has a 2000 Jeep Wrangler for a toy,not everyday transportation.She had surgery 3 weeks ago so the Jeep has not been out of my shop for about a month.It has always dripped a few drops of automatic transmission fluid so I kept a drip pan under it.Went out a few days ago and there was a puddle of ATF under it.I cleaned the drip pan off and put it back under the Jeep.Couple of days later another puddle and the ATF was a quart low.I usually do all my own repairs,but I don't have a lift in my shop and the older I get,the harder and colder laying on the concrete floor is.I went to a locally owned and operated transmission shop in town and ask when he could take a look at it.We went in his office and his next opening is mid November.Seems all the repair shops are booked up for weeks or months.I replaced the ball joints in my Nissan pick up and it took a month to get it in the alignment shop.Is it like that everywhere or is it a local thing?
Comments
Seems to be like that is my area. Plumbers, electricians, mechanics, roofers ect. all booked forever.
I would run a socket around those pan bolts.
Yep, same here. Been like that for at least three years.
Checked the pan bolts.I think the leak is where the transmission and transfer case connect.
I have a 68 Mustang that does the same thing if not driven weekly, if driven it doesn't leak a drop when parked but let it set for a few weeks and it seems to pour out. It's been doing that for many years, I think it's related to the cork style pan gasket drying out but I'm too lazy to replace it and have gotten to where I don't trust public shops much anymore to deal with them. I'll let the next owner deal with it....😀
"Never do wrong to make a friend----or to keep one".....Robert E. Lee
Last Jeep I had was a constant headache! Im done with them.
I've had five Jeep Cherokees. Great vehicles if you know their issues. An '89 used a little oil. The plastic coolant reservoir exploded and I drove it to the next exit. Man, that thing was smoking. I towed it home, replaced the reservoir, and, I swear, it never used oil again between changes.
That 4.0 inline six was a great motor.
My shop has been at least a month behind for a couple of years now. Cars just keep coming in. Half the time I don't even answer the phone.
A couple of weeks ago the alternator went out in our '08 4Runner. The Toyota dealer wanted almost 1000 bucks to replace it(with a rebuilt unit)and the 135,000 mile old serpentine belt.......including 5.5 hours labor.
Called a mechanic who had had done some work for us last summer. He did the work in less than a day for $440 TT&L........including only 150 bucks labor!!
On days when it was about 108 degrees.........that's like.......FREE!!!🙂🙂🙂
Some times you just have to grin and go on not think too much about the repair cost
But a new truck i have heard are 50 to over 100k ?
I me a lot of repairs could be done and still come out way ahead
I have always been fortunate I have done all the repairs on all my vehicles and many friends and family I started when I was 16 repairing cars even painted and did body work on my share
I have taken a few iof ours in for warranty work I will own up to that sillt not too
But I also found the older I get and haveing a bad back doesn't hellp it gets more challenging all the time
I use to enjoy working and tinkering with cars but that joy has faded I still like it just not as much
I have two 69 camaros I tinker with but they need some attention I was hoping to do this summer and did not happen
My sons can help if I ask but I try not to bother them
But sad part most all cars any more well for years really you need a high dollar computer and dinosotic equipment to tell you what is wrong the DIY repair guys like me all going to be a thing of the past soon
Back when I was in high-school early to mid 1970's we talked that some day autos would come sealed tight only a dealer could access and do the work
I guess really not far off the mark from what we were predicting
Very common with jeeps to mark their trail. Main crank seals are bad to go out on those, to fix you have to tear down the engine and put them in on the inside.
A month wait here for a oil change .
Shops can't hire anyone, nobody wants to work
I heard that to a mechanic, Jeep means:
Just
Empty
Every
Pocket.
I get my Jeep serviced by an independent shop that specializes in Jeeps. He seems to always have time for me and I've been in there frequently getting some little things done.
Next big thing is all new fuel injectors, spark plugs, and an oil filter housing.
Was in there last week getting new to me wheels and 35 inch tires put on.
33 inch tires:
35 inch tires and Method wheels:
Fluid seals tend to dry and loose their sealing ability if a vehicle is not driven for an extended period. Sometimes, just getting it out on the road every day for a week or so fixes it, other times a new seal is needed.
I'm guessing it's the transmission output shaft seal and as others have said it's the result of sitting a while. Probably no easy fix if the tranny tail shaft seal is leaking. Most likely: pull the tranny/transfer case assy and replace the shaft seal. At that point, probably replace front and rear driveshaft u-joints as well.
I parked the Nissan pickup beside the Jeep in my shop.The Nissan has almost 520,000 miles and never leaked a drop of any fluid.
^^^They make one of those now and then. A random collection of parts that just happen to be perfect fit rather than at one end of the acceptable tolerances range.
I bought a new JEEP w/2.5L in 1986. At around 140K, the timing gears/chain was slapping so I had the valve train refurbed. Son drove it to college and put close to another 100K on it. Not a leak anywhere.
I don't understand the kids today. Having to go to college, taking a major that there is no employment out there for and owing $100,000. The trades are crying for people and with really GREAT starting pay. Why not trade school😉
Anybody that cant find work doesnt want to work!
Because for at least 50 years people who were working in the trades, or wanted to go into the trades were considered second class citizens. It was like that when I was in high school in the late 70s. Heading off to a four year university was the thing to do. Some guy that goes to college and gets a masters or two goes and makes $150K-$250K year. I am a heavy equipment mechanic. If I had to replace all my tools today it would be $250K. No way will some employer pay me $150K + per year.
My oldest son graduated high school and planned to go to Clemson.During the summer he got a part time job at UPS and worked installing pools the rest of the time.When fall rolled around he told me he was not going to college but was going to stay at UPS until he got full time.He reasoned that if he went to college,in 4 years he could be $80,000 in debt,and if he stayed at UPS,in 4 years he would be making $80,000 a year.He made the right decision.15 years later,with the pay and benefits at UPS he is doing very well.