Jeep Treads

Wrangler YJ Trouble Codes

admin — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:28:33 +0000

Is your check engine light taunting you from your Jeep’s dashboard? If so, there are two things you can do. You can pull out your trusty roll of electrical tape and cover that sucker up or you can pull the code and fix the problem. If you have a 1991 to 1995 Wrangler then you have an easy way to do that. You can pull the code without the use of one of those fancy and expensive scan tools. It’s simple and quick. To begin you will need to put your key in the ignition and without starting the engine you will turn the key to the on position, then off, then on, then off and then on again. So thats on, off, on, off, on. The check engine light will then begin flashing the codes. Count the flashes to determine the code. It will pause between digits momentarily. So a code 52 for example would be five flashes, a pause and then 2 flashes. If there is more than one code there will be a longer pause between flashes. If there are no more codes or no codes at all it will flash code 55. Once you get the code, you can refer to the list below to find the problem.

11 Ignition
12 Battery power to the computer was disconnected within the last 50 key cycles.
13 Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Sensor Vacuum
14 Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) Sensor Electrical
15 Distance sensor or circuit
17 Engine running too cool
21 Oxygen sensor or circuit
22 Coolant temperature sensor or circuit
23 MAT sensor or circuit
24 Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) sensor or circuit
25 Automatic Idle Speed (AIS) circuit
27 Fuel injector control
31 EVAP solenoid or circuit
33 Air conditioning clutch relay
41 Alternator field
42 Automatic shutdown relay
44 Battery temperature sensor
46 Battery over voltage
47 Battery under voltage
51 Oxygen sensor - lean condition
52 Oxygen sensor - rich condition
53 Internal engine controller fault
54 Distributor sync pickup
55 End of Code output
62 Emissions Maintenance Reminder (EMR) mileage accumulator
63 Controller failure EEPROM write denied

Dana 300 Replace-A-Case

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:08:13 +0000

Thinking about adding a Dana 300 to your Jeep Wrangler? You are in luck because now available from Stak 4×4 is the D300 Replace-A-Case. So what makes this case so great? Well, besides the strength improvements over the stock case, it allows you to give your Dana 300 a drivers side drop without flipping it upside down.

The case is manufactured to the highest standards being CNC machined inside and out. It is also available in a variety of different input splines and is compatible with TJ and YJ factory speedometer sending units. To use this case you will only need to provide a 1981-1986 Dana 300. It will be a direct replacement for your stock NP231 and will also allow you to run a 9.5 inch longer rear driveshaft. Interested now? Contact Stak 4×4 for more information.

www.stak4×4.com

Patriot : Least Expensive SUV To Own

admin — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:37:59 +0000

Edmunds.com recently announced that the 2008 Jeep Patriot is the least expensive SUV to own. The announcement comes after the online car magazine analyzed the vehicles “True Cost to Own”. This rating takes into account purchase price, financing, insurance, repairs and fuel costs among other things. The Patriot beat out such vehicles as the Mazda Tribute, Honda CRV and Hyundai Tucson.

The accolade comes as no surprise to Patriot owners who already know what a steal the vehicle is with a MSRP starting at just over $16,000. The Patriot is a great option for those needing the room of a SUV without the high fuel costs. The surprisingly peppy 2.4 Liter engine gives the vehicle an average fuel economy of 23 MPG city and 28 MPG on the highway. Not bad for an SUV, even a compact one.

Join The Club - Joining A Local Jeep Club

admin — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 23:25:24 +0000

It’s 5PM and your sitting in the middle of nowhere with your Jeep’s passenger rear wheel sitting next to you. Problem is, you didn’t take it off, it came off by its own free will after you snapped your Dana 35’s axle shaft. You know its going to get dark soon and as you hop from rock to rock trying to get a cell signal you think about what you could have done to prevent this. The number one thing on your list should be , JOINING A JEEP CLUB! Sorry to yell but there are just so many people who for whatever reason decide to not join a club. Wheeling by yourself is just plain stupid and will eventually get you in trouble. So how do you go about joining one. Well its easy, just visit their website. To make it even easier Jeep Treads has put together this little list of Jeep clubs in the US. Check it out and join in.

Don’t see your club? Contact Us and we will add it to the list.

Alabama
Mobile Jeep Club
website

Alaska

Arizona
Arizona Rough Riders
website

Arkansas
Brush Beaters Jeep Club
website

California
Jeeping Jeepers Jeep Club
website

Colorado
Mile Hi Jeep Club
website

Connecticut
CT Jeep
website

Delaware
Delaware Jeep Association
website

Florida
Orlando Jeep Club
website

Georgia
Southern Jeeps
website

Hawaii
Oahu Jeepers
website

Idaho
Idaho Offroad 4×4 Club
website

Illinois
Two Rivers Jeep Club
website

Indiana
Tri State Jeepers
website

Iowa
Trail Hogs Jeep Club
website

Kansas
KC Jeep Club
website

Kentucky
K & I Four Wheelers
website

Louisiana
Bayou Jeepers
website

Maine
Midcoast Jeep N ORV
website

Maryland
Maryland Jeep Club
website

Massachusetts
Bay State Jeepers
website

Michigan
Dirty Minds Jeep Club
website

Minnesota
North Shore Wheelers
website

Mississippi
Freedom Offroad
website

Missouri
Capital City Crawlers
website

Montana
Rimrock 4×4 Club
website

Nebraska
Just Jeeps of Omaha
website

Nevada
Sierra Stompers
website

New Hampshire
Deep Woods Extreme
website

New Jersey
Misfits 4×4
website

New Mexico
New Mexico Four Wheelers
website

New York
Long Island Offroad Club
website

North Carolina
Central North Carolina 4×4 Club
website

North Dakota

Ohio
Ohio River Four Wheelers
website

Oklahoma
Oklahoma Jeep Thing
website

Oregon
Jolly Jeepers
website

Pennsylvania
Blue Mountain Jeep Alliance
website

Rhode Island
Ocean State Jeepsters
website

South Carolina
Old South Offroad
website

South Dakota
Black Hills 4 Wheelers
website

Tennessee
Atomic City Four Wheelers
website

Texas
Austin Jeep Exclusive
website

Utah
Salt Lake City Jeep Club
website

Vermont
Vermont Jeep Association
website

Virginia
Mid Atlantic Jeepers
website

Washington
Moonshiners Jeep Club
website

West Virginia

Wisconsin
Legendary Civilian Jeepers
website

Wyoming

Jeep Wrangler JK Skid Plates

admin — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:23:22 +0000

The JK parts market has really taken off lately. One of the companies taking a crack at the new market is the manufacturer and retailer Poly Performance. They have recently released a skid plate system for the JK Wrangler that covers all of the major drivetrain parts. It includes an oil pan skid, transmission skid and transfer case skid. The oil pan skid allows for easy drain plug access making oil changes no harder than they were before adding the skid. This can be a problem with some skid plates. All of the skids are CNC cut from 3/16 inch steel plate which provides a flawless fit and enough strength to stand up to some serious trail abuse. Included in the kit is grade 8 hardware that mounts flush leaving a completely smooth skid that will not hang up on obstacles or leave you with mangled and impossible to remove bolts. You can order the kit with a powder coat finish or in an unpainted steel version. For more information just call up Poly Performance at 805-783-2060 or visit their website below.

www.polyperformance.com

Jeep Games

admin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:03:06 +0000

Okay, we all know that the place to go to check out the latest offerings from Jeep is Jeep.com. But most of us already have a Jeep which we are heavily modifying and have no intention on trading it in for a new one. So what other possible reason could Jeep give us to visit their website. How about some cool free games!

Some of the games include Tomb Raider, Mountain Madness, and the Jeep Big Adventure to name a few. Of Course none of these games will leave you breathless but hey, they are free and it’s better than doing actual work while your on the job. So if you are killing some time at the office head over to the Jeep website and check them out for yourself.

Jeep Games

Decoding Your Jeep TJ’s VIN Number

admin — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:38:24 +0000

Ever wonder what those codes on the VIN of your Jeep TJ mean? The VIN or Vehicle Identification Number is a unique 17 digit number which tells you how your Jeep rolled out of the factory. It can be useful with Jeeps since they usually do not stay stock for long. So if you want to know what your TJ came with stock, Jeep Treads is coming to the rescue by bringing you this chart to help you decode your Jeep’s VIN tag. Enjoy

Jeep TJ 1997 - 2006

Position	Definition	Codes
1	Country of Origin	1= United States
2	Make	J= Jeep
3	Vehicle Type	4= MPV
4	Gross Vehicle Weight	E= 3001-4000 lbs F= 4001-5000 lbs
5	Vehicle Line	Y= Wrangler A= Wrangler (Left Hand Drive) 4= Wrangler (Right Hand Drive)
6	Series	1997-2000 1= Sport 2= SE 4= Sahara 2001 - 2006 2= SE 3= X 4= Sport 5= Sahara 6= Rubicon
7	Body Style	9= Open Body
8	Engine	H= 2.5L Leaded Gas P= 2.5L Unleaded Gas S= 4.0L Unleaded Gas V= 4.0L Leaded Gas
9	Check Digit	No Meaning
10	Model Year	V= 1997 W= 1998 Y= 2000 1= 2001 2= 2002 3= 2003 4= 2004 5= 2005 6= 2006
11	Assembly Plant	P= Toledo #2
12-17	Vehicle Build Sequence	6 Digit Number

Jeep J8

admin — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:15:31 +0000

Jeep released the final production model of the J8 at the “Euro Jeep Camp 2008″ event in Germany. The vehicle is markedly similar to the 4 door Wrangler but has some notable changes. For starters, it has a reinforced frame, Dana 60 rear axle and rear heavy duty leaf springs giving it a cargo capacity of 2750 pounds. It sports a redesigned air intake system with a snorkel to allow for deep water crossings of up to 30 inches and operation in sandstorms for an extended period of up to 5 hours. The j8 also has heavy duty brakes, heavy duty bumpers and is armor capable. It will be powered by a 2.9 liter 4 cylinder turbo diesel making 295 pounds of torque and 158 horsepower which is mated to a 5 speed automatic transmission. This gives it a towing capacity of over 7500 pounds. The J8 is available in either the familiar 4 door style or a new 2 door pickup. Are you drooling yet? Well don’t get too excited, it is designed specifically for government and military use. Jeep is making an attempt to take back some of the military vehicle market. But who knows, if there is enough interest a civilian version could be released in the not too distant future.

AEV Brute

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:28:51 +0000

Are you looking to do something totally different with your TJ Wrangler? If so then check out the Brute body kit by AEV. Their pickup conversion kit will turn heads for sure while giving you a durable Jeep with increased storage and utility. Originally designed in 2002 and winner of a Daimler/Chrysler Design Excellence Award the Brute has been tweaked and made available in a kit form for you to build yourself. It comes to your door over 90 percent complete so you can expect to have your Brute on the road and turning heads after only 60 hours of build time. MSRP for the complete kit is just under $9000 but many of the parts are available separately .

American Expedition Vehicles
(406) 251-2100
www.aev-conversions.com

Just A Bit More - JKS Body & MM Lift

admin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:06:39 +0000

Sometimes when you modify your Jeep you might discover that you need just a bit more lift to clear your tires. If this is your problem then there is an easy solution, install a body lift. Now we are not talking about one of those huge 3 inch lifts that make your Jeep’s tub look like it is standing on stilts. We are talking about adding a small, tasteful 1 inch body lift. From an aesthetic point of view it is barely noticeable and it allows you to do some other great things like raise your engine, install a belly up skid or raise your gas tank. The lift that we will be showing you how to install is the JKS body lift. The JKS body lift kit(which actually yields 1.25 inches of lift) is very complete and of the highest quality. In conjunction with this lift we highly recommend installing the JKS 1 inch budget motor mount lift. The motor mount lift will allow you to install the body lift without making any changes to linkages or having to trim any other parts. It will also get your oil pan another inch out of harms way which could very well save your Jeep some day. Read along and see how easy this lift really is to install.

Tools and Supplies Needed:

1.Standard/Metric Socket Set
2. Torque Wrench
3. Vice Grips
4. Breaker Bar
5. Hydraulic Floor Jack.
6. Block of Wood/ 2×4
7. WD/40
8. Wire Brush
9. Cut Off Wheel or Hacksaw
10. Thread Sealer
11. Anti Seize

JKS Body Lift Install

Step One: Lubricate Body Mount Bolts
Take your WD/40 or other spray lubricant and soak all of the body mount bolts. It would be a good idea to do this the day before your install to make the job easier.

Step Two: Radiator Fan Shroud Removal
There are four bolts holding the shroud to the radiator. To access 2 of them you will have to first remove the reservoir bottle by pressing in a tab on the back of it and pulling it up and out. Remove all of the bolts and disconnect the shroud from the radiator. You do not have to remove the shroud completely from the vehicle because there is no need to cut it when installing the Budget Motor Mount Lift. We just don’t want the shroud to hit the fan when you raise the body.

Step Three:Loosen Body Mount Bolts
You will now need to loosen, but not remove, the body mount bolts. There are 11 bolts in total. Click on the diagram on the left for their locations. A breaker bar might come in handy for this step. Once all of thebolts are loosened remove the bolt from the #1 body mount located under the front grill and remove the bolts from the driver side of the Jeep. Leave the bolts on the other side so that the tub does not shift.

Step Four: Install The Lift Pucks
Place your hydraulic jack under the body between mounts 3 and 4 using the block of wood to protect the tub. Make sure you place the jack on the stronger channel part of the tub. Now raise the tub a few inches. Just enough to place the lift pucks in. The lift pucks will go above the factory mounts (tub side) and the lip will wrap around the factory mount. Apply thread sealer to the new bolts (included with the kit) and install them but do not tighten them. Now lower the tub and repeat this process on the passenger side. Lastly install the #1 body mount lift spacer and bolt using thread sealer on the bolt. You can now torque all of the bolts to 35 ft/lbs.

Step Five: Install Radiator Bumpers
Remove the factory radiator bumpers and discard. Install the new longer bumpers after first spraying the tips of them with a little lubricant. They can be a booger to get in but keep at it, you’ll get em.

You are now done with the body lift kit install. If you were not installing the motor mount lift you would at this time have to modify the radiator, radiator shroud and transfer case linkages. Since we are using the Budget Motor Mount Lift lets move on to its install which is also very simple.

Budget Motor Mount Lift Install

Step One: Support Engine
Take your hydraulic jack and place it under the oil pan. Use your block of wood between the jack and the pan to spread the load and raise the jack so that the weight is just off of the engine mounts, no more. Be careful you do not want to dent your oil pan.

Step Two: Remove Motor Mounts
Remove the nut from the cross bolt that runs through the mount but do not remove the bolt. Now remove the bolt and nut that secures the mount to the Jeep frame and the nut on the underside that attaches the insulator bolt to the frame. After removing them you can remove the cross bolt and the mount from the vehicle.

Step Three: Attach Motor Mount Spacers
Clean off the threads from the factory insulator bolt. Now cut off 1/4 inch of the bolt to allow insatllation of the bolt extender included in the kit. You must cut the bolt so that the extender will fully seat on the insulator bolt. Our bolt was able to fit into the extender without trimming it however so you might want to check for yourself to see if this is necessary. The extender must seat completely on the insulator bolt though so be careful with this step.

Step Four: Reinstall Motor Mount
Now you will simply reinstall the motor mount onto the vehicle and loosely attach the bolt and nut and the insulator bolt nut using anti seize. Raise the engine so that the cross bolt will fit into the mount and loosely attach the nut using anti seize.

Step Five: Repeat and tighten
Repeat this process on the other side and then tighten the cross bolts to 60 ft/lbs and all of the other nuts to 30 ft/lbs.

Step Six: Reinstall Fan Shroud and Check Clearance
You can now reinstall the fan shroud which was removed in the body lift install. Check the fan shroud to make sure that the fan blade will not make contact. This should not be neccessary but it is better to be safe.

You are now completely finished. You can sit back and admire your slightly taller ride and start planning your new raised gas tank or belly up skid.