r/CherokeeXJ

Never fails, fix one thing and the next thing is right behind it.

I just replaced my front rotors and pads and everything was pretty straightforward. Brakes feel great now, making me realize how bad and deadly my old rotors and pads were.

But now there’s a new thing going on with no noticeable effect on driving, turning, shocks absorbing shock etc.

Whenever I drive over a bump or a rough patch of road there’s this jingling sound coming from somewhere under my XJ. As far as I can tell it’s coming from the driver’s side center or back and it sounds like if you hung a set of keys up under your car and they’re jangling together.

I crawled underneath and slapped and poked and looked but saw nothing loose and couldn’t get anything to jingle, even rocking the damn thing up and down from all sides.

Any ideas as to what jingles like this and what I should be looking for?

EDIT: I’ve isolated the sound to the rear driver’s side wheel. Nothing loose on the outside which makes me wonder if the shop didn’t secure hardware correctly inside the drum for the shoes when they did the back brakes a few days ago. I’ll have to pull the drum off to inspect.

Hello you beautiful freaks.

Car won’t start.

Happened once last week but started up again after putting it in neutral and backing it up. Ran a few more days with no issue.

Happened last night, no dice putting it in neutral. Not an NSS problem as far as I can tell.

Found that if I disconnect and reconnect the battery, I can turn on the dash and accessories run fine…

Until I try to crank the engine. Clicks, then nothing. No crank. (Side note: When it was running, sometimes it turned slowly before starting, like 1..2.. Go!) Dash no longer works after the click. Doesn’t click again until I disconnect and reconnect the battery.

Used a multimeter to check the grounds. The first time after connecting the battery, they all show 12+ volts like normal. Afterward, just 2+ (only at the grounds, but the battery test itself remains 12+). I gave the gunky ones a clean. No improvement. One of ground connections (battery-engine) had a nick in the wiring, but after applying some electrical tape, the multimeter tests aren’t showing me any issues with that connection, so I’m not sure if that’s causing the problem.

Tried a jumper multiple times. Jumper turns it on, but it only stayed on after removing the cables once, and never again since.

While the car is running with the jumpers, the alternator seems to be running and I checked the grounds with the multimeter too—13+ volts. Then, when I pull off the cables and the car dies (but still has the key turned) I checked again — this time, only .5 (or .05? Can’t remember rn) volts. Turn it off, back to 2+.

My next target is the Solenoid. Posting this in hopes someone can tell me it’s actually something simpler.

Please, thanks, Happy 4th.

Does anyone have any good recommendations? I see most people build there out, I just don't have a lot of room to do that.

I will be rebuilding my cooling system and wanted to see if there was anything I am missing or if anyone has feedback on the parts I am purchasing. Most parts will be bought on RockAuto

1994 192,000 miles

Fan Clutch
Hayden 2625
I was going to go with a ZJ but I’m not sure if I want to deal with the added noise

Serpentine Belt
Gates K060975

Thermostat
RobertShaw 330 Hi Flo balanced sleeve 195°

Thermostat Housing
Gates CO34741 or Hesco HFTH 4
Depends if I decide to put my temp gauge sensor on housing or heater hose. Might just reuse the stock one.

Thermostat Gasket
Fel-Pro 35024
RTV or no?

Water Pump
Gates 42004
Current water pump still works so I may just keep this as a spare. Haven’t decided yet.

Water Pump Inlet Tube
Motorad CH5920

Water Pump Gasket
Fel-Pro 35582 or 35629
I actually don’t know which is the correct one. Anyone know?

Radiator
Spectra Premium CU1193 or CSF 1 Row
Will probably go Spectra

Radiator Hoses
Upper: Gates 21616
Lower: Gates 21615
Heater: Gates 28491 5/8 Inner Diameter x 6ft

Radiator Cap
Gates 31516 16lb with safety release

Coolant
Prestone 50/50
Theres like 300 different options for this. Not exactly sure which one I should go with

Coolant Flush
Prestone rad flush or thermocure
I dont know how bad the cooling system is so I may wait till I do an initial flush to decide if I need to use either of these.

Has anyone cleaned their coolant reservoir? Mine is very dirty above the fluid. I cant imagine thats a great sign for my cooling system lol

Any feedback, advice, criticisms is appreciated