Parts cannon fired, again

"If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent" (essextee)
07/25/2020 at 18:22 • Filed to: Joop

This time for the Jeep, not the BMW.

After poking around this thing all afternoon with a multimeter I’ve ordered an ECU. I found lots of suggestions on forums for things to check, and none of them panned out. It’s gotta be that.

I found a shop online that will ship one to your door for $150, already programmed for your VIN. I bought the whole car for $500 so this is nothing. I’m in this Jeep for so little could spend a grand to get it running before calling it a loss.

It would be a real shame to have to give up on it though. I haven’t shared many pics of the car (since I wanted to make a big debut post once it was roadworthy) but goddamn it is so clean. It’s worth almost any money I spend getting it going. Most WJs have at least some bubbling around the rear wheel wells. This one? Nothing.

I haven’t taken the cladding off but all I can see on the rockers is some mild surface rust. Same goes for the subframe. It’s so clean.

DISCUSSION (17)

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/25/2020 at 18:57

WAT? A not rusty WJ? I dig it, I hope the ECU solves some issues!

I’ ve heard a lot of bad things about dodge/jeep electronics from this era

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
07/25/2020 at 19:01

My '02 Neon was pretty reliable electrically.

horizonsofkhaos > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/25/2020 at 19:04

Did you check the wiring harness around the back of the engine? I had a similar problem and I had a short from where the wiring rubbed on the valve cover stud and wore away the insulation. Everything I read online pointed to crank sensor but even after putting that in (which was an annoying task) I still couldn’t get it right. Found a random forum post that mentioned the harness and sure enough, I found the wiring issue.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/25/2020 at 19:11

I’m getting damn close to just going parts cannon myself. I’ve been chasing a front suspension/brake issue for months and have uncovered and replaced several parts that had just coincidentally decided to go badly wrong at the same time. Each time the solution uncovered another issue.

I'm about ready to say screw it and replace the entire front suspension

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > horizonsofkhaos
07/25/2020 at 19:13

I did encounter that tip and I looked into it and can’t find any issues. While I can’t actually see the wiring harness, it’s wrapped in thick tubing and mounted to the engine in such a way that it’d move with the engine instead of against it. Some of those posts also mentioned that was more of an issue with the 4.7, not the 4.0.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/25/2020 at 19:30

It looks like an I6 from the engine bay but can’t be sure....yes? Either way $650 isn’t bad for that rig if you can get it running nicely. I wish I still had my WJ.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
07/25/2020 at 19:34

I’m at the same place with a clunk in the front of my Fiesta. No idea what it is, have replaced the control arms and sway bar drop links, can’t replicate it when it’s on jack stands, and everything in the front end rattles. Infuriating

66P1800inpieces > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/25/2020 at 19:38

On my brother in laws car I found a wire in the loom that was longer by maybe half an inch and over 100k miles of flexing that extra bit of wire broke in two spots 1/4 apart, the little curve of wire formed a z. Found it by hooking up a multi meter with a long piece of wire from one end of the harness to the connector and wiggled every couple of inches. Then did it with a known value resistor.

CB > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
07/25/2020 at 19:45

It's a Fiesta Feature™.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/25/2020 at 19:51

My brother's '04 had over 300k miles before he got rid of it. Good, miserable little cars.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > CB
07/25/2020 at 20:24

Did yours have a nasty front end clunk/rattle/vibration all at once? Driveway cuts get it the worst

dogisbadob > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/25/2020 at 20:47

David Tracy Seal of Approval :p

CB > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
07/25/2020 at 20:58

Nope. Are your motor mounts shot?

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/25/2020 at 21:52

Ive mainly heard ECU issues with Dodge grand caravans, jeeps, and ram pickups. Lots of water intrusion issues

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > CB
07/25/2020 at 22:01

Think that could be it? The upper ones seem fine but I think the torque strut trans mount is gone, it moves when I tap it with a rubber mallet. I can’t really rock the engine around though, but I can feel it move when I get on and off the throttle aggressively

I’m thinking either the front upper strut mounts or loose steering rack bolts (the ones I could reach were kinda loose), but I’m very open to suggestions

CB > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
07/25/2020 at 22:04

I know nothing about anything, so I can’t say for sure.

horizonsofkhaos > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
07/26/2020 at 00:36

Mom has the Cherokee out of town right now but when she gets back home I’ll have to see if I could get a better visual on the problem spot for you . I thought initially it was okay but it wasn’t until I pulled the harness up from some of the mounting points that I discovered the wear. The far back right stud on the valve cover had worn through the loom. Once I cut it back to get a better view I was able to see the extent of the damage. I can’t remember which of the wires ties to the crank sensor but I believe it was one of the ones that had the insulation worn down.

Kinja'd!!!

I did a quick and dirty fix of wrapping the individual wires in some stout electrical tape and then re-wrapped the loom. Before I put it back I cut a piece of scrap rubber hose and put it over the valve cover stud so it would rub against something soft and not the stud. Some day I need to get someone better at wiring than myself to go in and properly fix it and weatherproof the wires.