What did you do TO your Gladiator today? [ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS, NO GUN TALK]

[Bandit’s Lair]

I’d never pay that for lighting unless I decided to be a professional desert runner or something. I remember having a pair of the old 6” Mopar aux lights on my LJ. Coming back from a camping trip with a buddy we were slow rolling on the road to get back to a gas station to air up. A foil pan blew out the back of his TJ and hit right in the center of the driver’s side light. Cracked it all to hell. If I’d been the purchaser of the lights I would have been steamed. They came with the Jeep so it was justification for an upgrade. I had a couple sets of Rigid Industries on there a few weeks later. They used to be affordable back then.

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[Mud Pie]

My antenna base fits perfect in the middle of the bed rail in the middle of the sliding window, Hasn’t moved a bit even on severe washers board roads.

Since my radio is going to be permanently mounted (while still maintaining easy removal), I decided to go with a permanent antenna over the magnetic. I didn't want to add yet another chore, pulling the magnetic antenna every time I went through the car wash, I went for a cowl antenna bracket and the Midland 3Db ghost antenna; no tall whip, basically a V8 juice can....

As it is, whenever I go through a car wash, I remove my stock antenna, wrap the base in painters tape, wrap my off-road light covers on my bumper with tape and put a section of tape over my gas flap to keep it shut (the dryer blows it open almost every time, that dryer DRIES your vehicle !!).

Do I need to do all that taping off ? Probably not. My wife's 2005 Liberty Renegade had basically the same radio antenna setup and a car wash busted the base shortly after purchase. We were fortunate, when I went back to the dealer I told them what happened, they replaced it for free with the advisement "take if off before you go through a car wash" She also had the factory roof off-road lights and a car wash removed one of the covers. When she went back to get it, they couldn't look until they shut down. Of course it was MIA.

I'm going to install it all today as soon as I finish my mandatory cuppa Joe. And before it gets so hot outside, Satan himself would say, "DAMN !!".

 

[BlueScapegoat]

Was trying to get ready for a trip. 5,000 miles, 18 days. Was supposed to leave this morning.

Main garage door spring broke a couple days ago which made prep work a lot more annoying. Yesterday I changed the rear diff fluid, did an oil change, fuel filter change, and cleaned the air filter. On top of that with all the packing and other little stuff, I was busting ass yesterday.

I use an AFE Dry filter. I used their cleaner, let it soak, and rinsed it. It works really well. I let it air dry in the sun most of the day.

I had put the air filter back in when it was still ever so slightly damp. I could see light through it, so I figured it was dry enough. No dripping or anything like that. People water inject diesels anyway, the airflow will dry it right up. More water comes in during rain, surely.

Those of you with the diesel know about the HPFP issues and the priming dance after changing the filter. I primed it about 12 times, until it sounded like it wasn't making any more progress. When I started the truck, it cranked for about 10 seconds but then fired up. I hate it, but it is what it is.

I manually set the idle for about 1500 rpm and let it sit there for 5 minutes or so, to get the oil warmed up a bit to check level, dry out the filter some, and ensure all the air was out of the fuel lines.

All good.

4 hours later I left to work the midnight shift last night. Backed into the street in pouring rain, drove down the hill, and she chugged and shut off. Restarting lit the dash up like a christmas tree, stumbling at idle, shutting off violently when put into drive. Cool. I was still in my neighborhood so I just left it in the street and walked back to get the Subaru and went to work. I couldn't afford to deal with it at the moment, my coworkers were getting rocked by thunderstorms and I needed to be there.

I figured the HPFP had grenaded. Other possibility was I've had issues with the PCM freaking out if I don't really crank down on the fuel filter housing and petcock as well so I'd been there and done that before. I pulled codes and it was all for an intake leak and the MAF sensor. Everything was sealed up tight. Opened the intake and the MAF sensor was wet. For whatever reason on these engines the thermocouple (or whatever you call it) on the sensor is on the top of the unit, and on the leading edge, with a little cutout around it. So it's fantastic for collecting water.

I dried it off, and reset the codes. Same result. I unplugged it and drove it up to my house. Runs fine that way in limp mode. I think I've toasted the MAF sensor.

Called the local dealership. No MAF sensors in the state, soonest they can have one is 14 days. A couple online Mopar parts suppliers can have one to me in a few days.

So I doused it in CRC MAF cleaner and it's drying in the sun. Maybe I'll get lucky. But I think she's fried. Another spare part to keep on hand for the EcoDiesel.

Also my gamble on the Harbor Freight lights has not paid off. Should have just coughed up for the Baja Designs

Awe yeah she's back! MAF cleaner and some sun did the trick.

Rubicon here I come!

Amongst other places.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Awe yeah she's back! MAF cleaner and some sun did the trick.

Rubicon here I come!

Amongst other places.

Ugh!!!! Rubicon is on my bucket list!! Wish my rig was ready to go for it now. Maybe in a year or 2. I’m only about 9 hours away from the trail head. Have fun out there and remember……PICS OR IT NEVER HAPPENED!!!!

 

[BourbonRunner]

I’d never pay that for lighting unless I decided to be a professional desert runner or something. I remember having a pair of the old 6” Mopar aux lights on my LJ. Coming back from a camping trip with a buddy we were slow rolling on the road to get back to a gas station to air up. A foil pan blew out the back of his TJ and hit right in the center of the driver’s side light. Cracked it all to hell. If I’d been the purchaser of the lights I would have been steamed. They came with the Jeep so it was justification for an upgrade. I had a couple sets of Rigid Industries on there a few weeks later. They used to be affordable back then.

I hear you. I used to run Hella 55w's on the ARB on my Tacoma. About $50-60 when one got chunked by a rock but such is life. When I had to replace an OEM fog on my e46 it was about $175 and I was irritated but is what it is.

But $600+ EACH? I'm not sure who'd I'd be more angry at: The guy who kicked the rock up or the dumbass that paid $1400 for a pair of off road lights.

 

[Cattywumpuss]

Swapped out the steering wheel over the weekend. I get super nervous with electrical stuff but proud of myself lol.

That looks like a job well done!

Where did you get the new wheel and what kind is it?

 

[ChocColumbo]

That looks like a job well done!

Where did you get the new wheel and what kind is it?

Appreciate that. I got it off of Amazon $320

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Appreciate that. I got it off of Amazon $320

You went to the places on Amazon I NEVER go!!! If I see $100+ on Amazon I run.

 

[Cattywumpuss]

Appreciate that. I got it off of Amazon $320

Any chance of a link so I can be nosey at least?

 

[Cattywumpuss]

You went to the places on Amazon I NEVER go!!! If I see $100+ on Amazon I run.

That’s how I feel about Temu, except it’s a $50 limit.

 

[ChocColumbo]

Any chance of a link so I can be nosey at least?

of course my bad I didn’t even think to share.

https://a.co/d/06dDcYGC

 

[Empty Pockets]

I pulled my $400 knock-off steel Rubi bumper and dropped it off at the local LineX shop. After 6 years the original paint was fading badly and some surface rust was forming. I’ve been really pleased with this bumper and expected I’d be doing this in months rather than years.

 

[Cattywumpuss]

I pulled my $400 knock-off steel Rubi bumper and dropped it off at the local LineX shop. After 6 years the original paint was fading badly and some surface rust was forming. I’ve been really pleased with this bumper and expected I’d be doing this in months rather than years.

Always nice when something exceeds expectations!

 

[Cattywumpuss]

of course my bad I didn’t even think to share.

https://a.co/d/06dDcYGC

Thank you!

 

[drewcnit]

Swapped out the steering wheel over the weekend. I get super nervous with electrical stuff but proud of myself lol.

Looks good, I always get in my own head when I start a project like that too. Good work on it!

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