What Did You THINK Was Wrong w/ Your Gladiator, But Wasn’t?

[ShadowsPapa]

Man comes to the Jaguar shop
where I was working.
Complains of a squeaking noise.
Gets his briefcase out of the backseat
and goes on to work.
(Don't get ahead of me. I like telling it.)

Mechanic tells him he can't hear a squeak.
Comes back next day
and the day after that.
Mechanic stops him as he is trying to leave
and rubs the Italian leather briefcase
on the Connolly leather Jaguar upholstery.
Squeak, squeak.

I've heard a lot over the years, from someone hanging a bolt on a wire in a door assembly at the factory, to yellow paint pens saying "build a lemon" (found by my father in a junk yard years ago- he understood union anger in those days), and other strange stuff, but that one really is one of those for the books.
I have a friend in the Phoenix area who drives a Jag - I should share this with him! He'll get a kick out of it. He runs a classic auto restoration business out there.

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[rhaney02]

I've heard a lot over the years, from someone hanging a bolt on a wire in a door assembly at the factory, to yellow paint pens saying "build a lemon" (found by my father in a junk yard years ago- he understood union anger in those days), and other strange stuff, but that one really is one of those for the books.
I have a friend in the Phoenix area who drives a Jag - I should share this with him! He'll get a kick out of it. He runs a classic auto restoration business out there.

Had a coworker somewhere around 35 years ago that told me a similar story. He had some type of GM product (do not recall what model) that had a clacking noise in the rear quarter panel. After many trips to the dealer they finally found a nut tied to a string with a piece of tape attached to it saying "how long did it take you to find this?". Not sure if true or not, but how it was related to me.

 

[Stan H]

Well, honestly I've had a tap tap noise and thought it was a valve train engine issue . Stopped at a parts house bought a can of seafoam poured in the gas . Ran that tank through long before it was even through that tank, Tap gone. Sometimes early in the morning when its cold the injectors can be a little loud until they warm up. So I have learned what that sounds like . I say I am nearing time for them to be renewed.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Well, honestly I've had a tap tap noise and thought it was a valve train engine issue . Stopped at a parts house bought a can of seafoam poured in the gas . Ran that tank through long before it was even through that tank, Tap gone. Sometimes early in the morning when its cold the injectors can be a little loud until they warm up. So I have learned what that sounds like . I say I am nearing time for them to be renewed.

I put 4 hole Bosch refurbished injectors in my 4.0 at 130,000 but I'm leaning on going brand new. Not overly loud, but just a very slight occasional miss at idle. They do wear. They are physical devices, not just electrical, and they can get gunked up.
But it's a piece of cake on the 4.0! Just takes minutes.
3.6, a little longer.

 

[Stan H]

I put 4 hole Bosch refurbished injectors in my 4.0 at 130,000 but I'm leaning on going brand new. Not overly loud, but just a very slight occasional miss at idle. They do wear. They are physical devices, not just electrical, and they can get gunked up.
But it's a piece of cake on the 4.0! Just takes minutes.
3.6, a little longer.

Good thing is at least its all low torque value stuff . Yeah plenum off fuel rail off injectors out , lots of new o-rings and goodies . I think I am going back with new factory ones also

 

[guntrust]

Easy question to answer:

I thought my JT was underpowered. Until i regeared to 5.13

 

[Stan H]

Easy question to answer:

I thought my JT was underpowered. Until i regeared to 5.13

What size tires did you upgrade too ?

 

[WILDHOBO]

Easy question to answer:

I thought my JT was underpowered. Until i regeared to 5.13

I could never go with less gearing now. I’m completely spoiled due to the crawl ratio.

 

[guntrust]

What size tires did you upgrade too ?

I waited a long time (too long) to upgrade from the standard 33's to 37's.

It felt sluggish even with standard 33's and 4.10

I hope the industry can get rid of CAFE standards and provide more power/gearing options. The overregulation is a great disservice to consumers esp newbies who may not know much about mods.

 

[Stan H]

37's almost tempted me enough but ultimately when I looked at pricing It seemed there was a better price range in 35's so I went 35's .

 

[mclousing]

Ok, this wasn't with my gladiator but my bicycle, this thread just always made me think of it. We were riding down a brand new concrete bike path. All of a sudden I hear the distinctive thump thump. Get off the bike check both tires all good. Got back on road 10 feet and hear it again. Stop look at tires again no issues. Lay in the ground and look at the surface on a plane, see little rhythmic variations for 50 feet or so. Imperceptible from sitting on the bike. Years later we still see people checking their tires in that section.

 

[Janster]

My ACC/FCW was turned off/needs service. Buying my gladiator used, it was already lifted, on 35's, suspension work, new windshield etc.

Coming from an 08 Wrangler with no options on it, to a Rubicon Gladiator was a huge learning curve on the extras.

I saw the dash lights after I drove off the lot, called it into the Jeep dealership. (Bought from a Ford dealership that didn't know what those lights were)

Anyhow, after a diagnostic appointment for that and other warranty issues, found out it was because it was lifted and on bigger tires that it is shut off because it isn't in the stock configuration. I felt silly because I didn't do my homework like I normally do. Whole reason I joined this forum, same as other vehicles I own/owned.

Oops.

However, got a local shop that deals with this, and after my next round of mods, they'll take a look and either recalibrate or turn it off for me.

Do you know if the windshield was changed prior to you buying it??

I’m wondering if the previous owner changed the windshield and never got the camera re-calibrated and turned it off (or had someone turn it off). Not all windshields are compatible. They might’ve saved themselves some $ on the windshield and didn’t realize it wasn’t compatible (and didn’t want to bother with the calibration).

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Do you know if the windshield was changed prior to you buying it??

I’m wondering if the previous owner changed the windshield and never got the camera re-calibrated and turned it off (or had someone turn it off). Not all windshields are compatible. They might’ve saved themselves some $ on the windshield and didn’t realize it wasn’t compatible (and didn’t want to bother with the calibration).

Doesn't matter. It's not necessary on these.
If the glass is that cheap - it's really crap glass.
But if you use a correct glass that's made to SPECS, there's no need to calibrate. The only times it's needed is with leveling, lifts and so on.
And THAT is where he's likely got issues - it was lifted and it may have thrown things off.
I've had windshields replaced by the dealer - and they say "not necessary" but if you look at the documents for the ACC/FCW, they show frame measurements and so on and if you deviate from that, you may need calibration.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Anyhow, after a diagnostic appointment for that and other warranty issues, found out it was because it was lifted and on bigger tires that it is shut off because it isn't in the stock configuration. I felt silly because I didn't do my homework like I normally do. Whole reason I joined this forum, same as other vehicles I own/own

It's a VERY simple process - any good shop can do it after a lift or suspension work.
They literally get it into calibration mode, FOLLOW the on screen directions and drive it, and it learns the new settings and that's that. Takes minutes and no special shop. They can come to you and do it, it's that easy.
It can be recalibrated - or RELEARN - after a lift or other mods. Any good glass shop can do it.
It's not necessary after new windshield, but there are specs as far as frame to ground measurements and you need to enter that measurement if it's off from stock/factory height, and it goes from there learning as they drive it.

 

[Janster]

Doesn't matter. It's not necessary on these.
If the glass is that cheap - it's really crap glass.
But if you use a correct glass that's made to SPECS, there's no need to calibrate. The only times it's needed is with leveling, lifts and so on.
And THAT is where he's likely got issues - it was lifted and it may have thrown things off.
I've had windshields replaced by the dealer - and they say "not necessary" but if you look at the documents for the ACC/FCW, they show frame measurements and so on and if you deviate from that, you may need calibration.

Reason why I mentioned it….is because other folks here (with lifts & bigger tires) claimed they never had any problems and didn’t need to get it calibrated.

So….I was looking for other reasons.

The windshield theory isn’t totally out of the question. You see folks posting having issues often. We don’t know if his windshield was replaced or not. If it was replaced, we don’t know the quality of the glass.

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