95 ZJ Limited 5.2 Build Thread

Having 2 Jeeps is fun (or a curse?)

Build thread #2 for me.

1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 5.2 v8
Currently stock driveline and suspension.

First part of this thread will be addressing its issues, which include:
Severed wire to door for power windows *FIXED
Blower fan not blowing *FIXED
Gas gauge/temp gauge not working *Fuel gauge never broken/temp sender bad
Dash lights not working *FIXED
Engine misfire
Possible broken pinion in front diff or other catastrophic problem. *destroyed outer pinion bearing. Looking for another axle.
Driver side mirror needs replacing
No radio, previous owner wiring mess
Only brake lights work in the back *FIXED
Turn signals don't work *FIXED
I'm sure I'll find more...

gs69350 wrote:

Having 2 Jeeps is fun (or a curse?)

in my case both a blast and a curse lol. and yes those tail lights have got to go lol

little tlc and you will be good to go

Got the windows working Sunday night, but was sick as a dog when I got home yesterday... I need to get the fan working, gotta have some heats!

Should be fun to take to work. It has a straight pipe, no muffler exahust. I park in a big parking garage down town

Stayed home from work today, stomach bug, ugh... Decided to have some more looksie at the white wonder...

Spark plug wires are original! dated 3-95... Replacing those, cap, rotor, and plugs should take care of the misfire.

Front diff pinion bearing is GONE, as in, not there.

And I still haven't figured out why the fan doesn't work, I need to take it out and bench test it.

haha my rear pinion bearing is gone in my zj but just haven't replaced it due to swapping in my 8.8 this winter hopefully. i don't see much point in sinking money into a dana 35 i don't even want lol.

I'm tempted to leave the niner as it is and put the axle I have in this so I can wheel, lol...
Or build that HP30 lying in there.. Oh the options..

I was just out fiddling with it again. Got the fan working, on high only (bad resister, no surprise there). Found out what the mystery toggle switch was (PO had put it in as a bypass? for the fan, either way it only worked when selector was on high, so no need for switch).
Got the VIC working too. Had to wiggle the connectors, then the familiar Beep Beep Beep and flashing problem messages came to life.

Takes forever for the thing to warm up. Temp gauge isn't working either (sender is cracked). I'll be putting in a new T-stat, temp sender, plugs, wires, cap, rotor this weekend. Assuming I can afford that much.

Genuine K&N air filter! Bonus! This is gonna get cleaned up and put in the Niner!

at least the po was worried about filtering the air

Lol, maybe, but I would bet money its never been cleaned and re-oiled. You gotta maintain these things.

never seen a k&n for the zj's. i like the looks of that thing

I've seen 'em at AutoZone... and for what they want for a paper filter, its almost a bargain since they are cleanable.

So, I have spent the weekend trying to get the lights working... I picked up a pair of tail lights with bulbs and harnesses from a 98 ZJ someone was parting out. (oh how I wanted the beautiful black leather interior and D30 too)

Spent hours and hours yesterday and last night trying to find out why I couldn't get any lights but the head lights and brake lights... No turn signals, no marker lights, no dash lights... I even took the dash apart, pulled the light control switch out, took it apart, cleaned stuff, put it all back together, wiggled wires, and whatever else I could think of...

Well, turns out I didn't do a good enough job checking the fuses. There were 2 blown fuses, as soon as I replaced them, EVERYTHING started working again...

Next on this list is full tune up on the engine.

Went on my first "shake down" cruise... Front diff is definitely still spinning, making a lot of noise. Going to pull the axle shafts out sometime this week so the differential doesn't lock up and leave me stranded. Front linkages are a little loose but no death wobble and it will hold a line well. Will save those for the axle swap.

lol you and those front axles man, all kinds of bad luck with them

What about you and your d35???

Lol I almost said that. You have the same luck with d30's that I have with my d35

In my defense, it was already toast when I got it.

Lol true

Since half of the SIXJ crew will be at my house on Saturday, I'm going to use their help to pull the axle shafts out of the front, just like I did on the niner. Hopefully I'll be able to start driving it after that.

Flexxxer, let me know when you are planning on a junkyard run, I have a wish list

lol just go ahead and give it to me, i'm usually in PAP or ISA at least once a week if not more

Nuff Said.

Was going to put an efan in yesterday, but we couldn't get the fan off the water pump. Wtf chrysler, why not have a flange like every other vehicle out there? Was a good time though, had like 7 Jeeps parked behind my house, the golfers didn't know what to think. Redneck invasion!

Pulled one axle shaft out of the D30 (above) and will be pulling out the otherside hopefully today. The spider gears are wobbly as hell and I don't trust to drive another mile with anything connected to the carrier, I'm amazed it hasn't exploded yet.

On the plus side, the passenger side had brand new hub, rotor, pads, and axle (which I summarily destroyed). Driver's side is not new, so not looking forward to trying to take it apart.

wow. somebody replaced your rearend grease with mud lol