what did you do to your xj/zj/wj today?

I know that I am the first person to point out if there are not pictures did it really happen.
So you are going to have to believe me.
Or not.
LOL.
Been having vibrations at normal highway speeds. Seems to come and go and might be dependent on the condition of the pavement.
Can't really call it a death wobble though.
But awhile back did hit some bumps on the highway doing about 60 MPH and got what I am going to refer to as a "baby death wobble".
Seemed to feel it was just the driver's side front when it did happen though.
Finally hooked up with my buddy, old boss at the Napa, and we threw it up on his lift.
Well everything checked out the best we can tell on the front end.
He was impressed at how tight everything was for 172K.
Tires seemed OK, no spun bands, and balanced. Driveshafts look good. U Joints, including front axles, looked good.
Steering box seemed fine. Wasn't loose like the spacer had busted or bolt or 2 had snapped.
We did forget to check the steering shaft in the engine compartment though.
He felt a weird resistance trying to hold back the driver's side front tire while the Jeep was running, idling, and they were spinning in 4 wheel drive.
So he started thinking brakes. Which of the zillion things that could be going on there had occurred to me too.
We pulled off the calipers, welded up the notches in the steering knuckles, regreased everything, and threw it back together.
Been meaning to deal with those notches for sometime now so glad that finally got done.
He said the calipers looked fine. We were able to press the pistons in without a problem.
Still a fair amount of meat on the pads and considering I replaced those and the rotors about 25K ago guess I can't complain.
But he is thinking I should buy new pads and rotors anyway.
So took it for a spin on the highway and the vibration was still there.
But I had to drive at about 85 to 90 MPH to feel it.
But it did not feel as bad as when it would happen at lower speeds so......
While not a Jeep guy he knows his stuff and thinking he might be right.
So I figure drive the Jeep for awhile see what happens but will probably end up buying new rotors and pads.
Thinking go for the ceramic coated rotors we sell with the good Adaptive One disc pads.
Did notice that my backing plates on the front were pretty rusted.
But my buddy was pretty amazed at how clean everything else was underneath.
We further discussed getting those Up Country leaf springs and the new shackles on.
Showed him the cavities both front and rear where that nut is welded to the inside of the uni-body that we can't get at.
Explained to him how they used the red Loctite from the factory there and lot of times they bust loose.
His response was "Yeah I own a blow torch. We'll get "em" off."
LOL.

Over the last 2 weeks I've been chasing down my no start issue. Had a lot of water in my fuel a while back. I drained the tank and thought I had it clear but still no start and the fuel pump went bad. So I have pulled the fuel tank out and drained it again, cleaned it and completely cleared any trash in it out as well as fixing a couple of interior rust spots that started from the bad gas. Installed another fuel pump. I then pulled the fuel rail and injectors. Injectors looked pretty bad so got new ones and installed them after cleaning out the fuel rail. I also blew out the fuel feed and return lines with my air compressor, installed a new fuel filter. Checked all the electrical and it's good and I get power to the pump appropriately. Just need a short piece of fuel line for the fuel returna t the tank and I can try to start her up. If this doesn't fix it I'm kinda lost. New CPS is in and was running. I can get the motor to run on starting fluid so it is fuel related.
Also soaking the bolts on the exhaust system in prep for replacing it once I get the Jeep running again.

Pics after and before tank cleaning and repair.

So this happened last night.
Know how I always tell you guys that I really don't drive much and the '00 is the only vehicle I own?
I would have to check my files to be sure but thinking I have had my '00 for about 10 1/2 years now.
And bought her with 147K and change.
LOL.

So a picture of the Jeep's new home.
Did an oil and filter change, greased everything, checked all the fluids, new air filter, and wiper blades.
Slight problem with the oil filter though.
I restocked on my Napa Gold 1085's awhile back. And while they are rebranded Wix due to covid and supply chain issues they are made by some company out of Germany.
Can't recall who something H_____ & M______ I think.
I use an oil filter cap. Helps to not whack the oil pressure sending unit and since I plumbed it those fittings it sticks out that much farther.
And my hands don't really work as well as they used to so when putting on the filter I do it hand tight the best I can, put the oil cap back on, and give it a little extra.
I find it I don't do that a little tiny bit of oil wants to come out between the adapter and the filter at the bottom.
So the new filters are fluted at the top, sorry I should have taken a picture, and I can not use my oil filter cap on it.
So I cranked it the best I could with my hands and we will see what happens.
What also worries me is trying to get it off in October for the next oil change.
Doubt I will be able to get it off with hands and thinking now I will have to buy an oil filter wrench,
Hoping I can get it in there and not bang on the sensor while doing it.
Going to go to the store and see if we sell a cap for this type of filter.
But also hoping that regular Wix filters are back in stock and swap the other 2 I have in stock for them.
Just wished I noticed this before.
Oh well.
LOL.

So have had a blown driver's side fog light since last Winter and finally got around to swapping another one in.
Had 2 brand new, left and right, fog lights still in "stock" so installed both of those.
Figured this way both would match.
Also figure replace the blown bulb in the one and have 2 used ones in "stock" for the next time.
Also got around to vacuuming the Jeep.
After the move And Winter it was kind of a mess in there.
Still needs a good cleaning and detailing and will get that done in time.

I did a thing ultimately for my Jeep and my pickup truck. Got a screaming deal on a Badlands ZXR 12,000 winch. Mounted on my receiver hitch mount for general use around the house and the farm. Many know I'm a diehard Warn guy but for less than $300 total I couldn't pass it up. Now I'll see how
it holds up to the type of abuse I dish out. My first chore with it is to move some downed trees at my mother in laws house after I cut them up. Not able to get the Jeep over there so I'll throw the winch in the bed of my truck with my chainsaw and recovery gear. We'll see how it does.
4/25, changed out the wire rope for synthetic to lighten this heave beast a little. Pulled my Silverado up hill tensioning the synthetic rope without a problem.

So I guess my luck as finally run out.
As some of you know my '00 was bought almost 11 years ago as a kinda running not really drive-able project.
Nothing crazy though.
While I was aware of the 0331 head issues wasn't till after I bought her and started poking around on the internet that I
read about heat soak and misfire issues that seem to be a little more prevalent in '00 and '01 compared to other years.
But until 2 days ago this has never been an issue.
When I did start reading about this stuff way back when I hadn't gotten to the plugs yet.
Told myself cause as of yet I didn't seem to have any of these problems whatever kind of plug was in there she was getting new of.
Turned out they were cheapo Champions. 438's to be exact.
Which is all I have run in her.
Oh and these plugs were so beat that I couldn't believe the Jeep ran as well as it did with them in there.
Anyway it got really warm here. Like in the 90's and when I started the Jeep back up after a quick stop at the store she fumbled for about a minute.
Happened again later and this time threw a CEL. P0301.
So while I really didn't believe the plug was the problem threw a new one in there anyway.
One of the reasons that I did the coil mod cause it makes it easy like it should be. LOL.
Well no joy. Happened again.
I would swap back in the coil rail but figure I would have 2 cylinders misfiring if that was the case. Even with the JK coil used for the mod so.....
Just cause I can I am going to wrap the cylinder 1 injector in some tin foil just to see what happens.
If that fixes the problem, even though thinking it would just be masking the symptom, do something more permanent.
If it doesn't I guess will do a quick compression test of that one cylinder and see what I see.
If that checks out guess I will swap a couple of the fuel injectors and see what happens with that.
I swapped in 4 hole injectors about 10 years ago. And while I paid a good amount of money for new ones, kinda embarrassed by that, I justified it
cause the place I bought them from is literally 15 minutes from home. Or at least it was before I moved. LOL. Now probably about 45 minutes.
I do have a sneaking suspicion this might be fuel pump related too.
Jeep seems to have been starting a little funny just before this happened.
Oh and of course when I did the fuel injectors I bought a new Mopar fuel rail.
Just cause of that fuel dampener on it. You don't read about much today but back some it leaking was kind of a thing.
Guys used to refer to it as the flamethrower. LOL.
While mine wasn't leaking I bought it just cause I could and got it pretty cheap through the store so....
Here is the rub. While the new fuel rail was a Mopar part it did not have the schrader valve on it to check fuel pressure.
Didn't realize it when I bought it but did before it was installed. I was pissed too and almost didn't use it cause of that.
Not that testing fuel pressure without it is that big a deal, just use some of the fittings and hoses that come with fuel injector testers, but the
schrader valve does make it super easy so.....
Oh and if it does turn out to be the fuel pump so glad that I bought that Mopar fuel pump for "stock" way back when.
LOL.