All of a sudden terrified, freaked out, and need advice, opinions again

[chollomo]

Hi, well I was ridding the High of finding this 89 Wag, but now the shine has worn off since I got back from the mechanic and I'm terrified, depressed, and weary, so I need to post and get your all's opinion, and see if I need a second opinion from another mechanic...

So here what the mechanic said when I got down there to him, the right axle leak and fixing the driver side window is going to cost in the $800.00+ range (definitely not the $100 for the axle leak I thought) He said that the axle is compressed together, and it's a destructive process to get it off and requires special equipment to fix it back up.. the window on the drivers side will need at least the motor, and possibly the switches if thats busted too. I thought hat would be an easy fix, but he thinks the motor is riveted on (is that true?) and that cost more to replace than a bolt up.

When I got down to his place (an hour away) I found out that I had only been running on 7 cylinders but that was because one cable had come off. Don't have a clue as to why the heat is loud (he didn't check since there was already a lot on the fix it up plate.) the HINGE on the tailgate is broken ( don't know where to get another if the Pin is replaceable with out the whole hinge...) which causes a switch not to latch.. and because of that were not sure if the wiper will work (and the motor has been discontinued. The tailgate window does work however.

The mechanic also said that a tune would be a really good idea because the guy before me had put on cheap wire, distributor etc...

He's also having trouble finding parts got any suggestions besides BJs and teamwagoneer?


I thought i Was in good shape, but now I'm looking at $800 just to get to pass inspection and then god know what to really get it to a daily working order, and obviously thats no guarantee that I drive it ten feet and something does fall off it, because he noticed that it had not been driven in sometime ( which I didn't know). Plus I still want to paint it.. though that may have to just be a earl schieb / maaco special for now...

oh and the rear door locks need new actuators I think I saw cheap replacements some where though.

ARGHHH!

SO Here are my options:
1. Go down the rabbit hole and see if after these fixes (probably totally $2k in the end or at least $800 for now) will get me riding down the road at least till spring/summer.

2. Sell it now... I bought it for $1800.00 and this is ready for restoration, especially for someone with more know how than me.. maybe sell it back out for the same price.

3. I could probably get a guy to "fudge" the state inspection and ride like it is for while and see if things get worse... I need to have it inspected on way or another so I can finish taxes, tags, etc...

4. 1. Go down the rabbit hole and see if after these fixes (probably totally $2k in the end or at least $800 for now) and then sell the car at first sign of trouble and "hope" that I can get out what I put in it.. (do you guys think the car would be worth $2500.00 - $4000.00 if thats what I put in to it, I would just want to break even, as fan of these vehicles you would know better than anyone if thats fair, or am I just should throwing money away and should I expect to get out on ly what I paid for it.

5. go for gusto, sell my '99 wrangler (it's worth about 9-10k) and restore the waggy full on in hopes that it doesn't die anyway!


6. find another mechanic who is cheaper....if they exist...

(btw I'm not retired nor am I made of money, I'm a working man, with a little girl on the way, my wife has said she thinks it's worth the $800.00 to give it a good fighting chance instead of just turning around and selling it.
I 'm the one freaking out because I "if" we sell it I want to get out what I put in... I really dig the waggy, but before I totally fall in love with it, I need to know if it's worth walking away from or not.

THANK YOU ALL SOOO much!
I really appreciatte the massive amount of advice already doled out.

[Jeepstress]

First.... stop and take a deep breath!

You need to focus on one thing at a time instead of the whole big scarey picture.

You'll get a lot of good advice from the folks here. We'll be able to help you find parts. Most of us have a stash of stuff that we are willing to let go for a fellow jeeper in need - so you don't need to buy new or worry about where to find some things. And you can find a lot of stuff you'll need at Napa or McParts stores. It's not ALL made of unobtanium!

Put the paint job on the back burner until you get her running right.

Identify the one most important thing that you need to address right now and start working towards that fix. Take it one project at a time.

OK? Now take another deep breath. We'll be here for you.

[Ristow]

find a local member that'll help you. if you were by me i'd fix you up.

having a rig like these,and having to rely on a mechanic is not a good combo.

are you mechanicly inclined? get a tech manual and get after it.

on the rear axle,i think you mechanic is thinking of the 2 piece AMC 20 the CJs' used. an axle seal aint a big deal on these FSJs',they have one piece axles,even with the AMC 20 REAR.

The window will almost surely be a bad switch,or wiring,pull the panal off and do some investigation.get a multi-meter,a cheap one will do for this type of work.

i would also get a second opinion from a second shop if you must have this done by a shop.800.00 sounds high.

[HeavyHauler]

First off, how many miles does it have? Under 100K, it should be worth putting $ into. Over 150K, I wouldn't put too much in unless it's really in good shape. It really isn't going to be worth all that much more than you paid for it. I would get the inspection(you'll have to fix the window but not the axle leak) just to make sure you have no steering/brake issues. I paid $200 to fix an axle leak but that was the rear. You don't want the fluid too low or water getting in. Do you have any mechanical ability? Replacing plugs, wires, & distributor cap are fairly easy to do. Timing is a bit more complicated.Since it has been sitting for awhile, I would change the fluids(oil & antifreeze,easy;trans,axles,brakes, not so easy.)Don't sell the Wrangler. Drive the GW until summer & see how it does. If it performs well,gradually fix it up. If not, it may be time for a new home for it. As to parts, you might try grandwagoneers. I believe he has a reconditioned window regulators. For body parts, jwjeep, a salvage yard in Cal.

[armyfsj]

Wow i wish the list of thing needing fixed badly was that short on my jeep. Anyways all your problems sound like they could be a shade tree job for you with of course the backing of this fine forum for advice and technical info. The best single purchase i made for my jeep was the TSM's I got mine on ebay for about $60. Not the haynes manual they are junk. But good Luck and if you need anything just post up and everyone will do there best to help out.

[Dirtball]

AMEN on the do it yourself. This is all stuff you can do if you are even semi mechanically inclined. If you can't afford a TSM, like most of us can't, then pay the $20 or so for a Haynes at Advance or AZ. The test meter and a test light will get you a long way on those windows.

The tuneup parts are easy too... just take your time.

The pin should be available from a member, so don't sweat that...

Get that axle done yourself... YOU CAN DO IT!!! A good floor jack, a couple of good jackstands, the parts, and a manual are a hell of a lot cheaper than $800!!

And... your wife will think you're a hero...

You can't beat it, man!!

[Gambler68]

This will be a good experience to look back on in 2 years after you've learned to fix all this yourself. I paid for the first fix..$125 to install a $167 gear reduction starter in my 68 Glad, and after that..DIY or get someone to help ya.

[Chrome]

I agree with the rest about fixing it yourself. If the window motor is riveted in then a drill can be used to remove the rivets then replace the new motor with bolts the same size as the rivet hole. Actually this is easier in some cases because if the motor was bolted in and the bolts have rusted then imagine the skinned knuckles you have to look forward to. I glanced over your list but from what I saw just about everything can be done with simple tools and a peaceful Saturday afternoon.

Just remember we are all here to help so if you have questions ask away.

Good Luck!

[chollomo]

OK well reading your posts.. at the very least I need to get a second opinion from another shop or local FSJ owner. Anyone out there from Richmond,Va know of a good mechainc in the area.

[BarryL]

Owning any older vehicle without mechanical skills is going to be taxing. If you are in the position of needing to be able to depend on this vehicle every day and you do not want to spend a considerable sum of money on a good mechanics labor and parts then you might want to consider a different vehicle. On the other hand, a few months car payments will probably take care of your immediate needs. You will likely pay one way or another.

If you can afford the down time on the vehicle I would suggest you begin to develop your mechanical skill set. Not only is your labor free*, the parts are purchased without the higher retail markup*. Most of this stuff is not rocket science, but it is intimidating when you first start. Pick something simple, like the window. Ask us how. You will build confidence as you go.

*example: Simple alternator replacement, rebuilt at auto parts store $75. Total spent = $75. Mechanics shop - rebuilt alternator (the very same one) = $145. + 1.5 hours at $60. per = total of $235. Big difference and easy to do.

[black88]

Take it easy first of all and fix the things that will make it functional.

1.) Find a mechanic that will just do what is necessary, not one that wants to make it a new vehicle again.

2.) A leaky axle isn't the end of the world, as long as there is enough fluid in the pumpkin and its not leaving puddles under your rig. There should be an access plug that you can pull out near the top, if fluid runs out after you pull the plug it has enough. If not, put your finger in there to feel how low it is and add rear gear oil accordingly until it is full.

3.) So what your window doesn't work, its winter now anyway, save up, if you don't want to take a crack at it yourself, and get it fixed in the spring.

4.) I'd worry more about getting it a good tune up (cap, wires, rotor, plugs, vacuum lines, carb cleaning(or rebuid). And change the engine/tranny/transfer case oil and filters. Most of those you can do on your own. That service should be done on ANY older vehicle not just these fine beasts.

5.) As for your options all or OK except for #4. Unless you can do all the work yourself its almost never adviseable to throw alot of $ at it just to sell it because you will not get your money back.

6.) If it were me I'd keep the wrangler you have, fix as much as you can on the GW and enjoy it. If your not going to enjoy it and are going to worry about things breaking down, or it not functioning like a new vehicle, then sell it and stay away from anything over 5 years old in the future.

[BarryL]

By the way, many parts are avaiable at the local auto stores. Certainly tune up parts, wheel bearings and seals, etc. Others may need to be ordered, and some may not be available. Even then it is not impossible. Bad rear wiper motor that is not available (I don't know if it is or not), a motor shop can repair the motor or you find a used one.

[firecaptain13]

The window shouldn't be too hard... the motor is not riveted in... it's attached to the track 7 or so star screws. The motor itself is attached with 4 bolts to the track on one side and two smaller screws on the other. Take it apart, the grear should be easy to get out, relube (I use the sylglide) and see if the helps. Check the switch with a volt meter.
As for the axle seals... it's not an $800 job. If you're mechanical, you shouldn't have a problem.
Take your time and do one project at a time. You'll be surprised how many of the parts are still out there. Even the little pointer for the shifter on the steering column that tells you what gear your in can be had from Jeep.
Shop around for the best prices. Hit up the great people on this site for help. You'll be glad you did

[spaulding]

I have an factory service for an '89 and would be able to either explain or maybe scan and send whatever you're working on.
There isn't a thing you can't fix the the right tool and the time (maybe the time to do it more than once!) There is certainly a wealth of knowledge here.

[Jayrodoh]

Originally Posted by chollomo

my wife has said she thinks it's worth the $800.00 to give it a good fighting chance instead of just turning around and selling it.

Where do you find a wife that thinks sticking $800 into a Jeep is a good idea!!

[chollomo]

to answer an earler question, the vehicle has 145,000 mles on it, it's a lot of miles, but I've never been to scared of mileage, then again, I've own a lot of hondas in the 200k range that ran beautifully, and this aint no honda.

I think I will go and pick it up and take it to another shop, this guy may be a freind of my dads, but after hearing everything here, $400+ for just a leaky axle and $400.00 for a broken window, must be too much, maybe he's screwing me over, so i'll go find out!

[addicted]

Like everybody else has said it's not that hard and most things can be removed from your list in a weekend and about the rear wiper not working I am pretty sure that it is a standard factory option on all of the 89's - 90's that had them. Mine doesn't work either.

[tbryan]

I had the same experience with mine when I bought it. I'm not super mechanical but can figure things out given enough time and enough research (utilize the search feature on this and other FSJ sites).

My issues were carb and emissions. I found a great mechanic who told me what issues he found and helped my prioritize (example, motor mounts #1, tranny fluid change #12) He did the stuff that required special tools in the order of importance. i took it home and started on my list. The more I did the braver I got and now I have been doing it all on my own. (teaching a man to fish)

I bought this thing so I could work on it. One of the proudest things I have done is to tackle this Jeep as a little scary project that is beyond my knowledge, and then learning to fix it. Mine is my daily driver, so my projects can't keep it down longer than a weekend which is really for the best.

Take the advice of taking a deep breath. Fix what you need to, learn to fix the rest. Take the door apart, see how it works. these aren't swiss watches, they are jeeps and parts can be rigged to work. I had to dump 500 bucks into mine on various things but that is one car payment so it ain't that bad. Good luck and keep the faith.

[cajunKen]

Originally Posted by chollomo

with a little girl on the way, my wife has said she thinks it's worth the $800.00 to give it a good fighting chance instead of just turning around and selling it.

Wow. I gotta print that out, frame it, and hang it on the wall.



Get a second opinion on your axel, that sounds steep.

Lots of people seem to hate the Haynes manual, but for starting out it worked fine for me & still does. I'm going to get a TSM eventually though.

If the Wrangler's running well, I'd keep it as my DD & fix up the Wag as finances/time allow. I'd get it running well first....a) just to have another drivable vehicle around, and......b) it's gives you more incentive to keep it & fix up the other stuff when you can actually enjoy it once in a while.

Good luck to ya, and I hope you hang in there. It does get frustrating at times, but there are people on this board who can rebuild these things blindfolded & and will help you out.

[funhog]

I have a Wag that my wife uses as a DD. There are plenty of little things that I have to do to it. Most of them are convinence items. Get the Haynes or chilton manual. I have an extra one I'll sell you cheap just PM me. When you are looking for parts go to the for sale section and see if anyone is selling that part. If not just post up in the wanted section. Chances are someone will have it pretty cheap or can tell you where to get a new one. You would be amazed at how many of these parts came from Chevy or Ford.

Like the guys above said get a good jack and a simple set of tools, both of these will go a long way. If you have another car that you can use for a back up you are better off. Find some local guys. I know that there are some guys from near you. I am in GA. and we have WOT's on a pretty regular basis. I am sure that the food and beer you would give the guys is cheaper than the mechanic you would have paid.

Good Luck.

Don