Repair 7

Most of the latest model vehicles have become so user-friendly that drivers no longer even have to dial their own phones to make a phone call --- you can just tell your vehicle to call your mom and your vehicle, after clarifying whether you want her cell or home phone, will make the call for you. Despite the conveniences modern cars offer, one thing has become more complicated as cars become smarter: replacing your car keys. The latest model vehicles, including Jeeps, are equipped with computer chips that read your car keys. If you lose the key to a newer model Jeep, youll have to have a new one cut and programmed, which is costly. Replacing the keys to your 1996 Jeep is far less complicated.

Instructions

1

Contact any locksmith or Jeep dealership in your neighborhood to obtain a replacement key for your 1996 Jeep.

2

Provide the locksmith or dealership with the vehicle identification number (VIN) of your Jeep so they can use it to obtain the information on how to cut your specific key. VINs are located on your insurance, registration and purchase paperwork as well as on your drivers door panel and on the bottom left side of your Jeeps windshield.

3

Schedule a time to visit your Jeep dealer or to have a locksmith come to you to replace your 1996 Jeep key.

4

Pay for your new keys and you will be on your way.

The 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee has two license plate bulbs in the rear. Theyre located on the hatch shelf directly above the license plate. The front license plate doesnt require illumination, so it has no bulbs. Rear license-plate illumination, on the other hand, is mandated by law in the United States. Lighting in the rear can be overlooked since its impossible for a driver to see the back of the vehicle when driving. The license plate bulbs come on when the headlight switch is turned on.

Instructions

1

Ensure that the headlight switch is off. If necessary, turn on the headlight switch to determine which license plate bulb is out (unless youre replacing both). Turn the switch back off after checking.

2

Raise your 1997 Grand Cherokees rear hatch.

3

Remove the retaining screw on the lens cover of the faulty license plate bulb, using the screwdriver. Each lens only has one screw; its on the inside edge of the lens.

4

Pull the lens downward from where the retaining screw was removed. There is a small tab on the other side of the lens that acts as a hinge and holds the other side of the lens in place.

5

Pull the spent bulb straight out of the socket. Push the replacement bulb into the socket and test the light before replacing the lens assembly. Ensure that the tab on the lens is seated inside the bulbs cavity when reassembling it.

Chrysler uses its Jeep brand for its off-road and sport-utility vehicles. The 1988 Jeep models included the Cherokee, Comanche, Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer and Wrangler. These vehicles came equipped with fuel injectors, which deliver the correct fuel-air mixture to the engine, at the correct timing. To access the fuel injectors in a 1988 Jeep, you will need to remove additional components. The procedure for replacing the fuel injectors is generally the same for all 1988-made Jeeps.

Instructions

1

Remove the cable from the negative battery terminal, using a socket wrench, to prevent the battery from generating sparks. Disconnect the air cleaner and its hose. Remove the upper and lower bonnets from the throttle body.

2

Press the tabs on the electrical wire for the fuel injector and pull the wire up to disconnect it from the fuel injector. Remove the screws from the retainer clip on the fuel injector, using a socket wrench, and detach the retainer clip from the fuel injector.

3

Grab the center collar of the fuel injector between the electrical terminals with a small pair of pliers. Rock the fuel injector gently back and forth while lifting it from the injector bore of the throttle body. Ensure that you do not twist the fuel injector while removing it. Discard all of the O-rings and the centering ring from the fuel injector.

4

Apply a coating of transmission fluid to the new O-rings and install them into the injector bore of the throttle body. Place the new centering ring on top of the upper O-ring. Align the fuel injectors locating ring, with its slot on the injector housing of the throttle body. Place the fuel injector into the injector bore of the throttle body and attach the retaining clip. Fasten the screws for the retainer clip, using a socket wrench.

5

Connect the electrical wiring for the fuel injector. Attach the upper and lower bonnets to the throttle body, using a socket wrench. Install the air cleaner and connect the air cleaner house. Attach the cable for the negative battery terminal.

The factory radio amp in a 1999 Jeep Cherokee Laredo provides extra power to the radio unit to drive the speakers at higher volume levels. In addition to powering the speakers at high volume levels, the amp makes the sound clearer at all volume levels. Occasionally, the amp can draw too much power, causing its integrated reset switch to trip. This switch is designed to prevent the amp from overheating and causing a fire or damaging its internal components. When this switch trips, it needs to be reset directly on the amp itself; there is no external or dash-mounted reset switch.

Instructions

1

Open the back seat door, and pull the release strap on the bottom of the rear seat.

2

Fold the rear seat cushion forward to expose the carpeting underneath.

3

Peel back the carpet under the left side of the seat to expose the amplifier.

4

Depress the reset switch on the front side of the amplifier, and then replace the carpet.

5

Fold the rear seat back down so the seat cushion locks into place. Test the radio to make sure that it functions properly.

The check engine light on your Jeep will illuminate on the instrument panel when the on-board diagnostics computer receives an error code from a sensor, telling you that something is not working correctly on the vehicle. Although this light is annoying, make sure you take your vehicle to a mechanic to have the trouble code read and the problem repaired before you shut off the light. Once the problem has been fixed, then it will only take you a few minutes at home to reset the light.

Instructions

1

Find the port under the drivers dashboard that fits the code scanner connector. Plug the scanner into the port, and turn the key in the ignition to the "On" position but dont let the engine start. This will cause the scanner to turn on.

2

Use the arrow keys on the scanner to select "Reset" or "Erase." The check engine light will turn off on the instrument panel.

3

Unplug the scanner, and turn off the vehicle. Wait 10 seconds then turn the engine on. Verify that the check engine light is still off.

You can remove the exhaust system from your Jeep Grand Cherokee yourself. The exhaust system is a pipe that allows the air from the engine to exit out the rear of the vehicle. The air passes through a catalytic converter to eliminate the harmful byproducts of the engine. It also passes through the muffler, which eliminates engine noise. The exhaust may need to be removed for a variety of reasons, and you can complete the process in about an hour.

Instructions

1

Locate the exhaust under the vehicle along the passengers side.

2

Loosen and remove the bolts on the exhaust flange directly behind the muffler with a ratchet and socket. The muffler is the round section that is mounted in-line with the exhaust pipe.

3

Unscrew the bolts on the flange at the muffler and the down-pipe with the ratchet and socket.

4

Remove the bolts that secure the down-pipe to the headers with the ratchet and socket. The headers branch apart to attach to each cylinder on the engine block.

5

Lubricate the stock rubber isolators with lubricating fluid.

6

Remove the exhaust system by pulling the metal bars from the stock rubber isolators. Continue until the tailpipe, muffler, catalytic converter and down-pipe have been removed.

The Jeep is an all-purpose off-road vehicle. There are several reasons why a Jeep could stall and not start back up. You may have a bad battery or a bad starter. You can troubleshoot to find out what is wrong with your Jeep and try to get it up and running before resorting to a mechanic.

Instructions

Battery

1

Turn the ignition and turn on your headlights.

2

Get out of the Jeep and look to see if your headlights come on.

3

Open your hood if the lights do not come on.

4

Look over your battery for any corrosion. Use a screwdriver to scrape the corrosion off the battery. Use caution when doing this. Battery acid can harm your skin and clothes.

5

Tighten the connections from your battery to the terminals. Turn your Jeep back on.

Jump Start

6

Get another vehicle and pop the hoods on your Jeep and the other vehicle.

7

Connect the red end of your jumper wires to the red connection on your Jeep. Connect the other red end to the red connection on the other car.

8

Connect the two back ends to the black connections on the cars.

9

Turn the other car on.

10

Start your Jeep and let it run for at least 5 minutes to give the battery a good charge.

Starter

11

Pop the hood on your Jeep and follow the red cable coming from your battery to the starter. This is shaped like a soda can but larger.

12

Use a screwdriver to connect the two poles on the starter. Lay the screwdriver across the two poles to form a circuit.

13

Listen for the starter to let off a sound. If you hear the starter run then the starter is OK. If it is not running, you need to replace the starter.

14

Make sure the connection from the starter to the battery is complete. Tighten the connection if needed.

15

Test the alternator at an auto parts store if the starter is working but the Jeep still will not turn on.

Jeep issued a recall on the 2000 Grand Cherokee Laredo in 2005 for fuel pump problems, according to Internet Auto Guide. Not a widespread recall, it only affected a few Laredos, but other fuel pump problems have arisen for some 2000 Jeep owners. The fuel pump pushes gas from the tank through the fuel line and into the engines injectors. Problems with the fuel pump cause little or no fuel to reach the engine, creating multiple problems.

Plastic Grommet Failure

A plastic grommet on the 2000 Laredo fuel pump module was not compatible with gasoline, which caused the grommet connectors to degrade and allow gasoline to leak out. Since the fuel pump sits near the exhaust system, gasoline leaking out of the fuel pump can land on the exhaust and create a fire hazard. The fuel pump came from a specific manufacturer and only affected 7,291 Chrysler vehicles---including the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo.

Fuel Pump Failure

According to the website Car Complaints, some 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo owners have experienced fuel pump failure. Though no known specific cause for this problem exists as of 2010, gasoline leaking out of the fuel pump can cause it to work harder to push gasoline through the fuel line and possibly burn out. The only correction for this fuel pump problem involves replacing the fuel pump.

CMP Sensor Problems

The 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo has had problems with the camshaft position (CMP) sensor. The Laredo uses the CMP sensor to synchronize the fuel through the fuel pump. When this sensor goes out or operates intermittently, the fuel pump will fail to push gasoline through the fuel line. The vehicle will stall during acceleration, run roughly, jerk or hesitate during operation or achieve low fuel mileage. The CMP sensor requires replacement to correct this fuel pump problem.

Chrysler manufactures a number of off-road vehicles under its Jeep marque, with the Wrangler being the most popular of these models. The 1989 Jeep Wrangler represents the first generation of the Jeep Wrangler, which was produced from 1987 to 1996. These vehicles were available with several different engines, all of which used fuel injection. The fuel injectors in a 1989 Jeep deliver fuel and air to the engine and are located on top of the engine.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative battery cable with the socket wrench. This will prevent the battery from producing sparks while you replace the fuel injector. Remove the air cleaner and its hose from the vehicle as an assembly. Remove the bonnets from the throttle body with a socket wrench.

2

Press the tabs on the wire for the fuel injector while pulling the wire up to detach it from the fuel injector. Disconnect the screws for the retainer clip on the fuel injector with a socket wrench. Remove the retainer clip from the fuel injector.

3

Grab the center collar of the fuel injector with a pair of small pliers. Remove the fuel injector by lifting and rocking the collar gently with the pliers without twisting the fuel injector. Discard both O-rings and the centering ring for the fuel injector.

4

Lubricate the new O-rings for the fuel injector with transmission fluid. Install them into the bore of the fuel injector and place the new centering ring on top of the upper O-ring. Install the fuel injector and attach the retaining clip. Fasten the screws for the retainer clip with a socket wrench.

5

Attach the electrical connector for the fuel injector and install the bonnets with a socket wrench. Install the air cleaner assembly and connect the cable for the batterys negative terminal.

Removing the dashboard on your Jeep Cherokee is a simple, but finicky task. The Jeep Cherokee dashboard includes the lower instrument panel, instrument cluster bezel, radio and heater control panel, and defroster cowl panel.

Remove the Lower Instrument Panel

Remove the lower instrument panel first by removing its four retaining screws. Lower the panel and disconnect all the wire connectors attached to it. Make a note of where each wire connector attaches.

Remove the Instrument Cluster Bezel

Remove the four screws that hold the instrument cluster bezel in place. Unsnap the cluster bezel at the eight snap fit locations. Be gentle on older models of Cherokees to prevent breaking the snaps as they keep the bezel firmly in place and stops it from making annoying rattling noises.

Remove the Radio and Heater Control Panel

Unscrew the two screws holding this panel in place. Pull the radio control panel out and disconnect the electrical connectors to the radio. Pull out the heater control unit.

Remove the Defroster Cowl Panel

Loosen and remove the four screws holding the defroster cowl panel in place. The cowl panel has retaining clips on the drivers side, which must also be removed. Take care not to let the clips fall off the panel when you remove it.

The Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) valve prevents vapors from leaking from your 2007 Jeep Libertys engine into the atmosphere. The PCV valve forces harmful vapors back into the combustion chambers, so that they burn off during the fuel combustion cycle. When your Libertys "check engine" light comes on, or when your vehicle fails an emissions test, the PCV valve most likely has failed. Buy a replacement valve from an auto parts store.

Instructions

1

Raise the hood of your Liberty and rest it on the prop rod. Locate the PCV valve protruding from the back of the left cylinder head.

2

Pull the rubber hose straight back off the end of the PCV valve. Unscrew the PCV valve from the mounting area, by hand. Discard the old valve. Thread the replacement PCV valve into the mounting area, by hand, until it is secure.

3

Push the rubber hose back onto the end of the new valve. Push the hose back until it stops, making sure it is tight. Close the hood of the Liberty.

The automatic transmission shifter in the Jeep Cherokee is located on the transmission hump, between the front seats. The handle on the top of the shifter is made of plastic and has a button on the right end, which the driver must depress to shift the transmission out of "Park." Removal of the transmission from the truck required you to remove the handle from the shifter, in order to allow the transmission to be lowered out of the truck. The shifter handle will also need to be removed if you are removing the console from the truck.

Instructions

1

Place a set of wheel chocks or wooden blocks in front and behind the tires of your Jeep Cherokee, so that it will not roll. Turn the ignition key to the "Unlock" position, but do not turn it on.

2

Depress the brake pedal with your foot, depress the button on the shifter, then pull the shifter into the "Neutral" position. While you can leave the shifter in "Park," if you do, there will be very limited clearance around it.

3

Place your hands under the shifter handle, palms facing up. Pull straight up on the shifter handle. The handle will pop off the shaft very unexpectedly, so do not lean over the handle while you are pulling on it.

You can reset the change oil message on your 2008 Jeep Liberty right in your garage, saving time and money. The Liberty keeps track of your oil changes and alerts you to when the next one is due. A light illuminates on the instrument panel to alert you to the need for an oil change. Usually your mechanic will reset the light, but not always. If you change the oil change yourself, you will need to know how to reset it.

Instructions

1

Put the key in the ignition and turn it to the "On" position, but dont start the engine.

2

Press the accelerator to the floor very slowly three times within ten seconds. Turn off the ignition.

3

Turn the key in the ignition to the "On" position again. The "Change Oil" light should now be off. If its still illuminated, repeat the above procedure.

The Jeep Commander is an all terrain vehicle, widely used in off-road conditions. In such extreme conditions, damage to the side mirrors is a possibility. The side mirrors assembly on a Jeep Commander is secured inside the front door trim panels of the side doors. To remove the mirrors, you must also remove the side doors; without doing so, you cannot disconnect the mirrors assembly.

Instructions

1

Open the side door of the Jeep Commander. Remove the front door trim panel from one of the side doors by removing the three screws that secure it to the Jeep, using a screwdriver. With a firm grip, pull the trim panel from its place in an upward and outward direction. You will hear the seven plastic retention clips release as you remove the panel.

2

Remove the mirror flag clip, belt seal, knob and latch lock link located on the rear of the panel from the front door trim panel by pulling the connections apart. Take note of which connection you pull apart, it will be helpful during reassembly.

3

Disconnect the wire harness connectors and the interior door handle actuator rod from the front door trim panel by again pulling the connections apart.

4

Release the three nuts that attach the mirror to the door with a socket and ratchet. Hold on to the mirror as you do this to prevent damage either to the mirror or the paint and/or bodywork of your Jeeps side door.

5

Disconnect the battery negative cable by pulling the connectors apart; this cable powers the motor for the power mirror assembly.

6

Pull mirror apart from door carefully.

7

Repeat on the other side door for the second mirror.

While some vehicles use single headlights to account for both low and high beams, the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee employs separate bulbs for each per headlight assembly. As a matter of fact, each drivers and passenger side headlight assembly house a total of five bulbs inside. One low beam headlight, one high beam headlight, two parking lights and a combination marker/directional light. To access and replace any of these lights requires you to remove the headlight assembly.

Instructions

1

Open the hood to the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee and locate the jack screw at the top rear center of the headlight assembly that contains the headlight being replaced.

2

Remove the jack screw with the ratchet and a 7mm socket. Extract the long jack screw out of its chamber in the back of the headlight assembly and set it aside.

3

Grab the headlight assembly on the upper inner corner and the lower outer corner and wiggle the assembly free to unseat the headlight alignment guide pins. This will require some force to unseat the alignment pins.

4

Reach behind the assembly (attached to the wire harness connections of each headlight and bulb to access the spent headlight. Low beam headlights are located on the outer end of the assembly and the high beam on the inner end of the assembly.

5

Disconnect the blue clip of the wire harness from the base of the headlight.

6

Twist the headlight base a quarter turn counterclockwise to remove the composite headlight from the assembly.

7

Insert the new low or high beam headlight being careful not to touch the glass bulb into the back of the headlight assembly and align the tabs of the composite headlight to the grooves in the assembly. Press the headlight inward and then twist the base clockwise until it locks into place.

8

Reconnect the blue plug of the wire harness to the base of the headlight.

9

Rest the headlight assembly in its cavity and test the headlight for operation.

10

Align the headlight alignment guide pins with the seats in the headlight assembly cavity and push the assembly into place.

11

Replace the jack screw and tighten it with the ratchet and socket.

A warning light can be reset and turned off in your 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. The on-board diagnostics computer receives error codes from sensors positioned throughout the vehicle. There are various types of warning lights in the Laredo, including ones for the anti-lock braking system, the engine and the supplemental restraint system. Whatever the warning light, you can quickly and easily reset the light yourself right from your home garage using a tool that can be purchased from your local auto parts retailer.

Instructions

1

Find a port under the dashboard on the drivers side. Examine the port to make sure its the same size and shape as the code scanner connector. Plug the code scanner into the port. The Laredos battery will automatically power on the scanner.

2

Examine the menu on the code scanner. It will display the error codes corresponding to the warning lights on your instrument panel. Unplug the code scanner.

3

Fix the problem or perform the maintenance that generated the code.

4

Reinsert the scanner in the port. Look for the "Delete" or "Erase" button on the faceplate of the scanner. If there isnt one, scroll through the menu using the arrow keys. Select the "Erase Codes" function. Wait for the main menu to return.

5

Put the key in the ignition and start the engine. Examine the instrument panel to make sure the warning light has gone off.

The Jeep Liberty is a compact sport utility vehicle manufactured by Chrysler under its Jeep marque. The 2004 model has a choice of several different engines, such as a 4-cylinder, 2.4-liter engine. The oil pump for this engine is attached to the bottom of the engine block above the oil pan. The replacement of the oil pump also requires the removal of several other components to access the oil pump.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the cable to the negative battery terminal with a socket wrench. This prevents you from starting the engine while replacing the oil pump. Remove the mounting bolts for the the timing belt cover and detach the timing belt cover. Disconnect the timing belt from its pulley. Remove the oil pan mounting bolts and disconnect the oil pan.

2

Remove the crankshaft sprocket with tools 6793 and C-4685-C2. Disconnect the crankshaft key with a socket wrench and detach the oil pickup tube from the oil pump. Remove the mounting bolts for the oil pump. Disconnect the oil pump and remove the front crankshaft seal.

3

Clean the mounting surfaces for the oil pump with a shop rag. Apply gasket sealer to the new oil pumps mounting surface and install the new gasket onto the oil pump. Align the rotor flats of the oil pump with the rotor flats on the crankshaft. Connect the oil pump to the engine block with a socket wrench.

4

Install a new front crankshaft seal and connect the crankshaft key. Install the crankshaft sprocket with tool 6792 to ensure that you set the sprocket to the correct depth. The camshaft sprocket can damage your timing belt and engine if you do not install it correctly.

5

Attach the pickup tube to the oil pump. Connect the oil pan to the engine block with a socket wrench and install the timing belt. Replace the timing belt rear cover and connect the cable to the negative battery terminal.