I prioritized the MJ to do list on my white board and checked enough off the list to take it out for the first time this past weekend and for the most part the MJ did great! A couple small projects before the trip...
- The battery's just been flopping around in this thing, I replaced the battery tray and got to use my new TMR Machete to make a simple hold down strap.
- Relocated the vacuum reservoir under the hood, from the factory it mounts behind the bumper.
- Pulled all the stock CAD D30 vacuum lines and plugged the t-case inputs.
- Replaced the O2 sensor and reset the ECU after failing emissions.
- Cleaned up and rerouted the wiring harness to the front clip lights, installed all the front clip pieces.
- Tacked in a couple tubes for the bumper, I'll finish weld them later, neither bumper is painted.
- Routed wires and connected the winch.
Drove to San Rafael Swell early Friday morning where I met some family, my dad brought his new side by side and my brother brought his YJ; we set up camp near Temple Mountain and took off for the maiden voyage to run Muddy Creek. Driving the pavement towards Goblin Valley the MJ ran great, the steering was great, ride was great, then I noticed the temp continuing to climb. I stopped at the entrance for the Ding and Dang hike with the temp reaching ~230F, popped the hood to find coolant spewing out of the Renix style coolant tank... barely hit a dirt road and I was broke ha. While it was cooling down we started poking and prodding around and found that the fan clutch was completely free spinning which shouldn't be happening with it this hot, it was shot. I didn't know it at the time, but the electrical fan on these things doesn't turn on unless the A/C is on or the temp on the cool side of the radiator gets above ~230F. My family went ahead, and my wife and I limped the MJ back to camp to work on it for the next day. Once I got to camp I unplugged the electrical fan and wired it straight to the battery with a switch all zip tied neatly under the hood, I'd have to pop the hood everytime to turn it on or off but good enough for the weekend. My dad found some plumbers tape in the camper and we removed one bolt from the clutch side and one bold from the fan side and tied the two together. Did a sunset trial run and everything was running good, but then the damn temperature started rising again, I pulled off the side of the trail to find some idiot (me) didn't replace the cap on the coolant reservoir, I'd boiled out a ton of coolant but luckily the cap was still sitting there under the hood. Filled it up with water and what little antifreeze I had and limped back to camp.
Day 2 I filled/burped/etc. the coolant system and replaced the cap. We then took off to run Behind the Reef, put about 60 offroad miles on the MJ and it ran cool/great the entire time. The challenge/drive was super fun, wheeling a manual on 33s and picking your way through spots you'd just run over in a buggy was awesome. My wife was a fan and multiple times said it was much more comfortable than the buggy.
One of the coolest parts of the ride - we were in the "wild horse canyon/flats" area and from my left we see come busting over the hill about 20 beautiful wild horses. It was something out of a movie, they ran up alongside us and right in front of us across the trail. We got some rough video, but it was awesome.
It was windy and rainy both nights we were there, but Saturday night was wild. Woke up to the tent laying overtop of us, wind howling and raining like mad, my wife, doggo, and I abandoned the tent and spent the rest of the night in the truck.
Overall a great trip and successful shake down.
A few more pictures from the weekend.
I've already replaced the fan clutch and will be replacing the thermostat tonight, then back to the list buttoning other stuff up. Hope to drive it a lot for the next week and pass emissions in the near future.