Here goes AK getting his thread back on the rails again....

LOL, that's awesome AK. It warmed up for a bit here. Over the weekend we even hit 70, but it's 39 right now..... BBRRRRRR.

 

Yea, it was most likley the actuator pin that engages the fork rod. They can get a little sticky from non use. I recall a tech at the dealership voicing many of these trucks and expeditions coming in with no 4wd. All it usually took was a shot of lube to free them up. That said, the 98 hasn't suffered that problem in the past and I haven't heard that many having the problem on-line. 6 years of non-use, yea, that might do it lol.

What did happen with the 4x4 on the 98, and I have seen this with others, the plastic min-tube lines break up in pieces between the battery box and firewall. They don't just crack, they shatter lol. They dry out and become brittle from manifold heat, sort of a hot spot under the hood in that corner.

 

Have to change the dang gear oil in the front diff again, used that communist valvoline in there as well At least that has a drain plug. The rear end went quick with a reusable gasket, still, had to pull the cover.

 

 

Short Indian summer lol. Still waiting for ours, hasn't come yet. 40's and low 50's during the day, high 30's during the night.

Kid called just a moment ago, she was on the e-way with the 98 when the 4x4 light illuminated, looked at the switch and it was in 4L

Well, she switched it back real quick, it couldn't of engaged, swears she hasn't used the 4WD and doesn't know how long it's been on... thinking she must of turned the wrong **** at some point. The furnace fan is in close proximity I guess. Well, after changing the fluids again, done with that thing for the rest of year. If it breaks again.....

 

Glancing through the 98's file, last time I had a CEL was March of 06. The TPS went out while on the express way, pulled off and hit AZ. Attempted to change it out in the parking lot but failed. The 2 phillips heads wanted to strip out. Got it back to house and stuck a impact on them, removed them right quick. Installed the new, used 7mm COP bolts vs the phillips (same thread pitch, perfect in length). Carried quite a bit of tools back then, but not a battery impact. 7mm, well that's easy lol.

 

Glad Red only had the hiccups, AK. It started snowing here about 5:00 PM, and have a bit over 3.5" so far. The roads were a bit dicey on the way home, but the Cherokee handled it fine. New tires will be on the list before next winter though. The forecasters are saying we could get up to 10" by tomorrow afternoon. Glad I don't need to go anywhere in the morning!

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Caution (another) thread divergence ahead!
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On a side note, I suggest caution when ordering anything off of Amazon or eBay (and maybe even directly, I don't know) from Autoplicity. I got an email from them yesterday entitled "Your Autoplicity Amazon order is a bit behind we are working on it!" Knowing I wanted to wrench this weekend, I called them, and they assured me the email was an error, my order had been processed, and I'd get tracking info by the afternoon. Amazon showed shipped, so all's good, right? Wrong. Got another email today from "Ed Lichstein, CEO & Co-founder of Autoplicity" saying "We are not able to fulfill the order on our end." and that they'd issued a refund. :rolleyes" Amazon's customer service, though, was SUPERB. They verified the cancellation and refund, then issued me a credit to offset the difference in cost between the Autoplicity parts and the ones sold and shipped by Amazon. They also gave me free overnight shipping to boot.

Autoplicity email said they'd give me a $20 credit for my trouble. I'm sure I can find something there I need for $19.99.

P.S. When I looked at their site just after placing my Amazon order. It said they had 8 of those shocks in stock. I guess their inventory system needs some attention.

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Happy HOLLOW-WEENIE Everyone. Even you know who. LOL

 

 

Happy Halloween my dudes! This is my costume, lol.