This has morphed from a for-sale thread into a build thread (much to my disappointment).
Every post on Wranglerforum with a diagnostic question direct people to Wranglerfix.com. Absent a definitive diagnosis, I called & spoke to the owner of Wranglerfix about my issues. I was a little disappointed with how he just insisted it was the PCM w/out any actual diagnosis. They have a bunch of TJs in their parking lot to test PCMs. I was hesitant to ship my PCM off w/out more confidence that was the failure. In an effort to get the jeep back underneath my house before the last storm I went to the U-pull-in & bought a spare PCM from a 4.0 Grand Cherokee of the same year. With that PCM installed I could hear the fuel pump priming & it would start & run poorly for 10 seconds, stalling at 500 rpm. This gave me confidence that the PCM was the issue.
I paid the $200 repair fee & dropped off my PCM (I was in SoFL for work). It's a nice business with a good reputation. A few people on the phone & likely a few techs repair/rebuiding parts.
Same day they called & said it wasn't repairable & I'd have to pay another $375 for a replacement because the capacitors leaked onto the board. I wonder if these things are ever deemed "repairable"...but at that point I'm already comitted. It stings a bit, but that's market rate for a PCM. Even Jerry the jeep guy in Daytona wanted $600 or more for a used PCM (not rebuilt).
Apparently there's a hack to use a phone charger to convert 12V to 5V & trick car into seeing a pulse from the PCM. There didn't seem to be much information on this hack & I really needed to just get it running.
The Jeep is now running so I can get it moved out of the rain before the next storm. I'd really like to get it sold, but there's a chance I'll have free time this fall to repair the rust before trying to sell it. It's all up in the air at this point.
This continues to be more of a "build thread."
SWMBO said she'd take $3K for it. Trades are 100% welcome.
I was backing it down my driveway last week & the brake pedal went to the floor. I drove over my mailbox, but avoided any other damage. The front driver-side brake line failed. I've since replaced it, but the brake front brake bleeder screws can't be removed. I'll try fire, but will likely just replace the front brake calipers if that doesn't work. The brakes should work well enough to move it around, but it's not roadworthy until i can bleed the brakes (tonight, hopefully)
I've started to wire-wheel & treat underneath w/rust converter and then fluid-film. I've loaded my ebay cart with the parts for the torque boxes & the rear frame section....but I'd really prefer to get rid of this thing & work on something else.
Hoondavan said:
Same day they called & said it wasn't repairable & I'd have to pay another $375 for a replacement because the capacitors leaked onto the board. I wonder if these things are ever deemed "repairable"...but at that point I'm already comitted. It stings a bit, but that's market rate for a PCM. Even Jerry the jeep guy in Daytona wanted $600 or more for a used PCM (not rebuilt).
Hey, I'm sorry that you're having issues with the jeep. In case anybody reads this in the future, you can absolutely repair a PCM/Radio/whatever where the electrolytic caps have leaked onto the board. Much of the time you just scrape the acid off the copper traces and re-seal with conformal coating. If the acid has eaten away the copper traces then you can bridge the gap with fly-wire, coat with conformal coating and you're good to go.
Anyway, good luck with the sale!
Sold for $3k. Someone bought it as an offroad rig. He plans to combine the other TJ shell he has to make one nice one. I wish I had gotten this thing sold before the PCM died (now replaced) and before I ordered the metal to fix the rust. If anyone wants TJ torque boxes and rear frame section (where the trailing arms mount), I'll let them go for $120....1/2 of what I spent.
All said & done, it was a great rig for the last +6 years or so. It never needed a tow & had only fairly minor things fail (aside from the PCM). With family dynamics changing it only saw occasional use of the last 12 months or so...better to sell it than let it sit & deteriorate. I wouldn't mind owing another TJ or a YJ, or if my financial situation improves...another FJ40.
@Crustyredexpress: You're right. Usually the capacitors fail. An electronic shop can usually replace them for a few bucks, or you can solder them in yourself. Wranglerfix said the capacitors leaked & ruined the board...not sure if they were truly unrepairable or not...but they're a reputable shop & get a lot of love from the online Jeep community.
Sold for $3k. Someone bought it as an offroad rig. He plans to combine the other TJ shell he has to make one nice one. I wish I had gotten this thing sold before the PCM died (now replaced) and before I ordered the metal to fix the rust. If anyone wants TJ torque boxes and rear frame section (where the trailing arms mount), I'll let them go for $120....1/2 of what I spent.
All said & done, it was a great rig for the last +6 years or so. It never needed a tow & had only fairly minor things fail (aside from the PCM). With family dynamics changing it only saw occasional use of the last 12 months or so...better to sell it than let it sit & deteriorate. I wouldn't mind owing another TJ or a YJ, or if my financial situation improves...another FJ40.
@Crustyredexpress: You're right. Usually the capacitors fail. An electronic shop can usually replace them for a few bucks, or you can solder them in yourself. Wranglerfix said the capacitors leaked & ruined the board...not sure if they were truly unrepairable or not...but they're a reputable shop & get a lot of love from the online Jeep community.
They got a good deal. A running 4.0 with a 5 speed for 3k, bargain.
