We have been searching for a while now for a reliable beach cruiser my wife can drive when I am using the tow pig to replace two vehicles with one (manual, unreliable beach cruiser and old automatic tow pig) and simplify life a little. Stumbled on this link: https://www.thehulltruth.com/trucks-trailers-sale-wanted/1181656-2004-jeep-sale.html while searching for replacement trailer parts for my boat. Knew it was going to go ASAP (was right the heat was definitely on) but the owner worked with my so I could get someone to bring cash over and get it out of his driveway (Thanks Mike)!
Looking for the LM type knowledge from the crew on this 2004 Jeep Rocky Mountain Edition, what should I do when I get it in the shop? What should I preventatively replace assuming everything drives straight/true/tight? Any helpful thoughts on what to expect as my first foray into Jeep ownership would be helpful and allow me to do some parts shopping while I wait for the car to arrive.
Going to be used as a kid hauler to dinner/beach/airshows/etc. Backup daily for when I am at track events with the main family hauler. Etc Etc.
Look for my 2003 Cadillac Escalade 6.0L (17Xk miles) to be posted for sale fairly soon on here in case anyone is needing a hauler and wants to beat it to market drop me a line!
JAdams
New Reader
8/26/21 2:11 p.m.
Nice score! A good TJ is hard to beat IMO.
Yup. I believe the rocky mountain editions all come with 4wd, Dana 44, and the 15" "Ravine" aluminum wheels.
Back when the TJ came out we had about one per year burn to the ground on the beach here. The tow truck driver(also the FD's Chief Engineer) said it had something to do with the automatics overheating and puking fluid onto a hot engine. Our beaches here are very soft sugary sand though and put a lot of strain on cars. Low tire pressures and easy driving can solve that issue.
Your exhaust manifold may be cracked. They all crack. That's the 4.0 for you.
The CPS on the 4.0 is a known weak spot. I haven't done a wrangler, but it's a pain on a 4.0 cherokee. Not saying it needs to be replaced, but a common failure so check into the steps to replace it.
I'm new to jeep ownership as well. This year I bought my first...the previous generation, YJ.
I'm impressed yours is so unmolested.
Crankshaft Position Sensor as mentioned by Buzzboy, is something I ordered to have as a spare after reading about it as a common culprit in no-start situations.
If I were you, I'd plan on the simple Preventive Maintenance stuff. Fuel Filter, Air Filter, Oil Filter, fluids (oil, trans, transfer case, diffs, brake fluid, coolant), grease the zerks. Then go drive it and enjoy!
I'm always wary of coolant hoses so I have a full set ready to go on next time I have a need to open the cooling system (which is also a good time to do the thermostat and radiator cap)
It's a different driving experience and so far, I really like it. It has a certain simplicity about it...but it's not tedious (like driving our old 3/4 ton truck).
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
John Welsh said:
Is it 4wd? 
Came here for this...
No issue here but the seller did promise me it had 4 wheels (total - not drive) and I got home and realized it was tripod'ing on 3. Insane they would lie about something like that.
ClemSparks said:
I'm new to jeep ownership as well. This year I bought my first...the previous generation, YJ.
I'm impressed yours is so unmolested.
Thanks for the compliment!
And to be clear, it definitely is a compliment. To find one stock is near impossible around me.
All these Jeep dorks throw parts at them with the aptitude of a chef and the dreams of a desert racer. When in reality, the curb-stop at the front of the walmart parking space is the biggest obstacle they'll see 364 days a year.
I'm glad you found yours...and the price seems on the low end...a pretty good deal.
I own an '04 TJ, one many Jeeps I have owned over the years. Biggest problem with these is the back half of the frame rotting to powder. Being it is at 100K miles, have someone go over the front end and make sure things are tight, death wobble is not a fun time. Not familiar enough with the autos to opine. We drove a Cherokee 200K miles from new and replaced one crank sensor during ownership.
GeddesB said:
I own an '04 TJ, one many Jeeps I have owned over the years. Biggest problem with these is the back half of the frame rotting to powder. Being it is at 100K miles, have someone go over the front end and make sure things are tight, death wobble is not a fun time. Not familiar enough with the autos to opine. We drove a Cherokee 200K miles from new and replaced one crank sensor during ownership.
I have read a bunch about rust. Being it is coming from a beach area and I live in a beach town, wondering a good coating to do to help slow this issue.
Soak in used motor oil? Cover in POR 15? Whats a good DIY solution to the frame rust issue?
I've been using 50/50 BoiledLinseedOil/Turpentine in a spray bottle. (the turpentine is just to thin it down a bit so it'll sray nicely. That mixture is kind of arbitrary...it could probably be thicker or thinner based on your preference). I spray it into nooks and crannies.
Another nice thing about the jeep...it's easy to access the spots where grime accumulates to cause rust. (I mean...easier than other old, rusty junk I have.)
Olemiss540 said:
GeddesB said:
I own an '04 TJ, one many Jeeps I have owned over the years. Biggest problem with these is the back half of the frame rotting to powder. Being it is at 100K miles, have someone go over the front end and make sure things are tight, death wobble is not a fun time. Not familiar enough with the autos to opine. We drove a Cherokee 200K miles from new and replaced one crank sensor during ownership.
I have read a bunch about rust. Being it is coming from a beach area and I live in a beach town, wondering a good coating to do to help slow this issue.
Soak in used motor oil? Cover in POR 15? Whats a good DIY solution to the frame rust issue?
A few years back my TJ needed a flywheel (insert rant about dual-mass flywheels), and while it was apart engine out etc., I POR-15ed the entire frame. Eastwood sells a kit to do the inside of the frame, but I haven't done it personally. If the frame is already sketchy, there are replacement sections available. The other places these are prone to rot is under the drivers door and both front fender where they meet the hood.
Many cans of Fluid Film and spend a day spraying everywhere you can get the nozzle to reach. Pop any and all plugs(plastic and rubber) and spray away. Make it an annual ritual and it will greatly help the longevity of that nice looking TJ.
In reply to lotusseven7 (Forum Supporter) :
Yes.
Especially inside the frame. Soak that sucker. Buy a 5 gallon bucket and an electric paint sprayer, which seems to do the best job of spraying in a way that actually gets it to go somewhere instead of making fog.
The biggest rust area is the bottom of the frame. It rots from the inside out. Next is pretty much everywhere else...
Pete. (l33t FS) said:
In reply to lotusseven7 (Forum Supporter) :
Yes.
Especially inside the frame. Soak that sucker. Buy a 5 gallon bucket and an electric paint sprayer, which seems to do the best job of spraying in a way that actually gets it to go somewhere instead of making fog.
The biggest rust area is the bottom of the frame. It rots from the inside out. Next is pretty much everywhere else...
I may prefer to try to treat the frame with POR 15 wherever possible and then try my best to treat the inside of the frame with products.
I believe it's now a law to put angry eyes on the front, I have not seen one without them in a long time.
Between angry eyes on wranglers and Carolina squatted pickups I wouldnt know which to erase from mankind first.
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:
Olemiss540 said:
Between angry eyes on wranglers and Carolina squatted pickups I wouldnt know which to erase from mankind first.
The kardashians.
Eh, I have to deal with E36 M3ty vehicle mods on a weekly basis. The Kardashians might as well be the Roosevelt's for as little as I know they exist. No news and no primetime TV has some benefits.
jgrewe
HalfDork
8/27/21 4:50 p.m.
Checking for frame rust is easy. You will find a hole in the side of the frame just ahead of the rear tires. Stick your finger in there and root around. I can almost guarantee huge rust flakes. Put some drain holes in the bottom of the lower sections of the frame and blast away with your choice of preservative.
Jeeps get angry eyes because the are mad they never get to go off road and get dirty.
