NJPainter wrote:
> First off,THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HAS REPLIED!... I regret not
> stopping here first, everyone's been helpful.
>
>
> Problem is, I have no idea to do any of these things.

Neither did any of us till we started learning. :)

It's not rocket science. Start simple and work your way up
or dive in and get the t-shirt. I started by simply rotating
tires, did shocks, replaced spark plugs and other fiddly bits.
Eventually I tried my hand at rebuilding a carurator, twice.
Now I'm up to the point where installing a stroker kit sounds
like fun. (sick isn't it.) :) But each time I do something the
money saved pays for more tools.

> Anyone have any tips on dealing with a dealership mechanic? I don't
> want to get a $200 bill for diagnostics and then have them tell me
> it's another amount of money to fix the problem...

The dealership mechanic will have a set charge for diagnostics and
usually apply that against any labor/part charge for fixing the problem.
Thing is dealerships aren't cheap places to get labor done. But
sometimes they are the only place to turn.

--
-- DougW -- 93 ZJ 4.0 http://revbeergoggles.com
HESCO Supercharger - 300W IASCA Stereo - Edelbrock IAS Shocks
Gibson Exhaust - rear DCpower - custom gauge install - Stillen Rotors
Banks Header - and BEER, in the fridge!

 

NJPainter wrote:
> First off,THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HAS REPLIED!... I regret not
> stopping here first, everyone's been helpful.
>
>
> Problem is, I have no idea to do any of these things.

Neither did any of us till we started learning. :)

It's not rocket science. Start simple and work your way up
or dive in and get the t-shirt. I started by simply rotating
tires, did shocks, replaced spark plugs and other fiddly bits.
Eventually I tried my hand at rebuilding a carurator, twice.
Now I'm up to the point where installing a stroker kit sounds
like fun. (sick isn't it.) :) But each time I do something the
money saved pays for more tools.

> Anyone have any tips on dealing with a dealership mechanic? I don't
> want to get a $200 bill for diagnostics and then have them tell me
> it's another amount of money to fix the problem...

The dealership mechanic will have a set charge for diagnostics and
usually apply that against any labor/part charge for fixing the problem.
Thing is dealerships aren't cheap places to get labor done. But
sometimes they are the only place to turn.

--
-- DougW -- 93 ZJ 4.0 http://revbeergoggles.com
HESCO Supercharger - 300W IASCA Stereo - Edelbrock IAS Shocks
Gibson Exhaust - rear DCpower - custom gauge install - Stillen Rotors
Banks Header - and BEER, in the fridge!

 

NJPainter wrote:
> First off,THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT HAS REPLIED!... I regret not
> stopping here first, everyone's been helpful.
>
>
> Problem is, I have no idea to do any of these things.

Neither did any of us till we started learning. :)

It's not rocket science. Start simple and work your way up
or dive in and get the t-shirt. I started by simply rotating
tires, did shocks, replaced spark plugs and other fiddly bits.
Eventually I tried my hand at rebuilding a carurator, twice.
Now I'm up to the point where installing a stroker kit sounds
like fun. (sick isn't it.) :) But each time I do something the
money saved pays for more tools.

> Anyone have any tips on dealing with a dealership mechanic? I don't
> want to get a $200 bill for diagnostics and then have them tell me
> it's another amount of money to fix the problem...

The dealership mechanic will have a set charge for diagnostics and
usually apply that against any labor/part charge for fixing the problem.
Thing is dealerships aren't cheap places to get labor done. But
sometimes they are the only place to turn.

--
-- DougW -- 93 ZJ 4.0 http://revbeergoggles.com
HESCO Supercharger - 300W IASCA Stereo - Edelbrock IAS Shocks
Gibson Exhaust - rear DCpower - custom gauge install - Stillen Rotors
Banks Header - and BEER, in the fridge!

 

thanks for the advice and the inspiration...

I'm a little scared about going to the dealership. I won't be able to
negotiate price, so I hope I get a cool mechanic to work with. I hope
it's something small, but I'll probably back on here tomorrow crying
about how much I just spent.

How do you do your own work without a lift?

 

thanks for the advice and the inspiration...

I'm a little scared about going to the dealership. I won't be able to
negotiate price, so I hope I get a cool mechanic to work with. I hope
it's something small, but I'll probably back on here tomorrow crying
about how much I just spent.

How do you do your own work without a lift?

 

thanks for the advice and the inspiration...

I'm a little scared about going to the dealership. I won't be able to
negotiate price, so I hope I get a cool mechanic to work with. I hope
it's something small, but I'll probably back on here tomorrow crying
about how much I just spent.

How do you do your own work without a lift?

 

NJPainter wrote:
> thanks for the advice and the inspiration...
>
> I'm a little scared about going to the dealership. I won't be able to
> negotiate price, so I hope I get a cool mechanic to work with. I hope
> it's something small, but I'll probably back on here tomorrow crying
> about how much I just spent.
>
> How do you do your own work without a lift?

Not everything requires a lift. I use a 3ton floor jack
and heavy duty jack stands when there isn't enough room to
slide under the jeep. The biggest problem I run into is
stuck bolts, but even then there are ways around that.
http://www.revbeergoggles.com/temp/oomph.jpg

That was one way to loosen a stuck axle bolt.
Not graceful, but it works. :) I need to buy
an air wrench.


--
DougW

 

NJPainter wrote:
> thanks for the advice and the inspiration...
>
> I'm a little scared about going to the dealership. I won't be able to
> negotiate price, so I hope I get a cool mechanic to work with. I hope
> it's something small, but I'll probably back on here tomorrow crying
> about how much I just spent.
>
> How do you do your own work without a lift?

Not everything requires a lift. I use a 3ton floor jack
and heavy duty jack stands when there isn't enough room to
slide under the jeep. The biggest problem I run into is
stuck bolts, but even then there are ways around that.
http://www.revbeergoggles.com/temp/oomph.jpg

That was one way to loosen a stuck axle bolt.
Not graceful, but it works. :) I need to buy
an air wrench.


--
DougW

 

NJPainter wrote:
> thanks for the advice and the inspiration...
>
> I'm a little scared about going to the dealership. I won't be able to
> negotiate price, so I hope I get a cool mechanic to work with. I hope
> it's something small, but I'll probably back on here tomorrow crying
> about how much I just spent.
>
> How do you do your own work without a lift?

Not everything requires a lift. I use a 3ton floor jack
and heavy duty jack stands when there isn't enough room to
slide under the jeep. The biggest problem I run into is
stuck bolts, but even then there are ways around that.
http://www.revbeergoggles.com/temp/oomph.jpg

That was one way to loosen a stuck axle bolt.
Not graceful, but it works. :) I need to buy
an air wrench.


--
DougW

 

You can rent, often for free, a mechanical oil pressure gauge from many
auto-parts stores. It is simple to attach, you remove the oil pressure
sender with a wrench and screw in the mechanical gauge and you read the
actual pressure directly.

From your post I think that this oil change was delayed to 4000 miles. This
is more than the 3k interval that will give you maximum engine life but less
than the warranty requirement.

Upon getting an zero pressure reading off a dashboard gauge you mechanic's
first step should have been checking the actual pressure with a mechanical
gauge.

This is not a 'Jeep thing' this would hold true of any engine that uses
electrical senders (most if not all).

We all started somewhere, if the mechanical gauge shows proper pressure then
the sender or wiring is at fault. This would not be the first or last
sender that was defective new from the box.

If, in fact, your pressure falls off then you have valuable information to
give your new mechanic.

Most vehicle maintenance can be done without a lift. Sometimes you need a
set of ramps or jack stands but they can be obtained at any auto parts store
as well as K-Mart, Wall-Mart, Sears, etc.

A basic tool set is not expensive and any tool you buy will be paid for the
first time you use it. Do not buy poor quality or made in Red China tools.
Specialty tools, such as this mechanical oil pressure gauge, can be rented
at many auto-parts stores... just ask. The worse thing they could do for
asking is castrate or kill you.... they won't harm your Jeep or anything
serious.

A good reference manual is always helpful when you start... The best manual
is the Factory Service Manual specific to your make and model. They can
often be obtained second hand on eBay in both paper and CD format.
http://tinyurl.com/y8jujj



"NJPainter" <vuso77@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1160706160.190670.84020@i42g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
> thanks for the advice and the inspiration...
>
> I'm a little scared about going to the dealership. I won't be able to
> negotiate price, so I hope I get a cool mechanic to work with. I hope
> it's something small, but I'll probably back on here tomorrow crying
> about how much I just spent.
>
> How do you do your own work without a lift?
>