Hi all,

I've just bought a 1998 Wrangler - what a great car! Love driving it.

The rear door (tailgate) hinges are extremely stiff, and make a loud
creaking noise. I've soaked them in penetrating oil, but that has made
no difference.

Before I take them off and investigate further, I thought I'd ask in
case this is a common problem - any thoughts?

TIA


--
Grunff

 

The owner's manual says to lubricate them from time to time with a drop of
engine oil or something similar. I guess the previous owner forgot. Give
the penetrating oil some time to work.

Earle

"Grunff" <grunff@ixxa.com> wrote in message
news:45bf95e3$0$764$bed64819@news.gradwell.net...
> Hi all,
>
> I've just bought a 1998 Wrangler - what a great car! Love driving it.
>
> The rear door (tailgate) hinges are extremely stiff, and make a loud
> creaking noise. I've soaked them in penetrating oil, but that has made
> no difference.
>
> Before I take them off and investigate further, I thought I'd ask in
> case this is a common problem - any thoughts?
>
> TIA
>
>
> --
> Grunff

 

The owner's manual says to lubricate them from time to time with a drop of
engine oil or something similar. I guess the previous owner forgot. Give
the penetrating oil some time to work.

Earle

"Grunff" <grunff@ixxa.com> wrote in message
news:45bf95e3$0$764$bed64819@news.gradwell.net...
> Hi all,
>
> I've just bought a 1998 Wrangler - what a great car! Love driving it.
>
> The rear door (tailgate) hinges are extremely stiff, and make a loud
> creaking noise. I've soaked them in penetrating oil, but that has made
> no difference.
>
> Before I take them off and investigate further, I thought I'd ask in
> case this is a common problem - any thoughts?
>
> TIA
>
>
> --
> Grunff

 

The owner's manual says to lubricate them from time to time with a drop of
engine oil or something similar. I guess the previous owner forgot. Give
the penetrating oil some time to work.

Earle

"Grunff" <grunff@ixxa.com> wrote in message
news:45bf95e3$0$764$bed64819@news.gradwell.net...
> Hi all,
>
> I've just bought a 1998 Wrangler - what a great car! Love driving it.
>
> The rear door (tailgate) hinges are extremely stiff, and make a loud
> creaking noise. I've soaked them in penetrating oil, but that has made
> no difference.
>
> Before I take them off and investigate further, I thought I'd ask in
> case this is a common problem - any thoughts?
>
> TIA
>
>
> --
> Grunff

 

The owner's manual says to lubricate them from time to time with a drop of
engine oil or something similar. I guess the previous owner forgot. Give
the penetrating oil some time to work.

Earle

"Grunff" <grunff@ixxa.com> wrote in message
news:45bf95e3$0$764$bed64819@news.gradwell.net...
> Hi all,
>
> I've just bought a 1998 Wrangler - what a great car! Love driving it.
>
> The rear door (tailgate) hinges are extremely stiff, and make a loud
> creaking noise. I've soaked them in penetrating oil, but that has made
> no difference.
>
> Before I take them off and investigate further, I thought I'd ask in
> case this is a common problem - any thoughts?
>
> TIA
>
>
> --
> Grunff

 

If the penetrating oil works at all, take a couple drops of it and a
drop of STP oil treatment and lube them. Works better than motor oil in
my experience. Hopefully you are using a penetrating oil rather than
WD-40.

Earle Horton proclaimed:

> The owner's manual says to lubricate them from time to time with a drop of
> engine oil or something similar. I guess the previous owner forgot. Give
> the penetrating oil some time to work.
>
> Earle
>
> "Grunff" <grunff@ixxa.com> wrote in message
> news:45bf95e3$0$764$bed64819@news.gradwell.net...
>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>I've just bought a 1998 Wrangler - what a great car! Love driving it.
>>
>>The rear door (tailgate) hinges are extremely stiff, and make a loud
>>creaking noise. I've soaked them in penetrating oil, but that has made
>>no difference.
>>
>>Before I take them off and investigate further, I thought I'd ask in
>>case this is a common problem - any thoughts?
>>
>>TIA
>>
>>
>>--
>>Grunff
>
>
>

 

If the penetrating oil works at all, take a couple drops of it and a
drop of STP oil treatment and lube them. Works better than motor oil in
my experience. Hopefully you are using a penetrating oil rather than
WD-40.

Earle Horton proclaimed:

> The owner's manual says to lubricate them from time to time with a drop of
> engine oil or something similar. I guess the previous owner forgot. Give
> the penetrating oil some time to work.
>
> Earle
>
> "Grunff" <grunff@ixxa.com> wrote in message
> news:45bf95e3$0$764$bed64819@news.gradwell.net...
>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>I've just bought a 1998 Wrangler - what a great car! Love driving it.
>>
>>The rear door (tailgate) hinges are extremely stiff, and make a loud
>>creaking noise. I've soaked them in penetrating oil, but that has made
>>no difference.
>>
>>Before I take them off and investigate further, I thought I'd ask in
>>case this is a common problem - any thoughts?
>>
>>TIA
>>
>>
>>--
>>Grunff
>
>
>

 

If the penetrating oil works at all, take a couple drops of it and a
drop of STP oil treatment and lube them. Works better than motor oil in
my experience. Hopefully you are using a penetrating oil rather than
WD-40.

Earle Horton proclaimed:

> The owner's manual says to lubricate them from time to time with a drop of
> engine oil or something similar. I guess the previous owner forgot. Give
> the penetrating oil some time to work.
>
> Earle
>
> "Grunff" <grunff@ixxa.com> wrote in message
> news:45bf95e3$0$764$bed64819@news.gradwell.net...
>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>I've just bought a 1998 Wrangler - what a great car! Love driving it.
>>
>>The rear door (tailgate) hinges are extremely stiff, and make a loud
>>creaking noise. I've soaked them in penetrating oil, but that has made
>>no difference.
>>
>>Before I take them off and investigate further, I thought I'd ask in
>>case this is a common problem - any thoughts?
>>
>>TIA
>>
>>
>>--
>>Grunff
>
>
>

 

If the penetrating oil works at all, take a couple drops of it and a
drop of STP oil treatment and lube them. Works better than motor oil in
my experience. Hopefully you are using a penetrating oil rather than
WD-40.

Earle Horton proclaimed:

> The owner's manual says to lubricate them from time to time with a drop of
> engine oil or something similar. I guess the previous owner forgot. Give
> the penetrating oil some time to work.
>
> Earle
>
> "Grunff" <grunff@ixxa.com> wrote in message
> news:45bf95e3$0$764$bed64819@news.gradwell.net...
>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>I've just bought a 1998 Wrangler - what a great car! Love driving it.
>>
>>The rear door (tailgate) hinges are extremely stiff, and make a loud
>>creaking noise. I've soaked them in penetrating oil, but that has made
>>no difference.
>>
>>Before I take them off and investigate further, I thought I'd ask in
>>case this is a common problem - any thoughts?
>>
>>TIA
>>
>>
>>--
>>Grunff
>
>
>

 

Hi TIA,

About 5 years ago, my 1997 Wrangler rear hinges really got stiff,
almost to the point of not wanting to move at all. It took a serious
effort to shut the gate, After years of trying all sorts of oils,
solvents, additives, etc., someone on this board suggested PB Blaster.

The key to PB Blaster is that you have to apply it several days in a
row and then again once or twice the next week. It sounds like a lot
of work, but its only a spray on each hinge for 3 or 4 days then work
the door back and forth for a minute or two. Then it may try to
stiffen back up the following week and you hit it again.

My rear door now swings like it's brand nes and that was a year and a
half ago that I sprayed it and haven't since.

Oh, truth in recommendation - PB Blaster does have a very strong
petroleum smell so you'll have to use it outside or with the garage
door open. The smell goes away fast, but I just wanted to mention it
so you weren't surprised like I was.

Good luck TIA


On Tue, 30 Jan 2007 19:00:40 +0000, Grunff <grunff@ixxa.com> wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I've just bought a 1998 Wrangler - what a great car! Love driving it.
>
>The rear door (tailgate) hinges are extremely stiff, and make a loud
>creaking noise. I've soaked them in penetrating oil, but that has made
>no difference.
>
>Before I take them off and investigate further, I thought I'd ask in
>case this is a common problem - any thoughts?
>
>TIA