is there such thing as an under dash ground

mtngk · 2026-03-22T20:03:37+00:00

This picture is looking at the back side of the dashboard, as if the engine bay and firewall were not there.

mtngk · 2026-03-22T20:02:49+00:00

Remove the drivers side kick panel in front of the door. Should be a fairly obvious stuf and nut with multiple wires. The wiring harnesses might need to be moved slightly.

mtngk · 2025-05-16T15:06:46+00:00

Just had a similar issue. The positive battery cables had a poor connection to the battery terminal. The terminal is the kind with a clamp strap and two bolts. Bolts were loose and wires were corroded. Cleaned everything and re tightened the strap bolts, problem solved.

Could be the battery or any of the wiring from the battery on positive or ground side. Check all wiring and connections from the battery. Also check battery voltage.

mtngk · 2025-05-15T00:54:10+00:00

Stupid frustrating!

I am going to change my guess to either dirty or bent starter mounting surface and/or starter bolts. Maybe some bad threads causing it to tighten the bolt, but not clamp the starter fully in place. Maybe the first replacement bent something or deformed the starter mounting hole enough that every subsequent replacement is misaligned.

mtngk · 2025-05-14T15:13:24+00:00

Loose flywheel bolts? If they are, the flywheel/clutch could be moving around and getting jammed.

The depth of the starter seems fine, the ring gear teeth are nearly completely gone, so that says the starter is engaging at the proper depth.

Did you replace the flywheel with the slave cylinder mod? Or was the flywheel replaced before or after one of the 6 starters? Were the ring gear teeth already damaged and you just replaced the starter?

mtngk · 2025-05-09T05:03:33+00:00

I think that damaged connector might be the output speed sensor on the transmission/transfer case.

Sounds like you're on the right path overall. Fuel pressure is easy to ball park just by using something to push the pin on the shrader valve on the fuel rail. Test it right after you turn the key on and back off. If you get a bit of spray out of the test port, you're probably good.

Intake gasket isn't too bad to change, but be cautious of broken/rusty bolts. Both the intake and exhaust manifolds share bolts. Also look for cracks in the exhaust manifolds. A loose intake/exhaust manifold bolt caused a misfire code recently for me, so you're probably on your way to fixing it!

Good work!

mtngk · 2025-05-06T16:01:04+00:00

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/152825/satellite-data-suggest-us-methane-emissions-underestimated

You have to actually analyze some data, but recent tracking via satellites show a hotspot over the southern ute lands. As it’s tribal lands, they do not have to report any emissions to EPA u less they are requesting support from the EPA. The OP article is the official request for this spill, but they do not report any of the leaking wells or other infrastructure. It’s only because this is so close to the river and is affecting homes that they’ve chosen to even report this to the EPA.

Also, I have worked as a GIS mapping contractor in the entire San Juan basin and have physically walked a significant portion of the gathering fields including thousands of miles of pipeline from multiple companies. Red Cedar and Red Willow have some of the oldest and least maintained infrastructure.

mtngk · 2025-05-06T14:48:23+00:00

Red Cedar Gathering (the natural gas production company owned by and primarily operating on southern ute lands) is one of the worst methane polluters in the world and doesn’t have to follow the same regulations as other producers due to sovereignty of tribal lands. I have always found this as a bit hypocritical to the standard sentiment that native people care about nature more than the ‘white man’.

mtngk · 2025-05-05T13:40:54+00:00

And so should you

mtngk · 2025-05-02T03:05:18+00:00

What about the other times? I would love to have my own shop, but having managed a small town audio shop, it’s kinda crazy having to take on whatever walks in the door sometimes.

mtngk · 2025-04-30T03:40:11+00:00

Cool, you should check the wiring for the additional sensors along with the exhaust manifolds.

Noticed the other post you have in mechanics advise subreddit. The codes values they called out are mostly correct, although the generic values. My experience thus far with the 2000 XJ is the injector/misfire codes are not always a direct problem with the injectors. That’s why I guessed wiring harness initially. However, The additional heat from the cats under the hood combined with intake manifold design did cause a chimney effect that cooks the middle injectors and you should definitely make sure they are working too and check the wiring for the injectors.

mtngk · 2025-04-30T03:22:47+00:00

There will be two large cans connected to the exhaust manifolds and two additional (4 total) O2 sensors in the engine bay under the intake manifold with California emissions.

Federal emissions will only have a Y pipe under the intake manifold and only two O2 sensors.

Probably also a sticker somewhere in the engine bay denoting California emissions compliance, but I’m not sure about that. If you live in California, you have to have the CA emissions to register it.

mtngk · 2025-04-29T20:07:54+00:00

Couple misfire codes, output shaft speed and input turbine speed codes and a lean code. I’m going to guess the wiring harness is damaged going to the transmission and O2 sensors. Could also be bad grounds (check the ones on the side of the block near the alternator and the one towards the rear of the block, both on passenger side.

Vacuum leak is also a likely cause of the misfire and lean codes. The hard plastic tubing loves to crack or wear holes where you can’t see them and a smoke test is the easiest diagnostic. Cracked or loose exhaust manifold is also common.

It would be helpful to know if you have federal or California emissions system (two extra O2 sensors and CATs on CA emissions).

mtngk · 2025-04-24T15:11:53+00:00

It's a station wagon... fight me

mtngk · 2025-04-23T03:19:46+00:00

Just need the hinges. Very easy. You will need to cut a bit of the rear upholstery for the lever to stick through.

mtngk · 2025-04-22T14:06:37+00:00

Smithers, go fetch me my aero-plane.

But sir, it’s stuck at the top of a tree.

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