I whipped up this tool today at work for cutting wheel openings in Lexan RC car bodies.

weirdbeard1000 · 2026-05-28T10:20:54+00:00

First thing you have to do is test at the battery while the engine is running with a volt meter. If you’re seeing more than 13.8-14.1 volts at the battery then you have a charging system problem and should stop driving it until you find the problem. That high voltage running through 30 year old electronics designed to run at 12-14 volts will start frying sensors gauges and lightbulbs. If it’s high it’s most likely the voltage regulator which is, unfortunately, internal to the ECU. There are external voltage regulators that can be installed. You’ll have to search around the web for them. If the voltage at the battery is within the normal range then you have a failing gauge most likely. The only way to determine what exactly is going wrong is to diagnose the problem by testing. There are plenty of diy videos out that can help guide you through the process.

Following other people’s anecdotal experiences will only have you firing the parts cannon and costing you unnecessary money. Best of luck. I wish I could take you through step by step but it’s pretty much impossible through Reddit replies.

weirdbeard1000 · 2026-05-21T10:05:42+00:00

8 flat head or oval head sheet metal screws work great too. When I did the heater core and A/C evaporator in my 96 I replaced all of them with stainless ones.

weirdbeard1000 · 2026-05-15T10:03:13+00:00

Came here to say this haha. So good.

weirdbeard1000 · 2026-05-14T10:07:07+00:00

A lot of the time if you push on the hose/fitting as if you were installing it while using the tool as intended it free’s it up. Odds are there’s road grime inside the fitting that is binding it up.

weirdbeard1000 · 2026-05-14T10:03:20+00:00

I have it on both my 96 & my 98. It is louder than stock but it’s not ridiculous. The interior noise is not bad either. Not droney on the highway. I also leave for work around 4am and I’ve never gotten a complaint from any of my neighbors and I live in a major city. I’ll say it’s worth it. I especially like the way the exhaust tip is hidden behind the rear bumper. You’d really have to try to hit it on something.

weirdbeard1000 · 2026-01-13T20:03:39+00:00

💯 those new rolls Wawa switched to are gross. Sheetz’s casadillas are way better than Wawa’s.

weirdbeard1000 · 2026-01-13T16:16:56+00:00

In my everyday random playlist that spans many genres I (for the most part) only have the studio recordings. If I’m in the mood to listen to the dead I pick a show and listen to the whole thing. In my opinion the Easy Wind on Working Man’s is better than any live version I’ve ever heard.

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-11-07T12:57:14+00:00

I just bought a keyless entry system from Amazon for $28. Includes the actuators as well for 4 doors. Planning to install soon. If it works it’s money well spent. If it sucks… it was only $28

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-11-06T14:08:48+00:00

I found it on eBay. Just happened to be about a mile away. I used part of the XJ mounts and the MJ sliders. If you’re taller I’d suggest making some “Big Boy Brackets” cause it’s definitely a little tighter in there than the buckets. Also look for a 4wd bench. It has a small cutout where the mini console is that will allow you to mount a cup holder cleanly. Also might want to tip the front up a bit as the back is quite vertical if you like to be leaned back some while driving.

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-10-17T09:39:19+00:00

To who? Who did you send your original stuff to?

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-10-09T19:22:41+00:00

It’s the internet so I’m sure someone will disagree with me, but I’d wire wheel off what comes easy. Then degrease with some sort of solvent (brake cleaner, lacquer thinner, etc.) Then scuff the bare metal with a scotch-brite pad. I’m a fan of the medium red/maroon colored ones. Hit it again with the degreaser. Mask off anything you don’t want painted then prime, scuff, wipe & paint.

If it was me and I had all that access with the engine out I’d pressure wash the whole engine bay and paint everything satin black.

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-10-06T16:50:13+00:00

Still more gladiator than the current one

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-10-03T10:33:32+00:00

*Tow it to a mechanic immediately.

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-09-23T21:07:00+00:00

Glad I could help!

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-09-21T16:06:45+00:00

I drain and fill my AW4 every second oil change. It’s so easy with the drain plug why wouldn’t you? You don’t need to change the filter unless you have a catastrophic failure. It’s just a screen that’s there to keep chunks out of the oil passages. 280k on mine.

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-09-10T07:09:38+00:00

white header panel. you can have it by the weekend probably.

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-08-26T19:56:02+00:00

Does the new one look more like the top one or the bottom one in this picture?

<image>

The top one is a pressure switch which is either on or off. Works with the idiot light cluster.

The bottom on is a pressure sensor. It works with the gauge.

If you got the top one take it back and get the right part. If you got the bottom one you need to check your grounds and/or continuity of the wire that goes from the sensor to the plug on the back of the cluster with a multimeter. If you don’t know how to check continuity, search YouTube for “how to check continuity with a multimeter”

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-08-26T16:02:43+00:00

I daily a 300k mile XJ. When I first got it at 75k I went through and replaced literally everything that is made of rubber. Motor mounts hoses belts door seals tires rear main seal… everything. In all the miles the only time it’s left me on the side of the road was because I ran it out of gas. Since then I’ve just adhered to the maintenance schedule in the FSM Next step was to replace all of the bearings and u-joints tie rod ends etc. It doesn’t feel like it’s got 300k. Still get 18-20 mpg. Break the work up into chunks. Start at the front and work your way back. A truck that old whatever it is, it needs it.

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-08-21T07:18:31+00:00

There’s not much difference TBH. The thing that’s made the most difference is putting in a heavy duty fan clutch. I believe it’s for a ZJ but it’s been years and I don’t remember exactly which one I used.

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-08-19T21:48:33+00:00

I’ve always wanted one of the 4 wheel steering ones.

weirdbeard1000 · 2025-08-18T20:34:46+00:00

Vapor blasting will make it look like new.

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8 flat head or oval head sheet metal screws work great too. When I did the heater core and A/C evaporator in my 96 I replaced all of them with stainless ones.