Cold weather gremlins

[Elsifer]

In this cold weather, my wipers sometimes have an annoying chirp when they run. Fronts only, the rear doesn't.
And there is an intermittent whine or howl that comes and goes, sometimes related to throttle and sometimes depending on how the steering wheel is turned. Only when the Jeep is moving though.

Do the windshield TJ wipers run off the vacuum, or are they electrical? Could I have a cold weather vacuum leak?

Or are the gremlins in my TJ just annoyed at the cold weather and are voicing their displeasure?

Also, any ideas on what the internal layers of the hard top made of? Plastic? Fibreglass? Both? My cover that goes over the rear wiper motor is coming off in the back corners of the hard top. Just wondering if plastic cement is a good choice or do I need fibreglass glue?

Also my starter is being a rubber ducking pig farmer. About 100+ turns of the key, and she finally engages. The solenoids click, but she just doesnt want to turn. Only when its cold though, when the starter is warm, she likes to work. Any ideas where I can get a starter for an '04 TJ? I went to PartSource today, and they don't have any in the system. Will another vehicle's starter work/fit? Or should I just park on hills from now on and pull my starter and take it to Amperage Tech?

Thanks

[FiEND]

get a small propane bottle and one of them torch ends and keep it in the back.  if it don't wanna start, heat the starter for a couple minutes.

also for that i believe you can buy starter rebuild kits, blair posted about it here.  maybe since he didn't use his he still has it or can tell where he got it.

I got my starter at the place on 17th posted in that thread.  guy posted $50 but i had to talk them down to $100.00

[Dragonmaster]

My wipers are super whiny when it's below -15C. No worries, it's been doing it for years and it is a common occurance according to renfrew chrysler.

Whine when moving is tranny being cold, should go away when it warms up (mine does).

Hardtop is fiberglass.

Battery might be too weak to engage starter when cold, classic symptom.

[Vinman]

The wipers on my 2003 TJ were noisy as well. 2 trips to the dealer and they couldn't fix it because once the Jeep was inside where they could work on it, they couldn't duplicate the noise.

I took the wiper motor gearbox apart and discovered no grease whatsoever. I greased it with a light synthetic grease and almost 4 years later, no noise at all.

The other thing the grease did was speed the wipers up considerably.

Vince

[Elsifer]

I took the wiper motor gearbox apart and discovered no grease whatsoever. I greased it with a light synthetic grease and almost 4 years later, no noise at all.

The other thing the grease did was speed the wipers up considerably.

Vince

I'll have to try that! Thanks

Whine when moving is tranny being cold, should go away when it warms up (mine does).

That's not my whine, seems to only happen at speed. In my one hour commute home, most of it on Barlow creeping along, the whine never came out. Once I hit Deerfoot and got to 60km/h at times, it showed up. It sorta comes and goes, sounds like the passenger side of the dash has something screaming in it.

Hardtop is fiberglass.

OK, fibreglass glue it is.

[BlackYJ]

Or are the gremlins in my TJ just annoyed at the cold weather and are voicing their displeasure?

This is a sign that your stereo is NOT LOUD ENOUGH!!!

[Elsifer]

This is a sign that your stereo is NOT LOUD ENOUGH!!!

Au Contrare! I think I've taken it too loud, too many times. I think I've over-driven my speakers.

Oh well, soon enough they'll be changed and I'll put the two amps in for a combined 1200 watts!!

Then you won't need to stay within 25 yards of my on the trail Scott, you will be able to hear my stereo without tuning in your radio to my ipod fm modulator. You could prolly be at the back of the bus, and still hear me!

[Mudhawg]

Chris is going for the big stereo too?.... im gonna run 2 12" Pioneer IMPP's in my zuki should be pleanty loud...

[Dragonmaster]

Whine when moving is tranny being cold, should go away when it warms up (mine does).

That's not my whine, seems to only happen at speed. In my one hour commute home, most of it on Barlow creeping along, the whine never came out. Once I hit Deerfoot and got to 60km/h at times, it showed up. It sorta comes and goes, sounds like the passenger side of the dash has something screaming in it.

ok, then it sounds like you might have
A) a heater motor starting to go (not too likely)
B) a vacuum leak

[NS-jeeper]

Chris is going for the big stereo too?.... im gonna run 2 12" Pioneer IMPP's in my zuki should be pleanty loud...

I didn't Like the Pioneer 12's...I'd go 10's I find they get a better thump.

just my 2 cents

[Elsifer]

A) a heater motor starting to go (not too likely)

Quite possible, my fan position switch actually turns the fan off at position two. 1, 3 and 4 work fine. Could be a loose cable tho, or a bad switch.

B) a vacuum leak

Thats what I'm thinking, is there a simple, easy, cheap way to have this checked or do I have to goto the Dealer?

[Mudhawg]

Ns-Jeeper... only reason i am using the 12's is my buddy gave em to me in a box hahaha too bad the box takesup much valuable cargo space and there isnot enough cube's for proper airflow or however ya explain it  :roll:  :lol: