I mini-pit myself: I hurt the Jeep

[Skywatcher]

@pool

I guess I was a LOT more tired than I thought because I was snapped awake by lightning and pouring rain at like 10 at night, just getting soaked and drenched in rain, apparently I had been sleeping for like 3 hours.

That is not how you’re supposed to car pool.

[Gatopescado]

@Johnny_L.A

My mechanic says you can buy Cherokees like mine for $500 to $3,000. I’d have to ask $3,000.

I picked one up in April for $560 and a 6" Subway sandwich.

Its the “Dog Jeep” and I drive it off-road nearly every single day. Cheaper than fixing the '73 Commando.

[beowulff]

@Soylent_Juicy

Don’t feel bad, Jennshark. I got my 2000 Jeep TJ in December 2009 and it had never seen a Canadian winter (the previous owner bought it in Arizona and parked it there every winter) and it looked brand new. It was MINT. It was shiny, beautiful, not a speck of dirt or rust.

Then in the summer of 2010 I took it 4-wheeling. Which would have been not too bad if it hadn’t rained the day before and rained again while we were out there. You can see where this story is going - a stock Jeep in the middle of the forest getting pulled through mud pits halfway up the tires, scratched up by branches, etc. etc.

Long story short, my husband (who told me not to do it and I didn’t listen) says:
“She took a 2000 Jeep that looked like a 2010 and in 4 hours turned it into a 2000.”

Poor thing is a hot mess now, between rust (can’t afford to fix anything aesthetic at the moment), dog hair, and that one off-road adventure.

But eh, she’s mine.

It’s a Jeep. They are supposed to look like that.
If you wanted a pristine vehicle, you could have bought a Lexus.

And, out here the scratches you get from going off-road are called “Arizona pin-striping.”

[Gatopescado]

@Soylent_Juicy

Poor thing is a hot mess now, between rust (can’t afford to fix anything aesthetic at the moment), dog hair, and that one off-road adventure.

You’ve been off-road once?

Since I bought mine, it’s been on pavement once. That’s when I had to drive it home.

The '73 hadn’t seen pavement since around 2004. Now it doesn’t even see dirt. :o

[wolfpup]

@Randolph

You have a 2014, so it’s a JK. The main vulnerability to rain is the clockspring - the seam between the dashboardy extension of the steering wheel and the rotatey part of the steering wheel itself. If it gets significantly wet, the steering wheel controls may go wonky, which can affect headlights, wipers, turn signals, radio control, etc etc. If this has happened, it usually fixes itself after a day or two of drying out. If it doesn’t, or if you want to jumpstart the healing, you can disassemble the steering wheel (literally a five-minute job) and dry the contacts out manually. If the spring itself is deeply compromised in the rotatey metal part, you may need a new clockspring, which is about $150ish.

I’m not a car guy, but having had a clockspring issue myself in a previous car, I’ve read that disassembling a steering wheel has to be done by someone who knows what he’s doing and isn’t a job for a typical DIYer. The problem being that there’s an explosive airbag in there, and while you’re messing with it the airbag could explode and kill you. Presumably very unlikely, but it’s the kind of thing one might like to know in advance! :eek:

[Randolph]

Assuming you’ve got modicum of shadetree competency, you should be fine. But if you’re at all concerned, you can always disconnect the battery before you do it.

[leftfield6]

@Randolph

Assuming you’ve got modicum of shadetree competency, you should be fine. But if you’re at all concerned, you can always disconnect the battery before you do it.

Airbags are not like movie bombs where you have to know it’s always the GREEN wire, or something tricky like that. Before beginning work on the steering column, disconnect the battery. Wait at least 15 minutes for any remaining current in various components to dissipate. You can now remove the bag and electrical connections with zero worry.

I’ve removed and reinstalled the airbag in my Boxster numerous times with no issues. You’d be fine.

[Poysyn]

I have a brand-new 2016 Wrangler and fully intend to soak it at least once. I completely drenched my 2012 Wrangler several times, no issues.

It’s a Jeep. They are built for it.

[Crafter_Man]

@DrDeth

Spray the carpet well with Lysol.

I’m thinking alcohol (isopropyl/methanol or whatever). It will mix with the water in the carpet. It will have a high vapor pressure and dry more quickly.