Considering the terrains Jeeps are made to navigate, they are more prone to wear & tear than the ones made to run on tarmac. Because Jeeps are more prone to damage, it is important that you properly maintain them and do the required repairs on time.
You don’t have to take your Jeep to a mechanic every time you need to change something. There are some DIY Jeep repairs you can do to save time & money. This article will discuss in detail 6 easy DIY Jeep repairs you can do.
But before we begin discussing the DIY Repairs, you must have a garage where you can park your Jeep safely to do the repairs. Though these are DIY repairs & can be done quickly, you don’t want to do them in the open especially during bad weather.
Ensure that you’ve all the basic tools including screwdrivers, spanners, jacks, cleaning cloth, and a stand to hold the tools.
Here goes the list of DIY Jeep Repairs
#1. Changing the Engine Oil
Ideally, your Jeep’s engine oil has to be changed once in every 10,000kms. Though the exact kilometers depending on the model you own, experts recommend that you change the oil once in a year or after every 10,000kms.
Changing your Jeep’s engine oil isn’t as difficult as it's often perceived to be. The larger ground clearance makes it a DIY task. The first thing to do is to locate your Jeep’s oil drain nut. Depending on the model you own, the location of the drain nut might change. You can check your owner’s manual to locate the drain nut.
Once you locate it, remove the drain plug and collect the used oil into a tub. It is recommended that you replace the oil filter along with changing the oil. Ensure that you dip the new oil filter and the gaskets in fresh oil for some time to make all parts wet.
#2 Changing the air filter
With air filters, there are no hard and fast rules about replacing them as life entirely depends on the track you take the Jeep in. The air filters have a normal life of 20,000 miles. By that time dust and dirt would start blocking the engine breath causing a power drop.
To replace the air filter, have a look at your owner’s manual to figure out where the air filter is located in your Jeep. Once you locate the air filter, open the filter box & replace the old filter. Ensure that you clean the filter box before you fix the new filter.
#3 Windshield wiper replacement
Windshield wipers should be replaced as soon as you notice a difference in driving visibility. The most common sign of a damaged windshield wiper is a scratching noise while you turn on the wiper. This happens as they are unable to make proper contact with the glass surface. If you ignore this, the wiper arm will eventually damage the glass and you will have to replace the glass itself.
To change the wiper
- Turn on the wiper and switch off the Jeep so that the wiper stands midway.
- Lift the wiper from the windshield.
- The blades will be held in place by a tiny clip. You will have to push the clip up to the arm and push the blade backward.
- The blade will be free from the hook and push the blade down the arm to disconnect it. As soon as the hook is fully visible, the blade will be free to be taken off.
- Lock the new blade by pulling the blade towards the end of the arm. A click sound follows.
- Repeat the process on the other side as well.
#4 Check the tire pressure
Running on low tire pressure can be too nasty as it can even cause a tire blowout in the worst case. New edition wranglers have tire pressure monitoring systems that have sensors attached that transfer information to the ECU. The information will be displayed on the driver console.
Pressing the up or down arrow will show the TPMS control and then the right button to know the details of each of the tires. If the air pressure is less than the recommended 32 psi then it should be inflated to the same. A manual air pressure check is usually recommended, to be on the safer side.
It is found that the optimum tire pressure will vary depending on the temperature outside. An estimated 1 psi increase to every 10 degrees rise in temperature or vice versa. It is recommended that the tire pressures are to be monitored every month as a general check.
#5 Check the spark plugs
A slower start and a drop in power would be normally associated with a damaged spark plug. While the modern-day spark plugs have an estimated life of 100k miles, they can still go bad and the engine warning will pop up from nowhere. You will observe a drop in mileage due to improper combustion along with a rough vibration normally because of a misfire. If you have an ECU diagnostic tool, keep an eye out for the following error codes
Error codes
P0300: there is a random misfire in one of the cylinders and the ECM is not able to detect which cylinder is causing the misfire.
P0301: the misfire is from a specific cylinder here in the case is in cylinder 1.
#6 Check the battery charge
A battery warning light on the console means that the alternator is not charging up the battery and it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. You are welcome to drive the car, but it would be better to keep the drive as short as possible.
Proactively testing the battery and the electrical system (at least once a year) would identify any signs of weakness and the remedy should be done at the earliest. You can take the Jeep to a nearby retailer for a free five-minute battery test.
Jeeps always seek your extra attention which develops a special bond between you and your car. When you are taking care of the maintenance part you will love your car more, keep your vehicle in top-notch condition and save money. If you would like to have a look at some of the best quality accessories or spare parts for your Jeep you are more than welcome to visit us.