Repair And Fix it

Removing either the front or rear bumper on the Jeep Cherokee requires basic hand tools and a few minutes time. Even a novice home mechanic can complete the process in the driveway at home or in the garage. The bumpers are not heavy so you can do the job by yourself but a second set of hands is helpful to support the bumper as the last bolts come out. The mounts never changed over the entire production run of the Cherokee, so no matter what year Cherokee you own, the bumpers come off the same way.

Instructions

Front Bumper

1

Slide under the front of your Jeep and locate the mounts where the bumper and frame rails meet. There are two side plates, one on the each side of the frame, with three bolts securing them to the frame.

2

Loosen the three bolts on both sides of the Jeep with a socket and ratchet. Remove two on each side but leave one in place so the bumper does not fall.

3

Remove the last two bolts, while supporting the bumper. Pull the bumper straight off the front off the Jeep. On older models, there may be a vacuum line attached to a ball on the inside of the bumper. Pull the line off when you remove the bumper.

Rear Bumper

4

Open the lift gate on the rear of your Jeep Cherokee then slide under the rear bumper of the Jeep. Locate the bumper mounts on the body of the Jeep; there are four bolts on each mounts that thread into the body.

5

Remove three of the four bolts from each mount using a socket and ratchet. Leave one bolt on each mount to keep the bumper from falling on you.

6

Remove the final bolt on one side with a socket and ratchet while supporting the bumper. Slide to the opposite mount and remove the final bolt there as well.

7

Pull the bumper straight off the rear of the Jeep. Set the bumper aside and close the rear lift gate.

Shocks should be replaced on your Jeep Grand Cherokee every 75,000 miles to maintain a high quality ride. Shocks mount from the frame of the vehicle to the axle and absorb any bumps from the road. Shocks work in parallel with springs to soften the ride and performance. Shocks are filled with nitrogen and are specific to each vehicle. Faulty shocks can lead to premature tire wear, rough ride and poor handling.

Instructions

Front Shock Replacement

1

Loosen the lug nuts of one of the front tires with a lug nut wrench. Place a jack under the axle of your Jeep and lift the vehicle enough to remove the tire. Remove the lug nuts and pull the tire from the axle.

2

Open the hood and locate the upper shock bolts inside the engine compartment. These are on each side of the engine on the fender wells. Remove the nut with a 14 mm socket and a ratchet.

3

Remove the nut from the bolt that secures the shock to the mounting bracket on the axle with a ratchet and socket. Pull the bolt from the bracket.

4

Remove the shock from the vehicle.

5

Place the new shock into position and install the lower mounting bolt through the bracket and into the shock absorber. Tighten the nut with the ratchet and socket. Install the upper nut that secures the upper shock to the vehicle inside the engine compartment with the ratchet and socket.

6

Reinstall the tire and tighten the lug nuts with the lug nut wrench. Lower the vehicle to the ground with the jack.

7

Repeat the process on the opposite side of the vehicle.

Rear Shock Replacement

8

Loosen the lug nuts on one of the rear tires with the lug nut wrench. Place the jack under the axle of your Jeep and lift the vehicle enough to remove the tire. Remove the lug nuts and pull the tire from the axle.

9

Locate the two mounting bolts that secure the shock into position. There are two bolts, one on the top and one on the bottom. Remove these bolts with the ratchet and socket. Remove the shock from the vehicle.

10

Place the new shock into position. Thread the mounting bolts through the bracket and into the shock. Tighten the bolts with the ratchet and socket.

11

Replace the tire onto the hub of the axle. Tighten the lug nuts and lower the vehicle to the ground.

12

Repeat this process on the opposite side of the vehicle.

The clockspring provides constant electrical contact to the steering wheel-mounted module and related components. Its primary responsibility is feeding power from the battery to the air bag for emergency deployment. If the clockspring fails, it affects the air bag, horn, and cruise control, if equipped. As with any part, the clockspring may fail due to age. It is especially susceptible due to the constant rotation of the steering wheel. There are two versions of clocksprings. If you have cruise control, you need the three-wire version. Otherwise, buy the two-wire model.

Instructions

1

Position the front wheels straight-ahead. Remove the key from the ignition.

2

Remove the negative battery cable wrap the terminal with high-quality electrical tape. Wait a minimum of two minutes before proceeding with repairs on the vehicle. The reserve capacitor holds a charge to deploy the air bag even after disconnection of the cable.

3

Remove the two Phillips screws just below the steering wheel on the dashboard. Remove the panels located behind the knee panel. Youll encounter two Phillips screws and two clips.

4

Using your Phillips screwdriver, remove the two steering wheel shroud cover screws.

5

Use a hex driver to remove the air bag module mounting bolts at "10" and "2" on the rear of the steering wheel. Gently tilt the module forward.

6

Press the connector for the yellow air bag wire toward the module until the lock spreads open. Use a small tipped prying tool to gently pry the connector from the module while holding the lock open. Unplug the black and white horn wire and slide off its rubber sleeve.

7

Unplug the green wire located near the steering wheel retaining bolt if your vehicle has cruise control.

8

Carry the air bag module with the bag and trim cover pointed away from the body in case of accidental deployment. Place it in a clean and dry area with the cover side up.

9

Prevent the steering wheel from turning while using a 21 or 22 mm socket to remove the retaining bolt.

10

Mark the steering wheel and shaft for re-alignment. Extract the steering wheel from the shaft by using a steering wheel puller.

11

Disconnect the remote switch harness connectors. If you are unable to start or unlock your vehicle remotely, you can ignore this step.

12

Look up at the steering column from the floorboard. Disconnect the clocksprings two lower electrical connectors.

13

Remove the clocksprings retaining screws and slide it up and off the upper steering column shaft.

Installation

14

Slide the new clockspring on the steering column with the locking pin in place. If you remove the locking pin before installation, youll have to perform other centering measures before you can install the part.

15

Align the clockspring and seat its three pins on the rotor hub with the three holes in the turn signal cancel cam. The oblong pin belongs at the top of the clockspring rotor. Align and seat one pin and two mounting holes with corresponding holes in combination switch.

16

Install the two clockspring retaining screws.

17

Reinstall the steering wheel, including tightening the retaining bolt.

18

Tilt the air bag module into place and re-attach the horn, air bag and, if applicable, the cruise control connectors. Place the module into position and tighten its bolts.

Reinstall all the panels and re-attach the battery cable.

Located on the passengers side of the engine block, the oil pressure sensor in your 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee converts engine oil pressure to milliamps and sends this information to the engine management computer. Whether your Jeep has a 4.0-liter inline six cylinder or a 5.2-liter v-8, the sensor sits in nearly the same place on the engine block. Sensor failures can exhibit as erratic readings at the oil pressure gauge on the instrument panel or a low pressure indicator light flashing on and off randomly. You can replace the sensor in minutes, and a new sensor is available from Jeep or through a parts store.

Instructions

1

Open the hood of your Jeep and locate the negative battery cable end at the battery. Loosen the clamp bolt on the cable end with a wrench then separate the cable from the battery terminal. Isolate the cable end away from the battery while you work.

2

Locate the oil pressure sensor on the passenger side of the engine, near the oil filter housing. The sensor threads into the engine block and has an electrical connector on the top of it with a single wire coming off it.

3

Release the locking tab on the electrical connector then pull the connector off the sensor and lay it aside. Slide a deep socket over the sensor, connect a ratchet to it and rotate the sensor counterclockwise until it is free of the engine block. Discard the old sensor.

4

Position the new sensor in the engine block, rotating it clockwise by hand until it is snug. Place the socket and ratchet on the sensor then carefully turn it another 1/4-turn to secure it.

5

Push the electrical connector on to the new sensor until the locking tab engages. Move back to the battery and position the negative battery cable end onto the battery terminal. Tighten the clamp bolt with a wrench then close the hood.

The 2001 Jeep Cherokee turn signals and emergency flashers both are controlled by the flasher relay. If your turn signals or emergency lights are not flashing properly and you have verified the bulbs are functional, the relay may be burned out. You can purchase a replacement relay from an auto parts store and replace it at home. Keeping your turn signals and hazard lights functioning properly provides safety on the road.

Instructions

1

Position the Cherokees steering wheel in the highest position possible to make it easier to access the dashboard panels.

2

Remove the three screws securing the lower dashboard panel below the steering wheel with a Phillips screwdriver. Pull the trim panel off the dashboard.

3

Grasp the turn signal relay, and pull straight back to disconnect it. The turn signal relay is mounted just above the fuse box on the drivers side, and the relay is stamped with either "50732" or "TBB89" for easy identification.

4

Push the replacement relay into the mounting area until it is secure. Replace the lower dashboard panel. Insert the three screws back into the dashboard panel, and tighten them with a Phillips screwdriver.

5

Return the steering wheel to your preferred position. Test the turn signal relay for proper function.

Removing the catalytic converter from the exhaust system of your Jeep Cherokee takes just a few minutes and requires minimal tools. Replacement converters are expensive so you may want to consider purchasing an aftermarket unit instead of an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) one as a cost savings measure. Replacement converters are available from your local Jeep dealership or most auto parts stores.

Instructions

1

Raise the front of the Jeep Cherokee off the ground with a jack then position a set of jack stands under the front suspension to support it. Slide under the passengers side of the Jeep and locate the converter in the exhaust. The converter sits near the center of the Jeep, between the frame rails.

2

Locate the rear mounting flange between the catalytic converter and the muffler. Remove the nuts from the retaining bolts with a wrench then remove the bolts from the flange. Separate the muffler from the converter and push the muffler aside.

3

Remove the nuts from the retaining bolts that secure the mounting flange at the front of the converter with a wrench. Remove the bolts from the mounting flange and set them aside.

4

Separate the converter from the front exhaust pipe. Lower the converter and slide it out from under the Jeep.

Preparation

Before the exhaust manifold on a Jeep Grand Cherokee can be installed, the vehicle must be prepped. The battery and air cleaning assembly, including the filter, must be removed; and all coolants, such as windshield cleaning solution and radiator fluid, should be drained and flushed from the system. Disconnect the air-conditioner and detach the starter motor and all heating hoses. You are removing them to gain access to the cylinder head.

Removing Existing Parts

Remove the manifold by, first, taking out the heat-shield components and disconnecting the starter motor. Detach the Y-pipe, and unbolt and lift out the manifold, along with the gasket between the unit and the engine. Rusty bolts and fasteners are usually treated and cleaned before the new manifold is installed.

Installation

Before the exhaust manifold is attached to the cylinder head, covering all six cylinders, position the manifold gasket over the edge of the opening. Then set the manifold into place over the gasket. Tighten the bolts, starting in the center and moving toward the ends, and reconnect the unit to the Y-pipe. Reinstall the disassembled parts in the opposite order in which they were removed.