Renegade Maintenance Log

JEEP LINKS including vendor sites for parts and tools as well as sites for jeep organizations

PATROL LOG includes log entries of minor repairs and and adventures between time of purchase and the present.

RENEGADE MAINTENANCE Ever changing detailing, oil change, lube, etc. maintenance routines developed for Renegade based on the BillyBob routines, including required tools, materials and procedures.

Ever changing detailing, oil change, lube, etc. maintenance routines developed for Renegade, including required tools, materials and procedures.

Detailing Consumables

The table below lists to products I'm currently using in my detailing efforts.

Engine Compartment Detailing Procedures

Degreasing/Washing

1. Gather tools - air compressor, goggles, grime blaster, garden hose and water source, one gal 20/80 purple degreaser/water mix;
2. warm up engine;
3. spray engine and compartment with 20/80 degreaser/water mix, use brushes on thick build-ups, rinse engine and compartment with water, blow water off with compressed air;
4. dry electrical connectors with hair dryer

Component Detailing

1. Gather tools - medium flat bladed screwdriver, seran quick covers, spray cleaner, chrome polish, shop towels, clean soft rags;
2. remove the air cleaner and intake tube by loosening the clamps with the screwdriver, protect the throttlebody opening with a quick cover;
3. clean the hoses, air cleaner end caps and intake tube with spray cleaner, apply polish to the intake tube;
4. re-assemble the air cleaner assembly with the screwdriver

Body Detailing Procedures

Clean Body

1. Gather tools - garden hose and nozzle, wash bucket, scrub brush, scrub mitt, carwash soap;
2. clean the body a section at a time starting at the top and working downward;
3. wet down body section with hose;
4. wash with car wash soap solution;
5. rinse off with hose;

Monthly Maintenance

Check Lights

1. park in front of glass doors or storefront so you can see the reflection of the lights from the driver's seat;
2. check parking lights and turn signals, check driving lights and headlights high and low beam;
3. turn vehicle around and check taillights, brake lights, backup lights and turn signals

Check Brake Master Cylinder

1. gather tools - DOT 3 brake fluid, squeeze bulb filler tool, bigass flat blade screwdriver;
2. pry clip off master cylinder cover with bigass screwdriver carefully (keep dirt out);
3. using filler tool, add brake fluid, if needed, so that level is 1/4" below top edge of reservoir (don't overfill), and replace master cylinder cover, pry clip back into position with screwdriver

Check Clutch Master Cylinder

1. gather tools - DOT 3 brake fluid, squeeze bulb filler tool;
2. unscrew reservoir cap carefully (keep dirt out);
3. using filler tool, add brake fluid, if needed, so that level is 1/4" below top edge of reservoir (don't overfill), and replace reservoir cap

Check Battery

1. gather tools - volt meter;
2. using volt meter check voltage across battery terminals (should be a between 12 volts and 13 volts on a twelve volt system)

Check Engine Oil

1. gather tools - SAE 10W-30 oil, filler spout, shop rag;
2. pull out and wipe dipstick, return and pull out again, determine oil level;
3. if necessary, add oil through valve cover cap with oil spout tool

Check Coolant Level

1. let engine cool first, if hot;
2. check coolant level in translucent overflow tank and top off with 50/50 coolant/water mix, if necessary

Check Windshield Washer Fluid Level

1. check fluid level in translucent windshield washer tank and top off with washer fluid/water mix, if necessary

Check Tires

1. gather tools - air compressor, tire filler attachment, tire pressure gauge;
2. check each tire and bring up to 45 PSI (31 x 10.50 R15LT tires), if necessary
3. check spare tire and bring up to 32 PSI (29 x 9.50 R15LT tire), if necessary

Quarterly Maintenance

Check Power Steering Fluid

1. gather tools - power steering fluid, shop rag;
2. pull out and wipe dipstick, return and pull out again, determine fluid level;
3. if necessary, add fluid

Check Cooling System

1. let engine cool first, if hot;
2. remove radiator cap and top off with 50/50 coolant/water mix, if necessary

Oil Change

Change Oil and Filter

1. gather tools and parts - creeper, drain pan, 9/16" open end wrench, oil filter wrench, filler spout, shop rags, SAE 10W-30 SJ oil, WIX 51085 filter element
2. warm up engine, place drain pan, remove oil pan bolt and drain old oil;
3. wipe and reinstall oil pan bolt, remove old oil filter element with oil filter wrench, apply thin film of clean oil to new filter gasket, screw new filter on hand tight only;
4. Pour five quarts new oil into valve cover oil filler hole;
5. replace cap, start engine and check oil pressure and for leaks (especially at filter);
6. turn off engine, wait for oil to drain down some and check dipstick

Gear Oil Change

Transmission (5 speed AX-15 manual) Oil Change

1. gather tools and parts - creeper, drain pan, 15/16" 6 pt socket wrench, sludge pump, makeshift cardboard and foil funnel, shop rags, cat litter, Redline MT-90 Synthetic Gear Oil;
2. give vehicle a warm up run, loosen both fill and drain plugs, place drain pan and makeshift funnel;
3. remove drain plug and position funnel and drain pan, spread cat litter on spillage if any;
4. clean magnetic drain plug and reinstall, remove fill plug and add gear oil (about 3-1/4 qt) to bottom of fill plug hole with sludge pump, and replace plug

You can email me at  webmaster@laroke.com

Issued Saturday June 23, 2001

Updated Saturday November 22, 2008

copyright © 1996-2008 Larry Robert Kephart all rights reserved