What’s wrong with this picture?
I was bashing through the wash yesterday, in a bit of a hurry because I was late to meet with D&L for the Monday morning water run, when the rattletrap the 19-year-old Jeep has become suddenly got quite a lot louder.
And then I was later still as I did some off-road surgery to take the rear window off before it fell off. Knowing I had to haul some heavy stuff back to the Lair later, I left the window on the bank of the wash till I returned. Danger of it being stolen in the interim: Approximately zero.
The window itself is undamaged but I’ve been a little worried about something like this happening for some time. The gasket that latches the window closed against the tailgate has been broken for a couple of years now, making the window impossible to secure.
Eventually one of the pot metal hinges just fatigued apart. Fortunately it’s fixable: Various commenters have clued me into online sources of Jeep parts, and it’s clearly time to stop procrastinating about refurbishing the Jeep’s rear bits. Winter is Coming. So I’ll get on that today. Should have done it yesterday but yesterday got kind of wonky.
Did that hinge freeze up and transfer the stress and bending to the failure point?
No, I think it failed from all the concussive banging open and closed.
Why is the hood up on the jeep in the first pic?
Regular service. Also rats won’t nest on the engine if you leave the hood open.
“…rats won’t nest on the engine if you leave the hood open.”
For now anyway. That worked for a while for me – but they overcome their shyness once night settles in. Imagine my horror to discover the plug wires gnawed along with various parts of the wiring harness and random vaccum tubes.
What probably helps in your case is that you move the vehicle around. Mine wasn’t a regular driver and I neglected to check it regularly. I had to set up solar spotlights in various spots around the vehicle to keep them at bay – along with a couple bowls of Pine Sol underneath it.
Come to think of it – ever see a mouse drop out from under the dash while you’re driving? I have!
I’ve had them perch on the dashboard and look out the window while I’m driving. Disconcerting – makes me worry about the underdash wiring, which I’m not at all anxious to mess with.