Offroad-Express

Guys,

Word of caution when getting a TJ Wrangler with a 3 stage auto wet.

The story goes.
I have a '99 TJ Wrangler.
Stock ish for now... (picked up my lift kit yesterday)

I love it.
It does so much and its still stock.

Anyway, i was kinda aware that the breather on the TJ's 3 stage auto is quite low down.
Both Diffs and my Transfer case have breather tubes that lift them well out of harms way, but the gear box breather is in the most stupid place.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, i went 'Swimming'

This was about midday.

On the way home that evening, the gearbox felt different.
It felt kind soft.
The next day, i had a look at the dipstick...
Nooo... Bright pink...

Off to the gearbox shop for a flush.
They said i had so much water in the auto, that it wasn't worth flushing, and the gearbox would need a complete rebuild.

Nooo...

In four days, it had pretty much lost all drive.
(Since taking it for a swim, i had clocked up about 50 - 60ks)

Anyway, all's well that ends well...

As mentioned in the title, How to relocate the breather, the hard way.

I put in an insurance claim with AMI.
It was approved in 3 days, and 10 days later, i have my Jeep back, with a fully rebuilt gearbox, and relocated Gearbox breather.
The gearbox now feels even better than it did before.

This was a hard way to learn, and it could have been so much harder.

Learn from my mistake... I did...

P.s. Go AMI

Interesting about insurance, how did you claim it was accidental damage. AMI won't cover wear and tear items or mechanical damage.

The breather issue is well known, but otherwise the box is very strong. If I have to remove it for some reason, I fully intend to do this mod.

I know the feeling bro, here is my old 3 speed drowned..

Mind you I paid out $1100 to replace it.

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... 60#p316860

yep know of a couple that have done that,,,,,much better when breather extended...i have a xj auto in mine......



mind you they dont like water either....

Yeah, also keen to know how you could claim on insurance? This is why I don't plan to put a snorkle on mine, must stay away from deep water. That's me reminding self. LOL. At least not till I have the breather sorted!

State insurance will also cover your 4wd for off road purposes including spotlight replacement under the glass cover and recovery costs.

obviously this is a slightly higher premium then normal car insurance but it is nice to know a water logged trans, or a engine trying to compress water isn't to much strain on the wallet...

I full mine up with water (had sand in it to), I flushed it straight away it lasted about a year like that. Rebuilt now the breath is now blocked in the bellhouesing and a fitting with put on top over a band so it didnt get oil splashed into it.

kane

Crash bandicoot wrote:State insurance will also cover your 4wd for off road purposes including spotlight replacement under the glass cover and recovery costs.

obviously this is a slightly higher premium then normal car insurance but it is nice to know a water logged trans, or a engine trying to compress water isn't to much strain on the wallet...

Yip thats 100% correct although with State they dont charge a higher premium for modifications they will increase the excess if the value of the mods go over "x" amount. If you ask your insurance company most will cover it (All IAG companies do State, NZI, NAC, AMI, ASB, BNZ, etc) but the sales/service staff are only advised of this when they first start with the company so they could forget and give the wrong information. I could have claimed when the Bighorn died in the bog at woodhill but as I managed to get it going with no issues apart from a faulty o2 sensor I didnt bother.

FORGE1 wrote:

Crash bandicoot wrote:State insurance will also cover your 4wd for off road purposes including spotlight replacement under the glass cover and recovery costs.

obviously this is a slightly higher premium then normal car insurance but it is nice to know a water logged trans, or a engine trying to compress water isn't to much strain on the wallet...

Yip thats 100% correct although with State they dont charge a higher premium for modifications they will increase the excess if the value of the mods go over "x" amount. If you ask your insurance company most will cover it (All IAG companies do State, NZI, NAC, AMI, ASB, BNZ, etc) but the sales/service staff are only advised of this when they first start with the company so they could forget and give the wrong information. I could have claimed when the Bighorn died in the bog at woodhill but as I managed to get it going with no issues apart from a faulty o2 sensor I didnt bother.

I'll remember this as i'm with State

phraza wrote:

FORGE1 wrote:

Crash bandicoot wrote:State insurance will also cover your 4wd for off road purposes including spotlight replacement under the glass cover and recovery costs.

obviously this is a slightly higher premium then normal car insurance but it is nice to know a water logged trans, or a engine trying to compress water isn't to much strain on the wallet...

Yip thats 100% correct although with State they dont charge a higher premium for modifications they will increase the excess if the value of the mods go over "x" amount. If you ask your insurance company most will cover it (All IAG companies do State, NZI, NAC, AMI, ASB, BNZ, etc) but the sales/service staff are only advised of this when they first start with the company so they could forget and give the wrong information. I could have claimed when the Bighorn died in the bog at woodhill but as I managed to get it going with no issues apart from a faulty o2 sensor I didnt bother.

I'll remember this as i'm with State

but make sure they are aware of what you intend to do with it,
They do ask what risks you will place the vehicle in when your policy is started, but not when you renew it so make sure it is in writing that you intend to do off road excursions in the 4x4.