Jeep Wrangler TJ: random hose puzzle now solved

[Skizzer]

I didn't start a thread for my Jeep when I bought it because I wasn't sure it qualifies as shite, being more in the category of overpriced cult shit, plus I'm not the usual driver of it.

 

Here it is at Shitefest 16:

 

But the old heap is growing on me, and I've made a fair amount of progress in sorting its many poor running issues so it's now actually a reasonably amusing thing to drive around in.

 

It came back the other day from having a 'new' (recon on exchange) steering box fitted, which has stopped it pissing PSF everywhere and made the steering a great deal lighter and smoother. Quieter too - SF attendees may recall the groaning from the power steering being almost loud enough to drown out the whine from the slipping aux belt (which I have also fixed, all on my own).

 

I've also changed the plugs, leads, dizzy cap and rotor arm to cure the misfiring and rebuilt the driver's door mechanism so you can get in from the outside.

 

When I got it back to the shed after having the steering box done, however, it had a new mystery for me - a dangling hose:

 

 

I have no idea what this is. The other end attaches to the locating arm for the front suspension. It's dry, and isn't critical to normal driving because the car runs, stops and goes round corners just fine without it. The loose end looks like this:

 

 

There's a cable tie strung behind the front bumper which coincidentally* provides a handy thing to hang the loose end on, and doesn't seem to serve any other purpose, so I've hung it there for now.

 

But any guesses what the Mystery Hose should really be attached to?

[Snipes]

Looks more like a cable with that plastic thug n the end, vaguely like a speedo cable or something.

[Skizzer]

Mm, interesting thought. It's not the speedo cable as the speedo still works, but that does open up some new ideas of places to look for the empty socket.

 

Any other thoughts?

[eddyramrod]

Does your Jeep had an altimeter or inclinometer on the dash?  I'm thinking it could be the sender for that...

[NorfolkNWeigh]

I think some Jeeps have factory fitted axle breathers, might be worth checking the front diff.

[Snipes]

Does your Jeep had an altimeter or inclinometer on the dash?  I'm thinking it could be the sender for that...

 

That would make sense if the 'meter used the angle of the suspension arm to get it's reading (like bi-xeon headlight adjusters do on "moderns")

[Asimo]

+1 for axle breather.

google it, lots of clues amongst the extreme off road stuff.

[Skizzer]

Thanks chaps.  

 

I didn't know an axle breather was a thing; every day's a school day (for me at least).  This looks like the most likely, after a bit of googling - the car doesn't have an inclinometer (although that doesn't mean it doesn't have the cabling for one, of course).  

 

I'll have a further poke about this afternoon.

[andy18s]

Thanks chaps.

 

I didn't know an axle breather was a thing; every day's a school day (for me at least). This looks like the most likely, after a bit of googling - the car doesn't have an inclinometer (although that doesn't mean it doesn't have the cabling for one, of course).

 

I'll have a further poke about this afternoon.

You do know your Disco has a set of these.....don't you?....

[Skizzer]

Mystery solved - it's definitely the axle breather hose and it's supposed to be attached to one of the upper radiator mounting bolts. The garage must have removed the rad to fit the steering box then missed out a step when refitting it. It may be missing a cap/valve on the end to keep water out, although the risk of water getting in when it's properly mounted seems pretty low.

 

You do know your Disco has a set of these.....don't you?....

Of course I knew that [shuffles nervously, looks at his feet].

 

 

Thanks for the help! The AS 24-hour instant support community at work once again