Frankenstein: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

BlackBird · Post by **BlackBird** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 8:13 pm

best not replace it Dave, it will only be on all the time just like mine is. Actually, I have an idea: would would like to buy my MIL? I could do you a good deal .....

it's all yours if you remove it!

Code Red · Post by **Code Red** » Sat Jun 07, 2014 8:33 pm

That year Cherokee doesn't come with a Check Engine Light because it never breaks.

Bolt that thing back together and get out in the sand Dave. I miss your leads.

Jo · Post by Jo » Sat Jun 07, 2014 8:59 pm

...what is an engnkj...sorry how you spell this?

heinz · Post by **heinz** » Mon Jun 16, 2014 12:59 am

Hi Desertdawg,

I read Frankenstein has a dual electric fan setup.
If so, could you let me know the feedback on this setup?

Thinking about doing this conversion on my 99 XJ manual.
But looking for some pointers on where to buy a good fan and how to wire it up etc.

Thanks!
Really enjoy to follow your Frankenstein write ups!

DesertDawg · Post by **DesertDawg** » Thu Jun 19, 2014 7:50 pm

I did try all sorts of set ups, including dual electric pullers.

My advice: don't do it - invest in a decent radiator instead. I am back to standard with an all metal three row radiator.

There is now way an electric radiator will shift the same air as the mechanical fan. If you really want to do it - find a Taurus fan (but I couldn't in UAE).

Here is a pic of my radiator.

Best of Luck

Dave

Abu Dhabi-20140619-00622.jpg

DesertDawg · Post by **DesertDawg** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 1:05 pm

Frankie suffered another breakdown on Saturday - Luckily it only cost me 1Dhs to fix

Towards the end of a ANIT with Thom on Saturday (my Birthday!) the 'Check Gauges' lit and the voltage gauge was at minimum. Great I thought, bust alternator. Stupidly, I inflated and of course the compressor drained the battery somewhat

. I attempted to make a dash for home, but the car electrics slowly died on me - I called it a day when the instrument cluster died. Luckily, the truck road overbridge was in sight so I took refuge underneath. A quick phone call to Thom and he stopped on his way back. I thought all that would be needed was a quick charge with jump leads and that would get me home. But Frankie would not restart. After calling the recovery service, Thom and I tried to diagnose the problem. My code reader gave a DTC relating to the Automatic Shutdown (ASD) Relay - so we started there and replaced the relay and associated fuse. No joy. We then checked the rest of the fuses just in case and found a small 15Amp fuse had blown. Replaced that and whoopee! Everything solved.

Fuse 21: Supplies power via ASD Relay to Coil, Injectors, O2 Sensors and Alternator field colis. One very important little fuse!

Now I wonder why it blew??

BIG THANK YOU To:

Tom and Crystal for rescuing me.
Waqar for stopping on his wayout to Sweihan to ask if everything was OK
The recovery guy who came all the way out for me to tell him he could go home again

Xof · Post by **Xof** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 2:58 pm

why did it blow? because it can!!!!

it's a rebel fuse...

good this is a happy ending story!

heinz · Post by **heinz** » Sun Jun 22, 2014 3:18 pm

Thanks for the advice! I guess i will stick with the stock cooling system. If it ain't broke ...

Hope you figure out what happened with that fuse. Could be a short circuit in one of the wires going to the o2 sensors, ignition or injectors

DesertDawg · Post by **DesertDawg** » Fri Aug 08, 2014 4:42 pm

Hi All,

Its been some time.....

I have not been up to much - Frankie doesn't really like the heat.

In the meantime, I have been preparing for a few small mods:
- New steering wheel cover - mine has worn through to the plastic
- Making two 02 simulators to get rid of the CEL codes for the two unused sensors (no cat)
- Resolving what to best do with the transmission - I have a P0740 code which means the torque converter does no lock up (more soon)

Today I have been investigating a suspect exhaust leak. I could not find the leak until deploying my brand new smoke generator. Ever heard the phrase 'blowing smoke up someone's ****' ? Well Frankie got that treatment today.

Here is my 40AED smoke generator:

IMG_20140808_145304[1].jpg

Soldering iron wicks up babyoil and generates smoke. ARB compressor blows into exhaust.

In action:

Abu Dhabi-20140808-00632.jpg

Found the leak in 5 minutes (exhaust manifold collector).

Dave

BlackBird · Post by **BlackBird** » Sat Aug 09, 2014 7:48 am

That's simply brilliant ingenuity

DesertDawg · Post by **DesertDawg** » Sat Aug 09, 2014 8:52 am

I can't claim to have invented this (thank you TouTube) but it was indeed very effective.

Good for EVAP (emission system) leaks too - providing you are very careful about ignition sources. Should really use nitrogen instead of compressed air.

DAve

DinoStroker · Post by **DinoStroker** » Sat Aug 09, 2014 11:55 am

DesertDawg wrote:Ever heard the phrase 'blowing smoke up someone's ****' ? Well Frankie got that treatment today.

I bet Frankie enjoyed that.

I'm glad you confirmed that the ticking was from an exhaust header collector leak and not the engine.
Look forward to seeing you later.

DesertDawg · Post by **DesertDawg** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 11:14 am

Hi All,

I have been busy prepping Franki for next season:

1/ Made up two O2 sensor simulators to prevent CEL (I have no catalytic converter and two of the four sensors are not fitted).
Testing:

Abu Dhabi-20140826-00643.jpg

2/ Replaced exhaust manifold because old one has cracked. Had to weld on two 02 sensor bungs (old head new ECU).

Abu Dhabi-20140826-00640.jpg

3/ Got a new steering wheel cover: quite happy with my stitching:

Abu Dhabi-20140829-00644.jpg

4/ Gone back to a twin electric fan setup – it may or may not work. We’ll see.
Dave

BlackBird · Post by **BlackBird** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 1:47 pm

Dave,
1) does Francine know that you were repairing Frankies exhaust in the kitchen? (note oven gloves at the ready)
2) did the welder have a accident (loss of bladder control)?
3) if the O2 sensor thing works, may I be your first customer?
cheers, N

hubiheu · Post by **hubiheu** » Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:27 pm

Hi

try to make an spacer for the rear lambda sensors like 3 cm and move them out from exhaustgas flow ...... then no ce light will come up to 2010 cars .......
Lambda emulator is always dificult you have to know waht difference betwween front and rear sensor the ecu want to see .
this is most of the time no static value is up to revs and load of the engine for sample at 2000U/min and 20% throttle he want to see converting rate up to 45% and 4000 U/min and 20% throttle is 20% diff bevore and after lambda ......

try spacer first ant save time