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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/Jeep Cherokee Repair

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Expert: - 7/14/2005


Question
Dear Carl:

I just purchased a 1996 Jeep Cherokee Sport.  I have two questions.  Why is there condensation coming out from the air conditioner?  It is so bad that the condensation covers practically the whole dash.  Another thing that seems to be a problem is the steering.  There is a whining noise when you first start it up and continues until the Jeep warms up. About 5 minutes.  Yesterday the steering wheel started making a popping noise when you turn it. Thank you for your time.

Kim  

Answer
Kim,

There should be no condensation coming from the air conditioner.  It sounds like you may have a leak in one of the internal lines.  I would go to a reputable radiator shop, and have your heating, and cooling system pressure tested, and checked for leaks.

As far as the whining noise, my first suspicion is that your serpentine fan belt may be slipping, or needs to be replaced.  This can, also be due to low power steering fluid, or a power steering pump starting to go bad.  

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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