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Late Model XJ Oil Filler Cap |
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Posted: June 15, 2002 Last Revision: |
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| Ever tried to change oil on a newer Cherokee with the ratchet type oil filler cap and all you get click-click-click when attempting to open it? Can be annoying, but it's an easy fix, even without a replacement part. | |
| The ratchet type valve cover oil filler caps are known to not last very long. Well, yes, that's true and shown here is how to fix it, where to get (another) cheap replacemement, and why that one won't last long either. Welcome to the world of modern day automotive solutions! | |
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Shown here is the replacement part. I was told this cap is a
non-ratcheting one. Upon closer inspection that turned out not
to be the case. This is the AutoZone part. AutoZone #082383 "Oil Filler Cap" $5.99 The Jeep/Mopar part number is: 4777 536 "CAP, Oil Filler" (In this case for 4.0L XJ, 1997 and other years with the same cap.) [Large image] |
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In some cases no tools are required. In other cases a little pry bar and some sort of pipe wrench come in handy. |
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The original c(r)ap. |
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Place some rags under the foot of the pry bar, then gently pry the cap upwards. It should pop off fairly easy. If you brake it, --well... it's a broken part... so, who cares. |
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The two pieces of the cap. The top is off, the bottom still
in the cover.
[Large image] |
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With a pipe wrench turn the remaining part of the cap until loose enough to remove by hand. |
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These tabs hold the cap together (green arrows). By bending the upper part slightly, the lower part of the cap will pop right out. |
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New and old cap apart. |
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The old damaged cap. The green arrow point to the damaged ratchet mechanism. Ultimately, to fix this the "quick'n'dirty" way, one could somply pour in some type of glue or two-component resin into the bottom half of the cap. That would eliminate the ratcheting mechanism once and forever. |
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The new cap. |
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The new cap installed. |
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| Looking at this article now, I am surprised how much one can write about a 2-minute procedure! However, this article may help to understand that aggravating oil filler cap... Some tidbit of knowledge that may provide useful some day during an oil change. | |
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All Rights reserved. Photos: Andreas Ritterbusch www.madxj.com |
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