Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

Advice needed: many repairs

DaniëlMaree

New Member
Original poster
Joined
Jan 23, 2025
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Location
Stellenbosch, WP, SA
Hi all! I am a 21 year-old with a Sahara 2001 3-speed automatic. I recently had to redo my entire engine (original still) due to a cracked cylinder. The car is old and I slowly want to start renewing parts of the car. I however don't have much knowledge when it comes to my Jeep and would love to learn from any advice given. I am extremely fond of my car and would like to repair it the right way and look after it, because I don't think the mechanics really care what they repair and especially if the parts are compatible with my Jeep or not. Thanks in advance to all who help me out.

[To confirm]
- My mechanic wants to replace my Lambda sensor, due to the engine light also being on. I believe he said is was Bosch. My understanding is that the sensor is not that crucial of a replacement? And that if I wanted to replace the Lambda sensor I should use brand from this comment: What brand of O2 sensors should I use for replacements? Pay close attention to this one so you can do it once and do it right! The Jeep Wrangler TJ is extremely sensitive to all oxygen sensors other than NGK / NTK. Bosch O2 sensors and all the others (including the crappy Chinese brands you'll buy at your local auto part store) are very well documented as not working properly with our TJs. In other words, you plug them in and you assume all is well, until you notice your check engine light isn't going away. This is almost always due to the fact that you didn't use an NGK / NTK replacement O2 sensor.

[Advice needed]
My engine is rebuilt (stock), due to cracked cylinder, and is about a month old. I just spent quite a bit of money on the rebuild and just received another big quote from my mechanic from parts that need to be replaced. I however would like advice first from guys from this community.
- Engine Outer & Leaks: I am quoted to replace the Sump Gasket. I don't know what this is, or what is does. I also have no idea what is should cost me to repair and if this should fall under the warranty of my newly built engine?
- My water pump is broken apparently. I have no idea what a new one should cost? Also, is it necessary to add Anti-freeze? I live in South Africa and we have fabulous warm weather.
- There have been slight 'grinding' sounds when I reverse (coming from the transmission I believe). I don't know if any points can be given on this topic? I have been told that they would have to remove the gearbox. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Lambda sensor here is commonly referred to as an O2 sensor. Monitoring voltages with an ODB reader is critical to knowing if you need to replace them. Most folks report issues with Bosch.


Also measuring the temperature of your catalytic converter will help determine if it's clogged.

I would have imagined your sump...oil pan gasket... would have been replaced with a halfway decent engine rebuild, but a Felpro gasket works fine. The factory service manual in the resources section shows the torque values and where to apply a dab of sealant.

I have no idea what a water pump costs in SA but I bought a Napa one sourced from Gates for less that $50 USD. A Mopar one is significantly more expensive. I couldn't justify the expense.

Antifreeze includes anti corrosion chemicals and increases the boiling point of the fluid and is an important part of your cooling system.


As to the transmission most of us have had luck with Redline fluids.

All of your questions have been asked and answered on the forums many times. I suggest you use the search function.

Welcome to WTF and good luck with your Jeep!

-Mac
 
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Mac hit it pretty much right on. Sump, aka oil pan leaks should be a warranty deal unless the rebuild was some time/miles ago, but a month ago is not OK. 02 sensor, yes, collective knowledge says do NOT use a bosch sensor. The water pump in no good? Either its leaking, which you'd see, the bearings are shot and if you grabbed the fan when its NOT running of course, you'd be able to feel play in the pump shafts bearings, or lastly the impeller that moves the coolant is rotted away and not moving coolant and causing over heating. BTW, when they said cracked cylinder, Id bet it was a cracked cylinder head which is fairly common on the 0331 head used on 00/01 engines IIRC. Grinding when shifting into reverse with an automatic? Im no auto expert but that seems off. Unfortunately a jeep can be a massive expense by nature and not knowing how its former owner(s) used it you might be in for e costly ownership. Good luck.
 
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Hi all! I am a 21 year-old with a Sahara 2001 3-speed automatic. I recently had to redo my entire engine (original still) due to a cracked cylinder. The car is old and I slowly want to start renewing parts of the car. I however don't have much knowledge when it comes to my Jeep and would love to learn from any advice given. I am extremely fond of my car and would like to repair it the right way and look after it, because I don't think the mechanics really care what they repair and especially if the parts are compatible with my Jeep or not. Thanks in advance to all who help me out.

[To confirm]
- My mechanic wants to replace my Lambda sensor, due to the engine light also being on. I believe he said is was Bosch. My understanding is that the sensor is not that crucial of a replacement? And that if I wanted to replace the Lambda sensor I should use brand from this comment: What brand of O2 sensors should I use for replacements? Pay close attention to this one so you can do it once and do it right! The Jeep Wrangler TJ is extremely sensitive to all oxygen sensors other than NGK / NTK. Bosch O2 sensors and all the others (including the crappy Chinese brands you'll buy at your local auto part store) are very well documented as not working properly with our TJs. In other words, you plug them in and you assume all is well, until you notice your check engine light isn't going away. This is almost always due to the fact that you didn't use an NGK / NTK replacement O2 sensor.

[Advice needed]
My engine is rebuilt (stock), due to cracked cylinder, and is about a month old. I just spent quite a bit of money on the rebuild and just received another big quote from my mechanic from parts that need to be replaced. I however would like advice first from guys from this community.
- Engine Outer & Leaks: I am quoted to replace the Sump Gasket. I don't know what this is, or what is does. I also have no idea what is should cost me to repair and if this should fall under the warranty of my newly built engine?
- My water pump is broken apparently. I have no idea what a new one should cost? Also, is it necessary to add Anti-freeze? I live in South Africa and we have fabulous warm weather.
- There have been slight 'grinding' sounds when I reverse (coming from the transmission I believe). I don't know if any points can be given on this topic? I have been told that they would have to remove the gearbox. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Warranty for some of the work.

Plenty of help here for the rest.

NTK/NGK O2 sensors.
Mopar or Chrysler water pump ($150’is)
Yes, you need coolant/antifreeze.
 
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Don’t forget distilled water with the antifreeze. Anything over 50/50 is a waist of money. Find the coolant capasitt in the owners manual fill half that amount with antifreeze and then top off with distilled water. When replacing the water pump a new thermostat is recommended. Check the hoses while you’re at it and replace if needed.
Wellcome to the forum and enjoy the TJ world with all the trials and tribulations that come with it. If you have the proper tools many repairs can be done yourself.
 
Hi all! I am a 21 year-old with a Sahara 2001 3-speed automatic. I recently had to redo my entire engine (original still) due to a cracked cylinder. The car is old and I slowly want to start renewing parts of the car. I however don't have much knowledge when it comes to my Jeep and would love to learn from any advice given. I am extremely fond of my car and would like to repair it the right way and look after it, because I don't think the mechanics really care what they repair and especially if the parts are compatible with my Jeep or not. Thanks in advance to all who help me out.

[To confirm]
- My mechanic wants to replace my Lambda sensor, due to the engine light also being on. I believe he said is was Bosch. My understanding is that the sensor is not that crucial of a replacement? And that if I wanted to replace the Lambda sensor I should use brand from this comment: What brand of O2 sensors should I use for replacements? Pay close attention to this one so you can do it once and do it right! The Jeep Wrangler TJ is extremely sensitive to all oxygen sensors other than NGK / NTK. Bosch O2 sensors and all the others (including the crappy Chinese brands you'll buy at your local auto part store) are very well documented as not working properly with our TJs. In other words, you plug them in and you assume all is well, until you notice your check engine light isn't going away. This is almost always due to the fact that you didn't use an NGK / NTK replacement O2 sensor.

[Advice needed]
My engine is rebuilt (stock), due to cracked cylinder, and is about a month old. I just spent quite a bit of money on the rebuild and just received another big quote from my mechanic from parts that need to be replaced. I however would like advice first from guys from this community.
- Engine Outer & Leaks: I am quoted to replace the Sump Gasket. I don't know what this is, or what is does. I also have no idea what is should cost me to repair and if this should fall under the warranty of my newly built engine?
- My water pump is broken apparently. I have no idea what a new one should cost? Also, is it necessary to add Anti-freeze? I live in South Africa and we have fabulous warm weather.
- There have been slight 'grinding' sounds when I reverse (coming from the transmission I believe). I don't know if any points can be given on this topic? I have been told that they would have to remove the gearbox. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Anti-freeze has anti-corrosive properties that prevent corrosion from building up and clogging galleys over time. My truck's small block 350 had straight tap water in it. Very bad. Distilled water is less of a hazard, but there's no reason to NOT run anti-freeze on an engine you just spent a bunch of money on rebuilding.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts