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2008 Wrangler Purchase

5K views 23 replies 11 participants last post by  soupy1957 
#1 · (Edited)
Hello fellow Wrangler owners!!

I'm a "newbie" here, after having been looking at the Wrangler for many years and never buying.
Yesterday I went and made the deal. I had a 4x2 (yes, that's right, it's not a typo...I like the way a 4x2 responds, since I was raised on them), Toyota Tacoma Pre-Runner (2005) with 24,777 miles on it, that I traded for the 2008 Wrangler V6, with the dual-top package, electric this-and-that, etc., etc..
I have a picture, (not that you'd need to see it, but I love to show it off), that I'll attempt to post in here, but I'm not sure if I can.
A couple of things are concerning me, as a new owner, and perhaps ya'll could take a moment and help me out.
First off, I had the soft top taken off at the dealership and the hardtop put on, (after all, winter is more or less here) and so the soft top is sitting folded up in my garage til spring. I watched the guys in the Service Department do the switch, and I sorta get the picture, but I'm wondering about any special hints, for the Spring installation of the soft top. Anything you'd be willing to tell me to watch out for, so that I do the job correctly?
Secondly, I personally DON'T like the fact that the horn honks when I do an external lock-up of my vehicle. Can I set it to only flash the lights, instead of honking the horn? It's obnoxious when I come home late at night and disturb the neighbors.
Finally, I have been a motorcycle rider for years, and a manual-transmission shifter for years, (my Wrangler is a Standard Shift, as I requested it to be), and I'm in the midst of learning the feel of the Wrangler (only brought it home yesterday). I have stalled it out a couple of times, most likely because I didn't give it ENOUGH gas, in First gear. I know I'll get used to the Wrangler's feel really soon, but I'm wondering if any of you found a good way to handle "first gear" in the Wrangler?
Ok, enough....
-Soupy1957
 
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#19 ·
damn really? I think after I picked my rig up that was the first place I headed...lol oh well thats just me I guess. Nice purchase man and welcome to the addiction and empty wallet! :D
 
#8 ·
There aren't really any tricks to swapping the tops. I will say that the soft top install is easier than hardtop removal and install. Even so, my son and I were able to re-install my 4 door's hartop. With yours being a two door, I would think the rear piece of the top would be easier to handle.
 
#9 ·
Easier removal

Yep, based on what I saw yesterday, when I watched the two Service people put the hardtop on, it's not about weight, (especially with the two sections out of it during install), but about the awkwardness of it.

I'm just primarily concerned about the soft top because there seemed to be soooo many steps defined in the owners manual.

-soupy1957
 
#11 ·
Yep, based on what I saw yesterday, when I watched the two Service people put the hardtop on, it's not about weight, (especially with the two sections out of it during install), but about the awkwardness of it.

I'm just primarily concerned about the soft top because there seemed to be soooo many steps defined in the owners manual.

-soupy1957
Look on the window sticker, it should say one way or the other if they were included in the pkg you got, like 24d, something like that?
 
#10 ·
By the way, since it was a Saturday, and the Service guys were going home, I scheduled the "Detailing" for the Friday after Thanksgiving.
I noted that they hadn't put the floormats in yet, which "I presume" are supposed to be included?!
I was treated right by the sales person and the Service folks, and have no complaints at this point about their attention towards me.
-Soupy1957
 
#13 ·
Welcome Soupy. What bike(s) are you currently riding? I have the original floor mats, extra charge, and replaced them with some real mud & snow catchers. Bought the Mopar tire tread floor mats and the they have a hole in them for the floor hooks. Going to fill the hole with silicone to prevent moisture from leaking out. Enjoy the new JK.
 
#14 ·
First off, I had the soft top taken off at the dealership and the hardtop put on, (after all, winter is more or less here) and so the soft top is sitting folded up in my garage til spring. I watched the guys in the Service Department do the switch, and I sorta get the picture, but I'm wondering about any special hints, for the Spring installation of the soft top. Anything you'd be willing to tell me to watch out for, so that I do the job correctly?
The owners manual has 2-3 different types of tops it tries to explain. Be sure you are looking at the instructions for the right type of top.

soupy1957 said:
Secondly, I personally DON'T like the fact that the horn honks when I do an external lock-up of my vehicle. Can I set it to only flash the lights, instead of honking the horn? It's obnoxious when I come home late at night and disturb the neighbors.
With the Jeep locked already, hold down the lock button for about 5 seconds, then hold down the panic button with the lock button for a second, then release them both simultaneously.


WELCOME to WF! :wavey:
 
#16 ·
Jase, good point about the "top" and the number of different types...thanks for the tip.

As you have described the horn honk steps, I have done exactly that, a few times now, with no results. It said something about the key slot having to be in the "Lock" position, and I thought I had it all the way back towards me, but perhaps not. Is there a "ya gotta hold a button" type thing for setting the "Lock" position, that I'm missing or something????



-Soupy1957
 
#21 ·
As you have described the horn honk steps, I have done exactly that, a few times now, with no results. It said something about the key slot having to be in the "Lock" position, and I thought I had it all the way back towards me, but perhaps not. Is there a "ya gotta hold a button" type thing for setting the "Lock" position, that I'm missing or something????
I am pretty sure this is something you can do from outside of your vehicle without the key in the ignition. When I said press the lock button, I meant the button on your key fob. The directions from my manual state:

If desired, the “Sound Horn On Lock” feature can be
turned on or off by performing the following steps:
1. Press the “Lock” button for 4 to 10 seconds.
2. While the “Lock” button is pressed (after 4 seconds),
press the PANIC button. Release both buttons.

The “Sound Horn On Lock” feature can be reactivated by
repeating this procedure.


Other things you can do is deactivate the lights flashing on lock and the all-to-annoying seatbelt chime.
 
#24 ·
I had 10 years on a 1986 Honda Shadow VT500C and sold it about 4 years ago. (Miss it sometimes, but mostly DON'T "miss it")

So the Wrangler is a great compromise, considering how I can open it up and ride in the wind, in the summer months.

An observation: You know how, when you buy a new vehicle, you tend to notice how many more of them are on the road? I've noted that a ton of the folks I've seen driving Wranglers, are using their soft tops during these winter months? You suppose it is because they don't OWN a "hard top" or that they simply don't find the need to use the Hard Top?

Interesting fact: Those of you who know the history of the Jeep Wrangler will appreciate this......I've had a set of license plates that I've transferred over a few times, and likewise transferred them to the Wrangler (my first Wrangler, in case you missed it). I know that my current Wrangler version is a "JK" but I'm sure you can appreciate it when I say that my plate starts with "1CJ -" (down right prophetic, eh?!)

-Soupy1957

P.S.: Still haven't gotten the horn to quit honkin when I push the "Lock" button, (made quite a noise last night, when I tried to set it, and pushed the "Panic" button....lol). I'm going to the dealership tomorrow for "detailing" and I'll get THEM to set it!!

Someone in here said that I could stop the dinging of the seat belt chime......how do I do THAT? (Maybe I can get THAT set).
 
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