96 XJ- all problems in one Thread & Tune up list

Hi all,

I got my first XJ last November or so. I'd fixed a few major problems that will prevented it from running but apparently there's still a lot need to be done.

As summer is here, I'm hoping folks on the forum can help me out to fix his problems here and there. I've listed pretty much all I can think of down below. I'm sorry for the long post, but you only can answer certain numbered part(s). I'll appreciate tremendously.

Profile:
Trim: 96 XJ Country
Engine: 4.0L
Transmission: AW4
204,000 miles
Tires: 235/75R15

Things I've done:
(So you know these might not be the cause of the problems I will mention later)
- New Alternator
- New Air Filter
- New Thermostat & Housing
- New Brake pads and shoes
- What it looks like under the hood:



PS: as you can see from the pics, I did the cold intake box mod, thanks to jeep forum.


Now the problems:

1) Transmissionre-existing condition, tranny fluid is dark brown, like poop color.:shhh: shown in the pictures.
On the stick:


On paper


On paper towel:


Problems:
a) while driving under any speed, occasionally the RPM will jump up for a brief second and fall back to "normal". what's the culprit? Torque converter? Is this called trans slipping?

b)I'm not sure what's the normal shifting speed(by which I mean the RPM return to 1500RPM, mine anyway), but here is what I got:
1st gear-15-18mph
2nd gear 25-29 mph
If I accelerate real slow, I can get into this phantom 3rd gear at 35-38 mph
4th 43-47mph
From 45-47 up, my rpm will gradually going higher and higher topped at about 2200-2300RPM
Which means at 65mph, I will have the RPM stays above 2000RPM
Is this normal, or should I see it shifted and drop back to 1500RPM?

c) Climbing uphill is a pain with this XJ, but if I floor the gas, "sometimes" something magical will happen: the RPM will jump to 3000RPM, and I will have a substantial boost, as if it's running on Nitrous oxide. Any idea?

(PS:A few people had mentioned with this high milage, I have to risk of a transmission failure if I chose to change with new pink fluid. Last resort which I won't take is a transmission swap.)

2) Brake/ Steering
1) When I steer the wheel all the way, e.g. swirling up a parking garage, I can hear this sharp sound, not hissing not squealing, i can't describe it. but somewhat like the sharp sound of the tire rubbing the pavement when you try to stop at high speed.
2) Similar sound but a lot less loud can be heard when the car is coming to a stop, like when I'm about the floor the brake.
(PS, I'm running on a brand new pair of brake pads, and 80% new brake shoe at the rear.)

So the above are the problems, below are the list of things I intended to change for a tune up,
Please let me know what do you think, or some other parts I want to replace, or use a different brand of parts.


- Spark plugs:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...WD/_/N-j59taZ8gctd?itemIdentifier=305656_0_0_
- Distributor Cap:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...WD/_/N-j59taZ9n97k?itemIdentifier=128015_0_0_
- Wire set:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...WD/_/N-j59taZ8gcsm?itemIdentifier=238999_0_0_
- Ignition rotor:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa...formance/_/N-a04jw?itemIdentifier=188824_0_0_
- Fuel Filter:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/Duralast-Fuel-Filter/_/N-8gd7g?itemIdentifier=344606_0_0_
- O2 Sensors:
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/NGK-O2s-Oxygen-Sensor/_/N-9gslx?itemIdentifier=407649_0_0_
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/parts/NGK-O2s-Oxygen-Sensor/_/N-9gslx?itemIdentifier=408111_0_0_
- Change Differential Fluid (at this jiffylube I find ok.)



Finally, that's all I had to dump today..:wave:
PS: sorry if some of yall saw this post on JF.. I need the exposure..lol

bump up

Change the fluid and adjust the TV cable on the throttle body. Try that first that report back.

Ok I think I'm screwed this time.

I drained and filled twice, not only I made a mess on the floor, but also the color only changed a little bit, still on the brown side.

I drove around the block to test it out, nothing seemed to be different in terms of shifting and RPM. But at a stop light, when it turned green, I gave the usual amount of gas, but the car is move at 3 mph, more gas, same thing. Only after 1.5 seconds of so, it went back to normal.

This happened another time later during the day.

Is this a sign a tranny failure? Am I ****ed>

Check the level again. How many quarts did you put in?

I put in 1 gallon.

first you have to understand that only about 1/2 the trans fluid gets changed, in a normal drain and fill. it can take several changes to work all the old fluid out of the system this way. Have you changed the trans filter and adjusted the TPS. With severly burnt fluid and 200K miles you may be in need of a trans rebuild. Just had mine done cost $2000, could have DIY'd it for about 1/2 that.

Also, after i replaced the spark plugs, cap, wire and rotor.
There seems to be an occasional popping coming out of the catalytic converter (I remove the muffler, so that's the end.) Every time it pops, the engine seemed to shake a little bit too. But it's not that big of a pop, you can't even hear it, but you can definitely feel it.
Like quieter version of popping popcorn, and this especially happens when I go down hill, without giving gas.

Any idea, what might cause this?