Also been floating around some new ideas and mods for my rig! Probably won't happen for a little while, however, I'll throw em out here!

First and foremost, I am still looking into adding the UConnect steering wheel button cluster, possibly upgrading to an EVIC Instrument Cluster, adding a backup camera, adding auto start, adding ATC Climate Control, adding a new switch panel with OTRATTW switches (possibly using a stand alone sPod "The Source" to contain everything and maybe usingh the Daystar lower switch panel), and Dual Aeroforce Interceptor Gauges on the A-Pillar.

Additionally, a couple of the bigger upgrades that I would love to do before anything else would be, on-board air (maybe the ARB Twin compressor under the hood), upgrading gearing to 4.88s, and possibly a Sprintex Supercharger (and I know the V8 swap in the end is probably better, but I do not have anywhere close to the money to spend on any sort of V8 swap right now, but I have thoroughly researched that topic too! For when I would like to get the power, as well as what my budget permits, I would be in the supercharger range!).

Just a quick update on where I am standing with mods and what might be coming soon to the rig! So watch for more updates! As well as hopefully some more wheelin' pics! But in the mean time, here's a few more photos from the S&B Jeep fest!

 

Ok, last post about this I promise, but it was so much fun, plus, I just have some many great pics of my Jeep! And a movie! So even if no one looks at it, I still wanna share! Haha! So here is the video of my 2 Runs onthe S&B Jeep Fest Course!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtHTCtkZpOQ And here are the rest of the pics I want to share! These were taken professionally by S&B Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep/Ram dealer in Frankenmuth!

 

Well, I picked this up the other day and just arrived yesterday. Got the EVIC steering wheel switch for the Jeep, so I can have the uConnect buttons on the steering wheel! And eventually upgrade to the EVIC Cluster. Plus, I think my "Step" button is going bad. Hopefully I will get some time soon to install it, but I am pretty busy, though I am sure I can find 20-30 minutes to do it in the next week or so! Can't wait to be able to use it!


Part Number is 56046405AB

 

That looks a neat little course! We're definitely loving the color

 

I've got a friend who had one of the buttons go out and it was clockspring related....just something to think about as you replace the piece.

 

Definitely was! And thanks!

Yeah, I am aware of this possibility...however, the dealer said they would charge me $110 to just look, then add onto the cost from there, and I wanted to swap the buttons anyways. So i figured, I would take a chance at the cheaper option first and then go from there. Thanks for bring that up though!

 

Jeep had some fun last week up north here in the Mitten! Some good times in the Sleeping Bear Dunes area with Kayaking, skim boarding, swimming, Mountain biking, Frisbee golf, and enjoying the Seasonal (Unmaintained) roads up there! Lots of sandy 2 track trails with some good climbs and flexes at points! Can't wait to get back up there again and find some more! I did a bunch off of the Famed M-22 route up there!



I did however have one issue while headed up there. All of a sudden, my drivers side low beam started flickering (which with these lights should not happen). If I pushed on the light, it would come back on, but kept going back to the flicker. The halo worked fine, and the high beam worked fine, but the low beam just would not stay. I would get it to come on for a little bit at a time, but it kept going back out. I already got in touch with Rubitrux and have a new set in hand under warrenty, however I wanted to share this as I have not seen this happening with any of these JW J series lights! Should be able to install the replacements later today and hopefully this doesn't happen again!

 

I actually got the time yesterday and was able to spend some time working on the Jeep! First I tackled getting the EVIC Steering Wheel switch installed, and that went much smoother than I thought even! Took about 20 minutes and am very happy! I removed the two screws on the steering column to take the airbag out, then the 4 torque screws from the front behind the airbag (and I never disconnected the air bag), removed the 2 phillips head screws from behind the bottom trim ring piece and the whole trim ring came loose! Then I disconnected the plug from the switch on the left hand side of the steering wheel and unscrewed the 3 torque head screws holding it in place. Next I plugged the new EVIC switch in to make sure everything worked as it should, and no problem at all, it was completely plug and play! I then screwed the switch to the trim, and reversed all the steps above to reassemble! Though, for one, I don't know why Chrysler decided to use 3 different kinds of heads on screws and bolts to connect on the steering wheel, that was annoying! And two, for reinstalling the bolts into the steering column to hold the air bag, I found it easiest to put the bolt in on the drivers side, and then rotate the wheel 180 degrees so that the passenger side bolt was now facing the drivers side! Take a look at the swap!






I also had time to swap out the headlights for the warrantied ones, and sort of made time because it was going out even worse on the way to work yesterday, so that took another 20-30 minutes with no issue at all! And I know have two full headlights again working completely!



So all-in-all a pretty successful evening! And spent some good time cleaning the Jeep up and detailing/protecting what I could on there too!

 

Well, just wanted to report that now an extra day later and using the buttons on the steering wheel for two days...I believe my issue with the "step" button not working is fixed, as all is working great now! I am so glad it was the easy and cheaper fix for once! Haha! Also, the Uconnect and Phone buttons work perfect! ANd already used em a bunch, so very happy with that!

In other news, today was quite the interesting drive to work! First...one of the benefits to living around the Motor City, you can see lots of prototypes and manufacturers testing out pre-release vehicles! So today, I was driving on Telegraph Rd to work (Which goes nearly all the way to the Chrysler/FCA Tech Center) and came across a manufacturer plated Wrangler, which didn't look like anything too out of the norm, but then I noticed the exhaust, which did not look normal! I pulled up next to it at the light and there were no exterior differences, however, when it left the light, man was that thing fast! It shot off the line pretty dang well! I snapped a quick pic, and after looking at the pic a little, I am pretty sure this may be one of the new Diesel engine options being tested for the '18 JL! Take a look for yourself!



After getting a pit excited seeing that, I also had a good bit of a barrier with a tree that fell across the road! I ended up taking a few dirt roads while everyone else waited and went with the flow to the next road up, and I ended up on the other side of the tree with no traffic at all! Was pretty nice! But weird the tree fell with no storms or wind or anything of the sorts!



Anyways though, good to mix it up sometimes on the drive! If it's the same too often it starts to get boring! Haha!

 

Chrysler saw you were on to them so they plotted to drop the tree to slow you down!

That exhaust really is in a weird spot but that would be awesome if they're testing for the new model.