Project "Trouble Code"

My Dad and I recently traded my 2003 Jeep Wrangler TJ and 1948 Bantam trailer (which I originally purchased from him) for his 2009 Harley Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom.  The Jeep has been in our family since 2004.  It runs like a champ and looks almost new!  I have replaced all the fluids with synthetic, added Mickey Thompson Classic II rims, BF Goodrich AT 15x31x10.5 tires, new shocks, sterring stabilizer, 1 3/4" front lift, B&M sort shifter and too many others to list.  The Jeep has had an engine light trouble code for as long as we both can remember.  We had it checked out in the past and thought it was just a gas cap vacuum leak.  When we finally got around to really checking into it, it seemed we had a problem with the evaporation canisiter which is located behind the rear inner fender skirt on the passenger side.  After removing the tire, inner fender skirt and looking over all the vacuum lines we determined they were in good shape.  I followed the lines across the gas tank, along the frame rails and up to the engine compartment.  I pointed out the lines from under the Jeep to my Dad who then traced them down one by one.  Low and behold we found a vacuum connection which had come apart due to an aging rubber boot.  The problem was right in front of us the entire time and we never saw it until now.  My Dad came up with a very ingenious idea.  He used a spark plug boot which was larger on one end than the other, just like the two lines we needed to connect.  He put them on and BINGO, the leak was gone!  After a quick trip to the auto store I used their code reader to reset the computer and we haven't had any trouble since.  I feels really good to know that we saved several hundred dollars by chasing down the problem ourselves.  I know the Jeep will keep on motoring along until I eventual trade him something to get it back again.     

Microphone check one-two, one-two

     Is this thing on?  It's been a long time since I posted my first and only blog.  Funny how life can get in the way of a good thing (that and forgetting your Blogger password...).  I've got a little more time on my hands now that I am on terminal leave at the twilight of my 20 year, 9 month and 19 day Air Force career.  Lots of things have been going on since my last entry.  There's no way for me to go back and capture everything (you can visit my mom's blog at http://travelinglongdogs.blogspot.com/
for a recount of my Excellent Summer Adventure with Cameron and Morgan), so I will just have to pick up from the last few days.  I'm off to the gym to lift iron for now but look for new entries VERY soon.  Thanks for following!