Just some xj questions

BiggDaddy · 11-18-2008, 10:21 PM

Maybe JFiscus or anyone can help. I am just curious really.

I took off my front bumper to put on factory tow hooks. Found two things that caught my eye. First was an electrical connection right in the middle of the bumper. I don't have anything hooked up to it. I have two thoughts a) a sensor for daytime running lights or something, and b) an airbag sensor. I have a driver side airbag for sure, but I don't know if it is hooked up or where the sensor is for that thing.
Secondly, there is a big round ball on the passenger side right behind the front bumper. It had what looks like a vacuum line running to it, but that's it. I am totally lost for this thing.

I hooked the ball back up, but like I said the electrical connection was just there, nothing coming from it. The tow hooks went in ok. After I traded some bolts in for non-torx heads. They don't look too bad either, aside from the part where you can't really even tell they are there, but that's not a bad thing either. I got a little worried doing just mild wheeling without any tow points at all. Guess it's always good to be safe. It's a daily driver, so I don't do much anyways. Oh well, I'm getting long-winded. Thanks for any ideas on this stuff.

BiggDaddy

cincygman · 11-18-2008, 10:51 PM

The connecter up front is most likely for an temp. sensor for the optional overhead information center (compass/temp/fuel use) or factory fog/driving lights. The round ball thing is a vacuum resivuor maybe for cruise control or something like that. These are my guesses;)

jfiscus · 11-19-2008, 09:04 AM

gman is right, that's what those are.
you need the vacuum ball to control cruise control & to be able to switch between defrost/dash/floor on the hvac, but you can move it easily by unplugging the lines then pulling them up behind the battery.

WrenchMonkey · 11-20-2008, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfiscus

you need the vacuum ball to control cruise control & to be able to switch between defrost/dash/floor on the hvac...

Yep, and depending on your year, the front axle disconnect. Muy importante.

As for your hooks, you did use at least the factory brackets, right? When I bought mine, the tow hooks were just bolted to the unibody. That's a disaster waiting to happen...

Robert

BiggDaddy · 11-20-2008, 04:39 PM

Yes, I got the whole bracket setup. They are very similar to the rugged ridge set in the magazines.

BiggDaddy.

11-18-2008, 10:21 PM	#1
BiggDaddy Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sidney, Ohio Posts: 52	Just some xj questions Maybe JFiscus or anyone can help. I am just curious really. I took off my front bumper to put on factory tow hooks. Found two things that caught my eye. First was an electrical connection right in the middle of the bumper. I don't have anything hooked up to it. I have two thoughts a) a sensor for daytime running lights or something, and b) an airbag sensor. I have a driver side airbag for sure, but I don't know if it is hooked up or where the sensor is for that thing. Secondly, there is a big round ball on the passenger side right behind the front bumper. It had what looks like a vacuum line running to it, but that's it. I am totally lost for this thing. I hooked the ball back up, but like I said the electrical connection was just there, nothing coming from it. The tow hooks went in ok. After I traded some bolts in for non-torx heads. They don't look too bad either, aside from the part where you can't really even tell they are there, but that's not a bad thing either. I got a little worried doing just mild wheeling without any tow points at all. Guess it's always good to be safe. It's a daily driver, so I don't do much anyways. Oh well, I'm getting long-winded. Thanks for any ideas on this stuff. BiggDaddy

11-18-2008, 10:51 PM	#2
cincygman Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Pleasant Run Farms (near Fairfield) Posts: 378	The connecter up front is most likely for an temp. sensor for the optional overhead information center (compass/temp/fuel use) or factory fog/driving lights. The round ball thing is a vacuum resivuor maybe for cruise control or something like that. These are my guesses;) __________________ Romans 7-8

11-20-2008, 04:39 PM	#5
BiggDaddy Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sidney, Ohio Posts: 52	yes on the brackets Yes, I got the whole bracket setup. They are very similar to the rugged ridge set in the magazines. BiggDaddy.

11-19-2008, 09:04 AM	#3
jfiscus Terrain Stomper Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Crittenden, KY Posts: 633	gman is right, that's what those are. you need the vacuum ball to control cruise control & to be able to switch between defrost/dash/floor on the hvac, but you can move it easily by unplugging the lines then pulling them up behind the battery.