But no liftoff. Yesterday was a good day. I received a base unlock tune file from RPM Extreme. I downloaded the tune and headed out to the garage to write it to the ECU. While I was trying to write the tune I kept receiving errors in HP Tuners Editor for missing protocol. I was a little stumped. To make matters worse I contacted Jon at RPM Extreme to see if he had ever experienced the protocol errors on flash write before. While I was on the phone it dawned on me that I had removed my TCM to take in the house and get some part numbers and other information for HP Tuners to unlock – duh. I reinstalled the TCM and flashed the new tune to the ECU. The moment of truth, I turned the key and the Jeep started! Keep in mind there is no exhaust on the Jeep, only the headers on the engine, so when the engine cold started it sounded like a bomb going off in my garage! The Jeep was finally running. Seven months from the time I started this moronic process, there was some success.
I let the start sink in for a while as I did other busy tasks around the house. Later that night I thought I would set my steering stops and lock my steering ram clamp onto the tie rod. So I fired up the Jeep again and cranked the wheel full passenger and killed the Jeep. When I walked around the front of the Jeep I wanted to puke. I put the hydraulic hoses on backwards! Passenger was driver! I had to drain and break down the entire power steering system to make some changes. I also noticed the high pressure line on the pump side was leaking where the new field service hose end was installed. While I had the fluid drained I pulled that hose back out and went through the end building process again, then put hose back. I will know if it holds up the next time I start the Jeep. If it doesn’t hold I will probably have a hose pressed at the parts store using my home made hose as a template. Today we will see if the power steering changes are correct and set the ram clamp. The Jeep is getting closer to moving under its own power!