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Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999-2004 WJ WG Factory Workshop Service Repair Manual download

Short theory (why valve adjustment matters)
- The cam opens a valve by pushing on a lifter/rocker; clearance (valve lash) is required so the valve fully closes at engine operating temperature. Clearance compensates for thermal expansion of metal and wear of cam/lifter/valve components.
- If clearance is too large you get mechanical noise (tapping), uneven valve timing, slower valve opening, weaker airflow, rough idle and loss of power. If clearance is too small the valve can be held partly open at temperature, causing poor compression, hot valves, burned seats and low power.
- Modern engines use either hydraulic lifters (self‑adjusting — no lash setting) or mechanical systems (adjustable rocker screw/nut or shims-under-bucket). The adjustment method depends on engine design; do not attempt manual lash adjustment if the engine has hydraulic lifters.

Determine valve train type (quick check)
- Remove valve cover: if you see screw‑type adjusters on the rocker arms the valvetrain is adjustable by screw. If you see bucket tappets sitting over valve stems with no screws, lash is set by shims or hydraulic lifters.
- If lifters look like hydraulic tappets (plungers with oil passages), the system is self‑adjusting and you do not set lash; service means replacing noisy hydraulic lifters or oil issues.

Tools & prep (theory + practical)
- Feeler gauges (fine metric/inch set). They measure the gap accurately.
- Ratchet + sockets, torque wrench, screwdrivers, small pry, magnetic tray for fasteners.
- Clean rags, brake cleaner or solvent for degreasing valve train.
- New valve cover gasket, gasket sealant as required.
- For shim systems: set of replacement shims, micrometer or digital caliper to measure shim thickness if needed.
- Engine cold: mechanical lash is measured on a cold engine unless manual specifies otherwise (thermal expansion changes clearance).

Ordered procedure (general — follow the correct method for your valvetrain)
1) Safety & access
- Park on level ground, set parking brake, remove negative battery terminal if you’ll be near ignition wiring.
- Remove air intake/hoses that block valve cover. Drain nothing. Remove electrical connectors as needed and unbolt valve cover(s). Keep debris out of engine.

2) Inspect and identify
- Clean visible oil/varnish so you can see parts. Identify cam orientation, rocker geometry, and whether lifters are hydraulic or mechanical.
- If hydraulic lifters are present, stop here: they are self‑adjusting. Diagnose noisy lifter by oil change, oil pressure, lifter replacement or cam inspection. Do not try to set lash.

3) Find TDC (compression stroke) for cylinder 1 and follow firing order
- Rotate engine by hand with a socket on crank pulley to bring cylinder 1 to Top Dead Center (TDC) on the compression stroke so both valves for that cylinder are closed and cam lobes for that cylinder are on the base circle (not lifting).
- Theory: with cam lobes on base circle the valve spring fully closes valve and the gap you measure is the true lash.

4) Measure lash with feeler gauge
- Insert proper feeler gauge between rocker (or bucket edge where specified) and valve stem/cup per manual. The gauge should have a slight drag when correct.
- Note which values are intake/exhaust and record measured clearance.

5) Adjust to spec — method A: screw‑and‑locknut rocker
- Hold the rocker steady, back off locknut, turn adjuster screw until feeler gauge has a slight drag, then tighten locknut while holding screw in position. Re‑check the gap after tightening to be sure it didn’t shift.
- Theory: altering screw changes rocker geometry and valve seating clearance.

6) Adjust to spec — method B: shim‑under‑bucket (OHC or DOHC bucket type)
- Remove the cam or lift cam lobe (if required) to expose the bucket; measure the current shim thickness and the existing gap. Calculate target shim thickness = current shim + (measured gap − desired gap). Replace shim with nearest available size.
- Reassemble carefully, rotate engine and re‑measure. Repeat until within spec.
- Theory: bucket shims change the resting height of the valve bucket relative to cam lobe, thus altering lash.

7) Adjust to spec — method C: shim‑behind-rocker (some pushrod designs)
- Loosen rocker bearing screw(s), swap shim(s) as required, retorque to spec. Measure to confirm.

8) Repeat sequence for all cylinders
- Use TDC and firing order or rotate crank 120°/180° as needed to put each cylinder’s cam lobes on the base circle when you measure/adjust. Work methodically so you don’t skip valves.

9) Final checks and reassembly
- With all valves adjusted, rotate engine two full turns by hand and spot‑check a few valve gaps again at TDC to ensure nothing shifted.
- Clean valve cover sealing surfaces, replace gasket, reinstall valve cover with proper torque sequence and torque values per manual.
- Reinstall intake/air plumbing, reconnect battery, start engine and listen. A quiet engine with steady idle indicates correct adjustment.

How the repair fixes the fault (simple theory)
- Correcting large clearances removes excessive mechanical lash that causes tapping noise and delayed valve opening. That improves valve timing/overlap, restores proper airflow, smooths idle and recovers low‑end torque.
- Correcting too‑tight clearances ensures valves fully seat at operating temperature; this restores compression, prevents burnt valve faces/seats, reduces misfire and prevents power loss.
- For hydraulic lifter faults, replacing lifters or restoring oil pressure fixes collapse of the lifter plunger that causes ticking and lost valve motion.

Notes, cautions and practical tips (short)
- Always use the exact lash specs and procedures from the factory workshop manual for your specific WJ/WG engine and model year.
- Never adjust lash on an engine designed for hydraulic lifters — you’ll damage components or it simply won’t work.
- Keep dirt out — any debris in the head/runners is bad. Replace valve cover gasket.
- Recheck adjust after initial run (cold) and after a short break‑in period if new shims/lifters were fitted.

Typical symptoms that indicate valve adjustment is needed
- Loud tapping/ticking from top end, poor idle, loss of power, popping/roughness on decel, misfires on affected cylinders. If symptoms are intermittent and oil pressure low, suspect hydraulic lifter collapse.

That’s the ordered theory + procedure. Use the factory manual for your exact engine to get the correct lash values, shim sizes and torque specs.
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