Troubleshooter: Taking care of Jeeps’ exterior hinges and more

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Yes, we’re talking about Jeeps — Wranglers to be specific, those rugged-looking SUVs with their distinctive exposed hinges, removable tops, and folding windshields. They may look like they’re built tough to last, but without some special care, things can bind up and fall apart quite easily.

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First, let’s clear up some common misconceptions about SUVs with removable hard or soft tops: these are not water tight, and not by a long shot. Taking them through an automated car-wash without a roll or three of very absorbent paper towels to protect electronics and such is lunacy. If you do decide to remove a targa panel or the complete hard roof, be sure to follow the automaker’s instructions and take extra care to protect the rubber weather-seals. One small nick or rip will inevitably lead to a water leak under normal pressures such as rain. Before reinstalling such a top, a quick shot of some silicone lubricating compound along the seals will help keep them from getting caught and folding over during installation. Also clean any surface on the vehicle that the seals touch thoroughly.

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Never use a petroleum spray or lubricant on rubbers or seals; these products break down rubber compounds. If in doubt, head to your local NAPA or equivalent part specialist and ask an expert who knows the products.

Exposed hinges look great, but they’re a dirt and moisture trap. And like most personal use vehicles, the driver’s door is the only one that gets a regular workout.

Exterior hinges need lubrication two or three times a year, at a minimum. Using a light spray lube or silicone lubricant is best. Clean the hinges thoroughly with warm soap and a soft nylon brush at least once a year. If you ever plan on removing the doors of your Wrangler, get them off when the vehicle is relatively new to avoid having to hammer the hinge pins out. And forget that great smooth coat of paint on the hinge pins’ retaining nuts; Removing them will quickly wreck that. And of course, if you intend on driving with the doors off, you’ll need a set of windshield frame mounted mirrors to avoid running afoul of the law.

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The folding windshield on Jeep Wranglers has to be one of the strangest features to have survived the war that birthed this off-road icon. Originally intended to make those comparatively slow-moving field cars easier to ship in a crate, the throwback folding windscreen on modern Jeeps is a liability better left alone. There are plenty of warnings in the owner’s manual about driving with the windshield folded down. Not only do occupants lose their bug and flying grit protection, but they also lose the majority of the roll-over support in case of a collision. Leave it up.

Another exposed item on Wranglers and other SUVs is the tailgate-mounted spare tire. One often-unanticipated drawback of a gate-mounted spare is that it renders the protection of the rear bumper to near useless as it the tire sticks out farther than the bumper. In rear-end collisions, this can mean structural damage to the gate. I speak of personal experience.

Purpose made covers are a great idea to protect the rubber from damaging sunlight, and are an easy ask as an item to be ‘thrown in’ during a vehicle purchase. And while I’m not usually a fan of wheel locks, getting one just for the exposed spare makes sense as they’re often just too tempting to thieves — just remember where you keep the key.