The valve cover on a Jeep Wrangler is located directly on top of the engine. It covers the upper valve train on the cylinder head, and this includes the rocker arms and the rocker springs. Lubricating oil is pumped freely beneath the valve cover, so a gasket is needed to keep all the oil from flowing out. A bad or leaking valve cover gasket is one of the primary reasons for removing a valve cover, and once removed, a new gasket can be pressed into place.
Remove the spark plug wires that loop over the valve cover. Unplug each wire from a spark plug, then label which plug it came off of. As an example, wrap a small piece of masking tape on the first wire removed and label it #1. Attach a piece of tape to the actual spark plug and also label it #1. The wires MUST be placed back on their corresponding spark plugs or serious engine problems will result. Repeat this procedure for each plug and wire.
Remove the nuts on the center guide pins on top of the valve covers. Use a ratchet and socket to unscrew the nuts and pull them off along with the rubber grommets that seal the holes.
Unscrew the valve cover nuts which hold the cover to the engine. These nuts will be located on the edge of the valve cover proper, and each one must be removed.
Tap the sides of the valve cover once the nuts are removed, then once loosened, grasp the cover firmly in your hand and pull it up and out with a slight wiggling motion to free it.
