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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

any jeep owners in here?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 95five-oh
  • Start date Start date Dec 29, 2007
9

95five-oh

New Member
Jun 25, 2006
158
0
0
Mount Airy, MD
Dec 29, 2007
#1
  • Dec 29, 2007
  • #1
I'm looking at buying a late 90s cherokee for a DD and bad weather vehicle, just wondering if there is anything specific i should look for/avoid? Ive heard those 4.0Ls are pretty solid, but how about the trannys, body, etc.? thanks for any advice.
 

BlownFiveLiter

have car, will race....wait, it doesn't run
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
3,133
18
108
Chicagoland
Dec 29, 2007
#2
  • Dec 29, 2007
  • #2
If they're anything like the 90's Grand Cherokee as far as reliability goes, they're built like a tank for the most part. My mom had a 96 Grand Cherokee. Thing had like 186,000 miles on it when she traded it in on her current one (either 02 or 04, don't remember the year). Her old one did go through a transmission somewhere around 100k miles, but that was the only issue. I'm not even absolutely sure what the problem was. Something about the planetary gear fracturing, or something like that. My DD is a 2005 Grand Cherokee, so we're on Jeep number 3 in the family.
 

stprorolla49

Active Member
Oct 9, 2004
1,455
15
39
Fairfield, CT/North Jersey
Dec 29, 2007
#3
  • Dec 29, 2007
  • #3
We've had, and currently have a handful of Jeeps in my family. My brother has a 1995 Wrangler Sahara with he 4.0, my uncle has a 1979 Wrangler Renegade that he did a frame off restoration on, and my aunt has an '08 Commander. The 4.0 liter motor is indeed a tank and if taken care of, will last forever. My friend has a '97 Grand Cherokee with the 4.0, and when I saw him last year he had 297,000k on it! The tranny was rebuilt once, but other than that it runs like a champ! What more can you ask for?
 

95BlueStallion

My assy trans to myself
15 Year Member
Feb 22, 2007
5,125
3,091
214
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Dec 29, 2007
#4
  • Dec 29, 2007
  • #4
I used to work for a Dodge/Jeep dealer as a tech. The 4.0 straight six is a great engine. The V-8s didnt have many problems either, except for when one of our techs forgot to refill the engine with oil after an oil change... LOL, that was a bad deal. Anyway, the only very common occurance we had on Grand Cherokees was warped rotors. We turned rotors and replaced rotors ALL THE TIME. I dont why, but the factory rotors were weak and warped easy. I think once you replaced them though, the vehicles were pretty problem free if routine maintance was done on them.
 

5.0_GT_kid

20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 18, 2004
1,155
1
39
Largo, Florida
Dec 29, 2007
#5
  • Dec 29, 2007
  • #5
What is the difference between a Cherokee and a Grand Cherokee?
 

reddy351

10 Year Member
Jun 13, 2006
559
12
38
Columbus, Ohio
Dec 29, 2007
#6
  • Dec 29, 2007
  • #6
The Cherokee (XJ) is the "stripped down" rugged 4x4. The GC (ZJ, ZG, WJ, WG) is a little larger and more comfortable. Year for year, they are VERY equal as far as abilities are concerned. By "stripped down", I DON'T mean features. The body is smaller and less luxurious. I have a 93 XJ with the 4.0HO/automatic. It's freakin' awesome. Everything still works.

One thing to mention. The GC's have problems with trannies. The earlier XJ's that came with Aisin-Warner trannies are as indestructable as the engine. There is a Jeep forum that I subscribe to. Just look up jeepforum.com. There are TONS of posts about the ins and outs on Jeeps.

Good luck!
 

drakesdad

Member
Jul 29, 2005
961
0
16
Oregon OHIO
Dec 29, 2007
#7
  • Dec 29, 2007
  • #7
Ive owned several jeeps and they are pretty solid vehicles......only problem that I encountered are the weak front ends...but that is in "muddin" or pulling someone out backwards putting the stress on the front end....but so far as daily driving in the snow......unstoppable.....JMHO....
 

87_GT

Member
Sep 14, 2004
179
2
18
tinley park, illinois
Dec 30, 2007
#8
  • Dec 30, 2007
  • #8
I just sold my 1979 cj7 a couple of months ago. i loved it. My coworker has a 1989 xj with 220k on the original motor and tranny and it is still running fine.
 

Blackened302

Active Member
Jul 21, 2005
1,439
0
36
South TX
Dec 30, 2007
#9
  • Dec 30, 2007
  • #9
my first car was an 88 XJ (Cherokee) 2-door sport, 4x4 w/ the i-6 4.0... i loved that thing and regreat selling it (although i used that money to buy the stang).

i put it through some hard times going out to my cousin's ranch and 4x4'ing behind our high school and never had any problems with it. replaced the water pump and the alternator, but other than that, solid as a rock. a/c worked, too.
 

DDSTANG94

New Member
Dec 9, 2006
465
2
0
FRASER, MICHIGAN
Dec 30, 2007
#10
  • Dec 30, 2007
  • #10
i got a buddy with one, the Tran's is going at like 120 thousand and basically the whole front suspension needed replacing......the motor is solid tho..
 

MuStAnGTiFF21

New Member
Jul 8, 2003
83
0
0
South Carolina
Dec 30, 2007
#11
  • Dec 30, 2007
  • #11
I just sold my 97 Grand Cherokee with 173,000 miles on it. It also was the 4.0 straight six engine. Only problem that I had was a window regulator that had to be replaced. Other than that...no problems with it. I just wanted a newer one. I would recommend them any day. It was a really great realiable suv. I actually just bought an 05 V-8 to replace it and love it so far!
 

BlownFiveLiter

have car, will race....wait, it doesn't run
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
3,133
18
108
Chicagoland
Dec 30, 2007
#12
  • Dec 30, 2007
  • #12
MuStAnGTiFF21 said:
I actually just bought an 05 V-8 to replace it and love it so far!
Click to expand...

Nice choice. I got an 05 Limited with the 4.7L V8 a month ago.
 

ProKiller

Founding Member
Apr 26, 2002
3,064
15
78
PA
Dec 31, 2007
#13
  • Dec 31, 2007
  • #13
my DD is a 99 cherokee with 189k on it and going strong. just replaced both front hubs and a locked up AC compressor. that's it so far. no problems other than routine maintenance stuff. solid car, even after i slid into a stone bridge, got out picked up the pieces of the fender guards and bumper and drove off. looking to get rid of it soon. i want a buick rendezvous.

downsides, loud and harse. the cherokee's are boxes on wheels, great for basic point A to point B, but i wouldn't want to take it on a long trip.
 
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