any jeep owners in here?

[95five-oh]

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]

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]

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]

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]

What is the difference between a Cherokee and a Grand Cherokee?

 

[reddy351]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

I actually just bought an 05 V-8 to replace it and love it so far!

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

 

[ProKiller]

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.