10-30-2013, 06:42 PM
Welp, I'll contribute my thoughts as a XJ owner of 3 years this month. XJs as we all know are damn near bulletproof - they'll get you home after a direct meteor strike, but that doesn't mean there aren't things that go wrong with them.
Off the top of my head/personal experience, a few things to look for:
- Rust. Look around/under the doors, floorpans, the usual spots.
- The AC - the system in the XJ is not the world's finest - check if its cold, if the condensor is dead, its an expensive PITA to fix.
- Some years have problems with the exhaust manifold cracking, I think it was pre '00 XJ's.
- Check for oil leaks - the 4.0 has a multi-piece rear main seal that is notorious for leaking, as well as the usual gaskets and seals. Its an old-ass motor, each of which has likely spent its entire life on conventional dino, so if you or a PO put in synthetic the earl starts flowing...out.
- Make sure 4WD works.
- Test all the window switches, they like to fail on these.
- Check the door hinges, mine were creaky and one of the hinge pins was busted. Apparently more common on the 2D models.
Bam: http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/used-xj-...ok-161961/
In all, its been a great steed. The brakes suck, I've calculated 15.7 avg MPG a few times, and the factory headlights will lead to your nighttime demise (fix those right quick - HD harness and E-codes), but its been dead nuts reliable, it'll carry whatever you need it to, and it saved my ass during one of those mondo-winters we had a while back. I'm getting a bit tired of the antiqueness of it for a DD (riding in a 2008 Camry now feels like being in a Maybach) but until I move on I'm sure it'll keep serving me well.
Off the top of my head/personal experience, a few things to look for:
- Rust. Look around/under the doors, floorpans, the usual spots.
- The AC - the system in the XJ is not the world's finest - check if its cold, if the condensor is dead, its an expensive PITA to fix.
- Some years have problems with the exhaust manifold cracking, I think it was pre '00 XJ's.
- Check for oil leaks - the 4.0 has a multi-piece rear main seal that is notorious for leaking, as well as the usual gaskets and seals. Its an old-ass motor, each of which has likely spent its entire life on conventional dino, so if you or a PO put in synthetic the earl starts flowing...out.
- Make sure 4WD works.
- Test all the window switches, they like to fail on these.
- Check the door hinges, mine were creaky and one of the hinge pins was busted. Apparently more common on the 2D models.
Bam: http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/used-xj-...ok-161961/
In all, its been a great steed. The brakes suck, I've calculated 15.7 avg MPG a few times, and the factory headlights will lead to your nighttime demise (fix those right quick - HD harness and E-codes), but its been dead nuts reliable, it'll carry whatever you need it to, and it saved my ass during one of those mondo-winters we had a while back. I'm getting a bit tired of the antiqueness of it for a DD (riding in a 2008 Camry now feels like being in a Maybach) but until I move on I'm sure it'll keep serving me well.
Current: '20 Kia Stinger GT2 RWD | '20 Yamaha R3 | '04 Lexus IS300 SD
Past: '94 Mazda RX-7 | '04 Lexus IS300 (RIP) | '00 Jeep XJ | '99 Mazda 10AE Miata | '88 Toyota Supra Turbo
My MM Movies - Watch Them Here
Past: '94 Mazda RX-7 | '04 Lexus IS300 (RIP) | '00 Jeep XJ | '99 Mazda 10AE Miata | '88 Toyota Supra Turbo
My MM Movies - Watch Them Here