Jeep Cherokee - what am I looking for?

[Ginger]

I'm going to go look at a 1998 Cherokee with 115K this evening. It's an auto, 4x4 model, and appears to be in terrific [cosmetic] shape. From the pictures I can tell that the head unit is not stock, and the speakers may be aftermarket, as well... but everything else seems to be OEM.

I've heard that one of the A/C hoses can cause a backup and a weak A/C system, and that they rattle and creak a fair amount, but that's about all I know about these things. I've been told that they're built like brick outhouses (major plus). Is there anything to look out for at this mileage (I don't really consider it to be that high, FWIW)? From what I've found, around, his asking price seems reasonable: input?

A link to the ad for the one I'm looking at is below:

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I know a couple of you guys have/have had one of these things, I'd love to hear what you've got to say.

[ScottyB]

i've hear that on the AMC 4.0 I-6, maintenance is optional :lol:

you could fill the crankcase with sand and the tank with pee and it would still probably run along happily.

looks like a really nice truck.

[Ole]

Auto?

[Evan]

i've hear that on the AMC 4.0 I-6, maintenance is optional :lol:

you could fill the crankcase with sand and the tank with pee and it would still probably run along happily.

:lol:
on mine, the radiator fan was broken and I was too lazy to fix it (And it was before i knew how to work on cars)
so I just overheated it everytime I drove in traffic.
then the guy that bought it from me towed a boat from NJ to CA with it

[Ginger]

These are good signs

Yeah, it's an auto. It's time to face the reality that I live in NOVA and I'm tired of a clutch on my DD... that, and I hate driving the drunk bus just because nobody around can drive my car.

[HAULN-SS]

I just inherited one of these, it's awesome. The 6 cyl autos will run forever. My aunt has one with 270k miles and it's still on the original tranny.

[Ryan T]

I had a lifted 92 that I tried to break and couldn't do it. Maybe I didn't try hard enough? I'm not sure, but either way, it ran great! Had 179k miles on it when I sold it and still running great.

[REED]

I thought Jeep autos were horrible - or was that just on the GRAND cheerokees?

[BLINGMW]

I have nothing to offer but another antidote, my brother had one a bit older than that one and I noticed the brake fluid and coolant looked very similar, a chunky brown. And of course the oil was chunky black. It didn't seem to mind, and of course he didn't care either. :dunno:

I too had heard of Jeep transmission problems, and I think it's on the later model Grand Cherokees, yup.

[Ole]

Grand Cherokee trans. will go out at about 180-200k mi. (my experience).

[Ginger]

I can't find any compiled or concrete information about trans issues, but I see a lot more Grand Cherokee topics popping up in my Google research than I do standard Cherokees. I'll pay close attention to it on the test drive, at any rate, though. I don't think I'll really have it at 180K, anyway.

So far this stuff is really good - thanks!

[ScottyB]

hey give this old "MM help me buy xxxxx" thread a look. when i was in the market for an SUV last year, the final running came down to an XJ cherokee and our current Xterra. had the XJ come with a bigger back seat i have no doubt we'd be driving one now.

some good points to check in here:

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[CaptainHenreh]

Grand Cherokee trans. will go out at about 180-200k mi. (my experience).

IIRC, the GRAND Cherokee has more in common with the MOPAR trucks than it does with Jeep stuff.

The XJ uses a Aisin-Warner and I think the Grand uses a MOPAR TorqueFlite. I could be wrong.

[BLAIR]

mine was awesome.. untill i drove it underwater and hydrolocked the motor.

besides that these things are awesome and bulletproof

[BLINGMW]

hydrolocked the motor.

impossible, only Chuck Norris can destroy the 4L Jeep!

[Ginger]

Well, it wasn't quite as nice as it looked in the pictures. I want to like it, but I think I'm going to walk on this one. Keep your eyes open for me.

[John]

I've known several people to have chronic issues with the rear diff - something you may want to inquire about and listen for...

[Ginger]

Thanks for the all input, guys. I picked up a '98 with 118,000 miles on it yesterday for $2,970. It's a black, 4x4, auto with the alloy wheels (the stunna in me wouldn't settle for a model without). Big thanks to Thayer for helping me out on the history of a couple of vehicles I was looking at.

Without further ado:

[JackoliciousLegs]

wow... looks like it's in great shape

[WRXtranceformed]

Wow that's a steal. My buddy Branden has one with like over 200k on it and that thing is a freaking tank. He's starting to have little issues with it here and there but it still runs great. The last time I drove it (I drove it to Raleigh and dubbed it "The Sweat Box" because the AC doesn't work) it did feel like the tranny was about on its last legs.