01 Jeep Cherokee

[02roadtrack]

I have a chance to get an 01 cherokee classic 4x4. It has everything but cruise and only 52k miles. The guy wants to get rid of it and actually he wants to trade for my 87 chevy 4x4. He wants to get out of the payments and get a wood hauling truck. How does my 87 and 4500 sound, that is all he wants. Is there anything I should look at for trouble spots or anything.

[ucimaplaya2]

sounds like an ok deal to me but I dont know what kind of shape your 87 is in. I would try to talk him down to trade + only like 4000 and see if hes up for it.

[02roadtrack]

I am definitely going to try to talk him down some more. Here is a link to the condition of my truck.

[02roadtrack]

Forgot to add the link

http://www.dakota-durango.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51970

[03rtguy]

Good deal at $4500, better if $4000 as already said.

XJ's are FUN!

[03rtguy]

Is there anything I should look at for trouble spots or anything.

Drive it for 15-25 minutes, then retrace where you went looking for oil. I've seen many XJ's that don't leave oil where they're parked but drop tons when they're driven. Rear main seals are notorious, as is valve cover leak by the firewall. Does it have a header on it? Factory exhaust manifolds on pretty much all 4.0L will crack and leak.

[02roadtrack]

I drove it around for about an hour the other day. Everything seemed to be good, put it on my buddy's lift and didn't see any leaks, hell it never looked like the thing went offroad either. It has everything but cruise, and has new tires. Did some research on them, i guess it has the aw4 tranny, np231 t-case, dana 30 front with chrysler rear with some 3.55 gears.Looks to be a very solid base for trail/camping vehicle I am wanting.

[Bob Sweet]

That doesn't sound like a bad deal. The XJ Jeeps are pretty reliable and there is tons of aftermarket support for them. I just picked up an 01 myself. I doubt mine has seen much offroading either. This is the second one fo rme. I had a 97 Classic too. I had real good luck out of that one. I hope this one is as dependable.

[02roadtrack]

This one got sold, I have found another one but it has 160K on it and they want 2900 for it. It is black and has a lot more options, I don't know. I have something else to pay for now before I try to get one. I have also found a couple nice cc daks for sale and really haven't made my mind up on which one to get, but like I said I am going to have to wait for atleast another month or 2.

[donram360]

My 01 XJ has 145K on it and I love it! Mine also loaded except cruise (THAT don't make sense) got it with 94 K on it 3 years ago. love that straight 6, Had a coil pack die, and had bad carrier bearings when I 1st got it, but otherwise trouble free. Mine has the Dana diffs F+R the Mopar 8-1/4 rear is a better diff; if you get lucky and get a dana 44 (rather than the weak Dana 35), that would be best if you plan on working it much at all. I think they stopped offering the Dana 44 some years earlier in an XJ, but easily swapped in. The ABS is seperate sensors near the outer axle bearing, instead of the exciter ring opposite the ring gear. My wife drives my XJ daily. It seems to handle a trailer easier than my full sized 318 Ram too. Motor wise anyways but that always a benefit of an inline engine DON'T let them try and tell you that an XJ newer than about '87 has a V-6; if they do ask if someone swapped something non stock in there. Only thing I know of wrong with my XJ is the hi pressure A/C cutout switch. But I run with the windows open about 90% of the time so I have not been in much of a hurry to fix that. I only wish mine was a 2-DOOR version!

[71_Demon]

Be aware of cracked heads and soft cams!!!! We have seen them 4.0's that year with cracked heads. they crack right in the middle.

[Five9Dak]

Get a 97-98, they dont have issues with the head cracking like the 01s. You want the 8.25" rear, not the dana 35 out back. The newer ones have more emissions crap and they put a better intake on them to keep the power the same. Put the newer manifold on the older motor and you get the best of both worlds.

[donram360]

would the 97-8 head work with the 01 block and coil pack?

[tosterho]

Watch out for the aw4 transmissions not the best. Also the inline sixes are very good engines that I've seen many people have with over 200k miles. The only other thing I can think of is the heater cores and evaporators screw up on them.

[02roadtrack]

Well, I am going to update this. It was sold. I am in the process of getting my truck paid for and it will sit(mod time). I am then going to try to get a grand cherokee with the 4.7(maybe hemi), or try to find and older one with the 5.9. I have an 87 chevy that is heading out when winter is over and the jeep is replacing my offroad truck, and it will be upgraded to my dd, so the r/t can get some TLC.

[71_Demon]

Watch out for the aw4 transmissions not the best. Also the inline sixes are very good engines that I've seen many people have with over 200k miles. The only other thing I can think of is the heater cores and evaporators screw up on them.


Wah are you HIGH! the aw4 was the best transmission they ever put behind the 4.0!!!!! Im being dead serious.

[Bob Sweet]

I agree with 71 Demon. I haven't seen too many problems with the AW4 on stock/slightly modified Jeeps. The neutral safety switch is about the only thing I can think of. It is expensive to replace. Not the best set up. I have seen several mail delivery Jeeps go 250xxx miles on that trans without anything more than fluid changes.