Jeff,

Where are you located? I'm looking to buy a Cherokee.

Carl

"Jeff" <JeffBallweg@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1160679504.713123.35050@k70g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> My 1998 Jeep Cherokee L6 4.0L started missing badly the other day, so I
>
> checked the codes and got the following: 300 (random misfire), 301
> (miss on #1), 303 (miss on #3), 304 (miss on #4).
> So I took it to my local shop and rode my bicycle home. This morning I
> got a call from the mechanic, and he says that the issue is a blown
> head gasket, and mentioned that "sometimes these have a cracked head
> too." He also reccomends a valve job as it has 145,000 miles on it.
> I'm wondering what to do here. I like the vehicle, but I probably
> should have traded it in for another one 20,000 miles ago.
> They are quoting me $1400+ for the gasket replacement (and I think that
>
> includes a $350 valve job.)
>
> Questions:
> What are prices that people have experienced on this job?
> Is a cracked head really likely on this?
> I am fairly mechanically inclined, can I fix this myself?
> How long would it take to fix myself?
>

 

Jeff,

Where are you located? I'm looking to buy a Cherokee.

Carl

"Jeff" <JeffBallweg@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1160679504.713123.35050@k70g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> My 1998 Jeep Cherokee L6 4.0L started missing badly the other day, so I
>
> checked the codes and got the following: 300 (random misfire), 301
> (miss on #1), 303 (miss on #3), 304 (miss on #4).
> So I took it to my local shop and rode my bicycle home. This morning I
> got a call from the mechanic, and he says that the issue is a blown
> head gasket, and mentioned that "sometimes these have a cracked head
> too." He also reccomends a valve job as it has 145,000 miles on it.
> I'm wondering what to do here. I like the vehicle, but I probably
> should have traded it in for another one 20,000 miles ago.
> They are quoting me $1400+ for the gasket replacement (and I think that
>
> includes a $350 valve job.)
>
> Questions:
> What are prices that people have experienced on this job?
> Is a cracked head really likely on this?
> I am fairly mechanically inclined, can I fix this myself?
> How long would it take to fix myself?
>

 

Jeff,

Where are you located? I'm looking to buy a Cherokee.

Carl

"Jeff" <JeffBallweg@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1160679504.713123.35050@k70g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> My 1998 Jeep Cherokee L6 4.0L started missing badly the other day, so I
>
> checked the codes and got the following: 300 (random misfire), 301
> (miss on #1), 303 (miss on #3), 304 (miss on #4).
> So I took it to my local shop and rode my bicycle home. This morning I
> got a call from the mechanic, and he says that the issue is a blown
> head gasket, and mentioned that "sometimes these have a cracked head
> too." He also reccomends a valve job as it has 145,000 miles on it.
> I'm wondering what to do here. I like the vehicle, but I probably
> should have traded it in for another one 20,000 miles ago.
> They are quoting me $1400+ for the gasket replacement (and I think that
>
> includes a $350 valve job.)
>
> Questions:
> What are prices that people have experienced on this job?
> Is a cracked head really likely on this?
> I am fairly mechanically inclined, can I fix this myself?
> How long would it take to fix myself?
>

 

That's a very good point, if the rings are worn and all of the sudden
the top end is nice and tight it could start pumping oil. If the oils
been changed regularly that shouldn't happen but it could.

If the engine was running well before this happened I'd clean everything
up, make sure the head surface was flat and put it back together again.

Jeff DeWitt

clay wrote:
> I'd think about skipping the valve job if possible.
> If they're not hurt, leave them alone.
> Sometimes fresh valves with nice tight combustion chambers and 145K old
> rings don't play well together.
> ymmv.
>
> Jeff wrote:
>
>> My 1998 Jeep Cherokee L6 4.0L started missing badly the other day, so I
>>
>> checked the codes and got the following: 300 (random misfire), 301
>> (miss on #1), 303 (miss on #3), 304 (miss on #4).
>> So I took it to my local shop and rode my bicycle home. This morning I
>> got a call from the mechanic, and he says that the issue is a blown
>> head gasket, and mentioned that "sometimes these have a cracked head
>> too." He also reccomends a valve job as it has 145,000 miles on it.
>> I'm wondering what to do here. I like the vehicle, but I probably
>> should have traded it in for another one 20,000 miles ago.
>> They are quoting me $1400+ for the gasket replacement (and I think that
>>
>> includes a $350 valve job.)
>>
>> Questions:
>> What are prices that people have experienced on this job?
>> Is a cracked head really likely on this?
>> I am fairly mechanically inclined, can I fix this myself?
>> How long would it take to fix myself?
>>

 

That's a very good point, if the rings are worn and all of the sudden
the top end is nice and tight it could start pumping oil. If the oils
been changed regularly that shouldn't happen but it could.

If the engine was running well before this happened I'd clean everything
up, make sure the head surface was flat and put it back together again.

Jeff DeWitt

clay wrote:
> I'd think about skipping the valve job if possible.
> If they're not hurt, leave them alone.
> Sometimes fresh valves with nice tight combustion chambers and 145K old
> rings don't play well together.
> ymmv.
>
> Jeff wrote:
>
>> My 1998 Jeep Cherokee L6 4.0L started missing badly the other day, so I
>>
>> checked the codes and got the following: 300 (random misfire), 301
>> (miss on #1), 303 (miss on #3), 304 (miss on #4).
>> So I took it to my local shop and rode my bicycle home. This morning I
>> got a call from the mechanic, and he says that the issue is a blown
>> head gasket, and mentioned that "sometimes these have a cracked head
>> too." He also reccomends a valve job as it has 145,000 miles on it.
>> I'm wondering what to do here. I like the vehicle, but I probably
>> should have traded it in for another one 20,000 miles ago.
>> They are quoting me $1400+ for the gasket replacement (and I think that
>>
>> includes a $350 valve job.)
>>
>> Questions:
>> What are prices that people have experienced on this job?
>> Is a cracked head really likely on this?
>> I am fairly mechanically inclined, can I fix this myself?
>> How long would it take to fix myself?
>>

 

That's a very good point, if the rings are worn and all of the sudden
the top end is nice and tight it could start pumping oil. If the oils
been changed regularly that shouldn't happen but it could.

If the engine was running well before this happened I'd clean everything
up, make sure the head surface was flat and put it back together again.

Jeff DeWitt

clay wrote:
> I'd think about skipping the valve job if possible.
> If they're not hurt, leave them alone.
> Sometimes fresh valves with nice tight combustion chambers and 145K old
> rings don't play well together.
> ymmv.
>
> Jeff wrote:
>
>> My 1998 Jeep Cherokee L6 4.0L started missing badly the other day, so I
>>
>> checked the codes and got the following: 300 (random misfire), 301
>> (miss on #1), 303 (miss on #3), 304 (miss on #4).
>> So I took it to my local shop and rode my bicycle home. This morning I
>> got a call from the mechanic, and he says that the issue is a blown
>> head gasket, and mentioned that "sometimes these have a cracked head
>> too." He also reccomends a valve job as it has 145,000 miles on it.
>> I'm wondering what to do here. I like the vehicle, but I probably
>> should have traded it in for another one 20,000 miles ago.
>> They are quoting me $1400+ for the gasket replacement (and I think that
>>
>> includes a $350 valve job.)
>>
>> Questions:
>> What are prices that people have experienced on this job?
>> Is a cracked head really likely on this?
>> I am fairly mechanically inclined, can I fix this myself?
>> How long would it take to fix myself?
>>

 

Well, I shopped the job around and found a place that will do it for
$550, add a valve job for $50 more. Its a reputable shop that my dad
reccomended. Heh, leave it to the old man.

Off the original subject...
I drive a ridiculous amount of miles to work, ski, mt bike, camp etc,
etc. The Jeep is pretty good for this stuff, but I put a ton of miles
on it. It's worth more to me running than as a trade in, so how long
should I expect to drive this? I figure after it's fixed up this time,
it can make 200K. I've heard stories of further... do I push my luck?
or do I think about moving to a 2001 Cherokee?

Oh, and I'm in South Central Wisconsin

Carl wrote:
> Jeff,
>
> Where are you located? I'm looking to buy a Cherokee.
>
> Carl
>
> "Jeff" <JeffBallweg@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1160679504.713123.35050@k70g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> > My 1998 Jeep Cherokee L6 4.0L started missing badly the other day, so I
> >
> > checked the codes and got the following: 300 (random misfire), 301
> > (miss on #1), 303 (miss on #3), 304 (miss on #4).
> > So I took it to my local shop and rode my bicycle home. This morning I
> > got a call from the mechanic, and he says that the issue is a blown
> > head gasket, and mentioned that "sometimes these have a cracked head
> > too." He also reccomends a valve job as it has 145,000 miles on it.
> > I'm wondering what to do here. I like the vehicle, but I probably
> > should have traded it in for another one 20,000 miles ago.
> > They are quoting me $1400+ for the gasket replacement (and I think that
> >
> > includes a $350 valve job.)
> >
> > Questions:
> > What are prices that people have experienced on this job?
> > Is a cracked head really likely on this?
> > I am fairly mechanically inclined, can I fix this myself?
> > How long would it take to fix myself?
> >

 

Well, I shopped the job around and found a place that will do it for
$550, add a valve job for $50 more. Its a reputable shop that my dad
reccomended. Heh, leave it to the old man.

Off the original subject...
I drive a ridiculous amount of miles to work, ski, mt bike, camp etc,
etc. The Jeep is pretty good for this stuff, but I put a ton of miles
on it. It's worth more to me running than as a trade in, so how long
should I expect to drive this? I figure after it's fixed up this time,
it can make 200K. I've heard stories of further... do I push my luck?
or do I think about moving to a 2001 Cherokee?

Oh, and I'm in South Central Wisconsin

Carl wrote:
> Jeff,
>
> Where are you located? I'm looking to buy a Cherokee.
>
> Carl
>
> "Jeff" <JeffBallweg@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1160679504.713123.35050@k70g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> > My 1998 Jeep Cherokee L6 4.0L started missing badly the other day, so I
> >
> > checked the codes and got the following: 300 (random misfire), 301
> > (miss on #1), 303 (miss on #3), 304 (miss on #4).
> > So I took it to my local shop and rode my bicycle home. This morning I
> > got a call from the mechanic, and he says that the issue is a blown
> > head gasket, and mentioned that "sometimes these have a cracked head
> > too." He also reccomends a valve job as it has 145,000 miles on it.
> > I'm wondering what to do here. I like the vehicle, but I probably
> > should have traded it in for another one 20,000 miles ago.
> > They are quoting me $1400+ for the gasket replacement (and I think that
> >
> > includes a $350 valve job.)
> >
> > Questions:
> > What are prices that people have experienced on this job?
> > Is a cracked head really likely on this?
> > I am fairly mechanically inclined, can I fix this myself?
> > How long would it take to fix myself?
> >

 

Well, I shopped the job around and found a place that will do it for
$550, add a valve job for $50 more. Its a reputable shop that my dad
reccomended. Heh, leave it to the old man.

Off the original subject...
I drive a ridiculous amount of miles to work, ski, mt bike, camp etc,
etc. The Jeep is pretty good for this stuff, but I put a ton of miles
on it. It's worth more to me running than as a trade in, so how long
should I expect to drive this? I figure after it's fixed up this time,
it can make 200K. I've heard stories of further... do I push my luck?
or do I think about moving to a 2001 Cherokee?

Oh, and I'm in South Central Wisconsin

Carl wrote:
> Jeff,
>
> Where are you located? I'm looking to buy a Cherokee.
>
> Carl
>
> "Jeff" <JeffBallweg@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1160679504.713123.35050@k70g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> > My 1998 Jeep Cherokee L6 4.0L started missing badly the other day, so I
> >
> > checked the codes and got the following: 300 (random misfire), 301
> > (miss on #1), 303 (miss on #3), 304 (miss on #4).
> > So I took it to my local shop and rode my bicycle home. This morning I
> > got a call from the mechanic, and he says that the issue is a blown
> > head gasket, and mentioned that "sometimes these have a cracked head
> > too." He also reccomends a valve job as it has 145,000 miles on it.
> > I'm wondering what to do here. I like the vehicle, but I probably
> > should have traded it in for another one 20,000 miles ago.
> > They are quoting me $1400+ for the gasket replacement (and I think that
> >
> > includes a $350 valve job.)
> >
> > Questions:
> > What are prices that people have experienced on this job?
> > Is a cracked head really likely on this?
> > I am fairly mechanically inclined, can I fix this myself?
> > How long would it take to fix myself?
> >

 

Jeff wrote:
> Well, I shopped the job around and found a place that will do it for
> $550, add a valve job for $50 more. Its a reputable shop that my dad
> reccomended. Heh, leave it to the old man.
>
> Off the original subject...
> I drive a ridiculous amount of miles to work, ski, mt bike, camp etc,
> etc. The Jeep is pretty good for this stuff, but I put a ton of miles
> on it. It's worth more to me running than as a trade in, so how long
> should I expect to drive this? I figure after it's fixed up this time,
> it can make 200K. I've heard stories of further... do I push my luck?
> or do I think about moving to a 2001 Cherokee?

While it's apart you may as well have a look at the water pump
and timing chain. 200,000 is about time to have it checked.

With Jeeps it's more about body rot than drivetrain.

--
DougW