Jon

Thanks for your reviews and advice, fellas -- we'll see how far he
bends on the price! MN vehicle transplanted to CA....

Jon


Mike Romain wrote:
> I have 2, and 88 and an 87 one with 315K km and the other with 285K km.
> The second one's engine runs well but is tired, the 1st ones is strong
> still and only uses one liter of oil between changes.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> Jon wrote:
> >
> > Hi everybody--
> >
> > I hate to post such an open-ended question, but I know there are a
> > bunch of knowledgable enthusiasts and professionals who watch these
> > newsgroups....so here goes:
> >
> > I'm looking at purchasing a '97 Cherokee Sport (4x4, I-6, AT) for cheap
> > money. It's got 115K on it, and outside of the typical rattles you get
> > from this motor at idle, it's a fair sounding and running vehicle.
> > What I'd like to know is are there any particular points of failure
> > that I should carefully investigate prior to purchasing, or are there
> > good reasons why I should avoid this Jeep entirely? I'm a former
> > mechanic -- so the little stuff I'm not worried about, and I know this
> > engine has been around for ages, but (for instance) I'm not familiar
> > with the track record of the transmission.
> >
> > If it matters, I'm really not intending to make it a dune runner or
> > rock crawler, just a daily driver with a 3-4" soft lift. I know the
> > axles aren't the strongest units, and I understand the exhaust
> > header/manifold has a propensity to crack, but that's about where my
> > vehicle-specific knowledge begins and ends.
> >
> > Hey, thanks for all your input!
> >
> > Jon

Jon

Thanks for your reviews and advice, fellas -- we'll see how far he
bends on the price! MN vehicle transplanted to CA....

Jon


Mike Romain wrote:
> I have 2, and 88 and an 87 one with 315K km and the other with 285K km.
> The second one's engine runs well but is tired, the 1st ones is strong
> still and only uses one liter of oil between changes.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> Jon wrote:
> >
> > Hi everybody--
> >
> > I hate to post such an open-ended question, but I know there are a
> > bunch of knowledgable enthusiasts and professionals who watch these
> > newsgroups....so here goes:
> >
> > I'm looking at purchasing a '97 Cherokee Sport (4x4, I-6, AT) for cheap
> > money. It's got 115K on it, and outside of the typical rattles you get
> > from this motor at idle, it's a fair sounding and running vehicle.
> > What I'd like to know is are there any particular points of failure
> > that I should carefully investigate prior to purchasing, or are there
> > good reasons why I should avoid this Jeep entirely? I'm a former
> > mechanic -- so the little stuff I'm not worried about, and I know this
> > engine has been around for ages, but (for instance) I'm not familiar
> > with the track record of the transmission.
> >
> > If it matters, I'm really not intending to make it a dune runner or
> > rock crawler, just a daily driver with a 3-4" soft lift. I know the
> > axles aren't the strongest units, and I understand the exhaust
> > header/manifold has a propensity to crack, but that's about where my
> > vehicle-specific knowledge begins and ends.
> >
> > Hey, thanks for all your input!
> >
> > Jon

Jon

Thanks for your reviews and advice, fellas -- we'll see how far he
bends on the price! MN vehicle transplanted to CA....

Jon


Mike Romain wrote:
> I have 2, and 88 and an 87 one with 315K km and the other with 285K km.
> The second one's engine runs well but is tired, the 1st ones is strong
> still and only uses one liter of oil between changes.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> Jon wrote:
> >
> > Hi everybody--
> >
> > I hate to post such an open-ended question, but I know there are a
> > bunch of knowledgable enthusiasts and professionals who watch these
> > newsgroups....so here goes:
> >
> > I'm looking at purchasing a '97 Cherokee Sport (4x4, I-6, AT) for cheap
> > money. It's got 115K on it, and outside of the typical rattles you get
> > from this motor at idle, it's a fair sounding and running vehicle.
> > What I'd like to know is are there any particular points of failure
> > that I should carefully investigate prior to purchasing, or are there
> > good reasons why I should avoid this Jeep entirely? I'm a former
> > mechanic -- so the little stuff I'm not worried about, and I know this
> > engine has been around for ages, but (for instance) I'm not familiar
> > with the track record of the transmission.
> >
> > If it matters, I'm really not intending to make it a dune runner or
> > rock crawler, just a daily driver with a 3-4" soft lift. I know the
> > axles aren't the strongest units, and I understand the exhaust
> > header/manifold has a propensity to crack, but that's about where my
> > vehicle-specific knowledge begins and ends.
> >
> > Hey, thanks for all your input!
> >
> > Jon

Simon Juncal

Jon wrote:
> Thanks for your reviews and advice, fellas -- we'll see how far he
> bends on the price! MN vehicle transplanted to CA....

Hold on, up north they use lots of salt Cherokee's do rust easier than a
lot of cars. check up undernieth for rust... if there's none look
harder, if you still don't see any check up INSIDE the rear most leaf
spring "bucket" above the spring shackle, and then check (with
flashlight) behind the rear bumper between the gas tank and look at the
floor sheet metal above the tank and the gas tank's metal retaining
straps. A Canadian or Northern US Cherokee should be immediately suspect
no matter what age... even a 2001.

Rust shouldn't be a deal breaker especially on a truck that probably
doesn't cost more than a grand or three but you should know what you're
getting. I've seen relatively new XJ's that had rust through in these areas.

--
Simon
"I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

Simon Juncal

Jon wrote:
> Thanks for your reviews and advice, fellas -- we'll see how far he
> bends on the price! MN vehicle transplanted to CA....

Hold on, up north they use lots of salt Cherokee's do rust easier than a
lot of cars. check up undernieth for rust... if there's none look
harder, if you still don't see any check up INSIDE the rear most leaf
spring "bucket" above the spring shackle, and then check (with
flashlight) behind the rear bumper between the gas tank and look at the
floor sheet metal above the tank and the gas tank's metal retaining
straps. A Canadian or Northern US Cherokee should be immediately suspect
no matter what age... even a 2001.

Rust shouldn't be a deal breaker especially on a truck that probably
doesn't cost more than a grand or three but you should know what you're
getting. I've seen relatively new XJ's that had rust through in these areas.

--
Simon
"I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

Simon Juncal

Jon wrote:
> Thanks for your reviews and advice, fellas -- we'll see how far he
> bends on the price! MN vehicle transplanted to CA....

Hold on, up north they use lots of salt Cherokee's do rust easier than a
lot of cars. check up undernieth for rust... if there's none look
harder, if you still don't see any check up INSIDE the rear most leaf
spring "bucket" above the spring shackle, and then check (with
flashlight) behind the rear bumper between the gas tank and look at the
floor sheet metal above the tank and the gas tank's metal retaining
straps. A Canadian or Northern US Cherokee should be immediately suspect
no matter what age... even a 2001.

Rust shouldn't be a deal breaker especially on a truck that probably
doesn't cost more than a grand or three but you should know what you're
getting. I've seen relatively new XJ's that had rust through in these areas.

--
Simon
"I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

Matt Macchiarolo

Also check under the driver's side floormat.

"Simon Juncal" <SPAMERSSUCK@usefirstinitialandlastnameATerols.com > wrote in
message news:-uSdnbRHYquDsLPYnZ2dnUVZ_tGdnZ2d@rcn.net...
> Jon wrote:
>> Thanks for your reviews and advice, fellas -- we'll see how far he
>> bends on the price! MN vehicle transplanted to CA....
>
> Hold on, up north they use lots of salt Cherokee's do rust easier than a
> lot of cars. check up undernieth for rust... if there's none look harder,
> if you still don't see any check up INSIDE the rear most leaf spring
> "bucket" above the spring shackle, and then check (with flashlight) behind
> the rear bumper between the gas tank and look at the floor sheet metal
> above the tank and the gas tank's metal retaining straps. A Canadian or
> Northern US Cherokee should be immediately suspect no matter what age...
> even a 2001.
>
> Rust shouldn't be a deal breaker especially on a truck that probably
> doesn't cost more than a grand or three but you should know what you're
> getting. I've seen relatively new XJ's that had rust through in these
> areas.
>
> --
> Simon
> "I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

Matt Macchiarolo

Also check under the driver's side floormat.

"Simon Juncal" <SPAMERSSUCK@usefirstinitialandlastnameATerols.com > wrote in
message news:-uSdnbRHYquDsLPYnZ2dnUVZ_tGdnZ2d@rcn.net...
> Jon wrote:
>> Thanks for your reviews and advice, fellas -- we'll see how far he
>> bends on the price! MN vehicle transplanted to CA....
>
> Hold on, up north they use lots of salt Cherokee's do rust easier than a
> lot of cars. check up undernieth for rust... if there's none look harder,
> if you still don't see any check up INSIDE the rear most leaf spring
> "bucket" above the spring shackle, and then check (with flashlight) behind
> the rear bumper between the gas tank and look at the floor sheet metal
> above the tank and the gas tank's metal retaining straps. A Canadian or
> Northern US Cherokee should be immediately suspect no matter what age...
> even a 2001.
>
> Rust shouldn't be a deal breaker especially on a truck that probably
> doesn't cost more than a grand or three but you should know what you're
> getting. I've seen relatively new XJ's that had rust through in these
> areas.
>
> --
> Simon
> "I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

Matt Macchiarolo

Also check under the driver's side floormat.

"Simon Juncal" <SPAMERSSUCK@usefirstinitialandlastnameATerols.com > wrote in
message news:-uSdnbRHYquDsLPYnZ2dnUVZ_tGdnZ2d@rcn.net...
> Jon wrote:
>> Thanks for your reviews and advice, fellas -- we'll see how far he
>> bends on the price! MN vehicle transplanted to CA....
>
> Hold on, up north they use lots of salt Cherokee's do rust easier than a
> lot of cars. check up undernieth for rust... if there's none look harder,
> if you still don't see any check up INSIDE the rear most leaf spring
> "bucket" above the spring shackle, and then check (with flashlight) behind
> the rear bumper between the gas tank and look at the floor sheet metal
> above the tank and the gas tank's metal retaining straps. A Canadian or
> Northern US Cherokee should be immediately suspect no matter what age...
> even a 2001.
>
> Rust shouldn't be a deal breaker especially on a truck that probably
> doesn't cost more than a grand or three but you should know what you're
> getting. I've seen relatively new XJ's that had rust through in these
> areas.
>
> --
> Simon
> "I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein

Simon Juncal

Matt Macchiarolo wrote:
> Also check under the driver's side floormat.

yeah if possible. The rubber backed carpet is a great sound deadener and
moisture trapper.

--
Simon
"I may be wrong, but I'm not uncertain." -- Robert A. Heinlein