Newbie looking at tj
 

Hi guys. I've decided to by a jeep. Looking at TJs 2002 to 2005. Found a 2003 TJ Sport with very low kms and looks in excellent shape. I have 3 questions/issues:

1. It shimmies at about 80-90k. I think this is just wheel balance.
2. It needs new rubber. It has 15" on it. Can I put Goodrich Mud-Terrain, T/A 31" X 10.50 R
15LT M&S radial tires on 5-bolt rims from a 92 YJ on without mods?
3. It doesn't like to start until the 3rd try, then starts without issue though is seemed to gasp a bit at first. Guy said he'd get it fixed on Monday. Is this something to be scared of?

Thanks for you help. Will be a jeep owner soon; this one or another.

Re: Newbie looking at tj
 

Hey Man Congrats on the Purchase!!

Definetly you want to aware of a lot of things.
1) See if you can jack the wheels up and give them a spin ...then grab the top and bottom and try to move it towards you and back.. if its all solid.. your right. If its not, tons of potential issues. Ball Joints, U Joints, Bearings. .. and on.
2) What is 15"? you mean the rim? TJ is a 5 x 4 1/2 bolt pattern, if I remember correctly the YJ is the same, thought not a 100 percent. Take one of the tires with you, test them on the tire when checking #1. 3/4 in socket with take the lugs off. 31 in is THE MAX you can stuff into a TJ with out a lift, doing so you may have potential tire rub at full turn, and hitting the bump stops when going over bumps.. lol
3)Potential starter problem, very easy to change out yourself with a couple of hand tools. I did it on some snow covered ground in about an hour. After that it could be battery, alternator, wiring, IGN.

Look at the axles themselves, google JEEP AXLEs and learn what type of axles it has. Your looking for Dana 44, though unlikely as most Sports came stock with D30 / 35 ~ which means poor performance and lots of money to in put for 44's or better. Basically the shape of the cover and type of fill plug will give it away.
Look in wheel wells, and under neath the frame for rust spots. Look at all the axles, drive shafts for play, wear, leaks at the pumpkins.
Find out all the information you can about it. Last oil change, air filter change, diff fluid change, tranny / TC fluid change, spark plugs.

I think thats alot for now, good luck!

Re: Newbie looking at tj
 

welcome to jeepscanada

Re: Newbie looking at tj
 

Welcome to the forum.

Re: Newbie looking at tj
 

Thanks for the welcome guys. I haven't bought a jeep yet but should do so within 10 days. I test drove another one from a dealer today, a 2003 Rubicon (87k) with a 4" lift and 35" tires. It has a grindy feel at low speed which disappears with speed, probably road noise from the super aggressive tires. This seems to be an awesome jeep but I probably won't do much more than deactivated logging roads rather than real off-roading. I could take the large tires of and put 31's or 33's on.

I'm torn between the the pretty black TJ Sport or the rugged TJ Rubicon.

2003 JEEP TJ SPORT 4X4

2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Victoria City, Victoria

Re: Newbie looking at tj
 

I'd save myself 3K+ and use some of that savings to upgrade the lower mileage vehicle.

Re: Newbie looking at tj
 

I pulled the trigger on a one-owner 2003 Rocky Mountain Edition. Will pick it up next Saturday. Will post pictures sometime after that. This is the ad pic. Looks more navy blue than in the pic.

Attachment 4287

Re: Newbie looking at tj
 

Looks like a nice jeep.

Re: Newbie looking at tj
 

welcome,and nice jeep

Re: Newbie looking at tj
 

Thanks for the welcome and comment on my new (to me) jeep. I got a build sheet from the dealer today and confirmed that my jeep is a Rocky Mountain Edition but it was built with a Dana 35 and not a 44. I had thought that all RME's came with the 44 but I was wrong on that. Love the jeep, though.

Now I need to put tow plates on it so I can flat tow it behind the camper. I have a Stowmaster 5000, just need the base plates.