Hello, My girlfriend bought me a 1991 Jeep Cherokee Limited, 4.0L. I've searched the internet but haven't found a straight answer to my question.
There hasn't been much done to this jeep since it was newer, besides the breaks and exhaust. What else should I be looking into replacing? I am not going to turn it into a hardcore off-roader, just want to slowly upgrade all of its parts so its safe. I have a rear main seal and oil pan gasket being delivered to me right now, what else? Suspension parts, steering parts, parts under the hood?

thank you

Stephanie

 

Flush cooling system. They get plugged up with neglect. Prepare to replace radiator/waterpump/thermostat and all hoses tho.

Front and rear differential fluid change. Transmission drain/refill via drain plug. Repeat in 2 weeks. Drain/fill transfer case too. Dex/Merc III fluid for both.

Check spark plugs. Replace with Champion Copper Plus. The 4.0 doesn't benefit from "fancy" spark plugs at all.

Oil filter adapter o-ring and valve cover gasket will need to be replaced if original still.

 

I can understand where you are coming from, Stepherbean6. I bought a 91 Limited last year and I have been also working through it with the same intent as you (not heavily modded, get it as refreshed as possible to mitigate issues).

In the past year of experience with it, I agree with everything diskman says. However, I generally recommend removing the covers when replacing the diff fluid so you can inspect the diff for wear as well as replace the seals (replace them with a good quality seal. I believe I used FEL-PRO).

Generally I'd suggest: fluids and tuneup. Then fix what's broke. Then look at suspicious parts and test, diagnose those one by one.

A quick list that I'd recommend:

• Fix what's broke/ not working first. I should have stepped back on some of the stuff I did until I fixed some of the other issues. I had fixed a bunch of stuff at once but never worked through one key issue with the engine to completion, and I've spent lots of time on the Jeep doing stuff, making it clean, dry, fixing electrical, exhaust, etc and still have a slight misfire that is still there. I should have fixed that first.
• Replace and flush all fluids (oil, coolant, transmission fluid) and put some fuel injector cleaner and fuel stabilizer in your gas tank.
• I recommend installing a battery disconnect switch, if you can, and use that until you are sure that you won't drain the battery when parked. The wiring's not the most robust on these XJs and if you aren't sure the PO hasn't done any bad splicing you could get stuck with a battery drain or short pretty easily (see my note below). I live in the PNW and used to get a battery drain when my XJ got wet (which is like, all the time).
• Keep an eye on your battery and make sure it stays charged and when it drains the alternator charges it back up. As indicated above.. if you get a short or battery drain that would be pretty apparent at the worst time.
• Coolant hoses and coolant system as diskman stated. Hows the engine temps on your Jeep? If it runs hot, you may want to dig into the coolant system even more. Either way you will definitely want new hoses.
• Spark plugs and ignition wires. I also used Champion plugs. They worked fine in my engine. I recently put in NGK wires and they seem fine.
• Oil filter, fuel filter
• Refresh your ground wires. Lots of threads on that here. It's cheap and easy to do and it's good insurance.
• Get a Haynes manual and get a FSM and read them to get familiar with the maintenance schedule as well as generally how everything works
• Generally, get familiar with the entire vehicle and look for anything that doesn't look right. Don't just swap parts but inspect and try to measure what you can. I've been intending on slowly replacing a lot of the key sensors, but I have been also trying to be smart about it and measure the sensors and replace the ones that are out of spec. If you end up doing this (eventually) do it once everything works well and replace one thing at a time.
• Check your vacuum lines and check your electrical. If you have a free weekend, pull some panels in the interior (kick panels at least) and make sure you don't have any broken wires. Check harnesses under hood and look for chaffing.

Again, fix what's broke first. Do a general tuneup. Then and only then would I consider refreshing other parts.

One thing I have to caution, is with the Limited of that year I have found that it's got some different parts or sensors that are not listed for the base models. I don't have anything specific to mention, but if I am lazy and I use a part number search on a vendor's website and don't cross reference check the PN it sometimes doesn't fit my XJ even though it's listed for that year XJ. Doesn't happen all the time but just be aware that there are sometimes differences in some parts between the trim packages (or at least how some vendors list them). I had it happen like twice and I'm more careful now and don't have any issues anymore.

 

If you have not done so already I'd suggest going to the Jeep website and getting the build sheet for it. You'll need the VIN for it. It's always a good starting place to see what it came with from the factory.

http://www.jeep.com/webselfservice/j...527R%2527%2529

 

Them two are right full tune up and fix anything that is broken or not working,After that then make a list of things you want like bigger tires,Off road bumpers/rock sliders or whatever you want it to have later on.

 

thank you so much ! I've searched all over for this information! Going to do the rear main seal this weekend and change the oil filter, oil, and oil pan gasket.

 

this is so great! Slowly but surely I will get it working like brand new! Do you like your xj?

 

I like it for what we use it for! We've taken a liking to it and have caught the bug. Despite the issues I'm currently working through on it, I'm very happy with the decision.