Howdy!

Well, I just picked up a VERY clean 1-Owner 2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited Edition and the older lady was told by her mechanics that the motor was toasted...

It ONLY has 155k on the clock and was always taken care of by the owner.

Well when it got off the transport truck, I heard it run and was like umm no its NOT a bad engine, it almost sounds like a bad valve.

So, when it runs idling it sounds like a pop or backfire, and when you rev it up the sound kind of goes away. I'm PRETTY sure it's either a bad intake or exhaust vale.. or maybe even a bad push rod. But overall, it sounds easy. There is no weird lower noises at all, sounds extremely strong.

So I'm just asking people on here that knows the 00-01 XJ issues just to make sure im right.

So what ya think ya'll?

Any help would be GREAT! I'll try to post a video of the Jeep running

Thanks Brent.

 

I never seen a bad valve on a 4.0 personally, but the later 4.0's had issues with cracking heads. Do a compression check to find you suspect cyl. then do a leak down test.

 

Well scratch the no bad valve thing. When I bought mine about 5 months ago it had 3 warped valves so there's to that theory. However yea lots of 01 Cherokees have cracked head. Wanna say between cyl 3 and 4 normally. But that would cause a leak somewhere. Not a popping noise as far as I know. A video with would be helpful. And if it sounds more like a backfire then maybe it is a backfire. If it were a valve I'd imagine it would get louder the higher you revved it.

 

Is your firing order out of wack?

 

I don't think it's the FO. I think it's something with the valves. I will be trying to do a compression test tomorrow and see whats up hopefully, if not time to remove the head.

 

Yes I agree with the rev it and it gets louder, but it don't which is weird to me. So maybe (hoping) it's only a couple bad valves. Worse case, it's a cracked head and I just buy a fully rebuilt one for $350.00 and change it out. But I will check out the #3 & #4 cyls and go from there. I just don't want to do a full tear down because I'm not going to hold onto this Jeep for to long ya know.

 

Don't get or rebuild an 0331 head.

They are weak.

 

So which head shall i get? the 98< or older? It should bolt right up, but would I have to change much to make it work?

 

I think it's Carolina or Clearwater Head that makes a drop-on replacement with better engineering.

 

Good score. My 97 ( with a 630 series head ) had a bad/burnt exhaust valve.
Good luck. Totally envious of the silver/grey.

 

Ok, I was RIGHT of ONE of my things I thought it was.... See picture, and you tell me... Sorry for the crappy picture, but my camera phone is BAD!

 

OH, and by the way the Jeep is running PERFECT and has NO issues with the 0331 Head cracking, Radiator fluids are in perfect color, Compression testing checked and all 6 cyl's are 155 PSI!

 

poor old lady, the mechanic didnt even pull the valve cover off for her and diagnosed a bad motor. genius.

Congrats op, I ccant say i have ever seen a pushrod do that before lol.

 

Yes, poor lady.. She still tells me she is super upset to have sold the Jeep because her Dumb A$% mechanic told her the engine was toasted, but tried HARD to buy the Jeep from her for alot less them I paid. Actually, when I went to remove the valve cover, you can tell it was off or they were trying to mess it up to buy it cheap. So, I kind of want to call her tomorrow and tell her she should NOT use those guys anymore. Just sad...

 

Make sure you do, and tell her why. Those guys are crooks.