Hi all,

Im new here and have always loved these jeeps!

To start, im going to look at and hopefully buy an 89' Cherokee.

Its in great shape, just needs tires. The seller listed as 99k miles, but carfax shows the last reported mileage as being 114k in 2003.

Any ideas? How hard are the Odometers in these jeeps to roll back?

Thanks, hope to learn much more!

 

Rolled or replaced, it's for sure that '89 has 200k+ on it. Twenty-one years is a long time. At 10k a year, that's 200+.

Drive it...look at the oil pressure when hot (not warm, hot...as in after it has run for 30 minutes). If it holds 40 or so pounds, it is probably got plenty of life left. See how it shifts. Make sure 4x4 works. Have someone waggle the steering wheel while you look at front-end parts. Those parts can get expensive when everything is worn out.

You can also easily do a compression check or, way more better, a leakdown test.

Also, take off the oil filler cap and stick your finger in there and root around. If you come out with sludge...might better move on to one that was cared-for better. If it looks pretty clean (your finger, that is) and they owner keeps his crib neat and the car neat, etc., etc., you might have a good one.

Finally...rust on an '89 is an issue where I live. Rust makes every repair a challenge. Keep it in mind.

When I bought mine, the interior had been removed, it was FILTHY dirty inside (so much crud on the seatbelts I had to power wash it off) and no headliner fabric, seats stained, rear seat back bent, etc. BUT, and it's a big but, it had other redeeming qualities like a Detroit Locker and Mobil One all it's life...and a spare trans and Tcase, spare parts, etc. Each "deal" is different, just like each buyer.

 

On a side note, turn off the engine before you jam your finger in the valve cover.

 

 

Thanks for that comment. I needed to laugh right now!