rctrav

Hey I'm new to the forums and i got a question I'm looking at a 99xj sport today to buy guys asking 3,500 for it and it has 130,xxx miles on it. What are some things i shoot look for when i see it. How many more miles should i expect to get on the tranny and motor? Any help sure wood be great. Here is the add for it http://hartford.craigslist.org/cto/2963528925.html

97jeepxj40

check for any oil leaks such as rear main seal, transfer box and diffs. Check 4x4 function too.

the drivetrain is pretty bomb proof so you should be able to double that mileage with regular maintenance.

just replying quickly off android app im sure more people here will have good ideas of more things to check.

try and find out about the conputer thats been fixed - it might have a receipt but warranty? and is warranty transferable?

good luck!

raminboy

i have a 99 xj sport and it has 160000 miles and is built like a tank.. milage isnt a prob. just make sure everything works. be prepared to fix little things you will notice when driving it. ask 3000

tjwalker

Ad says he's asking $3k or best offer, not $3500. That means there is room for negotiatioin. If everything checks out (do a COMPREHENSIVE inspection and long test drive) may want to offer him $2500.

99 is a good year for the XJ.

Red82

99 is a great year. Good axles and all. The engine and tranny should last you forever with regular maintenance. Check the oil level and color. Check for rust. That's the biggest issue with the unibody. Check all the window and lock buttons from each door. A common problem is the master switch on the drivers door messes up and can only be used from the drivers door. Not a huge problem but a haggling point. Check tire wear for alignment issues nd life of tires. If ourt on pavement put it in 4wd and take a nice wide turn. Should kinda buck on ya. That means the 4wd works. Check all the fluids you can. 130k is pretty decent mileage. Id love to grab one with that.

Marcucco

If you're in an area where it may be exposed to road or sea salt I'd bring a set of ramps and a flashlight. These things are rust-prone and you want to be sure you don't see any carpet when you look up under there.

rctrav

Hey thank for all the tips i will be looking a it around 6:00 tonight. I might just be bringing home a new toy. Looks like lots of fun stuff to do to them This will be my 2nd jeep first was a 92yj and love it but with kids now that style wont work.

bigvig

CHECK THE FLOOR!!!!! They are notorious for leaking on the drivers side AND passenger side behind/under the dash, which will rot a floor quicker than anything. Last year when I did mine over, the outside looked great with the original undercoating still brand new looking. HOWEVER, the seat bolts were rusted badly and after pulling up the carpet I was shocked at how bad the floor was. MANY places I put my finger right through it easily. Its not hard to pull off the trim on the inside of the rocker and lift the carpet to see the pan.

Also look at the leaf springs. If theyre flat, or inverted, thats a few hundred and a weekend in the driveway.

Other than that, everything else is a pretty cheap & easy fix.

Zombie4x4

Maybe it's just my area, but that seem awfully expensive. When I was looking two weeks ago, I looked at 5-6 Cherokees for way less than that. I ended up with a 98 sport, 120k miles, no rust anywhere except the suspension components. For $1900

bigvig

I see a lot older ones with more miles go for a lot more up here. But down around my MIL's on the Mass coast they practically give them away. It all depends on where you are and how much the owner knows. Some people think 15 year old Cherokees with 150K on them are junk waiting to die so theyll give them away. Others know better.

jatoxico

You got it man. Plus I saw trucks w/ 185K that were worth looking at and some w/ much less that were money pits.

To the OP take your time get a sense of what they are going for in your area. Like others said watch for rust, under the truck, hinges and latches on all doors and hood, around the wind shield, along the bottom edges of the doors...

Phantom1

My 99 XJ cost 2200.00 It needed new tires, battery, and the drivers side window is broke. I figure i got a deal with 42,000 miles on it!

BotakBeng

I have 2 basic check when i buy a used car.
Take it for a long drive 20-30 mins.

1)Make sure it doesn't overheat
2)In general, with stock tires, if you can drive at 65mph at 2100 rpm, you should be good.

Most of the leaks and other minor issue are pretty easy if you spend some time researching.

Like most mentioned, 99 is a good year with HP30 upfront and possibly a C8.25 rear.

GL.