So I bought my $600 dollar beater jeep a few weeks ago but because of school and work I don't have a ton of time to mess around with it. Hopefully this weekend I will be able to be able to mess around with it.

Im looking for what basic maintenance things to check. I have bought new plugs and wires, new serpentine belt, a new headlight switch (lights don't turn on). I also plan on doing an oil change here soon and check the fluid levels of everything at the same time. The jeep runs and drives great and 4wd works as well. I drive it around my house every few days just to keep the fluids moving as its cold up here in MI.

Any other basic things to check out?

Also what oil do you guys recommend? I have seen a couple different ones people use but I do not have an owners manual to see what the factory spec is

 

Most important thing to do is get access to a service manual. I found that "alldata DIY" is the best one you can subscribe to online. it gives you everything you need from fluid capacities, fluid types, torque specs, maintence intervals, as well as a general guideline on how to do pretty much every thing on the jeep, from wiring diagrams, to R&R procedures, or get a typical haynes/chilton paperback copy.now what motor do you have what year is it? some people recommend going as heavy as 10w-40(diesel) in the 4.0L. but any quality 10w-30 will do just fine. with the plugs and wires you should also replace the cap and rotor on the distributor. as for the headlights before replacing the switch you should check the wiring harness connector for the headlights under the airbox in the engine compartment. the wires will corrode and will prevent you from having operational headlights amongst other weird symptoms this is more likely to be the culprit than the switch, you should invest in a test light to confirm your diagnosis. i would change fluids in the drive line. front and rear diffs and transfer case. a fluid and filter service on the transmission. check operation of all the lights on the vehicle. adjust rear drums. with the serpentine belt off may not be a bad idea to do the thermostat (The belt does not necessarily need to be removed to do this) and flush the cooling system too. service the battery terminals and inspect all the grounds on the vehicle. ensure the front brakes are working properly and that the slides are moving, the pads are free and the caliper compresses. wouldnt' be a bad idea to have the tires balanced. there is a lot to do on a cherokee but that should keep you busy for a weekend. and get yourself a service manual it will make life so much easier. Alldata Link/

 

Sweet thanks! I don't know how much time I will have to work on it but ill try to get these all checked out eventually.
The jeep is not registered or insured as now so its not in a rush to get done

 

Alldata is a great resource, however, if you are not a professional mechanic working on many vehicles, it's a waste of your money, as it is a subscription on a monthly basis, or only access for a specified amount of time. Get your year specific FSM online in PDF for much cheaper, and keep it forever.
http://www.pacificcoastmanuals.com/j...e_manuals.html
At $8, it is money well spent...

 

I have access to alldata at my college so I might just go and print off a bunch of it there.

Anyone have a free pdf of the service manual?

 

Thanks for the link, just downloaded it and it looks just like my hard copy. My Alldata is subscription is expiring soon, so I think I'll just let it go now.

 

After your basic maintenance, focus on the cooling system. If you have the money, it's not too expensive to put in a new water pump, thermostat (this site recommends you use OEM), hoses and even a radiator. Flush the heater core very well too. It can save a major headache in the future.

 

Thanks for that link. That's a great price for something I've been meaning to pick up.

 

So the cooling system is the weak link in these jeeps?

 

Yes if you don't perform proper maintenance.

 

NGK plugs, cap and rotor, wires and clean the throttle body.

Make sure the intake manifold bolts are snug.

 

The manifold bolts loosen through time?

 

Usually just one time. Always good to check.