Originally Posted by Radi

Hiya to a fellow Wisconsinite!
New member here, but thought I'd chime in as I've owned several salt-belt XJ's..

As Bustedback mentioned, take a good look underneath. This isn't the usual rust you are looking for, lol... make sure you have floors! If the rockers are rusted, the floors likely are too. Poke around in a couple spots to make sure it's sound metal.
My '96 had no floorpans or rear cargo floor left from the lovely Wisconsin road salt.
It's a fixable problem and I wouldn't pass on the jeep if there is mild rust, but you'll want to be aware if there is a problem- and if so the extent of it- before you buy.
Also check the leaf spring mounts in the back, another spot the salt likes to eat up.

Give the catalytic converter a smack with your fist to see if it rattles. If it does it's shot.

I'd let the air out of the air shocks (which are not a stock item BTW) to see if or how badly the rear springs sag.
New springs aren't too expensive, and several salvage yard options exist.. but it's another cost you'll want to take into consideration.

U-joints- ask if the front ones were replaced. They are a bit harder to change than the rears, but none are really beyond DIY.
Unlike many other 4X4's the front axles in that XJ are always connected. Switching to 2wd merely removes power to the front driveline. If there IS a front u-joint problem you can't buy time by running 2wd, lol. They turn either way.

Start the engine up cold and listen. Some minor tapping/clicking is pretty normal. Loud clanging or thumping is not. Lifter noise and cold piston slap is a common, normally harmless 4.0 "feature". Louder noises require investigating.

Hopefully that gives you a couple more things to check. Good luck- and an advance warning that XJ's are habit-forming

Originally Posted by Radi

Part-time means the 4wd is for part-time use. Only on loose or slippery surfaces, not dry pavement. Some had a "full time" 4WD option that can be left on all the time if you like.
There is a manual lever next to the transmission shifter to select 2/4wd. No fancy push-button stuff.

Originally Posted by Tx9h6e4cuda

Its a 1993 it won't have the Dana 44 they came in 1987-1989 (some very very early 90 versions)
Look for underbody rust but it doesn't look bad.

Originally Posted by Bustedback

Now that I have a larger screen in front of me I can see that the pass side rocker panel is rotted pretty bad. It's repairable, but it will be some work and you can expect to find more rust the deeper you look.