cherokee longevity
 

Hi i am looking into buying a late 90's cherokee or cherokee sport. what is considered high miles on these machines for the straight six and a auto trans? is there any thing i should look for when looking at some jeeps?

Thanks for your time, Ben

My 91 XJ Sport has 248K on the 4.0 HO and AW4 and it's still going strong.

Hi and welcome to CF from NJ. I bought my jeep with 195,000 on it and it still runs like brand new. I have heard of them going 300,000 plus. Look for RUST everywhere and anywhere especially under the front floorboards and wheel wells. I'm sure there will be more suggestions from lots of members...Tj

X 2, on looking at the underbody for rust. Stand back and take a good look at the whole rig for major tweaking from a possible wreck. These things being unibody frame. a good wack to the right spot make them so the doors won't even close right, let alone drive straight down the road. Look at the fluids really good. If a cherokee has been abused and not maintained, the cooling system componants will let go and head gaskets have been known to blow. Just look for coolant in the oil and oil in the coolant. Also pull the Auto tranny dipstick, if you're looking at a rig with an auto and smell for burnt smell.

If it's had oil changes and maintained they should run forever strong motors

I got 280,000 miles on my 1992 4.0.

I was at a gas station a while back and another guy in his xj came up to me. He was asking how many miles I got and his had over 300k. I believe his was a 95. I don't think it was ever wheeled or abused.

I have a newer Cherokee its a 2000 but I have 320,000KM on it and it starts like it is new still

4.0L is probly the most reliable gasoline engine ever made IMO .. routinly see em go over 300k with no probs. All 3 of mine have over 100k and run like a top ... 123k on the 99, 154k on the 97, and 135k on the 95. All running as strong as ever!! Only probs I have ever had was sensors going like the O2 sensors but fairly cheap fix and easy.

well i think they nailed the question for you just look for rust and they run for dang near ever. oh and welcome to the forum :cheers:

What's interesting is I hear this kind of thing all the time, but then I also hear people saying don't get 2 jeeps because they break all the time.

(my wife is kind of nervous still about me selling my car and getting an xj of my own :dunno: )

I would check the wheel wells... Look right above the fender flares and check for any sign of it... it make look great on the outside, but the inside may be rotted. I would also check all the rocker panels and door skins and as TJ said, look under the carpet at the floor boards.

And of course check and see if it was in a wreck.

Just stay away from the 4 banger and the early v6 models (and some will say the early 4.0L with Renix system) .. if its a 92 or newer with the 4.0L and looks like it was taken care of by the previous owners .. I wouldn't worry about the miles much, plus higher the miles the cheaper U can get em for.

you can keep them going forever if ya want

change the oil and fluids regularly and chances are you will never have an issue with the drivetrain. most xj's around here are junked because the bodies rotted out from under them

It all depends on how well the maintenance schedule was followed and what abuse it took. These things run for a ridiculous length of time with the right care, and can die well short of when they're expected to when abused. X2 on the rust. Theses things have many little crevices and ledges where dirt and water likes to hide and leave nasty little surprises. CARFAX is your best friend. Welcome to CF:cheers: