I just purchased a 98 XJ Sport with 55,000 miles from my father-in-law. He bought it in 2000 with 30,000 miles and for the past 12 years it has sat in the garage at the family vacation home used only a few times a year. This thing is cherry! It is entirely stock. I want to eventually put a 3" OME suspension lift and 31" tires, for now I just want it to be a reliable everyday driver. Since it has been sitting so long and probably not maintained as it should I was thinking about changing some of the fluids and other parts. I obviously changed the oil as soon as I bought it. What other fluids or parts should I replace?
Any advice to a new first time Jeep owner would be much appreciated. Sorry for the bad pic.

 

Did you start engine?
If you didn't, when was the last time engine ran?

 

Nice find! I don't remember the last Cherokee I've seen with mileage that low, lol.

Be sure to check the date code on the tires. 7-8 years is pretty much the limit for safety.
I'd also definitely flush the brake fluid.
Change the fuel filter, grease any Zerk fittings present.
You might consider replacing fluid in the differentials, drain and refill the power steering (turkey baster), transmission and transfer case. The fluids may have collected water from condensation while sitting and never been heated enough to drive it back out.

 

Damn you are a lucky man.

 

I say we shun him until he hits at least 150K on that baby. 100K if he comes back with an "overheating" thread.

 

saaaaweeettttt...

excellent score......

 

Your father-in-law have anything else good sitting around unused?

 

I would check the gas tank to make sure there is no crud build up in it. My jeep sat for 8 years before I bought it. We dropped the tank and it was spotless luckily. I didn't even change the oil or anything. Just new gas and she fired up right away.
I would run the "new oil" for 500ish miles and then change it out again just to help get out any build up from sitting. Also run some coolant flush in the radiator. And finally change the transmissions oil and filter.

 

if it has been garage kept i would just fire it up and see what happens. watch the temp gauges, when was the last time it was drivin? because you said in 00' he bought it and now it has 20000 more miles on it so i would think he was driving it a couple times a year. that should be enough to mix the fluids up and keep them good

 

Unless you find believable records that show what mileage any of the fluids have been changed, I would change ALL of the fluids. Every one of them. Fluids are the lifeblood of the vehicle! It is very possible that original fluids are in this vehicle and it's time for them to go.

By changing all of the fluids, not only is it the right thing to do, you also will have established a new "baseline" for future changes.

Oil, oil filter, transmission (use Dex/Merc III compatible fluid), transfer case, differentials, coolant (install new Mopar 195 degree stat at the same time). And I'd probably get new gas in there too.

The rubber in the serpentine belt and tires may also be in trouble as it's time that gets to the rubber......

And no reason not to perform a tuneup, again unless you have evidence of when the last one was performed. Fresh Champion copper spark plugs gapped to .035, new quality plug wires, distributor cap, rotor and air filter.

Nothing listed above is particularly expensive. Just some of your time while you get to know your new XJ! Enjoy your 98!

 

To add to the excellent to-do list above:

Was the Jeep run periodically?

Batteries are only good for 3 to five years - you may want to change it out.

The fuel filter is located inside the fuel pump module assembly on that Jeep. You may want to rent a fuel pressure test gauge with the bleeder valve on the side of it. Hook it up to the test port on the fuel rail and bleed out about a gallon of fuel through the valve on the side of the gauge apparatus and see if any water or other crap comes out. Then check the fuel pump pressure output. Engine running.

Check the brake tubing in the front wheel wells, in the engne bay, and the brake tube running from the engine bay back to the rear axle. Check for severe corrosion.

 

Not his daughter I'm guessing.

 

Mice love cars that sit a long time. Depending on how and where it was stored and if it was ever moved around or ran. Despite how clean it looks I would be as worried about those lil jokers as fluids. Theyll chew the heck out of wires and anything else and given enough time can get anywhere.

 

If it was not started for long time, I would spray ATF in cylinders.
Check manufacturing date on tires, I would suggest replacing at least front ones.
About a year ago I bought 01 Suzuki Bandit 1200cc with 7 miles on odometer. Not 7K, 7 miles.

 

Well that's gonna be a barrel of fun to change periodically.