Grabbed the computer out of a similarly equipped 96 XJ at the jy yesterday. Been wanting to get one for the shelf in case mine goes belly up someday. It was half price day and I had a $20 PnP coupon to boot! So it was $15 out the door. Seemed an acceptable risk to me.

How Plug N Play are these?

 

'96 was a transition year so there might be some issues. In General if you stay in the same range Renix for Renix, post Renix - 95, 97 - 98 and 2000 - 2001 you're okay.

I haven't been around Cherokee's long enough to know if there were changes during / after '96 that would effect your ability to plug n' play. Big changes were from Renix to post Renix and from Post Renix to electronic ignition (in 2000).

 

Donor ECU came from a production number about 90,000 above mine, which was made mid-Feb 96. But all the sensors and the ECU appear the same. So hopefully I am OK with the donor.

Also if note, there is a recall reflash sticker on the ECU in my XJ. Any clue what this was about?

 

I Googled and didn't find an applicable recall. Reflash might have been driven by a service bulletin (which can occur instead of a recall). Typically reflashes update a computer to a newer firmware. Is there a date on the sticker? If so is it later then the build date of the donor ECU? With the sensors the same there is a good chance the ECU is plug n' play. Was the donor a running vehicle? If so you could swap it and try it out. Then you'd know you have a good spare.

 

The recall has to do with the catalytic converter needing replacement and then they reflash. I can't remember why however.

 

That's what I was going to say but you beat me to it.
You may as well give it a try since you have. At least then you know if it works or not, instead of waiting until you need it and it doesn't work. Let us know if it works or not. Good luck.