going to buy 86 xj, problems
 

hey, going to buy a 86 cherokee, it was my friends old cherokee, he sold it after it crapped out on him, i will post the conversation i had with his brother talking about what happened and hwo it died,

From what i have been told, it is a 1986 cherokee, 4x4, lifted two inches, standard 5 spd, crawling gears, and 32 inch mud terrains, or all terrains, i cant remember, he had a weird problem with it, where it just wouldnt crank over, or even bump start, so he replaced the engine, to the same engine, im pretty sure he sad it was out of a 92? 2.5 litre, and then i think he said some smoke came out from under the dashboard when he tried to fire it, and then he just gave up on it becaues it was being too much work, and sold it, and now its back up for sale, and i have a chance to buy it, the guy who owns it says the ignition needs rewiring, because its shorted out, here is the conversation for it, and here are pictures of the jeep if that helps at all http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...um/4x4%20****/
im only 15 so im not too good at technical stuff, but im decent with mechanics and cars, as ive grown up with them because my dad owns a towtruck business, and he is helping me out fix it too, so any help woul dbe great! thanks, aaron

Rayy! =D says:
it drove, then wouldnt start
well
it had fuel pump problems
then we fixed that.. it worked fine for awhile
then around winter time it wouldnt start
my uncle messed around then it ran for abit
i think gordon left it idleing.. then it died and wouldnt start at all
then he decided to put a new motor in it
even though it was a starter problem or something
after he put the new motor in.. it would turn over but thats it
wasnt getting spark
but with the old motor.. the wire tothe starter had a bad connection, it was tapped up
SteaZ says:
ok. go on
Rayy! =D says:
taped*
thats pretty much it
SteaZ says:
what happened with the short out?
Rayy! =D says:
he gave up with playing with it
short out?
SteaZ says:
yea, he said there was smoke coming from under the dash?
Rayy! =D says:
i dont know
he changed some ignition thing, i know that
it burnt up abit
smelled gross
and yea

Don't walk away.. RUN!!!
An 86' RENIX with major electrical...
You are 15 and "not too good at technical stuff"

The non firing engine sounds like CPS.
As for electrical "gross" under the dash, your in for a long mess of burnt wire.

If it where me, I would stay away from it.. just my $.02

my dad owns a towtruck business, and hes super good with ****, and can prertty much get free parts or large discounted parts, and im gettin this thing for 250, so i dont mind working my *** off to get it running

pretty good with stuff* and my butt* haha, and its a 92 motor from what i know

I would keep looking. I know your excited but I would not buy someone elses problem as a first car. Since it isn't running you can't get a good evaluation of the drivetrain or anything else, motor may have problems, harness shot, clutch, sincros, diffs, transfer case, what else? Get one that runs and and has a straight body and the 6cyl 4.0. You'd be happier driving it and setting it up than dumping cash just trying to get it to run.

86 is not Renix, it is AMC. The Renix era is from 87-90.

But I agree, RUN. Wiring issues will almost never go away without a total rewire if they are that bad. On the plus side it should have 4.10 gears in the axles and you can find a 4.0 XJ with standard trans, swap the axles into it and it will be a sweet ride on the trails. 4.0s with the 5 speed have 3.07 gearing and swapping to 4.10 will turn larger tires a lot easier.