weebur

I’ve got an ’87 Montero with 263,000 miles. I’ve always said that when she dies I was going to get Cherokee. Well she’s not quite dead yet but it’s time. Towing my old heavy popup camper 400 miles with a top speed of 45-50 mph into a headwind is a pain.

I bought a ’97 Cherokee Country with an auto trans (AW-4?) and will pick it up tomorrow. This is my first Jeep. I’ve been a member of a Mitsubishi forum for the past 5-6 years and learned a lot and contributed as best I could. Jeep is four-letter word over there so don’t tell them I defected.

I’m an old guy that remembers the old Ford 300ci straight six and have been told that the Jeep 4.0L six is at least as good and maybe better…if that’s true it says a lot. I was impressed with the test drive and am sure I can haul with the camper. The other thing is the Mitsu always got me in and out of the woods through old mining roads that haven’t been maintained in over twenty years. From what I’ve read the Cherokee should be able to do the same, even stock.

The brief look that I had showed some really dirty engine oil/trans fluid/coolant and brake fluid. I’ve already bought full synthetic fluids/filters, etc. and manuals are in the mail. I usually get a factory service manual too. The engine sounds like I may be in store for a water pump. On a short test drive it was pulling to the left quite a bit and I heard a clunk from the left front caliper. All of this is no big deal cause I’m not happy unless I’m greasy and throwing wrenches across the garage.

I’m going to reading and searching this forum a lot from now on, but before I tear into my Cherokee for the first time is there anything that I need to know and be on the lookout for?

Thanks.

a1racer

nice find and the xj's with the 4.0 last for ever. now the pulling to the side is there a lift on it at all or not. and don't worry the water pump is pretty easy to change. and as far as being capable off road even stock it will out preform a lot of other 4x4's

stumper

just the basic's, change the fluids, all of them. that's what i did with mine. syntheics in the engine and frt and rear diff. change the pcv valve, they tend too plug, change it and check it often. other than that, mines been pretty darn good since i got it. have put on about 4,000kms, getting 20.2MPG. keep the front end greased, any and all grease fittings. Welcome!

weebur

It looks to be bone stock, just poorly maintained, I'll know more when I get under it. New tires are going on this week and will get the front end alligned.

weebur

Thanks, I forgot the PCV.

93XJRay

i think he said its stock in the original post.

my fathers father in law has a 92 2wd with 380,000 on it, had it since new. he said watch the water pump and if it goes, get the best one you can cuz jeeps do like to run hot. other than that stumper is right routine maintenence and that engine should last plenty of times through your woods... welcome to CF!

weebur

Thanks, just spent two long days on it...it think it's going to be OK.