Hello all, Im new to jeeps, and don't know much about the technical side of them (what years used what transmissions, transfer cases, what parts can be swapped between what models and so on. I can tell you anything needed for Fords. lol) Looking up here for some info, Ive been wanting a Jeep for a while just because I like to have a variety of vehicles. Any way I ended up getting a 2001 Cherokee for cheap, needs work. I was fine with that, I like having projects to keep me busy anyway. Ive been reading and reading and searching and looking for what seems hours. I don't know if im just not putting in the correct stuff to find it or what. Basically I need to switch out the transmission in it. I found where some information says that it is the 42re and then some say the aw-4. Are these the same? or are there two different options? If they are not the same which one would be the better option? Also The instrument cluster is completely inoperative, I have read some fixes for it, just seeing if anyone up here could get me a "oh man i got the answer its this....." lol I can hope right? like I said its a project and needs work and along with work modifications, "upgrades" if you will. lol any help is appreciated.

 

You have a aw4 the 42re is a different trans and crappier.The 42re was used in the grand cherokee which is a different suv but a lot of people mix them up.I would be more worried about the head you have on it.The 00-01 xj got the 0331 head which is known for cracking.If its been replaced look inside the oil cap between cylinder 3 and 4 rockers if you see the word tupy cast in the head your good if not you got the bad head.

 

The instrument cluster on your XJ is the same as the one on my old TJ - it's a straightforward swap and the Odometer does not need to be reset as it pulls the information from the vehicle's PCM. Pick up a junkyard cluster or a used one on ebay and you should be good to go. While you've got it pulled, it would be a good time to swap out the incandescent bulbs in there for LED's. Got mine from superbrightleds.com . Used cool white and it turned out great.

 

There were a lot of changes between the pre 97 and up models (instrument clusters fro one) and again in the 00/01 models.


The single most important factor in your XJ is the fact is if it has rust in the frame/undercarriage areas that can't be repaired, that fact makes it a parts Jeep. All others can be repaired or replaced.

 

thank you everyone! i will be on the hunt for some parts here soon then. Once I get some parts vehicles out of my yard I will get the jeep here and I will be going over it. I gave it a brief look over before I bought it. I wasn't to worried about the little stuff (brakes, steering and such). I'll be on the hunt here soon for some jeep parts. Hopefully if the main structure of the jeep isn't bad off. If it is I'll have some parts for sale! Lol