I have been noticing that some OEM parts for our XJs are being discontinued by Chrysler. It makes sense with the newest ones being over 12 years old now, but it will mean going to the junkyard at worst or aftermarket at best for many things.

I have been informed by my local dealer (and teamcherokee) that many parts for the body, such as door checks, latches, bolts, etc are soon to be discontinued, basically whatever stock is left is all there is. The Mopar 4.0L tstats are now made by Motorad. Stock alternators for 97+ have been discontinued according to my dealer (they listed for 400$ anyways so not a big deal )

The parts I am most concerned about are engine monitoring sensors. Anybody have the inside scoop if these will soon be discontinued? Any other Mopar parts worth hoarding?

 

scary times for sure... I could vision a whole warehouse full of oem xj parts being auctioned off to a company of interest...

I wished there was a pick a part worth attending in my area, I'd grab all the odds and ends parts that you simply feel you'll never need until you need it..

the more common parts that fail will always be produced, and with OEM parts out of the picture leaves the window open for a company to step up their game with higher quality parts... (fingers crossed)

 

I have heard that Omix-Ada and maybe Crown have done this type of thing in the past. Maybe this is what you are referring to?

 

I've had some problems lately getting part from the dealer for my '99.

Iv'e tried to get the following and the dealer says there's none in the system and Chrysler has none on order.

Flex Plate to crank bolts

TC to Flex plate bolts (they did substitute these bolts with bolts from another Chrysler product and they work good)

Distributor Drive Gear - I did get a Crown drive gear but the roll pin hole was drilled in the wrong place. If I want to use this gear I will have to get a machine shop to drill another hole 90 degrees away from the Crown hole.

Engine mount bracket bolts - had to make my own from hardware store bolts.

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I suggest that if you want to keep your XJ much longer to buy, and hoard, the critical engine management sensors, such as: Crank Sensor, Map Sensor, and TPS.

I have had an Echlin IAC installed for years and has worked good, same with the Cam Sensor (Switch Plate).

 

yes, not just auto parts but when company's that go out of business or simply stop making parts they will hold an auction for bulk product for pennies on the dollar....

@CCKen, looks like this is the nuts and bolts of the matter

I just wished I was savvy enough to know what to look for, I'd hoard for sure (as money allowed)

EDIT: Just noticed you made of list of parts to hoard

 

Weird! I need to get engine mount bolts, and some other stuff I want to replace next year as preventative maintenance.

 

Granted I think that an aftermarket for XJ's is profitable enough for a company to step up and begin manufacturing odds and ends, there are just to many XJ's on the road not to...

then again none of us know for sure unless you have a crystal ball, and we've already seen the government try to be rid of our beloved clunkers, and we must admit they're no '57 Chevy Belair... so it'd be easier to do so

 

Recently I needed some recall work done on my xj after doing research, after it was sitting for over 6 years.... the dealership said they don't even sell airbag control modules..... they did find one in a warehouse somewhere.....

 

Fuel tank filler hose is discontinued for the 97-01 xjs. Dealer listed it at $60. Thing is no one makes fuel hose that goes 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" I.D. all fuel hose I found was one diameter. Had to get a $25 piece of flexible fuel hose with the cord in it and install a rubber reducer at one end. So far it's held up but not what I wanted...

 

I know the door lock cylinders for my 90 I had to pull off a 88 Buick because GM doesn't even stock that part anymore. From what I got from Chrysler they only have the backstock parts for the AMC/RENIX models, and once those are gone???

 

Auto companies only have to provide hard parts to 10 years back.

 

Dang, I was going to go look for this...

 

lol, glad I got that part when I did...

 

Well at least one bonus for the RENIX(and up to 93ish) guys is that some of our parts are GM, and they used them for quite a few more years.