hey all, i dont own a cherokee yet, but i will be looking to trade my current SUV ( isuzu rodeo) for a 98 JGC + 2,000 bucks. what i am looking to find out are any common and/or infamous problems, defects and warning signs on these vehicles. the person who wants to trade me their JGC says it runs but is leaking tranny fluid and has power window problems. im not worried about the windows because i can fix those myself, but i am worried about the leaky tranny.

im pretty handy with a wrench, i will tackle any job that doesnt involve timing, setting gears and opening a transmission so my plan was to take the JGC to an AAMCO or some other transmission place and get it checked out. im hoping its just a leaky pan, but if it isnt what should i be looking out for?

are there any sounds in the motor or other telltale signs of trouble? do JGC's have timing tensioner/chain issues like many other SUV's? ive never worked on a cherokee but i know wranglers a tiny bit, how hard are JGC's to work on compared to wranglers, explorers or rodeos?

any help with these questions would be greatly appreciated. i am also a ford explorer owner, and soon to be X-rodeo owner. i also own a mini cooper S. im not a fanboy, i can appreciate any ride no matter the brand (not really a fan of chevys though).

im hoping the JGC checks out and i can own it, and if i do i will try my best to contribute to this forum. thanks everyone.

 

Do you plan on lift and bigger tires???
Plus everyone is diff we have had my Cherokee for 18 years now and no prob I've replaced radiator once and fixed a leaky oil gasket and that's it no joke these puppies are strong

 

i dont plan on lifting it or throwing new tires on it any time soon being that it has brand new AT's on it at the moment. but a lift and biger tires will be coming in the future. my plan is to make it my winter ride, tkaing it up to the mountains for snowboarding trips and stuff like that, with some lightweight to moderate off roading too. i have aussie lockers on my explorer sport trac and i love them so i will probably be throwing those onto it at some point as well.

ive went up and down this forum a little bit but havent spotted a single problem topic about these jeeps, but that doesnt mean they dont have any. what have you noticed people on this forum talking about constantly or in a pattern that seem troubling? thanks for replying!

btw, speaking of lifts, i would also like to get a little info on this particular year JGC. is the front IRS, or a solid axle? do JGC's have coils/struts or torsion bars? can i do an spring over axle on these jeeps, or a shackle lift? what is recommended? at some point i would like to give it a little bit of lift, just a modest 2 inches or so and would like to get ideas on how to do it. thanks again.