Cherokke xj to liberty kk
12-01-2013, 04:36 PM
#18
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Location: Gainsville Florida
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Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L High output inline 6
xj to kk...
hey all,
again thanks for the input, i found an 09 with 5k on the odometer and 4x4 of course, and compared to my other options the milage was kinda the deal breaker for me, owned it for 3 mths now and so far i am enjoying, it, i will admit though that the liberty has far less on the market for offroading.. it suits my needs though, the biggest draw back is not having the wide ranch of ability to play or mod it, that part is driving me nuts. getting used to ifs is odd, i drove with death wobble for around a year due to my novicness in lifts, but it feels good to have a vehicle thats machanically sounds for the time being. thanks again for all the input, hopfully i wont have many issues with drivetrain or engine.... and ya if you all have any more info its appreciated. i will say lastly though that jeep turning everything electrical is not a great idea, im not to fond of the 4 wheel drive light switch but as long as it works il make due..... thanks again....
again thanks for the input, i found an 09 with 5k on the odometer and 4x4 of course, and compared to my other options the milage was kinda the deal breaker for me, owned it for 3 mths now and so far i am enjoying, it, i will admit though that the liberty has far less on the market for offroading.. it suits my needs though, the biggest draw back is not having the wide ranch of ability to play or mod it, that part is driving me nuts. getting used to ifs is odd, i drove with death wobble for around a year due to my novicness in lifts, but it feels good to have a vehicle thats machanically sounds for the time being. thanks again for all the input, hopfully i wont have many issues with drivetrain or engine.... and ya if you all have any more info its appreciated. i will say lastly though that jeep turning everything electrical is not a great idea, im not to fond of the 4 wheel drive light switch but as long as it works il make due..... thanks again....
12-01-2013, 06:48 PM
#19
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I don't think they suck I had an 06 that I ran a 2 inch lift 265/75x16s mts an 8500lb winch full roof basket with lights lim risers and a full tire carrier.
I drove it from new Hampshire to San Diego ca then to Moab Utah and Colorado.
I wheeled the hell out of it in ca and ran a bunch of trails in Co and Moab, I then drove it home and did a 1300 mile Expedition trip through norther Maine to Canada on the golden road I then cut across and headed through Vermont and western Massachusetts to home.
I had zero issues with the Liberity driving to sometimes 19 hours at a stretch.
It was better on fuel than the XJ and went everywhere I wanted to go.
I don't think it fare to judge a book by its cover.
A competent 4wheeler understands the limits of the vehicle their driving and should not expect more from it based on past vehicles. My prior jeep was an 04 rubicon on 35s with a stretch kit and all the fixings.
I never expected the Liberty to do what the rubicon could.
Don't expect the KK to do what a well built XJ can but don't discount its abilities off road it might surprise you.
I drove it from new Hampshire to San Diego ca then to Moab Utah and Colorado.
I wheeled the hell out of it in ca and ran a bunch of trails in Co and Moab, I then drove it home and did a 1300 mile Expedition trip through norther Maine to Canada on the golden road I then cut across and headed through Vermont and western Massachusetts to home.
I had zero issues with the Liberity driving to sometimes 19 hours at a stretch.
It was better on fuel than the XJ and went everywhere I wanted to go.
I don't think it fare to judge a book by its cover.
A competent 4wheeler understands the limits of the vehicle their driving and should not expect more from it based on past vehicles. My prior jeep was an 04 rubicon on 35s with a stretch kit and all the fixings.
I never expected the Liberty to do what the rubicon could.
Don't expect the KK to do what a well built XJ can but don't discount its abilities off road it might surprise you.
01-01-2014, 10:21 PM
#21
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Everytime I see a liberty now all I think is run away!!! We had a 06 liberty renegade and had nothing but probloms but it didn't have the easiest life my moms a rule mail carrier 150 miles of bavk roads a day. Needless to say we replaced every suspension component atleast twice new tranny replaced every sensor on the dang thing so we went back and got another cherokee now we have 3 and the stand up to it great.
01-01-2014, 10:30 PM
#22
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L OBD-II
Most "modern" equivalent to an XJ from the Jeep line, they even get the same milage 
In all seriousness a European KK with 2.8L and stick would be a fun ride methinks.
Front-end with the factory bumper kinda looks weird, but from the side and rear you can certainly appreciate that they were called Cherokees overseas.
In all seriousness a European KK with 2.8L and stick would be a fun ride methinks.Front-end with the factory bumper kinda looks weird, but from the side and rear you can certainly appreciate that they were called Cherokees overseas.
01-08-2018, 07:45 PM
#23
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Model: Cherokee(SJ)
X2 and the drivetrain on the KK (or any Liberty) is less than spectacular reliability wise.
The 3.7L V6 is a 4.7L V8 with two cylinders knocked off and is known for a ton of issues including: thin block walls known to crack, heads known to warp/crack, oil sludge/foam, sudden loss of oil pressure, PCV issues, overheating issues, and timing system issues. (Note: many of these result from improper/lack of maintenance but these engines are very sensitive to maintenance and any missed scheduled maintenance can lead to catastrophic engine failure, and sometimes they still experience these issues even with proper maintenance).
The 42RLE transmission is also problematic. This transmission was converted to RWD/4WD from the 42LE which is a FWD car transmission developed for the LH platform cars (Intrepid/Concorde) and is part of the infamous "ultra-drive" series of transmissions. This transmission was weak to begin with and failure prone in the cars for which it was designed, putting it in a Jeep which is much heavier and usually subjected to more abuse didn't exactly improve things. They can do ok if maintained and not abused but a rebuild at 100,000-150,000 mi is not uncommon even with proper maintenance.
Build Quality on KKs is also generally bad/low, especially those built when Chrysler was under Cerberus' (07-11).
Honestly I'd recommend a newer/lower mileage (97-99) XJ over a KK. It should be much cheaper and will likely last longer. Alternatively a WJ with a 4.0L I6 (good engine, so-so 42RE transmission) or a TJ (preferably manual) would also be better options than a KK.
The 3.7L V6 is a 4.7L V8 with two cylinders knocked off and is known for a ton of issues including: thin block walls known to crack, heads known to warp/crack, oil sludge/foam, sudden loss of oil pressure, PCV issues, overheating issues, and timing system issues. (Note: many of these result from improper/lack of maintenance but these engines are very sensitive to maintenance and any missed scheduled maintenance can lead to catastrophic engine failure, and sometimes they still experience these issues even with proper maintenance).
The 42RLE transmission is also problematic. This transmission was converted to RWD/4WD from the 42LE which is a FWD car transmission developed for the LH platform cars (Intrepid/Concorde) and is part of the infamous "ultra-drive" series of transmissions. This transmission was weak to begin with and failure prone in the cars for which it was designed, putting it in a Jeep which is much heavier and usually subjected to more abuse didn't exactly improve things. They can do ok if maintained and not abused but a rebuild at 100,000-150,000 mi is not uncommon even with proper maintenance.
Build Quality on KKs is also generally bad/low, especially those built when Chrysler was under Cerberus' (07-11).
Honestly I'd recommend a newer/lower mileage (97-99) XJ over a KK. It should be much cheaper and will likely last longer. Alternatively a WJ with a 4.0L I6 (good engine, so-so 42RE transmission) or a TJ (preferably manual) would also be better options than a KK.
01-09-2018, 07:13 PM
#24
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
As for personal experience I once owned a Dodge Intrepid with the 42LE transmission (the transmission the 42RLE was developed from, essentially the same unit but with an integrated differential for FWD applications), at 78K mi. the valve body needed replaced (common issue) and the transmission bit the dust completely at 145k mi (slipping badly, clutch material and metal shavings in the fluid), the fluid was always changed at 50k mi (or less) with ATF+4, and most of those miles were highway miles.
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