Hi! Iam looking for some expert viewpoints on whether or not I should repair my 2001 Sport with almost 230k miles. Here's the deal: It needs a new radiator, new alternator, brakes and possibly rear brake line, shocks, has an oil leak in the rear diff and under the hood. The engine light is also on. Could be a small sensor issue or could be something bigger. I love my Sport, but at 230k I'm not sure it's going to be worth putting al this money into it for the engine to die on me. The body has almost no rust. It's still in excellent condition body wise. Thank you for any input.

 

Fix it

 

Anyone in the rust belt will tell you the same thing - FIX IT!!! None of those things sound particularly dire and a rust-free XJ is a wonderful and increasingly rare thing. Even if it needed an engine sometime down the road it would still be worth it.

 

230k is barely broken in.

My Dad had a 94 XJ (I6 5spd) with 400k original miles on it. He took it out of service due to rust. The engine and tranny still ran perfectly.

 

yea my first one, a 91, had over 300k too and still ran like a beast. until my stupidity burned her up.

 

All that stuff wears out eventually anyway. Fix it. As for the CEL, check it for codes. My 97 has 234k and in excellent condition body wise, but like yours, needs a little TLC. Im probably giving it more love than anyone else ever did.

This is what ive done so far:
battery
battery cables
refreshed all engine grounds
cleaned all fuses in JB and PDC
air filter
plugs
plug wires
cap/rotor
radiator/cap
cleaned overflow
coolant
sway bar bushings
front and rear shocks
front and rear bumpstops
drive belt
tensioner pulley
harmonic balancer
taillight harnesses (PO hacked up the wiring for a trailer hitch)
transmission lines
transmission/transfer case fluid
distributor
valve cover gasket
ccv/grommets
IAC
TPS
brake switch
electric fan

Still on the list:
motor mounts
transmission mount
tranmission shift solenoids
u-joints
wheel bearings/hubs
brakes
brake lines/hoses
fuel lines
fuel pump module
injectors
oil/filter
oil filter adapter
steering lines
waterpump
thermostat
radiator hoses
wheels (original are rusted bad)
tires
crank and cam sensor
catalytic convertor
o2 sensors
exhaust hanger
leafsprings
front lower control arms
front upper control arms
tierod
trackbar

...and the list goes on. Hows that for a list? lol