BrettK

There is a Cherokee for sale for $800 close to where I work, but the guy says it will die after about 5 mins. of running. Does this sound like a semi easy fix and a good deal? He says that during that 5 minutes it runs strong, but I haven't gone to see it yet. What do y'all think?
He thinks some vacuum leak.
It's a '98 4X4 with 151,000 miles

DUDE454

The mileage is great, is the alternator locked or messed up at all? That would explain why it would run for a while then stop. Start it and see if one of the belts on your left is spinning or not. If not then its an easy fix and dont tell him.

Destination XJ

Hard to say off the little bit of info provided, but something random as hell it could be. check to see if the gas lines of neoprene hose spliced in. They get old and close with the suction. Again this is just a random. lol

DUDE454

x2 the alternator was a guess, you know anyone that deals with cars that could check it out for you. A person right there that knows what they are doin would be you best bet.

Destination XJ

Yeah, its most likely something simple, but you never know. Sometimes those damn host cant be found!

800 is a cheap price tag tho!

BrettK

I'm hoping its something easy, but for 800 I think I would be alright with having to do real work. The cheap price makes me want to just get it and figure it out later whether it be easy or more difficult. Because for the year and mileage plus he says it does start and run for a few minutes it seems like an alright deal, he just doesn't want to mess with it.

Destination XJ

If its solid do it. I mean in the 5 mins the motor runs you will know if its bad or not. I would probably go for it. (as long as its not a rust bucket)

BrettK

Yeah, I'm going to try and see it tomorrow if the guy can and have him start it up and if it starts and sounds pretty solid for the 5 minutes I'll probably do it. As long as when I look around everything else there's not any issues, like rust or major leaks. He said that it doesn't leak and that the 4 wheel drive works.
From the pics it looks like the body was smoothed out and primered, but never painted, and it doesn't have a front bumper, but the guy said that he will include a tow bar with it since it will have to be towed.

Destination XJ

Good luck, Hope it goes well and you get it!

Destination XJ

Also try to drive is a little in the 5 mins.

BrettK

Thanks, me too. I've been wanting one for awhile.
And yeah, I'll try and drive it also.

XxXJ99xX

Let me know what happens with it because thats a pretty good price, and if it quits every 5 minutes it could be a bad fuel pump or ground to the fuel pump or the "sock" on the pump got clogged but thats really unlikely. Just thowing ideas out there, if you get it post picks, if its mostly rust free go for it, i lost out twice on good deals because of minor things so sometimes the risk is worth it in the end. Gl with the test drive man

Bustedback

The five minute thing will be cheap to fix, you just have to figure out what the hell is causing it to die. If it was me, I would replace the cam and crank sensors right off the bat, those are the two biggest causes for stalling. They are almost a wear item on a Jeep.

CFarr44

800 is cheap for a 98 i think

BrettK

Well I have been emailing the guy back and forth the past couple of days and he has no free time this weekend. His first free time would be Monday after 3, which for me sucks because of work and school my first free time after this weekend would be Thursday morning, but he said he probably won't have it after Monday so he didn't even talk about his free time after that. So.... needless to say probably won't get it unless he still has it Thursday. Definitely disappointing.