Hey all. Im new here so bear with me. I have a basically bone stock 2000 jeep cherokee sport automatic. And im torn between saving it to make it last forever, driving it till it dies, or selling it. Id love to save it and keep it because i love this body style and the interior and the 4.0. But theres quite a bit wrong with it. It has 223k miles. Theres a knock coming from the t-case while sitting at a stoplight in drive. The front end clunks when i turn the driveshaft by hand. The front wheel bearings or probably ball joints are SHOT. The driver and rear seat has tears. The paint is bad but not shot. The fender is bent up. My key fob doesnt work. All the shocks are bad. The leaf springs are FLAT. My clock spring is bad. And the transmission slips when its cold out. Theres also many dents all around, none massive and eye catching except the fender, but enough to notice. The front door wiring harnesses are shot. The engine makes a horrible lifter noise to where it sounds like a diesel. And my front doors have slop so they rub on the latch. And i think that’s probably about it. I know xj’s generally arent worth a lot, so is it even worth fixing? Its served my so well i could never scrap it, and i know id regret selling it. So what should i do?
did I mention my A/C doesn’t work? 😂

 

Keep it for a parts vehicle and find an XJ in much better condition.

 

Deciding factor: how much rust is there?

Anything else can be easily fixed. Excessive rot/body work is where many draw the line. Even then, I just finished patching my rotted floors/rear wheel wells, and am now doing the rocker panels.

 

IMO you have 4 issues that the decision really rests on:
However you really don't know what the specific causes of these issues are. Could be major. Could be nothing. IIWM I'd figure out exactly what the thing needs before I decided.

Check the flexplate bolts, check the front axle universals, change (or add) transmission fluid and identify exactly what the "lifter" noise is (could simply be an exhaust leak).

 

there is very minimal rust. The frame is solid. No rust through on the body. Just minor surface rust where the paint has chipped off

 

i know its the engine because once it warms up its dead silent.

 

thats what i thought but there arent many xj’s around me in good condition. Theyre all hacked apart, or just beat to hell

 

That was an important bit of information.

At any rate sounds like your mind was already made up.

Good luck.

 

i cant say my mind is made up. I have no idea what to do with it

 

Depends on if you got the time, mechanical abilities, and the money to dump into it. If you answered yes to at least 2 of those then yeah keep it.

 

Dunno where you got that idea. Prices are rising due to scarcity.


Need some pics!