Hi All,

So I have an opportunity to grab a 2001 4x4 XJ, all stock parts with 178K miles on it. Its starting price is 6,300 (in SoCal they usually go for much higher). It runs great, has no rust, a little paint fade on the hood, and new tires and headliner. However, there's a couple of catches: The engine makes a ticking sound and I won't be able to take the car to the mechanic because the seller claims that the car's so hot right now he's just going to sell it first come first serve. I'm particularly sketched out about that last part, since I would feel so much better just getting an evaluation of the thing.

Here's the craigslist post : https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sf...276539667.html

What advice do you have to navigate this situation? I'm thinking I would just ask for around 1k off the price with the expectation that I'll need to put that money back into engine work.

 

Welcome to CF.
If your not familiar with the 0331 cylinder head issues on certain year 4.0l engines you may want to read this. If there is a problem with that engine it could get a lot more costlier than 1k.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/how-to...rmation-398176

 

None of us can tell you what it IS. We can only tell you what it MIGHT be.

A slight ticking is often a lifter. Worst case is a complete engine rebuild, including a new head. It's probably not that, but that's worst case.

If you are willing to roll dice on worst case, go for it.

 

problem with these 4.0 is you have to remove the head to replace the lifters. and a lifter tick will only get worse. parts alone are upwards of 500 bux or more. then there's the 0331 head issue. it may or may not become a problem, but if it is, it's another costly adventure.

and with his story, i would pass on this one. there are plenty still out there. the right one will come your way.

 

Only if you replace the head. Not needed if it's just a lifter.





Agreed. Anytime you run into someone trying to pressure you to BUY NOW!, walk away.

 

my 99 tj had a slight tick. then it got worse, then way worse, so i bought all new lifters, push rods, gaskets, assembly lube, all came out to 500 bux, and that's with my pricing through my account, which is usually about half the retail price.
in order for me to swap out the lifters, i had to remove the head, as the lifters wouldn't fit through the holes in the head.
i ended up trading the jeep, and all the parts for a bicycle and a cord of hardwood. ce le vie.

 

That's a bit shady. If the listing was really as hot as the seller claimed, it would've been sold by now. In the three days it has been up, someone could've quickly taken it to a mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection.

If you're really set on wanting this XJ, you could also hire a mechanic to go with you to do a pre-purchase inspection at the seller's location. There are some businesses that offer that kind of service.

 

Did you test drive it already and heard the ticking sound, or is the seller telling you that the engine is ticking? These things can be loud just because the oil needs to be changed...

 

I would walk away if seller will not let you have a more thorough evaluation done.

As mentioned above the 2000 and 2001 had head casting issues that in some cases resulted in a crack. That can allow antifreeze to enter the valve cover area, run down the adjacent lifter holes in the head and wash oil off the cam lobe to lifter interface and dilute the oil causing bearing damage. One way to relatively easily determine if such a problem might exist is to do a combustion gas test at the radiator pressure cap. There should be no detectable combustion gas present in the cooling system. If there is there is a problem. You can rent the tool and buy the test fluid at many chain auto parts stores. You should be able to find a Youtube video on how to do the test. It is something that most people can do in a few minutes without taking the vehicle somewhere for a mechanic to evaluate.

Another evaluation is to look at the valve cover side of the oil fill cap. If you find muddy, chocolate milk shake like gunk on the cap or inside the valve cover forget about that one unless the price reflects a discount for major engine work. Personally I like to get an oil analysis done to determine if there is water/antifreeze in the oil and for a check of excessive wear components in the oil. However that takes time and is less reliable if the oil has just been changed.

 

First of all I don't get the $6300 asking price.
But regardless.
I think this is what I am going to start telling people when they ask if they should buy this '00 or '01.
Go in assuming at the very least you are going to have to replace the head.
And maybe the whole engine for the simple fact you don't know how long anti-freeze has been trashing the lower end.
If you can live with the price realizing that you might have to do that then buy it.
That is what I was thinking when I bought my '00 over 7 years ago.
So far so good so good though.
But I paid $1500 for mine. Guy wanted $2000.
But mine was a kinda running not really driveable impulse purchase.
Nothing crazy though. Straightened her out pretty quick and punched her through emissions.
Oh and I think I paid a little too much. LOL.

 

I just looked at the for sale posting. It does look clean and reasonably well maintained. Prices for well maintained XJ's in good condition are on the increase. If you continue to be interested let us know - Ralph and I can give you about 50 more things to look at and worry about.

 

The whole " These are rare and will sell fast, it’s also the last year of the XJ " is a sales pitch to get a person to rush out to buy. I always cringe at those bits.
Anyways as an owner of many jeeps, i once had an inline 4.0 that had a slight tick many moons ago. Everyone saying it was a lifter tick / don't worry / etc.
That lil tick got louder over the months and turned out to be piston slap after a tear down. Over1k in repairs / lesson learned .
I'm going to say 6k is way to much for an xj with 178000 on odometer that has engine noise to boot.

"The cars so hot ' yet it's still up for sale.

 

That sounds suspect, but she does look nice via exterior.... Good luck and glad you have some good advice coming your way on this one so far!.

Michael