Need advice on prepurchase inspection
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 37
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Thanks and good point will do! Still bummed about the badges I want the badges, dang any good painter can paint around a badge and the door and fender strips. I ran a car fax on it looked pretty good i guess.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,611
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From: Michigan
Year: 1987 MJ, 1973 J2000, 1986 XJ, 08 JK
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0L H.O
CF Veteran
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 7,519
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Problem is badging is not cheap and that is assuming you can even still get them.
And it doesn't help that the badging is not one piece but single letters.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 578
Likes: 159
From: Indiana
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Yeah, I would not tape off the badges or really anything that lays next to the paint if possible. But then again, I usually "de-badge" all of my vehicles.
When I get my XJ, I probably won't de-badge it though if I'm going to go deep into restoration mode.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 578
Likes: 159
From: Indiana
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
My flags are:
1. Length of ownership. Shows two owners with a grand total of 9 months.
2. Vehicle exported from Italy and imported to Charleston, SC. What's the story behind that? Military transfer maybe?
3. Noted that vehicle color is "Red". Is that normal on a carfax? Was it a color change?
Other than that from 2007 on it appears to be normal stuff.
I prefer not to buy from a dealer, but if you like it and it's in your budget then it will probably work out for you. I don't like repaints but that may be hard to get around if you want one looking sharp. I'm sure you are a little nervous and I get that. Someone once told me a long, long time ago that if you have doubts about buying a particular vehicle, then you should probably pass. Often, those doubts come back to haunt you.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 37
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Battery terminal photos
Yes, there is overspray. It has been repainted at some point. Misted, but there. Driver side behind the rear tire, its heavy inside the wheelwell. Overspray underneath isnt a deal breaker, but i do hope the paint itself was done right. Like said, no badging. Its missing.
Might be the angle, but the exhaust looks quite close to the transmission crossmember. Mount may be sagging a bit. Motor mounts may be getting tired, too.
Those battery terminals need replaced or redone. The ones there are temporay only, and clamp onto bare wire. Not good at all. I use those same terminals, but i did it right and terminated the cable ends using lugs that bolt to the clamp. I also used heatshrink to seal the lugs to the cable. Do not let them as the seller has them.
Mechanical fan is missing the shroud. Needs replaced. Driver side end link is bent or the bushing is worn. Or simply wasnt tightened. Something isnt right. Its possible the sway bar is shifted to one side, which can happen after replacing the sway bar bushings. Im guessing the passenger side endlink is also sitting funny. Maybe. Like said, something isnt right.
Nitpicking:
The upper radiator hose was dressed. Armor All? Shouldnt be shiny like that. Some used car dealers use that as a sale tactic to get more out of the vehicle.
They went overboard shining the tires.
Whatever they used on the door panels, i dont like it. Look at the black pad on the passenger side. Poorly done.
Overall, it looks well loved. Paint looks good, body looks straight. Engine bay is very clean. Nothing jumps out underneath aside from overspray and some wetness around the transfer case. Bad transmission pan gasket, or a leak between the case and transmission? Dont know. Interior is clean except for the ashtray which is still filthy for some reason. Why didnt they clean that? All that prep and they leave that dirty? Wierd.
Might be the angle, but the exhaust looks quite close to the transmission crossmember. Mount may be sagging a bit. Motor mounts may be getting tired, too.
Those battery terminals need replaced or redone. The ones there are temporay only, and clamp onto bare wire. Not good at all. I use those same terminals, but i did it right and terminated the cable ends using lugs that bolt to the clamp. I also used heatshrink to seal the lugs to the cable. Do not let them as the seller has them.
Mechanical fan is missing the shroud. Needs replaced. Driver side end link is bent or the bushing is worn. Or simply wasnt tightened. Something isnt right. Its possible the sway bar is shifted to one side, which can happen after replacing the sway bar bushings. Im guessing the passenger side endlink is also sitting funny. Maybe. Like said, something isnt right.
Nitpicking:
The upper radiator hose was dressed. Armor All? Shouldnt be shiny like that. Some used car dealers use that as a sale tactic to get more out of the vehicle.
They went overboard shining the tires.
Whatever they used on the door panels, i dont like it. Look at the black pad on the passenger side. Poorly done.
Overall, it looks well loved. Paint looks good, body looks straight. Engine bay is very clean. Nothing jumps out underneath aside from overspray and some wetness around the transfer case. Bad transmission pan gasket, or a leak between the case and transmission? Dont know. Interior is clean except for the ashtray which is still filthy for some reason. Why didnt they clean that? All that prep and they leave that dirty? Wierd.
Do you think you could take a photo or two of your battery terminals so I could see how you did it.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 578
Likes: 159
From: Indiana
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I am hoping to be in your position by spring at least.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 447
From: Michigan
Year: 1987 MJ, 1973 J2000, 1986 XJ, 08 JK
Model: Comanche (MJ)
Engine: 4.0L H.O
My wife and i recently bought a newer tahoe from a dealer and it came from Canada. In the carfax it was listed as registration changed and from Arizona - it turns out the title company that bought the vehicle is In Arizona so the vehicle technically never went there.
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