Hello, new member, buying a 96 cherokee sport this friday, its got roughly 184k on the motor, what should i be looking for/watch out for, thanks a lot

 

check dipstick for staining, reallllllly black on end.....oil hardly ever changed. check balljoints/tie rod ends up front. see if driveshafts have u jiont play in the. look under jeep for scratches/corn stalks stuck in the springs lol. this will tell you how the jeep was treated. is it lifted? who did the work? tire condition? these engines will run forever if you keep the oil changed, 148 k is nothin! (at least for the engine, if it was taken care of)

 

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f8/hey...w-here-113648/

a couple of use were just discussing this... read through. its only a page.

 

I thank you both for the help, and the link is awesome but it doesn't really state much on 96s. Is there much difference between those and the 98-99s?

 

96 is the last year of the early interior, but with some updates over the 95. Check the arches for rust, then the floorpans for rust and then check everywhere else for rust.
Once you've done that, check the whole vehicle for rust again.

Also, make sure the fuel gauge is working.

Apart from that, there was a recall on the 96 for a rattling catalyst - certainly in the UK dunno about the USA. If you hear a god awful rattle from the middle of the exhaust at idle then the PO didn't bother with the recall and you can moan at him about it needing a new cat when it comes to haggling time.

 

if theres no rust and everything seems ok then get it... that link just states what to look for. in any year and especially in certain ones.