ok well I'm new here and rambled in my intro and was ignored

So anyways I test drove and looked over and under a 96 XJ of course 4x4 4.0 HO automatic transmission.

the good

NO NO NO NO NO rust
runs good idles good
rides nice (compared to my s10.. we'll get to that)
shifts smooth and has plenty of pep.
gauges all work. at running temps oil has about 40psi
it doesn't appear to have been wheeled and is stock.

the bad
218k miles
oil leak (it's bad but not like constantly dripping out the transfer case it covered but it appears to be coming off the back of the engine and running back towards it

ignition switch is messed up.. iffy on starting.. but new one is easy replacement and they will be replacing it for me.. any other questions ask me i went through it quite a bit.

the trade 2000 blazer 4x4 auto

150k miles
front suspension wore out
steering is really loose
tires rough
a/c also doesn't work
rides very shakey and scary wheel bearing also going out
rear drivers brake just seized up and destroyed the caliper, and rotor.


it IS a buy here pay here place ( I don't have enough built up credit to get a good loan) but it is 0% finance. the price on the jeep is 2700 which is good in my area looking online. usually this kind of farm land they get massively abused.

I owe 1000 on my blazer and with the issues It has I think I'll be lucky to pay it off and walk away owing 1500-2000 on the jeep but that's just my opinion.. now what do you guys say? I've never had a jeep and I instantly love it.

 

It's a good looking jeep, get an actual estimate of your s10 for a trade in, after that start picking out problems with the jeep, if they're trying to move it they will work with you

 

i actually owe THEM the $1000 on the blazer. he was offering me 2500 as trade in a month ago on a tahoe but I decided I didn't like it. I have been after a jeep for a long time and have been bugging him for a year and he just got this in last week so he held it for me. it'd be gone quick otherwise at 800 down 200 a month.

with the new issues with my blazer trade in would be lucky to get 1500 at other lots. he'd still give me $2000 I figure I SHOULD be able to walk away from the deal owing $1500 on the jeep and paying 200 a month for it

to be honest the only thing that bothers me is the oil leak.. I'm thinking rear main which will run me what 3-400 to have someone replace? I don't have a clean area or i would do it myself. (no garage and live out near some farms so dirt blows around A LOT)

 

You can replace the rear main in a couple hours easily. Blowing dirt or not. You're sure it's oil? I bet it's the valve cover gasket leaking...

Sounds like you've already made the mistake of getting in with a Buy here pay here joint so you might as well make the trade.

Like you said, the Blazer is junk. Might as well trade for something decent and keep making the same payments.

Don't be scared of the mileage.

 

It may not even be the rear main leaking, it could be (most likely) the oil filter adaptor Oring leaking. Almost all of the simple to fix oil leaks look like it's the rear main leaking on the 4.0. I would ditch the Blazer in a heart beat, it will never make it to 218k miles.

 

Well actually this buy here pay here place is one place I do trust. I knew of some issues the blazer had before I got it and I also abused it over the winter pretty badly to be honest im shocked its still holding up

I dont plan to abuse the jeep and I was looking into it and the valve cover is indeed wet on the bottom near the passenger side. Im going to make the swap regardless but hoping I wont owe a penny more than 1500

Ill be doing fluid changed next pay day. Also trans filter.. yay or nay? I hear a lot about if its high miles and still working not to risk something being flushed loose and tearing it up (that sounds stupid to me but I wouldn't know)

Oh trans fluid is decent red and doesnt smell burnt.

I'm not even too sure on the oil but it was covering the transfer the most like it all ran down onto it. but the engine itself had a lot on it.

 

Drain and fill the tranny if you want, but if it looks and smells ok, I would let it go for a while.

 

The Iffy starting may just be the NSS, not too hard to fix, and cost's nothing.

 

I've had several s10's and blazers before. The XJ i have now is my second one. Given the opportunity to trade a blazer in on a cherokee will be wise. My '01 is getting ready to roll 300,000 miles.

 

I do love my blazer but I know it wont hold up like the jeep. We played around with the shifter for awhile with no luck we finally just jumped the starter to start it. either way ignition is less then $40 and 30 min fix. I'll have him do it or use it to get me a little more room on the blazer trade b/c of the brakes.

Either way it shall be mine but the ignition HAS to be fixed asap. I hope one of the local auto parts stores has an ignition in stock I live in a rural area and need it to get to work tomorrow night.. (can bum a ride for a few days so it's ok )

 

Shouldn't be hard to find, it's the same switch used for almost all Chrysler products built in 96.

 

got the jeep this morning. He bought me the switch and I'm putting it in although it's not giving ME personally any issues yet.

I did notice in the nearly 95 degree weather that the temp on it was making me very uncomfortable.. and at highway speeds at that..

20130611_120550_zps8a19c7b7.jpg?t=1370889207

I'm not sure but I don't think the secondary electric fan was on (after researching a bit)

I figure I'd throw a tstat in it since they are cheap and then replace the ignition switch tomorrow when I get off work


have faulty ignitions been known to cause any issues with the fan??

 

if its doing that at highway speed you have a different issue than the secondary fan

 

Verify the fan is kicking on and that the gauge is accurate.

If it is, it could just be a fan clutch.

 

I realized the obvious about the fan issue after posting. yeah highway speed here is around 55-60

I read to check the mechanical fan while running and have someone shut it off and it should almost instantly stop correct?

I'll check that and do a tstat I still see too much 180 vs 195 talk so I'll look into it more.

now I'm getting nervous.. it runs good minus an exhaust leak so I'll keep it parked until I have more time to mess with it.


also.. can someone explain to me the numbering on the temp gauge.. I know this seems stupid but I'm just not grasping the 100 and 50 differences.. so what would the mark to mark difference be and what would I be running it at currently?