There should be a pinned thread called "What is Wrong with Your XJ Today."

1. Air only pushes out of the defrost vent (vs dash vents and heater/lower vents) ...
2. Voltmeter doesn't work right.
3. Steering is crooked.
4. Vibrates at 35 mph (3 High end 4x4 shops can't figure it out, new tires, wheel, transmission, xfer case, drive shafts galore, changed rear pinion angle a degree at a time to no avail. Happened the second I installed an SYE.)
5. Two-year-old 10 Factory rear disk brake conversion kit is s*$#t. The e-brake is virtually worthless.
6. Lights flicker on the dash.
7. Passenger side window will not close right.
8. Seat frame needs welded.
9. Exhaust rattles and needs replaced just three years after the last replacement.
10. Dash rattles.
11. Air conditioner leaks in cab (replaced the condenser and the heater core [10 hours of my life that I will never get back])
12. Driver's side floor rusting.
13. Virtually brand-new clutch master cylinder (second one now) is leaking fluid into the cab, more strategically on to the fuse box.
14. Windshield wipers are crap, do not work well, three motors, and two new frames later.
15. Speedo bounces around like a rubber ball. Occasionally the thing is totally out.
16. Had to put insulation on top of the muffler because heat damaged the inside of the floor.
17. Head gasket leaks.

This is my reward for $15,000 and hundreds of hours. The underside of the XJ is a work of art. All American made, top of the line stuff JCR offroad, Core 4x4, blah, blah, blah. Dana 489 up front, Dana 44 in the rear, TrueTracs, 4.10. It will do well down a trail!

But overall, no way on Earth would I do it again.

It has ruined several hunting trips and other recreational activities.

Buyer beware.

 

I feel for you. Just Empty Every Pocket!
I only have 2 problems today. ABS doesn't work, but traced to bad relay which should arrive tomorrow, and the second is a smashed windshield this morning thanks to a 2 inch rock thrown from a passing truck. To be fair I really don't have any big issues.

 

My XJ is too new to me to list everything that is wrong with it. The list would be sooo looong....

 

Here's my list, will all be fixed in the next couple of months...

1. Blew out ball joint on drag link while driving aggressive in the mountains last weekend lol
2. Leaf springs died a long time ago
3. Drive shafts worn, making noise when accelerating / coming to stop, will replace with SYE kit and upgraded driveshafts
4. Engine knocking badly, rough idle, oil light on when coming to a stop, have new motor about ready to go in : ) Just pushing this worn motor to the limit!
5. Keep losing sound in driver front left speaker, fixed many times
6. Minor rust in passenger front floor and passenger rear quarter
7. Rattle in rear, sounds like it's inside the Jeep, will fix
8. When releasing the brakes I get a strange turtle sound from the rear drums, probably needs lube and slight adjustment as they're pretty new
9. Driver rear window wont roll down
10. Driver front door needs to be fixed by body shop, door is slightly bent causing window to roll up funny. This happened from side swiping an 18 wheeler on highway, luckily that's all the damage it did.
11. Heater core clogged, poor heat in winter
12. Needs new control arms adjusted and alignment after drag link replacement

That's pretty much most of my issues right now, a decently sized list, but all getting fixed soon. I've already replaced so much on this thing and after these repairs it will ride like new! I really don't care fixing this Jeep as it's been so reliable and I don't want a car payment, so it's worth the investment. Plus it's fun to take on road trips!

 

My 99 has been overall pretty reliable for me.... have needed to replace parts here and there that just wear out over time. But the main thing that has eluded me on my XJ is a goofy steering issue.
Even with all new links, etc. and alignment...it drifts to the right even on roads without crowns for the most part. I mean where you have to constantly correct it. I know a little drift to the right is normal for safety reasons. But mine is beyond that.
.....and to this day have never found out the root cause.

 

I've only had my '87 for four months so still a work in progress.
1. Headliner needs replacement
2. Minor water leak through front passenger door seal
3. Driver's side mirror flops around in casing and needs replacement
4. Minor leak from DS front axle.
5. Temp sensor to gauge not working. Not sure about the one to the ECU.
6. Washer fluid reservoir needs replacement. Temp fix rigged up for now.

I'm sure more will turn up.

 

I consider my jeeps to be my favorite hobby - to summarize the hobby would be to say Consistently going broke "upgrading" the vehicle also keeping in mind - a jeep project is never really done is it?

I won't list all the to-do's just because its always evolving


1987 Comanche Tons-stickies and exo cage

1998 XJ Rubicon 44 axles, simple family wheeler


1973 J2000, LS swap and tons, custom suspension work in progress


1987 Jeep comanche, LS swap and tons

 

My locks are acting up again.
Pretty sure it is the passenger side control again.
Put in a used one about 5 years ago and haven't a problem till now.
Thinking instead of swapping it out might try resoldering the one in there like guys do to the driver's side to fix the window lock issue.

 

Seems like the more time I spend looking at mine and working on it, the more I find wrong with it. The latest: Both transmission lines are dented. I would say they are at least 50% restricted. So I will be ordering new lines as soon as the budget "reloads", lol.

Of course then that leads to "do I add and aux cooler while I'm at it?"

 

Just a handful of persistent problems at this point that I haven't had time to deal with:

* AC evaporators leaks.
* Water leaks into passenger side when it rains.
* Door speakers don't work.
* Door check on driver's door doesn't work.

 

1) all gauges will suddenly die at random moments while driving
2) passenger side door sticks while opening "really hard to open sometimes"
3) passenger side window will work sometimes from drivers side switch but never from passenger switch


Any and all help figuring this stuff out is appreciated this is my first car and i plan to keep it for a long time

 

My rear end is so stiff and bouncy, dont buy zone offroad 3" leaf pack, been on for 6 months, still gives about 4-5 inches of lift, brand new no lift shackle relocation brackets, didnt fix it, maybe my stock shocks tho
Driveline vibes at 25 and up have a SYE but didnt install it because I rounded of the front driveshaft bolts

Death wobble death wobble and death wobble, upper control bushings are ****ed, tre's look like they've seen better days, 10 years ago maybe? Probably need new ball joints and wheel bearing too.

Transmission mount is done, my wires to my light pods are broken, my tires are bald.

Love this jeep and I know I can fix everything, my problem is since I lifted the rear too much with shtty springs, i threw some spcaers up front to level it out. So if going to spend the money on full adjustable short arm I feel I might as well spend a couple hundred more and 3 link. Same with steering, if im working to fix all the ends I might as well put my time and money into something that will last
Also im in college right now so Im not even home to fix it

 

If you’re just asking what’s wrong TODAY, this is it. However I noticed the water pump leaking while I was under there.

 

#1 sounds like a grounding issue, good luck
#2 hinge weld breaking?
#3 inspect the wiring harness between the body and doors?

 

Gas guage only reads to 3/4 when full, very eratic
jeep dies when the rear hatch is open.