What year XJ should i be looking at?
10-10-2013, 07:47 PM
#3
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Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
I prefer the Renix years (87-90) personally. 89 or 90 are the best since they do not have the C101 connector. I personally do not care for OBD1 or OBD 2. If you like the newer body style of the 97-01 XJs then 99 is considered the best year. There are pros and cons of any of the years, but it comes down to what you are looking for.
Being in NY, rust is the biggest problem you will likely have. My 90 XJ has less rust than most XJs around here since mine is originally from southern PA.
Being in NY, rust is the biggest problem you will likely have. My 90 XJ has less rust than most XJs around here since mine is originally from southern PA.
10-10-2013, 09:15 PM
#4
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
91-99s are all generally considered good years reliability wise.
Some really like RENIX (87-90) Jeeps some don't, they don't have modern OBD (onboard diagnostics) so "pulling a code" isn't an option, you'll have to diagnose problems manually (get a good multi-meter and learn how to use it if you don't already know).
84-86s have the Chevy 2.8L V6 which is vastly inferior to the AMC 4.0L I6 used in later models (though you aren't likely to find many 84-86s, especially living where they use road salt).
00-01s have the 0331 head issue (all 00-01 4.0L I6s are affected by this not just XJs) which is known to crack if overheated.
99 is often considered the "best" year since it is the newest not affected by the 0331 head issue, but 99s aren't significantly better than 98s or even 97s (though 97 is a "transition" year so it can be more difficult to find the right replacement parts).
97+s have the newer body style (grill, lights, etc.), a much nicer interior, and dual air bags (if that is important to you, 95-96 have a driver air bag only, pre-94s have no air-bags).
As rmoore1031 said being in NY make sure to check it for rust (especially underneath).
Some really like RENIX (87-90) Jeeps some don't, they don't have modern OBD (onboard diagnostics) so "pulling a code" isn't an option, you'll have to diagnose problems manually (get a good multi-meter and learn how to use it if you don't already know).
84-86s have the Chevy 2.8L V6 which is vastly inferior to the AMC 4.0L I6 used in later models (though you aren't likely to find many 84-86s, especially living where they use road salt).
00-01s have the 0331 head issue (all 00-01 4.0L I6s are affected by this not just XJs) which is known to crack if overheated.
99 is often considered the "best" year since it is the newest not affected by the 0331 head issue, but 99s aren't significantly better than 98s or even 97s (though 97 is a "transition" year so it can be more difficult to find the right replacement parts).
97+s have the newer body style (grill, lights, etc.), a much nicer interior, and dual air bags (if that is important to you, 95-96 have a driver air bag only, pre-94s have no air-bags).
As rmoore1031 said being in NY make sure to check it for rust (especially underneath).
10-11-2013, 06:01 AM
#5
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Model: Cherokee
I prefer the Renix years (87-90) personally. 89 or 90 are the best since they do not have the C101 connector. I personally do not care for OBD1 or OBD 2. If you like the newer body style of the 97-01 XJs then 99 is considered the best year. There are pros and cons of any of the years, but it comes down to what you are looking for.
Being in NY, rust is the biggest problem you will likely have. My 90 XJ has less rust than most XJs around here since mine is originally from southern PA.
Being in NY, rust is the biggest problem you will likely have. My 90 XJ has less rust than most XJs around here since mine is originally from southern PA.
10-11-2013, 06:07 AM
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Model: Cherokee
91-99s are all generally considered good years reliability wise.
Some really like RENIX (87-90) Jeeps some don't, they don't have modern OBD (onboard diagnostics) so "pulling a code" isn't an option, you'll have to diagnose problems manually (get a good multi-meter and learn how to use it if you don't already know).
84-86s have the Chevy 2.8L V6 which is vastly inferior to the AMC 4.0L I6 used in later models (though you aren't likely to find many 84-86s, especially living where they use road salt).
00-01s have the 0331 head issue (all 00-01 4.0L I6s are affected by this not just XJs) which is known to crack if overheated.
99 is often considered the "best" year since it is the newest not affected by the 0331 head issue, but 99s aren't significantly better than 98s or even 97s (though 97 is a "transition" year so it can be more difficult to find the right replacement parts).
97+s have the newer body style (grill, lights, etc.), a much nicer interior, and dual air bags (if that is important to you, 95-96 have a driver air bag only, pre-94s have no air-bags).
As rmoore1031 said being in NY make sure to check it for rust (especially underneath).
Some really like RENIX (87-90) Jeeps some don't, they don't have modern OBD (onboard diagnostics) so "pulling a code" isn't an option, you'll have to diagnose problems manually (get a good multi-meter and learn how to use it if you don't already know).
84-86s have the Chevy 2.8L V6 which is vastly inferior to the AMC 4.0L I6 used in later models (though you aren't likely to find many 84-86s, especially living where they use road salt).
00-01s have the 0331 head issue (all 00-01 4.0L I6s are affected by this not just XJs) which is known to crack if overheated.
99 is often considered the "best" year since it is the newest not affected by the 0331 head issue, but 99s aren't significantly better than 98s or even 97s (though 97 is a "transition" year so it can be more difficult to find the right replacement parts).
97+s have the newer body style (grill, lights, etc.), a much nicer interior, and dual air bags (if that is important to you, 95-96 have a driver air bag only, pre-94s have no air-bags).
As rmoore1031 said being in NY make sure to check it for rust (especially underneath).
10-11-2013, 06:44 AM
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Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
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10-11-2013, 10:24 AM
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Haha, i'll probably spend more on the Gas or a ticket to get down there, than i will on the Jeep itself. My friend got his Wrangler from Virginia, and it's rust free. It's an early 90's model too. I might go check out some out of state craislistings before i do anything. Depends what i can find here though.
10-11-2013, 10:36 AM
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Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
Here is the site for the little dealer I bought my XJ from. He buys them at auction in PA and sells them out of his lot in Verona. He lives like 2 miles from The Turning Stone Casino.
Currently he has a 97, 93, and 91 XJ.
http://pacars.us/list.html
Currently he has a 97, 93, and 91 XJ.
http://pacars.us/list.html
10-11-2013, 04:22 PM
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Model: Cherokee
Here is the site for the little dealer I bought my XJ from. He buys them at auction in PA and sells them out of his lot in Verona. He lives like 2 miles from The Turning Stone Casino.
Currently he has a 97, 93, and 91 XJ.
http://pacars.us/list.html
Currently he has a 97, 93, and 91 XJ.
http://pacars.us/list.html
I've heard some issues while out around about with that, but never seen it.
10-11-2013, 05:12 PM
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Year: 95
Model: Cherokee
Another thing to think aboit is interior room. I'm a smaller guy (5'6" 155lbs) but feel almost cramped in a 98+ but in my 95 I'm reallll comfy with tons of room
And richmond, va where I am usually has some good listings on cl but do not look in the hamptons roads area because that's all around brackish/salt water.
And richmond, va where I am usually has some good listings on cl but do not look in the hamptons roads area because that's all around brackish/salt water.
Last edited by fwak1234; 10-11-2013 at 05:14 PM.
10-11-2013, 05:46 PM
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
The issue is the head (0331 casting) not the block and it only affects very late 99s, it primarily affects 00-01s. The easiest way to tell if it is affected is to pop the hood and look for coil-packs. If it has a distributor and plug-wires it does not have the 0331 head, if it has no distributor and individual coil-packs (3, each pack is shared by 2 cyls) mounted on the head it has the 0331 head.
10-11-2013, 05:56 PM
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Model: Cherokee
Another thing to think aboit is interior room. I'm a smaller guy (5'6" 155lbs) but feel almost cramped in a 98+ but in my 95 I'm reallll comfy with tons of room
And richmond, va where I am usually has some good listings on cl but do not look in the hamptons roads area because that's all around brackish/salt water.
And richmond, va where I am usually has some good listings on cl but do not look in the hamptons roads area because that's all around brackish/salt water.
And, Richmond seems decent from what i just looked at. There's 1 completely Rust free xj i saw from Buffalo so far (in like 2 or 3 years) but he got T-boned by a Prius. (Those little ****s are sturdy.) So, that's Mothernature and her lovers - 1
Us 10-15 mpg Mudders - 0
The issue is the head (0331 casting) not the block and it only affects very late 99s, it primarily affects 00-01s. The easiest way to tell if it is affected is to pop the hood and look for coil-packs. If it has a distributor and plug-wires it does not have the 0331 head, if it has no distributor and individual coil-packs (3, each pack is shared by 2 cyls) mounted on the head it has the 0331 head.
10-11-2013, 08:06 PM
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Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Not all 0331 heads crack and most that do crack do so as a result of an overheat, but since you don't know if (or how many times) a used vehicle has been overheated it is a risk, so 00-01s (and the few late 99s that have the 0331 head) are best avoided unless you get a really good deal (a new head is about $500 plus another $400-500 if you get a shop to install it, if it is let go for long enough for coolant contamination of the oil to damage the bearings a reman engine is about $2000 and install will run another $1000 or so).