Tomorrow im buying my fiirst xj...it has 317000 miles on the body.yes you read that right 2 inch spacers in front and add a leafs in back runs well.nothing leaks and body is solid .I took it on a 45 minute test drive today but I have 2 concerns 1..the auto tranny wont shift out of first until it warms up. Once you wind it out its fine....2..steering wheel has about 2 inches of play ...would this be ball joints, tie rod ends or something else.seems to take some effort to keep it straight at speed.any help would be appreciated

 

I work on big rigs but the suspesion aint much different. Look at the underside at the steering components and have some one lightly bump the wheel left and right. Watch the pitman arm, tierod ends, the steering shaft and the steering gear box, as for the trans im not sure what to think.

 

Thanx

 

what year and whats the asking price? she may need a tranny....and possibly a boatload of front end work.

 

trans could be the shift solenoids, cheap and quite easy to replace.

front end is probably either tie rod ends or wheel bearings, possible steering box. have that checked quickly by any wheel alignment place free of charge.

 

This. Steering wheel play could be a worn out track bar as well. Did you check the tranny fluid? If so, what color was it and did it smell burnt?

 

Tranny fluid is fine. Shifts fine after driving a min or so just doesnt wanna shift outta first from a cold start...this thing is qwerky....oil pressure reads forty but after about 10 milesit drops to zero at idle...no tapping from engine though soon as you hit the gas it comes right back up and no blow by in valve cover...its wierd.if its parked facing uphill in a heavy rain water comes in under glovebox (my 95 yj did the same thing).ill be picking up a haynes manual later I just figured id ask on here as vehicles with such a long manufacturing run typically have common issues so I thank you guys for all the input....

 

I just finished with a boat load of work on my 96 and I had the same steering play issues. What mine needed was new wheel bearing assemblies, tightening of the frame side track bar mount bolts/nuts, and the bolts for my steering gearbox were loose. I replaced the GB bolts with some grade 9's from fastenal. I'm not saying these are your problems but it'd be a good place to start.

 

Also... When I replaced the gearbox bolts I blew out the threads in the gearbox housing and had to run the bots all the way through and put nuts on the backside. It might be stronger that way but if you do replace the bolts either do that from the jump or be care when you torque them down. It might save you four trips to the hardware store.

 

Could be a few things on the tranny. But it sounds like a valve is sticking.

I would do at transmission oil change. NOT a flush.

You want to do a three phase oil change. But its a pain without a drain plug.