Bought a rust free 1988 XJ - What is RENIX

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Old 12-19-2012, 09:37 PM
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Default Bought a rust free 1988 XJ - What is RENIX

Hi All;

I have had several jeeps over the years, the last one was a 1999 XJ and before that a 1994 YJ. I found this 1988 Pioneer with only 158,000 miles on it with a 5 speed and not a spec of rust. Living up here in WI, I couldn't pass it up. Really nice shape for 2600. All that being said, what is this RENIX engine that I am hearing all about? I purposely was looking for anything 'post carburetor' and just assumed that all 4.0L were created equal....that doesn't seem to be the case now.

So far I am chasing an oil leak, starting with the valve cover gaskets, distributor gasket and the oil filter mounting boss. Those were the culprits in my previous 4.0L's. The last resort will be changing the rear main.

Just ordered a new coolant bottle from Morris 4x4, and looking for the NAPA cap to go along with it.

Going to refresh the grounds using some of the notes I have found on this site along with that funky main connector under the hood. I needed a project, I guess that is what I have.

Thanks for any information on this RENIX thing.
Old 12-19-2012, 10:40 PM
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RENIX is the fuel injection system. In AMC's waning years they partnered with Renault and the fuel injection system is a RENault bendIX collaboration hence the name RENIX. It was used from 1987 to 1990 on the Cherokees with some extreme late 86's getting it along with a rumored few 91's. These Jeeps also have a slightly different cylinder head than the 91+ models.
Old 12-20-2012, 01:55 AM
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Originally Posted by cs641
RENIX is the fuel injection system. In AMC's waning years they partnered with Renault and the fuel injection system is a RENault bendIX collaboration hence the name RENIX. It was used from 1987 to 1990 on the Cherokees with some extreme late 86's getting it along with a rumored few 91's. These Jeeps also have a slightly different cylinder head than the 91+ models.
correct that is what Renix is....

Welcome to the site and the World of Renix... It is a great system... I love my Renix Jeeps and will not own anything else... any pictures of your Rust free Renix... very good find to have with the 5spd...
As for working on them with a little time here are some Renix tips to get it fresh again.. they are the same like every other 4.0 and reliable
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/cr...x-tips-153657/

If you need any help with Renix just make a post in the OEM Cherokee Tech section and any number of our Renix Experts will be happy to help you... once again welcome to the site and Renix enjoy your stay
Old 12-20-2012, 02:51 AM
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A lot of the Renix years had a notoriously crappy Peugeot 5 speed transmission. otherwise they are pretty solid
Old 12-20-2012, 06:37 AM
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Here is a link to some pictures, can't get the insert picture function to work here. The interior is gray and the exterior was Baltic Blue ( I have the original window sticker ).

https://picasaweb.google.com/1168405...eat=directlink
Old 12-20-2012, 09:06 AM
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nice amc Jeep... are those factory amc mud guards or jeep ones?
Old 12-20-2012, 11:37 AM
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That's a great looking XJ
Old 12-20-2012, 11:42 AM
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Great lookin Jeep. I love my 89 too, but refuse to call it a Renix. To me it's a Jeep, Cherokee, or XJ. I'll even accept my wife occasionally calling it "your truck". hahaha.
Old 12-21-2012, 10:02 AM
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Dunno why but the RENIX Jeeps get a bad rap. The only real issue I ever had with mine was the plug on the throttle body that supplied vacuum to the MAP sensor cracked, easy 5 minute fix.

My '90 had the AX-15 and was pretty reliable, never left me stranded and always got me from point A to point B, and every rock garden/mud pit in between. For whatever reason the RENIX era Jeeps used an internal slave cylinder on the manual transmissions so in order to swap that out the whole tranny has to come out.

Now that I think about it there is one thing you need to worry about regardless of what transmission you've got. If the clutch master cylinder ever goes out it will leak directly on the fuse block...Replace it ASAP if it leaks!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...0/100_4557.jpg

This issue was corrected sometime in the early 90's.
Old 12-23-2012, 10:17 PM
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Welcome to CF.
Old 12-25-2012, 09:51 AM
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