Title... my dad just handed me over a free 96 jeep cherokee.. where do i even begin? it has 220k.. taking it into a shop to have it looked at. My knowledge on cars is almost non existent.

 

I was in the same situation, except it was a '92, and I didn't take mine to the shop because it was too expensive. My knowledge of cars grew immensely after I started working on my XJ. Although you may not know much right now, with the help of youtube, google, and this forum, you should be able to fix everything yourself. If you don't want to... Well, that's what shops are for. First off, if you take it for a drive (assuming it starts), is there anything you notice that seems broken or out of the ordinary?

 

I want to know if it has been sitting, and if so for how long, or is it running and drive-able.
Not doing your own repairs will get expensive over time.
There will be some things that you can't do and this is where you will spend the money you saved doing the simpler things yourself.
Plenty of info on almost any repair will come up with a Google search.
First thing to do IMO is do a visual check. Floors, uni-body, poke around the engine bay and see if anything that doesn't look right jumps out at you, etc.
So if sitting for some time probably best to drain the gas tank. Replace the fuel filter too.
Pull the plugs give them a quick look.
Check the other fluid levels.
Change the oil and try to fire it up.
Maybe a quick spin around the block if it does and go from there.

 

congratulations big man,