Your best advice on shopping for XJ?
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Newbie
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 2
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Model: Cherokee
Your best advice on shopping for XJ?
Howdy from East Texas!
I've recently lost my first vehicle, a WJ Grand Cherokee. I lived it, but always wished I'd bought an XJ. Now I'm shoppin Craigslist for an XJ, hoping to get good advice from some of y'all experienced and knowledgeable owners. I know these things will vary from year to year, so let's narrow it to the 97-01 Cherokees. What should I be paying attention to when I'm test driving an XJ? What are the common problems I should be aware of?
Any advice is greatly appreciappreciated!
~Ross
I've recently lost my first vehicle, a WJ Grand Cherokee. I lived it, but always wished I'd bought an XJ. Now I'm shoppin Craigslist for an XJ, hoping to get good advice from some of y'all experienced and knowledgeable owners. I know these things will vary from year to year, so let's narrow it to the 97-01 Cherokees. What should I be paying attention to when I'm test driving an XJ? What are the common problems I should be aware of?
Any advice is greatly appreciappreciated!
~Ross
Seasoned Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 263
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From: 4 Corners, USA
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I-6 Cyl. w/ 0630Head+MikeWilsonAdapter (preserves engine/brain function w/ stronger head) 62mmTB
Welcome.
No rust, solid body. Anything else is tightening bolts.
Watch out for cracked heads on 00-01's, overheating on any XJ. If you swap out a cracked head for an earlier one, use an adapter plate. Spares you some engine life and brain damage.
Suggest switching rear drums to discs, several guys on the forum sell JY kits, Crown sells a kit with shiny new 93-98 Jeep ZJ parts, G2 has another, and Tera Flex sells one for those w/ a Ford fetish if you want to hybridize. All good, I'm sure.
No rust, solid body. Anything else is tightening bolts.
Watch out for cracked heads on 00-01's, overheating on any XJ. If you swap out a cracked head for an earlier one, use an adapter plate. Spares you some engine life and brain damage.
Suggest switching rear drums to discs, several guys on the forum sell JY kits, Crown sells a kit with shiny new 93-98 Jeep ZJ parts, G2 has another, and Tera Flex sells one for those w/ a Ford fetish if you want to hybridize. All good, I'm sure.
Last edited by '00 XJ; Feb 17, 2017 at 03:04 PM.