The Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ Is a VERY Cheap Used 4x4, But Is It Crap? Here’s What To Look Out For!
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2024
- ( tflcar.com/ ) The second-generation grand cherokee (WJ) can be purchased for just a few thousand dollars. But what should you look for when buying a Jeep Grand Cherokee? Is the Jeep Grand Cherokee a hood used car?
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#Jeep #GrandCherokee - Авто та транспорт
Third-row seats are the bathtubs of automobiles; everyone likes the idea but only use them 2-3 times a year.
Families that truly need a third row and use them daily, get full size SUV’s like a Suburban. The mid size SUV’s with third rows are for occasional car pooling but not the best option for families with more than 2 kids.
3 times? Why so often?
On a midsize yeah. But I use them often in my sequoia. But I have 4 kids.
Bought a 6 cyl Laredo 14 years ago, 270 k miles and still running strong
Try that with a bowtie product....GM makes vehicles for people that trade in every 3 yrs.
I have a 1999 Chevy express with the 5.4 vortec with almost 350k on the clock I’m not a Chevy fanboy by far but you can’t just make assumptions
@@cotydale my chevy astro 4.3 vortec, awesome engine, so strong 220,000 miles, going strong, no repair at all beyond 1 alternator
Have you replaced the transmission?
@@davidtracy152 no issues with that, however, my dakota slt 2007 had a lot problems with it
I bought a 99 with 168k miles for $500. Previous owner did literally no maintenance on it, but with a little bit of work it has become my daily driver. Very good Jeep especially those 4.0L.
Same here, same year and same price, 4.0 six and 141k. Checked it over quickly and jumped in it and drove from Prescott AZ to Apache Junction AZ at average speeds of 70 - 75 mph with no problems. Cruise and AC work great and no heating problems, but the front end feels a little loose and could use some work. Apparently the previous owner was big on "deferred maintenance". It does have an intermittent electrical problem with the windows, but I can deal with that and all other electrical work fine.
Looking forward to get into it and fixing all the little bugs and having some fun with it.
I got my 4.7 for $800 😁 did a little tuning up and it's been my daily driver for the last 4 years or so.
I spent 900 for mine, 180k miles, 4.0, 4x4 selec trac, but it had death wobble. I replaced the control arms and steering components for 700 and I had an amazing car for 1600 bucks
Is that what causes the wobble?
@@hernanmurillo8925 what causes death wobble is just play in anything touching your axels/steering. What I would do is have someone wiggle your steering wheel while you look under the front end of the car and just look for play in anything
@@hernanmurillo8925 On WJ's it is often the track bar. Easy fix.
@@W7DSY Same with the XJ
@@W7DSYAbsolutely. Death wobble is usually lateral movement . Controlled by track bars. When they go, everything else gets stressed also however. Making it difficult to diagnose by most new mechanics.
LOVE my 2000 WJ Limited. Been the most reliable vehicle I’ve owned.
What engine did you have?
930 : did the heater core leak ? 🤔
Do you have any idea how rare that spec is? Selec trac and V8. These required a unique transfer case, the 242HD and it’s basically the holy grail base for a WJ build. These will always hold a special place in my heart.
That select trac is inferior to Quadra drive as far as I'm concerned. I understand that it's also about preference.....to an extent. You'll get stuck first with select trac. I've got an 04 Overland and I can run with the best of them.
@@m.akbart3840 in theory possibly, the QD diffs fail often and are a known problem. Selec trac(specifically the 242 transfer cases) offer more control front to rear. That’s why it’s such a common swap. A best case scenario for factory options is the 242hd paired with the varilok diffs from quarradrive, but then you’d still be dealing with the horrible reliability of the Variloks
i Can't complain i got best of both worlds lol.. my Black Venom (nice nickname right lol) is a 04 v8 H.O that was factory Quadra drive.. i swaped a 242HD that i gotta killer dealer on for $50 last spring after doing a fresh rebuild on it 120k miles on the engine & trans
These videos are making me miss my v8 with the 242HD. I had the unicorn captured and then I went and sold it :(
@@chadcarterii9068 I wish I never sold my WJ as well
Between my wife and I, we have owned 4. And now that we have a teenage driver, her first car is a 2002 with the 6 cylinder!!
That's funny because we've had 6 ourselves and 5 in the family now. I found my teen son a 98 5.9 Limited in mint condition as first vehicle. 5 years on and it's still his baby.
Yea that’s crazy I just got my first car and its a 2002 special edition. It’s the v8
@@earthtoboom-5888 Congrats! The 4.7 is a great engine and they're really fun in the snow with the 4x4 system in the Jeep. Enjoy the new ride and drive safe!
@@arischreiber2213 thanks. I just wish it snowed in bama ( I live there)
My dad got one of these for my sister for her first ride. He paid about 4,700 for it I believe and it was kind of a steal. Full leather interior, 4.7 V8, the select track, and only 64,000 miles. We live in the salt belt but that thing is stupid clean, it's a trope to say it but it literally sat in a little old lady's garage for most of it's life.
Damn. Lucky girl. And good to hear that the car’s finally being used. I live in Norway and my dad managed to get a 04 cherokee with the v8 4,7. no rust. Pretty rare to see here in Norway. I’ve been borrowing it a lot the past month and I love the faces of people when I give full gas 😂 they don’t expect it to pull that good, and I can’t get enough of the sound 😍 it screams
@@fridagylterud9491 $400 too much for a blown head gasket in the sticks of bc canada
I have a 2004 wj overland addition with the 4.7L HIGH OUTPUT v8 and it’s one of the most capable and reliable cars I’ve owned and I’ve owned a 2004 Toyota rav 4, Nissan’s and a couple Cheries. Definitely a great investment and the price for them is only going to go up as people are starting to realize how of road capable they are and how easy to build they are. Oh and I forgot to mention I got it for $1,600 with some rust on the fenders but that’s totally fine since I was going to cut the fender wells anyway since I run 35’s
I have a 94 ZJ, with over 300,000 miles. The 318 is easy to find parts for. And, aside from burning a little oil, when she's cold, she runs like a new rig. Of all the vehicles I have owned, this one is by far my favorite.
I have a ‘98 5.2 with 240k. Strong. Love that rig!
The 318 was legendary. Definitely my choice of engine. The ones with the 360 are barn burners.
5.2 > 4.7
@@21Piloteer zj
Glad to hear that you have 300K+ as I recently purchased a 94 ZJ with the 318! 230K. Has a noise in the front axle that has it in dry dock, but the seller was upfront about it. Greatly looking forward to getting it on the trails.
Tommy, you didn't mention that the problem with the 4.7 is that they also have a lot of issues with ring lands shattering and valve seats falling out of the head. This also doesn't take into account that tensioners were changed in 01 to a more durable unit. AND PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AVOID THE 99-00 BECAUSE THEIR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE ABSOLUTE GARBAGE. The 99-00 and some 01's had a first generation caliper design that warped rotors regularly. It was actually part of a TSB for Jeep and Jeep redesigned the calipers in the late 01's to a more substantial quality one. Also, the 4.7 came in a HO version which was a night and day difference. Going from 235HP to 290HP changes the personality of the truck dramatically. I had an 01 with Quadradrive and the 4.7 and changed the cams and a tune and it woke it up just enough to be more enjoyable. Oh...and before I post. Also make sure to mention that the transmission is actually VERY sturdy, BUT they did go from it being just a 4 speed to a 5 speed in late 01 and if you have a 99-01 you can still take it to Jeep and have them reprogram the TCM to give it a 5th gear which can improve fuel economy quite a bit.
All of this. Personally I don’t need the V8 power, but you should avoid the 4.0 from 2000-2001 as they had an issue with the head cracking, unless it’s received the revised TUPY head. That TUPY stamp should be visible in the oil fill cap.
The 4.7 HO is a great engine! So smooth great power ! And overall easy to work on
Love these guys for putting effort into their production but they’re not usually a good source of technical data, just opinions. Roman is the worst. Tommy seems more interested from an enthusiast and mechanical standpoint so I prefer his videos and the other young guy they’ve got with the Cummins
@@peelow983 this guy knows nothing about this car. He read some notes off Wikipedia and did this review
This is the type of thing you'd have to dive extensively into forums to find out...would be nice for Tommy to do that and then condense it into an 11 minute info-packed video but not sure about the time required vs ad money they get back. Maybe it would be fine...
Bumpers and trim were not black. They were always grey.
Exactly only black on later years for specific colors
Only on the Laredo and Freedom. The Columbia Edition had silverish bumpers, and all other WJ's had color-keyed bumpers. The Freedom Edition's bumpers were a slightly darker gray than on the Laredo.
@@jeepguy95 the point was none were black (except body colored black) and they aren’t really faded.
@@colinvargo3418 Gray still fades over time though... it's still the same bumper covers and plastic cladding underneath.
@@jeepguy95 not much if at all. The color is technically driftwood, and having compared NOS to my nearly 20 year old bumpers, there’s hardly a difference.
Thank you for a detailed and comprehensive review on this vehicle. You hit all of the important points. After owning one for two years now I absolutely love it and have no plans of selling it.
Watching this episode I'm struck by the extreme difference of living in the UK verses the US. You paid 2,500 dollars for a 2001 model Laredo with 225,000 miles. It has a big V8 with horrible millage figures.
Just over 2 years ago I bought a 2002 limited with a 135,000 miles on the clock in very clean condition for £1,200 pounds. I had to replace all the suspension control arms as the bushings were knackered & that cost me plus my efforts £300. Other than that it's been, knock on wood, flawless. It has a 5 cylinder 2.7 litre turbo diesel made by mercedes. Loads of power & torque & I get 24 mpg urban & 40+ motorway.
I grew up in Santa Fe NM so I sorta get the attraction to big V8's, but have been this side of the pond for the past 25 years. I miss the rocky mountains, but I'm sure that living over here in the UK is why I have ironically, the best SUV Jeep has ever made. The 2.7 litre straight 5 turbo diesel is brilliant & even sounds the part. I'm 59 & since I started driving legally at 17 I've owned near on 40 vehicles & this grand Cherokee is by far my favourite to date. Shame Jeep never sold this configuration in the US.
You are lucky you are in England where cars can't be exported, a car like yours would be 10k here in Spain
we don't get diesels in the US. Don't get decent engine offerings. The I6 and the V8s get the same crappy mileage.
@@gizzyguzzi You can get 28 to 30 mile per gallon on the highway if you’re very careful.
That’s not bad with the US gasoline prices still being better than in the UK!
@@zachsheffee8458 yeah, the I6 at 55mph should be offering 25ish mpgs minimum. My Ford 4.2 V6 of that era gets 22 at that speed and it's way heavier and larger
You are the exception getting a low-ish mile V8 for £1200. Even pre covid pricing they’re all at least 2k and up to 4k for that mileage. Just because you got one cheap doesn’t mean they’re sitting on every street corner for £1200 ono
I have an 04 with 4.7 HO select track. Open diffs so I put a Spartan locker in back. Rough Country 4” long arm lift and a set of JK take offs with 33” KO2s. It works extremely well as an off roader. Put a dual exhaust with Thrush glass packs. Sounds very good and the power is great! Really awesome unit!
Love my 2001 wj 4.0 with selec trac very reliable and capable 103,000 miles.Maintain them and they will last.
I had an '02 WJ. Had the beefy 545RFE transmission, 4.7 Powertech and Quadratrac. For what I paid, it was a great Jeep. Very comfortable, pretty quiet, drove and handled better than any Jeep should, and got decent MPG (about 15.5 average) for having full time 4x4 with a V8. No complaints, really. If you're looking for something to utterly neglect, look elsewhere or pay up on AAA. If you actually plan on maintaining it and can swing a wrench, they're hard to beat.
4:00 Clarification: That's a D44a, as in aluminum. It is NOT the same as a traditional D44. Center pumpkin is cast aluminum with steel shafts, and the ring gear is also slightly larger than a traditional cast iron D44. Locker options and limited slips are very limited for the D44a which is also something to take into conideration. Also the suspension uses a triangulated rear upper A-arm that mounts to 2 points on the body and bolts directly to the pumpkin housing. It uses a ball joint on top, and is very prone to failure leaving the rear end to wander around driving down the road.
My 04 WJ Overland Edition was one of my favorite jeeps.
I have an '03 Overland. A luxurious beast!
I love my 02 limited WJ with the 4.7 Ho
WJ, the last great Grand Cherokee. Long enough to sleep comfortably in the back, rugged strait front axle, and hell, they ride so much smoother then a 4 door wrangler!
Agree, WJ is the greatest Grand Cherokees 👍
Tommy ♥️🙂. I love episodes like this on TFLclassics and passion for vehicles of yesteryear.
Jus got my second 2001 wj 190k miles. Minimal rust. Flawless interior. Had a few gremlins that made it so cheap but it came with a 2” budget lift and i tossed some wrangler oem wheels and 31 1/2” tires. Looks great and drives so well. $1500 and its driven an hour round trip every day. I love it. Reminds me of being a teenager with my very first vehicle. Another 2001 gc that made me fall in love with jeeps. Now i have a 99 cherokee rock crawler, 78 wagoneer cruiser and my 01 wj work beater.
I have an '02 Overland 4.7 HO & Quadradrive with 160k and I love it. I've kept it super clean in the past 10 years I've had it. Definitely my fav vehicle I've ever had.
Uk owner here. On my 2nd WJ both the export 2.7crd versions. They have a few well documented issues but the solutions are known to fix. Great value for money
My 98 just crossed 328,000 miles and my 2000 just crossed 265,000 both with 4.0's! The 98 just pulled my crown vic on a trailer all together weighing right around 7200 pounds so the towing capabilities are there! And the automatics are not bad transmissions people just never service them!
I have an '02 WJ Laredo with the 4.0L I6... pretty basic, but you can't beat the reliability. When I got it, it needed one wheel lug (it was stripped out), as well as a few evap issues fixed (it had the P0442, P0455, and P0456 codes). Also, when I took it to have it inspected, it needed a new brake line, which I didn't know about initially. That was the most expensive fix I've had to do with mine. The WJ's are the last "True" Grand Cherokees... the last ones to use the 4.0L I6 (yes, I know the Wrangler TJ was the VERY last Jeep to use that engine), the last ones to use 4-wheel Quadra Coil suspension, the last ones to offer fully-manual 4WD (Selec-Trac), and just the last "Classic" design of Grand Cherokee.
I’ve been driving a 03 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with a V8 4.7L engine and only has about 103,000 miles on it. It has been such an amazing vehicle. Very very smooth on bumps and really well on off roads. The only issues I had to replace/fix was the driver & passenger window regulator (which moves the windows up and down), Power Steering Fluid leak, Blend Doors (Allows to change between heat and cold air for the cabin), and the rear differential. But overall, it’s been a great Jeep. Wouldn’t trade for another Jeep.
Can't wait for the rest ov the videos on these, love my 2000 4.7l 205000 miles.
I have the 4.0 inline 6 in my 98 Cherokee!! I love it
My Family has had 3 jeep grand Cherokee wj great cars the 4.7 V8 H.O is extremely reliable we have one for 5 years and never broke down we also the only thing that has broke in that time was the water pump and radiator. Nothing else just been serviced often . Extremely solid.
Those were really comfy off-roaders stock. My grandma bought a WJ 4.0 because she wanted to see more stuff you couldn't in her cadillacs. Was a great little thing to drive on the trail. smooth and capable. They sure haven't aged well as far as materials but I think they look just as good now as they did then.
Yeah they never aged, slap some paint and new headlights amd good to go. Personally my favorite look
Mine's a 2004 Limited with the 4.7 and over 230k miles. Things I've had to replace were various suspension parts, water pump and both front brake calipers. I tend to average 17 to 18 mpg though mine still has the factory ride height.
Hello, I average 13.5. How are you going that high?
Thanks
@@user-ue8ce8vu8s Stock suspension, regular maintenance, a Superhips tune and and I drove it easy.
a rare combo, the V8 and “selec trac” uses the 242heavy duty transfer case instead of the regular 242 transfer case for the i6 motor. That thing has no rust for the mileage, incredible find!! black out the bumpers and put some snazzy new headlights in there Tommy, great review 😎🇺🇸
Tom, I have a WJ and the rust caution is paramount in the rust belt. My fenders and fuel skid needed replacement and my spring perches are very rusty. Look for Texas or CA WJs. Thanks for keeping track of these old WJs! - Vin in Wis.
I'm on my second WJ. I got a 2000 in 2012, modded it how I liked it. My ex-wife wrecked it while off-roading. Last year, I bought a 99 to rebuilt it. It was kind of a pain & I spent as much rebuilding it as I bought it for. She runs amazing now.
I bought a 01” 6 cylinder with about 155k miles runs like a beast just had some starting issues which wasn’t too bad. Decking it out making it a great rig. Such a blast.
the other day i bought a 2003 with the straight 6 and selec-track 4x4 system. 142000 miles and mint condition for 6500 dollars.
My daughter's 02 4.0 is getting 20 mpg on highway 17 in city. Very good for 215,000 miles.
select trac is god tier and the inline 6 is the way to go. i have a 99 with 212k on it and she still rides like a dream.
I have owned a 99 WJ Limited with the 4.7L Power Tech for almost 2 years and it has 202k miles, I’ve driven it for about 16k miles and I love it!!
Things to look for bar the usual.
Clogged radiator.
HVAC blend motor flaps.
Bonnet and tailgate struts.
Sticky ignition key/lock.
Noisy diffs.....but they go forever like that.
Noisy 4.0 engine when cold, due to broken piston skirts causing piston slap....go on forever like it though.
Both keys working on remote and ignition coded...the immobiliser system on these can be a world of pain.
Avoid the V8, just buy the I6.
.....enjoy.
I just pick up a 1999 Grand Cherokee with 99000 miles on it. It looks almost new no paint fade, nice interior. Only one tear in the drivers seat and it came with the dvd system in the back. Paid about what Tommy said for it. Super nice riding and driving Jeep.
A lot of pros on these vehicles. Just remember, 10 mpg all day long
I'll take no car note over gas economy any day.
I have an 04 4.7 l with quadra drive. I've never seen less than 16 average even when towing a small trailer. This thing is great.
I have 2 select Trac 4.0 (I won't buy the 4.7 never liked them) and neither of them get great milage, but on the interstate with MSD ignition coil I can average 22-25 mpg. MPG is really all about your right foot now.
@@j1m1j3nkins5 msd ignition coil?
Msd is an aftermarket ignition coil that beats the hell out of other aftermarket coils (AutoZone, Advance). It's built as tough as the original with better specs.
I actually prefer the Laredo because of the unpainted bumpers. They don't look bad and if you ever need to replace one,you can just pop the damaged one off and pop the new one on. If you decide to take it off road you don't need to worry about scratching the paint on the bumper or the side trim. Mine is a 96 ZJ 5.2L. My fluid coupler went out recently,148K miles. I bought a 242 transfer case and converted it to part time 4WD.instead of AWD. I also have a 93 Explorer. It's a good little SUV but I like the Cherokee better. It's got way more power and gets roughly the same mpg.
I bought an '02 4L WJ with ~155K on the clock for $2500, for a knock around vehicle, and I love it. Pretty much everything works on it, very little frame rust, no surface rust, I replaced the headlight assemblies and it looks mint. I replaced all the calipers and rotors, fixed a sway bar link, still need to replace rear control arms, but it feels solid going down the road. The old straight six has a ton of torque that can still put you back in your seat, and that engine couldn't be smoother. I know the tranny is going to be it's demise, it can slip in first if I really get on it, but if I coax it gently off the line, it shifts fine. It's not an everyday driver, so if I treat it well, I think I'll get 2 or 3 years to enjoy my time with it, not bad for the price.
Had 330k on my WJ before I finally traded it. 130k post lift. Ran great. Miss that thing
Bought a 2000 limited for 1000. To get it road worth took only a new brake line and now it’s just been buying the little stuff to make it perfect and so far I’m only 2200 into it between titling, maintenance, tools needed, and parts. It’s the 4.7 with only 178k miles. This has been my favorite suv I’ve owned to date
The first truck i financed was a 2006 dakota with the 4.7 it towed great, was a fantastic truck. I sold it as i was moving to a small apartment and my commuter was more important. Had over 100,000 miles when i sold it. Wanted another one of these a few years later. So i got an 07 dakota. The seat dropped in tge motor at 84,000 miles. So i got a an 05 dakota with the 4.7 to replace it. About a year later, at 89,000 miles it dropped the valve seat in the motor... switched to ford after that. A while later i wanted a winter 4x4 so i got an 04 grand cherokee with the 4.7. Which i had for 6 month and it also dropped a valve seat at 164,000 miles... ALL 3 TRUCKS DROPPED THE VALVE SEATS! the grand cherokee was perfectly maintained by the original dealership it was purchased from and traded in by the original owner. The 2 dakotas both were very well maintained both from the original owners... i understand that my situation is a great anomaly, but i can never buy a 4.7l as they are not meant for me xD
I bought my '99 Limited 6 years ago with 94,000 miles on it. Paid $6000. It now has 128,000 on the 4.7 with SelectTrac. I bypassed the heater core because it was leaking. No big deal here in Arizona. Just recently the blend doors have become frozen in place. There's an easy fix for it that I'll get around to eventually. I take it out on back roads here in southern Arizona, mostly to get to hiking trailheads. Lots of Arizona pinstriping. This jeep has always gotten me out of places I find myself in. Hopefully, it'll last a few more years till I retire.
WJs with the 4.7 and selec trac sometimes came with a heavy duty transfer case known as the 242HD. This unit is highly sought after. Wider chain, beefier internals, and more splines on the output shaft.
Had 2000 V8 Grand Cherokee Ltd with Quadradrive. I am no off roader but it was great in snow. Great size, decent ride and mostly dependable. One oddity. After about 5 years, the radiator sprung a leak. The leak was about 3/4 of the way up and on the left side as you face the Jeep. Never had any car other than that that ever that had a radiator leak. 11 months later, the replacement radiator, which was a new OEM installed by the dealer, sprung a leak in almost the same place. 11 months was key as the replacement had a one year warranty. At least that one was free. While I never sat there, my daughter told me the back seats were too upright and thus not very comfortable on long trips.
My wife and I had a 2000 WJ Limited. We put 50k miles on it over 5 years (bought it with 140k on the clock) and it seems like once we hit 190k on the odometer, it stared requiring repairs almost monthly. Watch out for failing fuel injectors, blend air door, regular wearable items like water pump, alternator and I highly recommend you get the crankshaft/camshaft position sensors changed (unless you know that the previous owner had done that). Also, gaskets will drip all around.
Great info as always!!! Love it.
I’ve had the 4.0 and the v8. Both were super nice. I loved the Laredo with the 4.0 though because I never had serious issues with the engine.
Bought a wj in 2018, straight 6, 4x4 Quadra track, all for $500. Still running to this day.
Like all Jeep they like to leak fluids and have quite a few electrical issues, especially window regulators, but for the price you really can't go wrong with a WJ. I think they were one of the last real Jeep's alongside the XJ and the TJ. Although in my experience aftermarket accessories can sometimes be hard to find.
Thanks Tommy, good discussion.
Nice video. Got myself a 2003 4.7.h.o. For 600. Fixed it up and it has been doing great. The only thing left to do is the blend doors. But overall very impressed with the quadradrive in sand and mud. The cars are good. But need attention to fluids and oil changes. The lifters get clogged and don't work as they shoul, causing all kinds of problems. Plenty of info on how to get everything fixed. The only other thing i would avoid is rust. Both motors are great. But v8 in my opinion is better overall . the h.o version is the cherry on top , hard to find but worth the wait.
I just bought one here in Scottsdale Arizona
When are you going to get going on your build?
Im looking forward to watching it.
I saw the new wheels on it in another video you filmed in your parking lot.
Aside from occasional death wobble, my 03 WJ Laredo with the 4.0 is close to 300k miles but solid as heck.
this is the wj i would love to find...the v8...no sun roof...looks rust free from what you showed us...selectrac...not a big deal with the clear coat failing...its awesome!
The WJ is very capable. But in stock form it doesn’t look like it can go anywhere.
I bought my daughter an 01 Laredo, but it’s loaded, a step below the limited, it’s optioned like the one shown in this video. Has the 4.0 and is going on 210k miles. I just rebuilt the transmission, it was the original and had never been touched!
But it’s starting to rust. It served its purpose well.
my 2002 4.0 gets 23 on 300 mile road trips with 2 " lift and 32" tires i am quite happy with that
Love my wj. No complaints. It's a tighter, quieter and smoother vehicle than the zj was
@@wildbill23c mine in the selec Trac 4.0. but it has variloc axles and 3.73s. it performs well
@@wildbill23c correct
A 99 4.0 with the Selec-Trac got me through college and in some bad winters. Also owned a 2002 4.7, 2000 4.7, 2004 4.7HO. All great, biggest advise is look for one with no rust, operable 4WD and well-working HVAC controls and you'll knock out the most expensive repairs. I'd love to find one like you have...if you ever sell... ;)
I’ve got a 2004 WJ special edition, every option on it. It’s got the 4.7 with Quadra-trac 2 system. 257,000 miles on it, I bought it 3 years ago at 211,000 and have had NO issues besides a single downstream O2 sensor (my fault from a starter replacement). Only regular oil changes, a single battery, a single starter, and a new set of plugs. Basically regular maintenance items. Paid $2,150 for it and could easily get that back out of it. Thinking of going with a 4 inch lift and some 32s, I now have other vehicles but I’ll probably be keeping this one for the long haul because of reliability.
All of the 4x4's I have bought, the first thing I do is change out all the oil based fluids with synthetic fluids. I do believe a lot of problems comes from lack of maintenance. I bought a 2005 Grand Cherokee with the Hemi and 66k miles, I took it to the dealership for a diagnostic, I was amazed how many things were wrong with it, a couple of modules needed to be replaced.
i sold my 2001 last year. (got a 2016 to replace it) under me owning it, the seat bracket did break, the ECU needed replaced, brake calipers needed replaced. Radiator needed replaced. It had about 124K Miles. THREE transmissions ! and ball joints were about to fall off.
I have a 2003 w 220k, and between this & a 99 Lexus ls400 I had. They’re my 2 favorites, and I’ve had a good mix & match of different cars older to new.
Got my 1999 4.7l for $800 had 200k miles, they said all highway miles, I rebuilt the transfer case, fixed a rear wheel bearing fixed all the windows and power locks replaced the A/C compressor, did plugs and coil packs, had to replace a power steering hose, an oil sensor, a crankcase breather and I put a K&N cold air intake I found on craigslist for $35. It's got 250k now and still running strong, I might have $2000- $2500 in it all together. The best part is absolutely no frame rust.
Just now had to replace my OG Transmission on my 1995 ZJ at 256k miles. Still rocking a non rebuilt 318. At this point its the only thing I haven't touched yet.
My Dad has a 04 Laredo V8 with Quadra-Trac II, bought in 2015 with 134k miles and paid $3700. The common issue with these WJs are the wiring that controls the windows and locks from the driver’s door, they tend to kink and/or break at or near the rubber boot running between the door and into the cabin. The drivers window work, but the rest of the windows, locks and even the tailgate lock won’t work. Other than the slight transmission leak that had developed recently, it’s now at 172k miles and has been a beast in the winter. But my Dad wants a truck again and and we’re gonna fix these issues before selling it in the next year.
Just rebuilt engine and trans in my '99. 4.0-42re-selc trac. Been daily driving it for 18 years. Hoping for at least another 5. It's great off-road and perfect size for road trips or city driving. I highly recommend. I figure in 2023 they're probably selling for lunch money prices.
I bought an '04 "Columbia Edition" with a 265hp 4.7 and some rusty fenders and rockers. I'm replacing the fenders for $220 shipped + $25 worth of color matched spray paint and I'm cutting the rockers out and replacing them with 2x6 box steel. It's going to be awesome. Just ordered a cheap $250 Rough Country lift for it. Budget beater! Seats are ridiculously comfortable.
A WJ with a 4.0 is awesome. Especially if you get one with the Quadra-Drive system.
242 refers to the Transfer Case, not the engine. In this case, Selec-Trac (2wd, 4wd Hi, 4wd Full Time, 4wd Low), which is common in those with the inline 6 engine. If Selec-Trac was chosen for a V8, it was given the 242HD Transfer Case.
247 was the code for the Quadra-Trac II Transfer Case, found in those where Quadra-Trac II or Quadra-Drive was chosen. 4wd Full Time/4wd Low
Own a WK2 5.7 here and am looking to buy a WJ with minimum body rust, ideally 4.7 for the sound it makes... Glad to see that these things haven't got their prices rigged up like crazy like many older SUVs out there even if they got solid axles front& back. Not sure if reliability was one of the reasons lol... I surely wish they equipped the WK with solid front axles too and at least continued its production till 2015 before they introduced the WK2, even then the WK2 could've come with solid rear axle instead of ifs on all four corners... I like how they made it luxurious but they shouldn't chop off all its offroad claws while still calling it the GC
The Limited has automatic climate controls, which are bad. The blend door gets jammed, requiring you to either cut your dash or remove it to replace the door.
The 242 is the NP242 Selec-Trac transfer case.
The rear diff in the V8 is the Dana 44a, with an aluminum center section and it requires its own special parts.
Helpful vid bud I’m bout to buy 04
4.0 straight 6: ‘03 or ‘04 only- unless you like blown head gaskets.
Dont forget that if you dont have a Trailer Hitch, Chrysler had a recall that literally involves installing a hitch for free.
I have WJ 1999, 4.0, 6 in line, in great condition. No rust, interior like brand new. Just 60.000 miles on her. Recently was on car show looking for new car … hmmm.. didn’t find any good reason to sell my WJ. Ok new cars have more widgets, but overall not sure the quality is much better to mine WJ
Just picked up a 1999 laredo with the 4.7L and the quadra-drive for a budget off roader to get access on the forest roads. 168K with all maintenance records and perfect paint, glass and leather interior and no rust as it has been in Arizona its whole life. Brand new Yokahama geolander tires and the guy filled the gas tank. $3400. This is a 2 to 3 times a month driver so should last for many years if I keep up on the regular maintenance.
Just bought a beautiful well maintained 02 grand Cherokee v8 it’s so smooth running and just structurally sound. I love it so far but I’m coming from a 08 fusion. Also so much space…
I’ve never found a v8 with the 2 wheel drive. I’ve always seen the all time 4x4. Which chews parts up when driving on dry roads. Like you said, a unicorn!
Come to Southern California. There are 2 wheel drive V8 WJs everywhere.
Many were exported. We got those in Mexico and are usually the least used, being the favourite of Soccer mums. I would like to swap the whole transmission of a 4.7 4x4 to one of those. Usually interiors are like new.
Bought mine a year ago as a Corona project for 2K. Fell in love with the damned thing and spent another 8K on it to make it mint. Driving it cross country tomorrow. 2200 miles in 2 days. 04 4.0 Laredo SelecTrac. The thing just eats miles on the highway.
A few year's back I had one of those, a 2004 Special Edition with the V8. It was kind of a love and hate relationship, that thing constantly broke. If it wouldn't have been that bad, probably I still would drive it today.
I have a 2001 Limited with the V8, only 124k miles on it. It is a great car, I have a 2 inch lift on it. In 16 months of ownership it has one issue, but that one issue cost over $3k to fix. The transfercase failed and took the front driveshaft with it, and both had to get replaced. Other than that it has had no other issues. Pretty good for a 22 year old Jeep I paid $3,500 for.
I own a 3.1 tdi and i love it. with a 247 + 44 dana in the rear
i bought one for my son...rock solid.....also alot of people ive known had them..always good luck
Year ago I bought '03 WJ 2.7 CRD with 345miles (over 550k km) with lousy previous owners.
What I have fixed:
fenders, side boxes, ball bearings and seals on both axles, steering box, tailgate hinges for glass, tailgate locking instruments and several smaller pieces. Transfer case needs some love soon...
So far, I've put more into it than the car cost, but the Jeep is a project and hobby for me so the value/price is through the roof.
And as it is my very own first 4x4, I am pretty satisfied with it.
Oh yeah, when I bought it, it had death-wobble. Fixing all front axle joints and replacing shock absorber, it went away. Solid axle needs some love to keep wobble away.
Also, I have QuadraDrive. Diffs need some special limited slip oil to function properly - 4-5x times expensive as "normal transfer oil"
I have a 2004 Laredo with 4.0 I bought as a back up vehicle. Currently has 150k on it. My daily driver is a 2002 isuzu trooper with the manual transmission. The isuzu in my opinion is a much higher quality vehicle and has definitely been more reliable. I've owned both vehicles for over 2 years, the jeep has far exceeded the isuzu in needed repairs. My trooper Currently has 268k miles on it it. Repairs on the trooper so far, a timing belt tensioner pulley. Repairs on the jeep, starter, battery, #3 fuel injector, fix broken, poorly designed wiring in the door to the cab. Just one guys experience. I'm sure I'll catch hell for this but, this is the way it's been so far.
Mine is a 2000 and has the 4.0 inline 6, and I think the previous owner put a different trans in it because it doesn't have the 4 speed, it's got a 5 speed automatic. When I changed the upstream O2 sensor, it was a literal pain to change, the trans was literally on the sensor.
Paid $600 for it and that O2 sensor and the front driveshaft was the only thing wrong with it. That and advanced rust on the rockers and gas tank skid plate (fenders, doors, tailgate, etc all still rust free as they were coated).
I literally just got a 2003 jeep grand Cherokee with 235,000 miles for 500$ just need coil pack and new battery thing is running beautifully after I put new spark plugs in and coil pack
have a 2004 4.7 that I got in 2007 at 20,000 miles, it now has 145,000 miles, keeping this guy for a long long time.
Good info, thanks!
Have had my 01 since new inline 6 220k runs like the day i bought it. Had a xj sold it with 330k on it that was 4 year's ago and it's still running strong you just can't go wrong with the 4.0 inline 6
Selectrac is for those who want better MPG due the 2wd feature. Quadradrive is the best TC, no need for locking diffs with the variloks, if you don't put 35's on it, of course.
I had a 2004 WJ Overland with the 4.7 HO. Lifted and swapped the Quadra-Drive TC out when it died for the 242HD. Should have held on to that one, great vehicle. Kids and frequent towing made me move on from it.
I got a 1999 jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0 4x4 runs amazing