I'm new to the Cherokees and I'm looking at buying a 94 Cherokee with a 5 spd manual that won't start. The owner said its sat for a year because his wife lost the keys and he just recently got new keys for it. He said it will crank over but just won't fire. He wants 800 for it. I'm assuming change all the fluids and get new plugs and wires and it will Hopfully start. It's got 255xxx on the dash. It's been well Maintaned he's just not mechanically inclined. Is it worth buying?

 

"The owner said its sat for a year because his wife lost the keys"

If it's not worth buying keys for, it's not worth buying.

 

Well he bought keys for it a few months ago and that's when he found out it won't run. He just had something more fuel efficient

 

Sounds fishy, but if he has a clean title in hand and all checks out it would be worth the buy. It could be a great starter for someone at that price . I would check the ceramic ballast on driver side fender back by the firewall if it has a crack or anything wrong with it. The jeep won't start mine did this such a easy fix but such a migraine to figure out for sure . or it could be distributor cap or rotor. Number of things. But I would check it out really well before buying it if sat for a year. Keep us posted good luck. I love my 92 5 speed pretty awsome in granny gear crawling

 

I haven't seen it n person but I have seen pics and from what I can see is it's pretty clean and looks well maintained. That is my biggest worry that somethings more wrong then what is said but I also know some people just don't care to fix things and wanna just get rid of things after something small goes wrong. I do plan on looking it over well for I am more mechically inclined I just don't know anything about the older Cherokees. I've heard they make great toys and it's what I plan on doing with it after awhile. It's got 255xxx on the dash but idk how long them motors last

 

Personally I would jump on it. I mean 5 speed is great. And the 4.0 is a great thing lol will run forever and I think one the easiest engines to work on. I got into xj's bout 6 years ago. I learned from here from several great men and women and good ol you tube. I would check the clutch for leaks when I bought mine I paid 600 for it and the clutch master was leaking replaced it and put heavy duty clutch plate in and re did tranny. I put the lift on all the work. Hell I would jump on that deal long as all papers are legal. It will run forever. I've drive mine from my place to blue ridge Georgia several times Rollin down 75. ccruise set 75 a.c. on lol

 

I have a 92 auto I sale you. 400 bucks. Runs great wait for it ...wait for it and no leaks. New plugs,wires radiator alternator. Needs seats and it has some dumb rims on it and drivers door top hinge needs welded back into the post. I bought from my ex brother in laws mom when he went to prison. Was gonna put lift and stuff on it like mine but I'm too sick to mess with it in and out hospital alot right now doing good to keep my xj in order. I'm just trying make me 50 bucks off of it I paid 350 for it. Oh one thing I'm having issues with it has a factory alarm on it I need figure out how to un hook stupid alarm sometimes I can get it to start sometime I can't but anyways sorry for burning up your post. But yea If I was u I would prolly jump on that one for 800

 

I think I'm going to. I've got plenty of money to work with so I guess if a few things need replaced I'll have the money for. Id take your offer but I gotta kid so I need as little work done to it as possible. There's another jeep thats a 90 running and driving for 800 I could get but its set up more for off-road thought about buying em both and using one for you and other for my daily

 

Here's my theory. ALL used Jeeps cost at least $3500.

You can buy one for $800. But it will still cost $3500.

You can pay $3500 all at once, or spread it out a little over 1-2 years.

But it will cost $3500.

You mentioned..."I gotta kid so I need as little work done to it as possible". I'm not sure exactly what you meant. But if you mean that you need something that won't need a ton of work. A $800 ($3500) Jeep may not be a good choice right now.

You will likely be working on it a lot. Sometimes because you WANT to. Sometimes because you HAVE to (at 2am, in 30f temps, with a flashlight). The list of little things that need to be done before they get "too bad" will soon eclipse the number of free evenings and weekends you have to do them.

But if you REALLY love the idea of having a Jeep. And its "not just another car" to you. Then you may really enjoy the process. But it will be a process.

 

I'm not worried about spending money on it because it will end up being a toy. What I ment spending little money as possible is that I don't wanna buy it and rebuilt the motor or something as soon as I buy it. I'd like to be on the road driving that day or the next. I'm sure if you seen the jeep you understand how much of a pavement princess she is. I'm just needing some info on things to look for and the possibilitys of what could be keeping it from firing. I'm hoping I can do plugs wires oil change possibly new distributor cap and bug and that'll do the trick. And another question i heard the HOs came out n 94 where do I need to look to see if it has it.

 

Cool. Sounds like you know what you are doing and what you are in for.

A cranking no-start will get troubleshot the same on any Jeep right? Even if it was $800 (lol). First step is usually to find out what is missing between Fuel and Spark. Once you have that isolated, it helps you go in the right direction and get better suggestions from everyone.

 

Any receipts ? Check last thing he had work on it? You said not mechanically inclined, so a shop did the work.
.
Probably will have radiator leak, or other issues from sitting. Radiators are just parts. Check oil? Slimmy, gummy or is there oil.
things like that.
If you buy it, this forum has the best people on it to work thru issues .
I bought my '94 Cherokee, 2WD 8 years ago. Been a great fun Jeep. It needs work now but I will keep it. Heck, bury me in it.
Looking maybe for a 4WD now. I want some dirt.

 

I'm definitely gonna be looking it over really well. Does anyone know if they put chips in the factory keys meaning that without the factory key it won't start? I've been told even on older model vehicles that some vehicles had chips n there keys and wouldn't let the vehicle run without the factory key.

 

Sentry, once the PCM has been programmed to accept it, the vehicle is immobilized without the chipped key.

 

Well I just did some research and luckily any Cherokee under a 99 won't have the chip key. Seen them cost almost 200 bucks for a damn chip key to be cut and programmed.