willc86

Hi everyone i am looking at a 98 xj cherokee for 2500.

He said it has a piston slap or a nock at the engine area but its normal on cherokees and nothing to worry

Is this something of a concern for 2500? Is it a haunting issue to fix for a mechanic

Turbo X_J

edit, replied to the wrong question, sorry.

XJlimitedx99

It could be something minor OR it could be a ticking time bomb. We can't tell you without hearing it.

cruiser54

Exactly. Tell him you want to take it to your trusted mechanic.

SG Mason

Or do what did when I bought mine, I low balled him with a scrap rate offer. Mine had a really bad ticking noise when I went to look at it and I was going to walk away because of it. When he said make an offer I came back with $350, he was asking $1200, with the explanation that I didn't know if the noise was a death toll or not and if it was I could scrap it and not loose any money. He countered with $400. I drove it home the next day, did some searching here, crawled underneath and tightened up the flex plate bolts and the noise was gone

Three bolts were loose and one of them was so loose that the only thing that was keeping it in was the engine itself I ended up having to buy a new flex plate due to ovaled bolt holes holes and a crack.

cruiser54

Yep. Way to go.

willc86

ha ha. yeah I am aiming for this jeep. He said its more of a ticking noise more than anyhting. he said it does not sound like a diesel. What is good about this jeep is, it already comes with 33in tires and wheels and a few accessories! he wanted 3500 for it, but i dropped it down to 2500. But ill see if I can get lower.

would a ticking noise rather than a "diesel engine type sound" be more of a concern?

Turbo X_J

^
Now, I'll reply to this question.
Either have this vehicle inspected by a competent mechanic or have enough $$$$$ in your budget for a new engine, suspension parts, etc, etc.