Originally Posted by sam24th

Here is my realistic answer:

Ive been through this with a friend of mines who recent just purchased a cherokee. If you are not mechanically inclined I DO NOT suggest buying a cherokee just because quite frankly it will turn into a money pit. There are a lot of common parts on these trucks that will break or wear out after being on the roads for over 12 years. The engine IMO is far from powerful, I mean sure it gets around and has a decent amount of power but not powerful by any means. Now if that doesnt phase you then by all means go buy a cherokee just dont expect a perfectly maintained vehicle. Remember the motto JEEP "Just Empty Every Pocket"

Now I will say this if you are still dead set and determined on purchasing a cherokee still then look for the following signs as you would with any used car.

Checking the paperwork:
-make sure the car has clean title with no liens
-check carfax
-check mileage
-service records etc.

Now to the actual physical stuff
-check for leaks (usually the rear mains on the 4.0 will go with time)
-check the oil and make sure it doesnt look like choco milk (if it does then theres coolant in the oil)
-check the tranny fluid to see condition and smell(if auto, if a 5 speed then forget this)
-check coolant for condition and color (DO THIS WITH THE ENGINE COLD)
-check air filter for debris
-look underneath of the vehicle for rust. Common areas are quarter panels, fenders, and floorboards. (surface rust can be dealt with, but if you can see the carpet or poke a hole through it, its probably extra crispy)
-Look at tire quality and tread depth.
-Get underneath and check the tierod/steering components for play.

While driving the vehicle:
-make sure the engine idles correctly (no surging or bumpy idle)
-while accelerating make sure the tranny shifts smoothly
-check the make sure signals and lights work
-check parking brake and foot brake for play.

This should get you started pretty well as far as inspecting a vehicle yourself.

Things to note:
-99+ have the elusive head cracking issues
-All cherokees usually will have exhaust manifold issues at one point or another
-00 and 01 models do not have a distributor, they use an ignition pack instead.
-97+ is OBD2

Originally Posted by JeepN00bie

I'm looking to buy a used 1999-2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport and have no idea what to look for when looking at dealerships. What are Cherokee's known for? Known to go bad? What things should I check for and how? I will obviously take it to a mechanic but I want to be able to somewhat determine if it’s a decent vehicle before spending $100 for the mechanic to inspect it. I've heard the 4.0 I6 engine is very powerful and reliable, but have also heard Jeep's are expensive to maintain/repair. Please help! Thanks!