Hey guys, I'm about to buy my first Cherokee and was wandering about things I should watch out for? I have already decided I want a 97+ 4.0 auto with 4wd. I know about the head cracking issues in 00 and 01. How many other things should I watch for before I buy one? I have a 2004 Wrangler Unlimited so I know how to repair the engine. Thanks.

 

Rust. #1 thing for me. Look for it everywhere: underneath, rockers (like mine now has), roof, floor pans, everywhere.

 

Hvac blower motor speed selector switch might need to be replaced.

 

HVAC blower motor resistor as well.

 

What to watch out for ??? everything !
Blower switch, and it's connector, blower resistor and it's connector, and blower motor itself, seems like the way I had to go. Evidently the wiring & switches on these Jeeps was not engineered very dam good, for the amount of current they draw, considering all the problems that turn up on here.
Other wise we love our Jeeps !

 

Previous owners soon to be ex wife...makes for a real bad package deal..

 

Botched repairs, hacked together suspensions, cracked motor mounts, cracked transmission mounts, leaky pinion seals. 1997-1999 have distributors rather than a cam sensor and coil pack.

 

Rust. Crawl all the way underneath on your back with a flashlight and look around, even up in the transmission tunnel.

 

For sure rust. I would roll underneath and knock some dirt loose. Look at where it lived, consider buying one that hasn't been in the salt belt...

 

My CA all-its-life 1989 still had some surprising floor pan rust when I pulled the barnyard carpet out. I was planning to Herculiner the cargo area, ended up ghetto riveting plate over (smallish) holes in the footwells and spending a day slapping POR-15 on first.

So yes, check for rust.

If you have time, also check: entire wiring harness; shocks; sways; heater/water pump/thermostat; exhaust manifold for cracks; vacuum system (if it's RENIX) and... oh, **** it, just go from tip to tail with a voltmeter, something to tap on panels with, something exciting to smoke (great for checking vacuum leaks) and something strong to drink (to keep your sense of humor intact.)

 

What's considered the salt belt? I live in Denver so there is a lot of salt on the road during winter.

 

Colorado is a lot drier, the salt belt is usually considered the northeast. I would say you will have a lot of good jeeps out that way.

 

Well he did say they use a lot of salt on the roads there, so I personally would still consider that a salty area, "salt belt" or not.

I got lucky with mine here in PA. 100% rust free, and she's seen some harsh winters with a ton of salt. The shape the body is in has almost justified how much money I've poured into her.

 

One other question. How many miles is to many? There is quite a few Cherokees sitting at about 180k to 210k for fairly cheap. My Wrangler has 153k and the transmission has died twice.

 

It's an old vehicle, the newest being 14 years old, but the engines, when taken care of, can last into the 300ks. Anything 150,xxx and below is pretty low to me. Just be careful if it's been sitting for awhile.