Hey everyone!

Long time since I've posted anything. Hope everyone is doing good!

Looking at getting back into an XJ after a few years. Miss them quite a bit. I'm seeing a couple 96's that catch my eye and just looking for opinions from you guys who have had one (or more) considering they're a crossover year. Always heard that finding the correct parts can be a bit of a pain just because of how parts are mismatched for this year. Maybe finding parts regardless of year isn't easy at this point?

Would love to hear what you guys and girls have to say. Considering it would be my fifth over the years, I have a good idea of what I'm getting into with a XJ, just don't necessarily want to get stuck chasing gremlins. Any info is appreciated. Always open to learn new stuff and get wrenching whenever I do snag another XJ.

Thanks all!

 

My first XJ about 16 years ago or so was a '96.
Pretty basic with crank windows.
Picked up real cheap.
I really only did what I had to to keep her on the road.
Structurally, due to rot, she was a disaster. But ran like champ.
When I picked up my '00 there was periods of time where she sat. Never failed to start right up.
My understanding is that a '96 could be OBD I or II.
If so not even sure what mine was cause never had a reason to put a scanner to her.
As far parts go I never had a problem. But then again really never bought any of those parts that would be effected by it being a crossover year.
The only time I remember there even being a slight problem was when I went to tune her up. They came with 2 different distributors.
You had to look at the white label on the side of it to determine which cap and/or rotor you wanted.
I might have had that problem if I bothered to replace the oil pressure sensor, the gauge was pegged when running, but there was no weird engine noises so I just ignored it.
Same with the temp gauge. Always read cool. But had a 195 degree thermostat in there and I got around 15 MPG around town so figured chances are she was running at around normal operating temperature.
The only reason I would probably not buy one again is cause my '00 has spoiled me.
They are/were both DD's.
I like the creature comfort options that you could have in '99's and up.
Primarily the factory power/heated seats that I added to mine cause it is plug and play of you source all the right parts.
LOL.

 

Like ralph mentioned there are a few '96 only quirks. It's nice having obd2 in a pre facelift but for the most part they're like any other xj.