Anyone ever own a Jeep Cherokee?

[boatcop1]

I'm thinking of picking up a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport for my daughter (1st vehicle). The seller is an older gentlman that bought it off the original owner in 1999. The truck is an auto trans 4x4 with 180k miles. It has one issue that is intermittent. Whe the truck gets up to operating temp occasionaly it will shut off and he has a hard time starting it back up. I'm thinking this is the Crank position sensor? Other than that it seems pretty decent for $1,000 bucks. Drove it tonight and everything works good, 4x4 engages no problem, no smoking or knocking etc. It seems it was pretty well cared for. He just needs to get rid of it. Today its pretty tough to find anything good for 1g so i'm thinking I may def jump on this.

Anything in particular i should be looking for before i pull the trigger?

It does have a bit of rust on the drivers rocker but i can take care of that. Also the trans fluid looks like it could be changed along with the filter.

Anyone?

 

[Screw-Rice]

Sounds like a good deal. I would scoop it up.

Owned one a few years back, the 4.0 straight 6 is a hell of an engine. Never had anything other then minor issues, and I was not kind to it (winter beater).

As far as the running issue, hop on jeepforum.com and search around.

 

[bigdog93lx]

Got a 1996 4.0 With the manual trans that i use as my daily/ winter beater. Hardly every any problems with the car besides a couple things i've repaired over the last few years mostly wear items like brakes. My floors were completely rotted out last year so i had new floor pans put in. Replaces water pump once and thats about it. Got about 120,000 on it so far. Absolute animal in the snow. Very simplistic vehicle not much to them. Had a problem getting the vehicle into 4X4 but the linkage just needed some breaking free and lubrication.

 

[FCCS]

Bought a new 2004 and now has 66K. 4.0 Only thing major to report is a water pump. Gen 2 Lightning type MPG. Probably even city and highway.

 

[VirtualSVT]

bad mileage but they will run forever and take quite a bit of abuse.

 

[rexisme]

I have a 96 w/ 200k miles... Does not like to go in/out of 4wd, get around 15mpg in 4wd.... It was my parents, its been mine for a couple years. Only thing thats been changed, water pump, alternator, battery, brakes, tires... other than that, its been awesome... Oh and like the other guy said, absolute animal in the snow.

 

[cbr repsol]

Op it sounds like it may be the cps. Im pretty sure thats a known issue with them. I had a 95 country. Solid rig,i wish I never sold it. Damn wife didnt wanna have it as the extra car cause I got her a newer car for the family.

 

[boatcop1]

Thanks alot guys, That's what I was hoping to hear. For the money, it seems to good to pass up. Plus we only have 2 cars in the family so it will be nice to have utility vehicle again.

 

[SVT F15O]

That sure sounds like a crank sensor to me. They are common to go and cheap enough so it should be the starting point.
The AW4 transmission is pretty much bulletproof.

Hell, if you are going to pass on it PM me the info and I will buy it for $1,000.

 

[SVT_4_me]

i had a '97 XJ for quite a few years. it was a great rig and was very dependable...

that issues definitely sounds like the CPS. i had the same thing, replaced the CPS and it fixed the issue.

check the rear main seal for oil leaks. they are notorious for this, and they all will leak eventually. other than that, they really don't have many issues to look out for.

 

[Ibleedblue13]

I still drive a lifted 97 Cherokee Country that I bought when I first got my license. It's outfitted for serious offroading but I still have the stock tranny and 4.0 I6. Both are bulletproof and I will own the truck as a winter beater until it finally (if ever) dies. Had the same cps issue, it's an easy fix and shouldn't be a problem. Overall it's been great for me and was definitely a good first car to learn how to drive in. For 1000 bucks you really can't go wrong either.

Parts are cheap and super easy to find since Jeeps are a dime a dozen. The only thing I would recommend is to find some grand cherokee limited or cherokee limited leather seats to bolt in. I got mine from a totaled GC at a junkyard for virtually nothing and the difference really is night and day between the stock seats. Good luck!

 

[Common]

I have a 2000 Cherokee I picked up recently and so far it has been great. Visit Jeepforum for some help if you need it.

 

[05satinGT]

The 4.0 straight six is such a good motor. They run forever. I'm always at my buddy's Uncle's used car lot where he works and they always have 3-4+ cherokees on the lot.

 

[SID297]

I have a 2000 XJ with 195,000 on the clock. I've started looking for a newer one with an ultra clean body as a start for a new project.

 

[chinchilla]

currently dd a 97 Cherokee 4.0 4x4. bought it with 150k and now has 200k, only things I've had to replace, water pump, $50, Crank position sensor $40, and an o2 sensor. One cheap part per year, I've had it 3 years. gets 18-20 mpg, 4x4 works great, got it for $1,000 and couldn't be any happier with it.

 

[SID297]

I wish I could find a clean 2000-2001 model with a manual tranny.

 

[bullitt1672]

I recently picked up a '96 XJ and love it. For being a jeep it's a cherry with a whopping 77k miles on it. Seems to get decent fuel mileage on the highway but in town is pretty bad.

 

[Ibleedblue13]

^American racing 17x10.5 rims? If so I have the same ones mounted on some Nittos. Great looking cherokee though

 

[bigdog93lx]

I recently picked up a '96 XJ and love it. For being a jeep it's a cherry with a whopping 77k miles on it. Seems to get decent fuel mileage on the highway but in town is pretty bad.

Really? I notice the opposite? I get way better mileage in my 04 cobra on the highway than i do in the jeep. Obviously gearing helps alot. Around town over 35-40 MPHi put it in top gear and chug away. Your jeep looks awesome BTW for a 96. Puts mine to shame.

Can't complain about my Cherokee at all. Bought it 4 years agofor $2800 put about 35k on it and about 1200 in parts/ labor and she runs great.

 

[bullitt1672]

^American racing 17x10.5 rims? If so I have the same ones mounted on some Nittos. Great looking cherokee though

Thanks! Nope, they are 15x8 wrangler replicas from oewheelsllc.com.

Really? I notice the opposite? I get way better mileage in my 04 cobra on the highway than i do in the jeep. Obviously gearing helps alot. Around town over 35-40 MPHi put it in top gear and chug away. Your jeep looks awesome BTW for a 96. Puts mine to shame.

Can't complain about my Cherokee at all. Bought it 4 years agofor $2800 put about 35k on it and about 1200 in parts/ labor and she runs great.

I drove it back from Pennsylvania and got about 19 mpg and that was through the mountains, I'm guessing its around 13-15 in town.