Jeep Grand Cherokee - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Subscribe get a full year for only $19.95 Sample get a free issue—no strings attached

Nov. 5, 2008 12:15 p.m. dean1484 HalfDork

I have a line on a 1998 4X4 with about 140K on the clock. No body rust but I have not been under it. Interior is clean and in very good shape. Tires are good shape (80-90% tread on them) No dents scratches etc. For a 10 year old vehical cosmetically it is a 9+ .

Only issue is that it will not hold an idle when it is cold once warm it is fine (temp sensor?)

Owner is getting rid of it because they just got a c230 4matic

What do I look for? I know nothing about jeeps.

Ohya the asking price s $1,000
Nov. 5, 2008 12:21 p.m. Strizzo Dork

if its got the quadratrac(auto 4x4), the tcase is probably ready to take a dump if it hasn't already
Nov. 5, 2008 12:28 p.m. dean1484 HalfDork

Manual 4x4 (you have to shift it)
Nov. 5, 2008 12:40 p.m. Jensenman UltimaDork

The IAC will crap out, that's probably the idle problem. If it's a V8, they have been known to suck intake pan gaskets, making them gobble oil and run crappy. Check carefully for vacuum leaks, too.

If it has Q-trac it's a gas hog, it'll be twice as bad if it's a QT/V8. 4.0 6 banger and P/T 4x4 or 2wd, it'll last but it's unspohisticated, to say the least. Q-trac is pricey to fix, too.

Trim stuff is crap, the 'trip computer' (if it has one) is not known for long life. it won't affect anything, it'll just flash weird messages like 'brake light out' when they are fine.

A/C evaporators are known to leak.

The worst thing I have seen: they do not have a voltage regulator for the alternator, that task is handled by the PCM. It can and will take a dump meaning the car runs fine etc but it won't charge. No MIL when this happens.

There were recalls on some of the 6 cylinder cars for a condition where the catalytic converter would go bad but the MIL would not illuminate. The fix: reflash the computer to see if the CC is OK, if so return to the customer. The CC has a 12/12 warranty from the date of the recall repair. If the CC is bad at the time of the reflash, replace the CC at no charge to the owner.

There was also a recall on some vehicles for the transmission interlock, you could take the car out of gear with the ignition turned off.
Nov. 5, 2008 1:04 p.m. psteav New Reader

Manual 4x4 means 4.0 I-6. Long-lived, torquey, not particularly economical but not horrible on gas. Parts are cheap. Window regulators will fail. There are eleventy billion of them out there; junkyard parts are easy to come by. Transmissions aren't great, but expect ~150k between rebuilds. Rattles and squeaks happen. The trip computer will tell you your Coolant Sensor is bad, it is not.
Nov. 5, 2008 2:48 p.m. racerdave600 Reader

It's been a few years since I had mine ('97 4.0 4wd), so this is coming from memory. It was great until about 70k miles, then everything broke, or so it seemed. Within the next 20 to 30k miles it had 2 transmissions (2nd replaced under warranty), 7 fuel pumps, numerous oil leaks, head work, wheel bearings 3 times (factory parts kept failing, same as with fuel pumps), trim pieces falling off, paint burning to nothing (garage kept and waxed regularly) and on and on and on. It was in no way abused, but it seemed I was. Up until that 70k mile mark, it was darned near perfect, after that it was big giant sucking hole.
Nov. 5, 2008 3:03 p.m. Cotton Reader

I'd jump on it for 1k. Sounds like it would make a great winter beater or light trail rig. I've had two of the regular Cherokees with the 4.0. The oldest one lastest 250k and took a severe beating on the trails for the last bit of that.
The current one is a 99 with 150k. Runs great and is soon getting a lift, winch, etc. Up until now it's been our DD for the last few years.
Nov. 5, 2008 3:30 p.m. Jensenman UltimaDork

Yeah, I forgot about the fuel pump thing mostly because I see so few of them any more. But yeah my dad's '97 went through something like 5 or 6 reman pumps, the Jeep dealer finally got a new Bosch pump and it was still going two years later when he sold it.

Dad's also had the Infinity sound system which had a helluva pop noise in the rear amp intermittently.
Nov. 5, 2008 6:29 p.m. jamscal HalfDork

Sounds like a deal. I bought a '98 GC earlier this year in good shape for $2995, and it was a good price then.

It has the Selec-Trac T-case which is leaking now, and the trans is a little funny when cold. People swap the NP231 (I think) Transfer case from the Cherokee for simplicity/strength....I'm not too up on all the T-case options so I could be wrong on some of this.

Our Junkyard is full of them.

Grassroots options? 5.9L V8 swap FTW

-James
Nov. 5, 2008 8:24 p.m. Jensenman UltimaDork

'Funny trans when cold' is old hard seals. It'll run forever like that, the part that scares people is when you crank it up after it sits a few days and it takes what seems like FOR DAMMIT EVER to go in gear (it's usually about 5-10 seconds) while the torque converter gets its 'prime' back. The seals will let the TC leak fluid back down into the pan and it has to get shoved back upstairs again. Drive it, don't mess with it.
Nov. 5, 2008 8:30 p.m. bamalama New Reader

Jensenman wrote:

'Funny trans when cold' is old hard seals. It'll run forever like that, the part that scares people is when you crank it up after it sits a few days and it takes what seems like FOR DAMMIT EVER to go in gear (it's usually about 5-10 seconds) while the torque converter gets its 'prime' back. The seals will let the TC leak fluid back down into the pan and it has to get shoved back upstairs again. Drive it, don't mess with it.

Mine has done that for three years and hasn't gotten any worse.
Nov. 5, 2008 8:44 p.m. psteav New Reader

jamscal wrote:

Sounds like a deal. I bought a '98 GC earlier this year in good shape for $2995, and it was a good price then.

It has the Selec-Trac T-case which is leaking now, and the trans is a little funny when cold. People swap the NP231 (I think) Transfer case from the Cherokee for simplicity/strength....I'm not too up on all the T-case options so I could be wrong on some of this.

Our Junkyard is full of them.

Grassroots options? 5.9L V8 swap FTW

-James
Nov. 6, 2008 2:06 a.m. 92dxman Reader

A friend of mine had a 94 or 95 GC and beat the snot out of it up until 160k miles. Then everything started to crap out last I heard. I must admit that it was the scariest vehicle i've ever been at between 90-100 mph. Never experienced so much shaking and vibrating in my life..
Nov. 6, 2008 6:22 a.m. JmfnB UltimaDork

Even with the trans seal issues the truck is worth a grand regardless. If you can swing the dough get the truck, if you need to fix it do it. When mid winter comes sell it for $2500.00
Nov. 6, 2008 3:38 p.m. belteshazzar Dork

I was all set to tell you to run for your life till I saw the price. no harm done.
Nov. 6, 2008 8:05 p.m. jamscal HalfDork

http://louisville.craigslist.org/pts/907641290.html

Ask this guy for parts.