Jeep - keep it or bin it?

[egor110]

Right i bought my jeep grand totally on a whim last dec for a grand.

Drove it from carlisle-somerset with no incident (other than fuel consumption) and it's been sitting as a spare car ever since.

It's done 3000 miles in 8 months and the engines noisy, mechanic seems to think it's worn piston but without forking out for a engine strip hard to get a proper answer, it clatters like a diesel but only under load.

Mot runs out in august so earliest i can do it is 30th july, if it's a few hundred to get thru do I bearing in mind we have another car and i have my work van plus the engine's on borrowed time (although to be fair it hasn't got any more noisy and has been carlisle-somerset/somerset=brands hatch) doesn't use oil and has good oil pressure according to the gauge, but no denying it's noisy and clattery.

[tr7v8]

This is the 4L as I remember it. It is very very rare for them to clatter & they go on for ever. What Oil pressure does the gauge show? Just give it an oil change (due every 7,500miles anyway) & carry on driving it. Surely your mechanic can check it over & give you a clue what it needs for the MOT.
Edited to add plenty of spare engines around for not a lot of money if you really want to keep it.

Edited by tr7v8 on Tuesday 22 July 20:06

[scrwright]

Piston skirts can break which cause piston slap. What year is it? If the bodywork is sound & say swap the motor, if you have space & a high hoist they come out easy with the gearbox attached. If the motor ever lets go on mine it will either get a fresher one put in or if I am feeling flush I will get a 4.7 stroker from the US

[egor110]

tr7v8 said:

This is the 4L as I remember it. It is very very rare for them to clatter & they go on for ever. What Oil pressure does the gauge show? Just give it an oil change (due every 7,500miles anyway) & carry on driving it. Surely your mechanic can check it over & give you a clue what it needs for the MOT.
Edited to add plenty of spare engines around for not a lot of money if you really want to keep it.

Edited by tr7v8 on Tuesday 22 July 20:06

Oil pressure is the line above half so 3/4.

It's had 2 oil changes since dec.

I'm not sure i want to fork out on a replacement engine for something that hardly ever gets used which is the crux of the matter, however we have winter coming and floods and it was handy for that last year.

[egor110]

scrwright said:

Piston skirts can break which cause piston slap. What year is it? If the bodywork is sound & say swap the motor, if you have space & a high hoist they come out easy with the gearbox attached. If the motor ever lets go on mine it will either get a fresher one put in or if I am feeling flush I will get a 4.7 stroker from the US

It's a y reg on 112k.

The mechanic is a farm mechanic so he has a lift at home , what sort of price am i looking at for a replacement engine?

Thing is it's hardly ever used , probably used most last week in the floods but even then were only talking maybe a weeks use, so is it worth spending a grand on a engine to sit on the driveway.

[scrwright]

look around & they can be had for a few hundred, with mates rates on labour you could have it done cheap enough. A good 4litre grand is only £2k though, but if you know yours is good bar the engine they are worth keeping going.

[pcn1]

Only you can answer this one, keep it or sell it, there is no right or wrong answer.
Just your decision.

For what its worth, I only buy what I really want and then keep it for years to get my moneys worth !

[egor110]

pcn1 said:

Only you can answer this one, keep it or sell it, there is no right or wrong answer.
Just your decision.

For what its worth, I only buy what I really want and then keep it for years to get my moneys worth !

I wish i did that, last car i got i took the dog for a walk on exmoor and came home the proud owner of a jap import subaru twin turbo legacy so i do buy on impulse but never spend what much so not tied into the car.

[MatrixXXx]

i would ask Jeep to give you a free quote for repair just to see what the issue is?

[egor110]

MatrixXXx said:

i would ask Jeep to give you a free quote for repair just to see what the issue is?

A free quote? surely they'd charge to remove/strip the engine?

It gets mot'd weds so we'll see how much needs doing to pass that.

[white_goodman]

egor110 said:

A free quote? surely they'd charge to remove/strip the engine?

It gets mot'd weds so we'll see how much needs doing to pass that.

I had a 2001 Grand last year with the 4.0 engine. Lovely car and I wished that I had kept it. I would say keep it if it doesn't need much spent for the MOT and the body is good and give it a chance. Definitely a grower! Mine had similar kms to yours but the engine was fine. People tell me these engines are bombproof, so I would be surprised if it was a major issue but if it's running OK, you might as well keep it until the engine dies and then re-evaluate the situation. Surely, you would get your money back on parts alone? Sounds like you got a good deal (mine cost $8000, over 4000 pounds but that's stupid, inflated Canadian used car prices for you)! All I would say is, if you do change the engine, change the transmission as well because my transmission gave up the ghost and that's why I no longer have it! Also, avoid Jeep dealers as they cost the earth!

[egor110]

Bugger me it's passed the mot, needed a new bulb and wiper blade.

Will report back with the advisories.

[Chainguy]

egor110 said:

Bugger me it's passed the mot, needed a new bulb and wiper blade.

Will report back with the advisories.

I'd keep it, and sling an engine in it if it really needs one. They aren't expensive to replace, I know, I did one for a friend years ago, and even then I'm sure he paid the breaker 300 or less for the lump. I remember it being cheap as he went and got the money from the local cash machine and those have a 300 a day limit.

I dont know where you are, but if you're near central belt Scotland I'd help you with it. I have a double garage, ramp, hoist, enough snap on to sink the Quen Mary etc.