WJ grand cherokee 4.0 2004. Any good?

[Pesty]

I'm bidding on a few 94/95 swb pajeros but I've seen a nice grand cherokee with about 110k miles on it near where I'm working next week.

I'm thinking spending an extra 1k on a 10 year younger car would probably be a good idea.

Sound thinking? The only issues I seem to read about are heaters not working which is about a 350£ fix.

Should I be worried about a wj with over 100 k on it. I don't want a money pit.

[pcn1]

Heater doors are a £120 ish item to buy. 1.5 hrs work to fit. This may have been done already ?
If the service records are up to date and look comprehensive, then it should be ok. Regular diff oil changes are a must.
Those 4.0 lumps go on for miles I'm told. Early gc's suffered warped front disc's, but those should have been changed/ upgraded a long time ago !
Prone to broken wires in the loom between the doors and bodywork. Simple re solder fixes that ( YouTube it)
Rear wheel oil seals leak as they get old, £50 for bearing and seal kit, 3 hrs work per side. That's on YouTube also.
No real horror stories with these jeeps, if you get a decent example up front then it's just the regular maintenance stuff you take on.
Had my CRD a couple of years and all's well with that. At 10 years I'm contemplating new shocks this year.

Lastly, the famous WJ wobbly ride can be improved a bit with a ADDCO rear sway bar upgrade and poly bushes in the trailing arms.

Hope that helps.

[Pesty]

Yes it does brilliant thanks.

[scrwright]

My WJ 4litre has 240k miles on it, timing chain at 200k, usual wheel bearings & servicing all that has been required. Very relable truck. Blend door are around £90 now on the bay

Edited by scrwright on Sunday 2nd March 12:36

[Pesty]

Great cheers.


Just looked at a few dif foil change vids on youtube. Seems easy enough. Car is advertised as full service history but might change all fluids anyway. I like tinkering.

[scrwright]

for piece of mind do the axles, engine, transfer case & auto box fluids. Including filters will cost around £100 tops if you do it yourself.

Edited by scrwright on Sunday 2nd March 18:22

[Pesty]

Sounds like a good idea.

Will need to look up how to do auto box and transfer case.

( not a done deal yet but top of my list now)

[scrwright]

transfer case is 2 plugs out to drain, bottom one back in & fill from the top & replace plug, POP. Autobox is easier if you have one of those oil removal pump things to get most of the oil out, then drop the sump (always has another litre in it) replace the filter (2 bolts) sump on again with new gasket & fill up. Most things are simple on WJs

[scrwright]

a few piccies of the autobox sump here
http://www.offroading.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43...

transfer case fill & drain plugs can be seen here





Excuse to post my Jeep picture

[pcn1]

Pesty said:

Great cheers.


Just looked at a few dif foil change vids on youtube. Seems easy enough. Car is advertised as full service history but might change all fluids anyway. I like tinkering.

Doing your own spanner work helps a lot with cutting costs. Service history is best backed up with invoices so you know what has been done.
A back street mechanics engine oil and filter change + a stamp in the service book just doesn't cut it.

I do find my old trolley jack and axle stands are only just tall enough to lift it though. I use ramps to do the diff oil.

[Pesty]

scrwright said:

a few piccies of the autobox sump here
http://www.offroading.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43...

transfer case fill & drain plugs can be seen here





Excuse to post my Jeep picture

Looks good dirty

Thanks for the info all the boxes and stuff look just about the right level for me to manage. I should be able to manage that.

[tr7v8]

All covered above but the disc/calliper problem was 99-02 only then the callipers were swapped & solved the problem. Mine was serviced by an Indie from new so didn't get the warranty replacements which it should have
Blend doors can be done through the hole when the glovebox is removed & even the Chrysler kit does this.
As pothers have said replace all the fluids, box is due in the schedule at 90K, use the correct spec oils, axles & box use a synthetic not dino stuff. An accepted fix for the top of the transfer box is to put some silicone sealant on the plug otherwise they leak.
My 2000 has 118K on & is fantastic.

[Pesty]

We I've just gone and bought a car sight unseen ( was too busy at work to go and look) from ebay I feel a little now

It'll either be a nail or very good. Looks great in pics so fingers crossed.

I apologise in advance for all the stupid questions to come.

Only two negatives it isn't full service history I read the advert wrong and it isn't leather so I'm guessing it's the lowest spec. However it will be perfect for its duties as dog/ wood mover and occasional camping trip. But it seems quite cheap.

Edited by Pesty on Monday 3rd March 20:02

[scrwright]

Not leather, is it an 04 Sport? Last of the line & I actually like them. Leather sets can be picked up on the bay easy enough & its a straight bolt in job.

[rswift]

I bought a 4.0 litre XJ, sight unseen on Ebay for £900 over a year ago to use over winter, and plan was to sell in spring. Same engine as the grand Cherokee.

It's been a great and reliable car, so still got it. I've serviced it, but pads & discs on the front, replaced one leaking coolant hose....and that's it. Probably done about 10k on it. It's on LPG, which helps !

[Pesty]

scrwright said:

Not leather, is it an 04 Sport? Last of the line & I actually like them. Leather sets can be picked up on the bay easy enough & its a straight bolt in job.

yes its a sport.

leather would have been nice but wasn't a priority. its going to be used infrequently. hopefully pick it up tonight.

all i needed was a reliable car that has a big boot. this foots the bill rather nicely. i like they way they look too which is a bonus.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-Jeep-Grand-Cherokee...

Edited by Pesty on Tuesday 4th March 17:42

[scrwright]

Looks tidy enough, its had the wheels replaced for earlier 16" ones (not a bad thing, tyres a cheaper). Only things it misses out on are electric recline leather seats & maybe the seat heaters. I prefer the silver dash trim on the sports to the limiteds. Have they photoshop'd out the lpg filler in the 4th photo along?

[Pesty]

No LPG. Just driven back 50 miles. Runs fine no guts over 70 but that's fine takes off ok from standing. Fairly quiet on board. Engine starts and runs fine. 3 newish tyres one quite low.
I will have to change all the fluids for piece of mind. For a 10 year old car I'd say it was very good condition it's got 3 parking dings he didn't mention being hyper critical but I'd expect that any way.

Bad bits. The rubber bits at the bottom of the side windows are bulging looks like the metal inside the strips ( not the door) is rusty. Slight judder under braking disks look ok but pads look thin. Will inspect when I get time.


All in all I'm happy should do what I wanted it for easily. Not the biggest bargain in the world but considering I was looking at 93/94 swb pajeros from £1500 to £1800 and 03 grand vitaras for 2k this is far more dutiable for not much more. As long as it doesn't fall apart.

Edited by Pesty on Tuesday 4th March 23:37

[scrwright]

window bottom trims always go. There is a place in the US that does all four for around $100. You need to be running similare tread depth on the tyres or you will end up cooking the transfer case (it will lock up with different speeds from the axles)

[scrwright]

Pesty said:

No LPG.

Whats the black thing on the rear bumper in the 5th shot on the ebay ad?