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.

[Pesty]

Yes it does brilliant thanks.

[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.

[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)

[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.

[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

[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

[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

[Pesty]

scrwright said:

Pesty said:

No LPG.

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

Hmmm never noticed that before don't know. Is that where they usually out a filler cap?


Any implications of removing LPG other than me paying more for fuel. Been running around in it today runs fine.

pcn1 said:

Even if you have to put £500 into it to get every job done up to a decent standard, you should have a solid workhorse that will last many years to come.
These WJ's are kinda the last of the "old Skool" off roaders/sport utility vehicles, live axle's and big engines !
Get yourself over to http://www.wjjeeps.com/index.htm and register on the forums. Ive got loads of tech help there. There are a few UK users online.
This guy http://www.4playjeep.com/ for UK parts and endless chat on the phone, he's really helpful.

Ok cheers will do.
Need to source the gear box oils etc etc. I see he has mopar sealant for the transfer cases etc.was wondering where to get that. Wonder if he sells a little pump to get new oil back in like they all seem to have in the states.

Considering the front disks may be shot are these any good?

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Jeep_Grand+Chero...

Edited by Pesty on Wednesday 5th March 19:27

[Pesty]

pcn1 said:

Those disks seem very cheap, too cheap

Get what you pay for I guess.

Im going with OEM quality when I replace mine this year.

Thats why I asked sounds too good to be true , think ill try them whats the wost thst can haapen.

just realised I own a v6 a flat six and a straight 6 now.

Edited by Pesty on Thursday 6th March 18:39

[Pesty]

HarryW said:

The link was for the Eicher discs, the Pagid versions are the same price, at least I've heard of Pagid! I'd have no qualms fitting them myself, the rrp is £141 so £29 is good, no?

Yep a better bet by far.

Mog what's that dare not even think about it lol

[Pesty]

Well I've crawled under her today.

No Idea how on earth I'm going to get to the top rear diff bolts.they are covered by the petrol tank. I thought it was a cover at first but seems not to be? I'll get it on ramps and have a better look.

More driving today and the thicker anti roll bar is definitely a job I'll do at some point the original is a joke.

Mpg wow it's horrendous lol

[Pesty]

I'll get a better figure for you when I fill it up and run it down etc etc. trip computer says average 17 but that includes motorway from when I picked it up. Pits going to be terrible for short journeys lol.

[Pesty]

Adventures in buying ebay cars

First job is going to have to be radiator. I keep an eye on fluid anyway but always with a new car. Coolant has gone from top to below low.

Hard to trace must be a very small leak but seems to be from top right of radiator.

Air con radiator bolts to front of it. I can see two bolts through grill. I think undoing those would mean I don't have to disrupt that. The radiator itself seems to bolt on behind the headlights so they may have to be removed.

Eurocarparts do a new radiator for 82 quid so it isn't going to be too bad assuming I don't end up having to take off the front of the car or empty the air con gas.

Was going to drain the coolant anyway as I have 5 litres of hoat in the garage.

Oh and the bonnet gas struts don't work so I have a trust stick in the boot.


Edit crawling around some more underneath the power steering gearbox is weeping fluid oh st.

Edited by Pesty on Sunday 9th March 17:13

[Pesty]

It's a great idea I had I just didn't realise how good. I haven't driven anything else since I got it.(outside work)

It's brilliant I just didn't think I'd use it so much. It's so handy having a car that isn't full of work st that I can jump in and drive without emptying it first or worrying about cleaning it after.

I'm guessing wanting to drive over everything will wear off after a while. Didn't know how fun or liberating these cars are.

Srt next

Oh the owner got back to me. The black circle was a template they put on to show him where they would out it when he was going to keep it and covert it but he changed his mind.

Edited by Pesty on Sunday 16th March 22:40

[Pesty]

Only about ten times.

Put it this way I took the dog to the coast coming out of grimsby I put 30 quid in' petrol light was on again by the time I got home. About 45 miles down the m180

Not yet filled it up and done a proper test just seems to cost me 20 quid wherever I go. It likes to drink.

[Pesty]

pcn1 said:

Even if you have to put £500 into it to get every job done up to a decent standard, you should have a solid workhorse that will last many years to come.
These WJ's are kinda the last of the "old Skool" off roaders/sport utility vehicles, live axle's and big engines !
Get yourself over to http://www.wjjeeps.com/index.htm and register on the forums. Ive got loads of tech help there. There are a few UK users online.
This guy http://www.4playjeep.com/ for UK parts and endless chat on the phone, he's really helpful.

I meant to ask you before. I thnk I'm being a bit thick but where do I register on the wj jeeps forum? I've looked all over the link and can't see any forum.

Cheers.

[Pesty]

Excellent.

Ill be looking into that. Drove mine up and down a really steep grass bank twice as tall as he car. Car just did it so easy didnt look that impressive.



I have a problem though. Car is stuck in first gear. From reasearch it seems irs a common fault. Could be varios speed sensors or. Solenoid in he gearbox. As i have atf4 niw and was going to do it anyway ill try that solenoid.

[Pesty]

Stays in first right up to red line and still won't change up,

Which speed sensor?

My code reader died so I've ordered another should arrive any day.

[Pesty]

Done thanks

First page there is somebody talking about changing that solenoid.

Might just order this anyway and change it as a precaution. Sounds like it might go anyway. Easy job by the looks of it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191043121792?ssPageName=...

Or get the other sensor

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321324535984?ssPageName=...

Will wait for codes