A mate of mine wants a Jeep.... Help please!

[Yorkshire_Jon]

As per the subject really - I appreciate a Jeep forum would be the best place to ask the question, but I dont know of one!

A mate of mine has just moved over to Sydney from the UK and is on the look out for a Jeep Wrangler. He is not mechanically minded so wont work on it himself so it needs to be reliable.

He's currently got his eye on a 1996 SWB 4.0L straight 6 petrol.

Oh and he's asked me to go and look at a few with him when Im over there toward the end of November, so it would help if I could identify more than the colour!

Question:
Like the older LR engines, are there any crap ones to avoid?


Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks
Jon

[101RRS]

Jeeps have a record of catching fire - not a good thing - talk you friend out of it and go a landie.

Garry

[dobbo]

Question:
Like the older LR engines, are there any crap ones to avoid?



Thanks
Jon

Yep the ones with a Jeep badge on them;)

The Wrangler will cost a packet in fuel to run, leak badly and are not that cheap on parts.

Remember the Jeep Slogan "There is only one Jeep" worth owning a CJ5

[beforethevision]

Google ads decided to offer this one...


Jeep Engines Australia
Reconditioned Jeep Engines & Heads 3 Year Warranty - Excellent Prices
Welcome to Jeep Engines Australia - The Jeep Engine Specialist (http://www.JeepEngines.com.au)

Concidence? hahahahaha

To be honest, i don't know much at all about them. A friend has a 4L wrangler and loves it.

Cheers!

[camel_landy]

Thirsty, boxy and even more impractical than a Rover... The Jeeps I've had (Cherokee & Grand Cherokee) have been nice cars, I have found them to be thirsty and the load space is quite small too.

That said, I do fancy getting myself a Wrangler. :cool:

Most American cars tend not to be too complicated and remember that they're not known for their Diesel technologies so stick to the big petrol lumps. ;)

HTH

M

[Dmmos]

LOL! Just joined a group on facebook -

'I'd rather push a Land Rover than drive a Jeep'

Hope this helps :p




By the way, just remembered reading one of the 4WD mag's about 6-12 months ago, reviewing some of the new cars... Jeep 'Wrangler Unlimited' or something, broke down and needed to be towed by another car they were reviewing. I don't think I'll even say what car towed it :o

[mcrover]

Mmmmm Jeep Wrongler,

Is it possible to talk him out of it ?

Look in all ohnestly, they are not that bad if you have heaps of money for fuel, want to be hot when it's sunny and wet in the rain and do I need to say cold when it's ......cold....;)

As far as mechaincals go, major expensive problems
if it runs with a slight miss, run,
if it smells fuely, run and
if there is any other colour other than red or green in the radiator.....run.
If there is any noise in the gear train, run
If it feels like it holds in first gear or feels like it sucks the stick into your hand on any gear change run.

Less expensive major Problems,

If the steering box leaks it can cost between $50 and $900 to fix
If there is movement in the uni joints it may be as simple as replacing a uni joint but having a DC in the front shaft (as some of the later ones had) this can cost pretty huge and failure is catastrophic.
Electrical problems are par the course, check engine light when it rains and 1 head light cutting out one day and the other the next or lose all light at the rear.
Heater cores leak......all the time......and to fix it is exxy and not really possible.

I have owned 2 Jeeps, Cherokee 97 and Grand Cherokee 98 and the first the inlaws still have and the second cost me $10k in repairs in 6 months from TC to a couple of computers.

Try and talk him into a Disco or Deefa or even a cute little Suzuki for the increased load space :D

[Yorkshire_Jon]

M'mmmm interesting. Thanks guys...

I wonder if I can persuade him into a 90 - 300Tdi or V8!?!?!? Hope so!

Do you have 90's over there or just the 110 and 130?

[Dmmos]

Try and talk him into a Disco or Deefa or even a cute little Suzuki for the increased load space :D

I've got a cute little Suzuki :)

Not feeling very masculine at the moment though lol

[mcrover]

There are some but they are not easy to find and most that were Aussie delivered were TD5 I think.

[Sleepy]

I like Wranglers - 'specially the new JK - Rubicon.
Nice Diffs, Low Range,Dis-connect sway bars. (Only Petrol in AUS though :()
Get rid of that stupid plastic bumper, bit of a lift and you've got a nice vehicle!




Rolls in Hand grenade - ducks - and quickly runs for cover

[Disco95]

I have a JK Cherokee, 10 months old now and it's still as good as the day we bought it. I know it's not a wrangler, but it's a Jeep and a dream to drive. Don't know what it's like off road though, that's why I kept the Disco:D

[mcrover]

I have a JK Cherokee, 10 months old now and it's still as good as the day we bought it. I know it's not a wrangler, but it's a Jeep and a dream to drive. Don't know what it's like off road though, that's why I kept the Disco:D

Ok, translation.....

Still as good as the day we bought it.......It's been sitting in the dealership being fixed for most of it's life.

Don't know what it's like off road though, that's why I kept the Disco:D.....He doesnt trust it enough to take it off road.....:D

Only joking, they look like a good truck, and I dont know what it is but I still like Jeeps even though Ive been bitten before :D

Try AUSJEEPOFFROAD - Powered by vBulletin (http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com/forum/) for more information on what to look out for

[Randylandy]

I have had my Wrangler for about 2 years now. Only problem I have had was the leaking plastic radiator top tank, fixed it with a bit of blue silicon around the seal as was on Holiday up in Kalbarri when it went. drove it back to perth no problems at all and replaced it with new Brass radiator $550 from Natrad.

Went out with the 4x4 club a few times and was amazed where it could go (its stock but with 31" cooper st) made a few red faces on the modified and locked patrol and cruiser blokes.

Fuel usage is not much different to the au falcon we used to have biggest prob is it only has a 55L tank so you are forever filling it up and makes it seem like is using more than it is.

Just got back from Kalbarri Friday, had taken the back seat out and had my 40L engle(had to jump start a few times from engle working over time) and enuf camping gear for 2 weeks not to mention all the kit the Mrs always insists on taking.

[solmanic]

Sorry but shiny new Wranglers are just too damn gay! :wasntme:


















.....not that there's anything wrong with that mind you...


Don't believe me then just watch a couple of episodes of "Queer as Folk".

Now a beaten up old modified one, that's another story.

[Sleepy]

Sorry but shiny new Wranglers are just too damn gay!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/10/466.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/10/467.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/10/468.jpg


Mmmmmmmmm Ok :D:D:D

[mox]

Some comments regarding some motors in Jeeps: It seems from sources including Land Rover forums that it is best to avoid diesels, or at least earlier ones made by VM /Viemme, which also have a bad reputation in Range Rovers.

The Jeep 6 cylinder in line petrol motor, which has been recently superseded by V6's, has something on common with the Rover V8, ie a very long production life. The 215 cubic inch aluminium block V8 developed by the Buick division of General Motors was bought by Rover in the mid 1960's. Improved versions of it have only recently been superseded in production. Presumably it is not practicable to further modify it to meet target fuel consumption, emission and performance standards. Also, presumably the same applied to the 4 litre / 241 cubic inch Jeep 6.

The Jeep 6 cylinder motor was a new design first produced by by American Motors Corporation in April 1964 for use in AMC /Rambler cars. Jeep at that stage was owned by Kaiser Corporation, that later did a deal for AMC to take it over in 1970. Jeep had tried to develop a 6 cylinder overhead cam motor using some components of an older side valve motor. However, by the time they had largely overcome problems, it had a very bad reputation so they used the pushrod /hydraulic lifter AMC motor, instead. This was originally 232 cubic inches capacity. Later a longer stroke version of 258 cid was used. Around the time AMC was swallowed by Chrysler in 1987 (pity they weren't bailed out of financial difficulties by the US Govt as well as or instead of) the 4 litre version, which had a slightly larger bore, shorter stroke and could rev faster, was produced.

By the early 2000's, many motoring critics were describing this motor as antiquated despite numerous small improvrments over many years. However, they seemed to disregard that compared with late model motors, it was not as dependent on high tech electronics and was generally very reliable. Especially with few problems with valve clearances and timing and of course not being susceptable to major damage from broken timing belts.

Mick

[Shonky]

Mmmmmmmmm Ok :D:D:D

I worry about you sometimes Paul... :eek:

Ol' Ute booked in for his spray job yet? Have you told Troy?! :o

[2 rocks]

Well below is my current Wrangler (after the other was whisked away from me)...although now has a Warn front bar.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa149/2-rocks/2008_0811jeeplift0127.jpg

What's not to like? Especially if you're used to Land Rovers. It's kind of like having an MGB that can go offroad - very well. As Mcrover said - hot when it's hot etc (though I put the hardtop on in winter cos I'm a wuss).

The old I6 4.0l is a crusty old lump, pushrod etc, etc but is bloody reliable and basic. Only one brain for the fuel injection. So not much different to anything else since the mid-80's. Australia only had the petrol I6 motor until the JK's release. Yes they can be very thirsty, and the smallish fuel tank doesn't help the perception of this - they are a trail car not a tourer (though people do...;)).

You say it's a '96 - that would be one very, very early TJ, especially for Aus. If it's a YJ (square headlights) and it's in good nick - tell me where it is and I'll put my suspension in it! I like to be a little bit different (harhar) as the YJ would be an import.

Very capable offroad in stock form although the belly pan tends to be a bit of a plough in deep ruts. A bit of a lift fixes this and a grand or so for a 2" will see it a long way down the track. Your mate could spend as much or as little on mods as he wants - the US market means there is more stuff out there for Wranglers than probably any other 4WD.

Yep plastic radiator can be a pain (I'm lucky enough to have brass), seatbelts stop retracting after while due to dust, dirt etc in the mechanism, O2 sensors can go but are fairly cheap. Uni's are a weak point on the driveline (but hmm D2 front propshafts???) as is the stupid (cost saving) rear drivshaft if you have a lift of 2" plus (throw it away and get a slip yoke eliminator - all better now!). You shouldn't find any rust as they are galvanised. Rear brake drums have a habit of not working (usually due to the amount of mud they have ingested :eek: ). Can crack heads if overheated (like anything).

Jeeps and especially the Wrangler's, CJ's etc are enthusiasts cars - like a Landy - and wheeled mercilessly or can be left stock and just be a little different to the Astra convertible parked next to you at the beach.
Either way - it's fun.
Mike

[2 rocks]

Oh, should have said have a look in the TJ section here:

AUSJEEPOFFROAD.COM (http://www.ausjeepoffroad.com)

Not nearly as big or comprehensive as AULRO but a good source none the less.
Mike

[IWANNAOLDRANGIE]

My wife has an xj cherokee...........horrendous fuel economy......even on lpg..........parts...............either made from unobtainium or extremely expensive.......even with "cheap" parts contacts............but extremely capable off road..........very expensive to modify "seriously" (I think her 3" lift ended up costing close to 3grand by the time is was finished properly)


But with 320,000km and 10yrs it's been no more trouble than our previous v6 commodore

Needless to say I own a rangie though;)