Looking for WJ

[831_xj]

In search for a 1999-2004 grand cherokee stock

4.7 or 4.0 doesnt matter
Needs to be 4wd AND have a functioning A/C

Dark grey blue or white preferred but not a necessity

Please keep an eye out if you hunt craigslist or see or hear anything where you guys live!

 

[Bryan C.]

Look for an 03 or 04 with a 4.0L and a select track transfer case. We have a customer at the shop who has over 480,000 miles on his, and several in yhe 200,000+ range with original engine amd trans. The 4.7 is a problematic engine and should be avoided.

 

[831_xj]

Ok good info! I had thought the 4.7 wasn't too bad.

If we can find a decent deal were willing to travel.

Mariah's basically getting 4k before her affidavit ...
Not sure where they're finding high mileage zjs for 4k but she's not complaining

 

[Starboard M]

I would trust Bryans experience more than my own as his sample size will be much bigger, but I have a higher mileage 4.7 and havent had any real issues. Seems to be quite a few high mileage WJs running around here, seems to be a decent mix between the 4.0, 4.7 and 4.7HO

The issues that the WJs have seem to be everything but the engines. Leaking heater core, death wobble, 247 going out, blower motors going out, etc.


Didnt the 4.0 come with the crummy 4re tranny that has/had issues?

 

[blondejoncherokee]

Yeah we still sometimes get "pre DW" im our 4.7.
But the all brand new front end parts mask it. And 3 stabilizers .

 

[Bryan C.]

WJs have more bump steer than death wobble but crappy out of balance tires will shake any front end.

The 42RE in the 99 to 04 WJs is actually pretty good. There is a problem with a pressure transducer setting a fault code but that is easily replaced once the pan is off.

The 4.7L has a bad history of failed valve guides and burned valve seats, blown head gaskets, warped heads, and blown radiators. The 4.7HO version is slightly more reliable but I have done a ton of work on them too.

Matt is right about the rest of the vehicle falling apart. Broken door wiring, blend door problems on the ATC models, leaking heater cores, t-case problems, the aluminum rear diff bearings going out and lockers making noise, front diff bearings, CV boots constantly tearing, front diff axle seal leaks, transmissions blowing up due to improperly installed primary filters and blown out side plates on the valve bodies. Add to that bad window regulators, crappy power seat adjusters, a/c line leaks, sun roof tracks breaking, and door panels that never stay secure.

Honestly, I'm not sure if there is anything on a WJ that I haven't fixed, removed, or replaced. I bought a brand new fully loaded 2001 Limited many years ago, ex wife had nothing but problems with it and she wound up selling it after dumping a couple grand into it.

IF I ever bought another one, without a doubt it would be an 04, 4.0l, 42re, select trac t-case, manual HVAC and cloth interior w/o power.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

very good to know.
yeah our tires are brand spanking new. I plan to eventually swap out the radiator as preventative maintenance.

 

[yossarian19]

Pff. If you don't overheat the 4.7, it's fine - makes torque / power in the same places as the 4.0 but more of it.

 

[Bryan C.]

Pff. If you don't overheat the 4.7, it's fine

Umm, no. My experience with the WJ and the 4.7L over the last 16 years tells me different.

 

[yossarian19]

Interesting.

 

[Rob D]

Also, the 4.7's have a tendency to randomly break the rear most exhaust manifold bolts, primarily the driver's side but either side can break. While not super difficult to replace, they are a bit of a p.i.t.a. just due to lack of room to work. Other than that, my daughter's '04 has had the driver's window regulator go out and the power steering pump failed in the 4 years that we've owned it. Other than that, I do like the vehicle.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

Yeah our wj rear manifold bolts snapped off. Easy fix but hard to reach.