Someone tell me about the ZJ

[Viggen]

Is there a guide somewhere? I have been through Rovers and Land Cruisers and now need something that is cheap to maintain and has enough room in it for 3 and a Beagle. I have come across a couple of ZJs that are solid, clean inside and out, and cheap (like very cheap) because they are not running at the moment. Easy enough for me to run some basic tests and figure it out. I had an XJ and at 6'3" did not like it. It was cramped and felt to me like a wet noodle on the trail. I am thinking that the ZJ will be better. From road tests, it feels much more solid than the XJ ever did and roomier but I just do not know enough about them. Coils on all four corners is nice. Aftermarket makes fitment of 33's and other "necessities" a point and a click away.

I know that there are a couple of ZJ owners as I have seen some photos. Looking for a knowledge drop. I am looking at a 95 5.2 Limited right now. I know what to look for electrically and mechanically on FJ60s and RRC/ D1s. Not so much on the Jeeps.

Thanks.

 

[DarinM]

Wish I could help you some. My in-laws gave us a 97 with the I-6. I'm learning as I go as my experience is all with the TJ, YJ, & CJs. We've had ongoing issues with the PCM and I've found all kinds of "fixes" in various forums. I've tried a few and to my surprise, the thing has gone from being untrustworthy all the time to being trustworthy about 99% of the time now. I'm researching fixes for the receiver/dryer drain now. Seems as though it was a design flaw - appears to be a small tube running behind the dash that opens into the frame rail where the water just runs out. My understanding is that you have to disassemble the dash and cut an access hole to get to this thing. I'm hoping I can find something less invasive, but the water in the passenger floorboard isn't acceptable.

Other than these, I really, really like this Jeep. It feels very solid going down the road. The I-6 in this platform with the 4 speed auto has plenty of power. It's getting around 16 mpg - I think I can probably improve that with a complete tune-up that I'll be doing in the next couple of weeks. This thing is a keeper for sure. The in-laws gave it up because the dealership was quoting them a couple thousand minimum to get it to run right, plus another thousand or so due to some "transfer case" problem. They asked if I wanted it to work on. Linkage tightened down and adjusted - free. No more "transfer case" problem. So far I'm about $40 into this Jeep. The price is definitely right and I'm definitely learning more about them all the time.

 

[Viggen]

I read your thread. I am looking at a '95 5.2 hopefully this weekend. It doesnt run but the OP says it is not due to mechanicals. He thought it was the battery so he replaced it and nothing came of it. the 318 is an old as dirt motor, it will not be that hard to figure it out I think. He is just done with it. Photos I have gotten show it to be solid with no rust showing (but I will crawl around it).


Anyone know how bad/ good the electricals are in these things?

Someone posted and then deleted a comment that the WJ is stiffer. I know that but I also think that the WJ is hideous (and a LOT more expensive than a solid, no running ZJ is).

 

[Zemiller]

I loved my '96 5.2. Was a very solid rig. Comfortable, stable, and trouble free. Had 156k on it when I sold it, about 10k of that was me in the 3 yrs I drove it. Got 14-15mpg with a 6.5" long arm kit and 33s on steel wheels.
Keep good seal in the sun roof, they leak, water runes down the length of the headliner, front to back, and makes everything smell like mold and you'll swear it's the rear hatch leaking... it's not
My d35 problems revolved around the track bar relocation bracket on the axle. It looked like too much leverage on the stock bracket, which doubles as the upper control arm bracket. Ripped off on a dirt road, spun axle tubes, and junked the whole thing. I wasn't even wheeling the thing! Just cruising down fire roads.
Other than that, 3 trouble free years of exploring the woods, camping, and mild wheeling :wings:

 

[jeep-N-montero]

The vehicle has been on the market for 21 years with numerous dedicated forums, pull up google to start typing in any questions you might have and the answers will appear. And to get you started, 97-98 were the best years of the ZJ.

 

[Viggen]

I am trying to stay 95 and prior due to emissions inspections and allowing for OBDI instead of II. I found pretty much all of the information that I was looking for. Im going to try and get out there to check it out. Being a unibody, rust is my biggest concern and the few photos I have gotten thus far show none. I figure at a few hundred and some basic troubleshooting, I could have it back out on the road for nothing.

 

[goneagain]

Having owned and serviced well over 3-400 jeeps in the last few years, I would run the other way. the ZJ is riddled with issues. THe chrysler trans has a 80% failure rate by 150k miles, and most fail within 100k miles. new transmissions run several thousand, and are also weak. The onboard diagnostic/security/electrical systems integrate everything from a bad blinker bulb to low engine coolant, to dome light function. in other words, if a domelight bulb is bad, it may engage the security system such that the vehicle wont start, or run the battery dead while unattended. not to mention all the trouble lights that you can never remove.

the PCMs are known for failure, causing the engine to die at random intervals, sometime starting immediately, sometimes takes overnight.

the drivetrain is inferior, and most guys end up switching over to XJ drivetrain.

The reason it felt more solid in your test drive is due to the added insulation. they are a very nice car to drive. but not reliable in the least.

 

[Viggen]

Yeah, I have decided against it. My XJ was not the best thing and after spending a little more time in the ZJ, I am going to avoid the shoddy (sorry Jeep guys) Chryco quality and go with something else.

 

[goneagain]

I wouldnt say chrysler is junk. XJs really are nice rigs. then again, if you have a junker, then it is a junker through and through. Id look at the later model, 1997-2001 cherokees before you write them off. One thing you will never find with a cherokee, a bad automatic trans.

 

[Viggen]

Yeah, I never had a mechanical issue with the auto in my XJ but I had plenty of TCM problems with it. Upshift under throttle and then downshift when cruising into the wrong (3rd) gear. I was hoping that the ZJ, being the right size I am looking for, would be a better truck. It is looking like it is not. No big deal. The late 80s, 90s and early 00s were not kind to Chryco.

 

[goneagain]

sounds more like a TV cable mis adjustment issue than a TCM. if a TCM goes bad (which is rare), the trans goes into limp mode and will only shift manually.

 

[Viggen]

It wasnt the cable. If I remember correctly, the AW4 TCM shifted through the application of power to two solenoids. I ended up rigging switches to allow me to control power to the solenoids and control which gear it was in. Once I did that, all the gears were available to me again. It was the TCM, not the cable adjustment. I eventually replaced the TCM and it went back to operating as it should. I ended up selling it. Going cross axled and you could feel the thing twisting (and it was 100% rust free and solid). Got tired of that.

The ZJ feels a little more solid but the other stuff is not worth the effort. A WJ could be an option but I think that they are bulbous looking.

 

[goneagain]

Going cross axled and you could feel the thing twisting (and it was 100% rust free and solid). Got tired of that.

Due to the unibody design.

A WJ could be an option but I think that they are bulbous looking.

all XJ/ZJ/WJ suvs are unibody. the WJ is huge, like dwarfs a ZJ huge. also full of issues, including trans. the 4.7 is a grenade too.

 

[Viggen]

Due to the unibody design.

Yup, sure is. I do not mind that as long as it is relatively stiff. The ZJ is a little more but still not.

all XJ/ZJ/WJ suvs are unibody. the WJ is huge, like dwarfs a ZJ huge. also full of issues, including trans. the 4.7 is a grenade too.

Every Grand Cherokee is unibody. As for things being grenades, typical Chryco.