Grand Cherokee opinions

[ox4mag]

We just bought an 07 WK with the 3.0L CRD engine and I have to say, the IFS suspension and engine platform make it an awesome vehicle for this purpose. Other than significant ground clearance issues which can be fixed, I love this vehicle and will be using it and our Rubicon as frequently as we can.

Good luck!

 

[The Swiss]

It's a wonderful fix. Replace rotors with "better" designed OEM rotors, which also warp. Oh well.

Replaced my completely warped original rotors at 18,000 miles with the better OEM rotors and they lasted for ever. I still had those when I sold my WJ with 127,000 miles.

 

[Root Moose]

If you buy I'd go for the 4.7 V8 and Select-Trac (NV242J) if you can find one. MY2000 was first year and they seem to be a rare combination. This will give you 2WD in the transfer case and the V8 gets about the same mileage as the 4.0, I'd suspect more once you get bigger tires on there.

The 4.7 gets you a different transmission as well (45RFE/545RFE). The 45RFE can be "flashed" to become a work-a-like to the 545RFE five speed automatic.

Plastic radiators and pump housings and stuff can be replaced proactively.

If you have small kids, 2003 was the first year of the LATCH system.

I put together a little table that lays out the changes in the WJs over the years they were produced. It's basically just a regurg' of what is at wjjeeps.com. The colours are for things of interest to me. If there is something there that really interests you confirm it against wjjeeps.com before taking it for gospel.

http://moose.ca/content/downloads/WJ_Notes.pdf

I've got a soft spot for the WJ. If something were to happen to my XJ that's likely what I'd get next if I stuck with Jeeps.

 

[JChatary]

I bought mine bone-stock with 85k on it...of course with high mileage comes the not-so-fun yet necessary repairs/maintenance...but after all that...mine is running strong...on & off road!

 

[4Rescue]

I appreciate the insight. I am concerned about ground clearance issues and I don't want to tear up a nice rig. A Taco/TRD with a light shell may be a better choice. No kids so don't really need the seating.

Go with the Taco... Or an FZJ80.

The WJ can be built into a pretty damn capable rtail rig, but frankly it'll cost youboth in build cost and eventual maintinence.

I do find it odd that they list the V8 as LESS prone to problems than the 4.0L... Honestly I've had my issues with the 4.0L here and there (water-pumps going out freakishly, crank-sensor failures causing ECU blow-ups etc) but all in all I consider them to be pretty reliable motors. If we were talking abou the old 318 (5.2 V8 out of the old Grand) I could see that but I'm not to sold on the 4.7 as of yet.

Cheers

Dave

 

[ZREM]

I own a 99 WJ with the V8 and Quadra-Trac II. I really love this Jeep, but it has treated me poorly. I bought it 4 years ago and it has been great for the last 3, but at 103k it seems everything's going at once. The blend doors broke at about 95k (avoidable by not buying a limited) easy fix with heater treater, otherwise big money to retain the dual climate control. This WILL fail if you buy a limited. I've had many small issues that add up quick...both rear axle seals have been replaced, front CV boot, rear output shaft leaked, power steering pump, speed sensor in tranny, and (no fault of Jeep) my 3" lift has resulted in tons of money and parts thrown at a case of death wobble that still isn't fixed.

Not fixed, but needed are the broken exhaust manifold bolt and soon to be dead heater core...but like I said, I love this Jeep. It runs like a top and has plenty of power. The seats are comfy and the amenities are great.

I've recently decided to be rid of it and will be looking at Subaru Outbacks and Foresters. I've had 2 back surgeries in the last 18 months and a bumpy trail just isn't fun anymore.

If you go the WJ route, I'd say look for the V8 and 242 TC combo.

On the other hand, I see plenty go to well over 150k w/o "major" problems, but it seems the few engineering flaws happen to most of them (Blend Doors, Exhaust Manifold, Brakes)

If I had it to do all over again I would have bought a 4-Runner or LC.

Just my 2 cents...

Cheers,

Court

 

[wADVr]

I dont have much to add other than I have seen a TON of WJs with bad 4.7 V8s going for cheap on craigslist. Several with tranny issues as well. Personally I think they arent as reliable as I would want and also too expensive to repair/replace the engine/tranny. I solid 4.0 would be my choice and when the head went I would swap in the head from a pre 2000 model.

I could be wrong though, correct me if wrong.

 

[Tumbleweed]

Frankly, after much more searching; I find the Grand Cherokee to not be the one for me. My truck sale did not go through so no cash available. I am looking into a trade on a semi built XJ that may prove to be more for me. I don't want maintenance nightmares and am somewhat leary of the more pricey and newer rigs.

 

[wADVr]

A 2001 Xj has a low pinion front axle and the crack prone head but otherwise a great setup. Both relitively easy to swap compared to the whole engine/tranny. XJs have an AW4 auto which is a toyota tranny-very reliable.

 

[Taz]

Go with the Taco... Or an FZJ80.

The WJ can be built into a pretty damn capable rtail rig, but frankly it'll cost youboth in build cost and eventual maintinence.

I do find it odd that they list the V8 as LESS prone to problems than the 4.0L... Honestly I've had my issues with the 4.0L here and there (water-pumps going out freakishly, crank-sensor failures causing ECU blow-ups etc) but all in all I consider them to be pretty reliable motors. If we were talking abou the old 318 (5.2 V8 out of the old Grand) I could see that but I'm not to sold on the 4.7 as of yet.

Cheers

Dave

Why? How long does it take to get sold on an engine? They have been out for around 10 years now.

 

[4Rescue]

Why? How long does it take to get sold on an engine? They have been out for around 10 years now.

Well compared to the 318 (5.2) they're not showing they're age too well. While the old lump was low-tech (I had esentialy the same short block in my 73 Dart in High School) and probably inneficient as all get out it w as solid motor that was REAL simple to work on. As has been stated the 4.7 isn't known to be as reliable as the first post indicated. ANd again, the 4.0L is real inneficient but it pulls well and was pretty robust although in my case not real consistant from truck to truck with what should have been the exact same motor. Don't get me wrong, I like the concept of a modern FI V8 with good breathing heads etc, but I don't know that I'd buy it from Chrysler and I'm a Mopar guy when it comes to domestics (I've owned 7 all in, to my 1 Toyota and I don't think I'm going back).

Isn't it amazing how time flies though, I had to think about it a minute when you said they'd been running them for 10 years now...I guess I didn't know they'd been around for so long.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Outdoorsben]

If you're buying a Grand Cherokee get the V8 and if you're getting an XJ get a 99 and prior. 00+ have a different head and will come across a head issue or head gasket issue a bit over 100k.

 

[Taz]

Well compared to the 318 (5.2) they're not showing they're age too well. While the old lump was low-tech (I had esentialy the same short block in my 73 Dart in High School) and probably inneficient as all get out it w as solid motor that was REAL simple to work on. As has been stated the 4.7 isn't known to be as reliable as the first post indicated. ANd again, the 4.0L is real inneficient but it pulls well and was pretty robust although in my case not real consistant from truck to truck with what should have been the exact same motor. Don't get me wrong, I like the concept of a modern FI V8 with good breathing heads etc, but I don't know that I'd buy it from Chrysler and I'm a Mopar when it comes to domestics (I've owned 7 all in, to my 1 Toyota and I don't think I'm going back).

Isn't it amazing how time flies though, I had to think about it a minute when you said they'd been running them for 10 years now...I guess I didn't know they'd been around for so long.

Cheers

Dave

I was just curious as if you had seen things I hadn't, all I know is the 2 I have owned I haven't had any issues with. Heck I didn't even have the radiator problems, I did however lose a 4.0 after 55,000 miles. They are supposed to be a reliable work horse. I realize that everyone will have different experiences and I love to hear them.

 

[Booner]

Not a 99-04, or even a WJ, but my 98 ZJ has been extremely reliable and capable. It has the 4.0 auto with 186K on the clock, never a mechanical problem. Three inch BDS suspension w/ adjustable track bars and sway bar discos. Auburn EcTed in the rear Dana 35, open front Dana 30. PowerTank OBA, home made winch bumper with an el cheapo SmittyBuilt XRC8000 winch. It has been to a lot of places on road and off, and has always brought us home. It's a bummer that DC has changed the Grand into an expensive mall crawler. Woudln't mind having a hemi version for around town though...:sombrero:

 

[4Rescue]

I was just curious as if you had seen things I hadn't, all I know is the 2 I have owned I haven't had any issues with. Heck I didn't even have the radiator problems, I did however lose a 4.0 after 55,000 miles. They are supposed to be a reliable work horse. I realize that everyone will have different experiences and I love to hear them.

Have I personaly had an issue with the 4.7, no, I've never owned one, I'm merely pointing out what you and I have both probably read on the internet so my info may be like everything else you read on the internet, total crap... HAHAHAHA, actualy the Jeep guy my dad takes his remaining XJ to (it's a 98 up country 4.0L-HO) had a Comander sitting in one of his bays and I belive it was in because of the crank speed sensor or some annoying electrical gremlin in the motor.

As for the 4.0L... Tell me about it. I had one XJ with 192K on it with the original motor in it, no issues just regular stuff. I had another that puked the waterpump (at 61K) and overheated rather quickly pulling a long grade out in Eastern Oregon. Another (I've had a few XJ's in my day ) blew a HG kind of randomly, I think I may have had a faulty temp guage because I swear the thing never got over half way up the temp guage. AND finnaly, my dad's 98 just chucked the crank senson witch somehow fried the ECU??? I didn't get the full chain of events but apparently it's not an uncommon thing to have happen.

Like I've said in other threads the thing that I think is really tough for Jeep is consistancy and QCing. Clearly some of the run forever and some just fall flat on their faces and there's no real rhyme or reason to it, it's just kind of "well, you got a bad one..." wich shouldn't happen to things coming off an assembly line that has good QC and consistant high quality parts...

Cheers

Dave