Sage

Well, the title says a lot. My car is in really good shape- has a new engine with only 60K miles, never had a problem with the transmission. Thing is, it seems like things are starting to go bad about once every four months. I'm getting a new starter put in today, I've had hoses replaced, gasket valves replaced, new muffler and catalytic converter, stuff like that. I just want some assurance that this is normal with a 16 year old car, because it's packing a wallop to my purse! Fortunately nothing major has broken on it (like the transmission).

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cyrnel

Yes. Remember, Just Empty Every Pocket.

Really though, 16yrs is a long time. 90-ish Cherokee's had their issues. The transmissions are bullet-proof, the 4.0L can go 200K easily, but some things cause more problems than others.

Bushings will become noisy, fuel pumps go out by ~100K, you'll go through the usual wear items, and if you're in a wet area don't be surprised if you have electrical gremlins in your future. Which transfer case does yours have? (4wd means 242 or 231)

Mufflers, hoses, and such are normal. Even a starter. The catalytic converter should go a long way but may have rusted out. What are the total miles?

One word of warning is that dealers make mucho money on non-mechanical Jeep owners. Nosies lead to service visits which lead to "hey, your muffler bearing is going out!". $$Ka-ching!$$ You can save a bunch by joining a club or online forum to get wider perspectives on anything you notice. Who knows, maybe you'll discover a new hobby?

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There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

Jinn

Jeep and Cherokee dont go in a sentence without being accompanied by "break."

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"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

Sage

Hee hee, thanks guys. It's a helluva quirky car, and I can't say I'm not looking forward to getting a new car, but we've been through good times and bad times and I'm quite attached to it. When it's not breaking all to Jesus it really is a pleasure to drive

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hossified

sounds like you've replaced alot of the typical things that go. All is left is perhaps the rad. Watch it in water / mud....cause that'll eat u-joints and wheel bearings. Actually wheelbearings tend to go quite alot on jeeps whether they are offroaded or not. Best thing to save the wallet is learn to fix it yourself. Jeeps are simple, they are like working ona tractor and there is lots of room also.

Deltona Couple

I disagreewith you there. I have 156k miles on mine, and have had nothing more than a few small (less than $100.00) problems with it. And its a daily driver!

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"It is not that I have failed, but that I have found 10,000 ways that it DOESN'T work!" --Thomas Edison

Bill O'Rights

I had a Cherokee that I found to be extremely dependable. Of course, it did require maintenance, but what vehicle does not?

Bear in mind...I don't believe that the Cherokee was ever intended to be an "off road" vehicle. It was developed to be a highly versatile "grocery grabber". While my Cherokee never once left me stranded, or stuck, I never put it into a position that overtaxed its abilities. So, while I did take it off road occasionaly...it was only occasionaly, and not a weekend hobby.

I was well pleased with the service that I received from my Cherokee.

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"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony

"Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus

It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

shakran

Actually the cherokee is supposedly designed from the ground up as an offroad vehicle, and Jeep brags about that by stamping "trail rated" on each one. So if it can't hack the trail, there's some lyin' coming out of Chrysler

Bill O'Rights

A.) Mine was an AMC, which was, in my opinion, a superior product to Chrysler's "Jeep". Probably not...but that's my take.

B.) I never said that they couldn't "hack the trail". I implied that they can't take the punishment that a CJ can. And I do believe that to be the case. I just don't think that they were ever intended to take that kind of a pounding, over an extended period of time. They are an excellent and versatile little car that does extremely well in adverse road conditions, unpaved surfaces, and some open terrain. I get more use out of my truck, or I would not hesitate for a second to own another one.

__________________
"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony

"Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus

It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

Deltona Couple

Again I am amazed by what I am hearing. The Cherokee is a VERY versatile off-road vehicle, and is WIDELY becoming more popular among Jeepers. I take mine off-road ALL the time, and it works very well, keeping up with some of the more robust CJ, TJ, and YJs out there. It may not be exactly the same, but still, it is a VERY good performer off-road!

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"It is not that I have failed, but that I have found 10,000 ways that it DOESN'T work!" --Thomas Edison

pocon1

nothing to say

blade02

They seem to do allright off road to me... then again... this is just one of the thousands made http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...eep+jump&hl=en

Sage

Alrighty, to clarify-

This is an everyday car. I don't take it offroad, and the one previous owner didn't take it offroad. I think part of the reason that issues keep coming up is because of the age, combined with the fact it was an extra car for the previous owner and it sat in a garage for months at a time. While a lot was replaced on the car when I got it, a lot is just breaking down due to age.

Thanks for the replies tho. I find my car to be very dependable, although quirky as hell (anyone ever heard of the crank sensor? Dumbest idea EVER). I really love my car and will be sorry to see it go in some ways, but in other ways I heartily welcome the day I can buy something else and not have to wonder what's going to break next!

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cyrnel

What? Heresy! Everybody loves replacing the cps.

Seriously though, that should be a rare one. It's worth buying the dealer item just so you don't have to do it again soon.

__________________
There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

Deltona Couple

Without the crank sensor on ANY of the cars made pretty much since the late 90s, There is no spark....the crank sensor basically replaced the distributor. and ANYONE that has worked on cars knows how often THOSE things went bad! So actually, the crank sensor was one of the BEST ideas for engines. It sets the basis for ignition timing, and the ECM also uses it to base injector timing as well. Although they COULD have picked a better location for it than the back of the engine....lol.

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"It is not that I have failed, but that I have found 10,000 ways that it DOESN'T work!" --Thomas Edison

SugahBritches

I LOVED my '96 Jeep Cherokee! I don't think there was many things that we did replace on it before selling it two years ago.

I do remember the rotors/bearings---brake pads (something like that) being replaced twice. It use to viberate really bad when going off the interstate into the ramps. It would about shake your hands off the steering wheel!

I guess I am hell on wheels as bad as I am on computer monitors! LOL But, I do miss my old "grocery getter". And it was that teal green color---I called this kind of color "Jacksonville Jaguar" color. The boss and I hadn't planned on selling it, but a neighbor offered to buy it for his 83 yr old dad......and well, we did. It was a great jeep. Went through two teenagers and was used as an extra for anyone that needed it. And last I heard, it is still on the road.

The boss and I love jeeps. We have had 2 CJs, 1 Cherokee and now we own a '93 YJ wrangler.

newtx

Its not unusual to have repairs every few months with a 16 year old car. I've always considered the occaisonal repairs much easier to deal with than having a car note every month. Find a trusted local mechanic in a small shop and it will save you a ton of money.