Cherokee Owners

[88whitemanche]

Hey guys

I just traded my gmc Sonoma for a 98 cherokee 4.0 aw4 231....I am please to say its in good shape but it does need some maintenance....

 

 

 

 

 

 

What can you guys do to advise me to look for while I tear into the truck?

Thanks any info is always welcome

[johnny quest]

fix the stuff that needs fixin, and then keep it stock.

[88whitemanche]

You mean motor wise? I'm replacing now as we speak the radiator because it cracked at the seam....man what a headache compared to the 4cyl motors...but it's a learning experience

[gogmorgo]

A headache? Really? Must be the '97+ front end. It took me a half-hour to pull the rad out of my '91 4.0, and everything was straight forward. Everything just unbolted and lifted off in about six pieces. The marker lights and headlight bezels had to come off, but I left all the other trim pieces on the header panel, and then the fan shroud and e-fan lifted out with the upper rad support.

[ComancheKid45]

I'm just as much of a fan of XJs as I am MJs......Youll love it! 

[88whitemanche]

Well it's a 98....took a few hours mainly because the lower tranny line at the radiator has a quick disconnect that it was pretty much rusted so I had to on blast it for a bit so it can get loose...other than that it's straight forward...just time consuming it's my second jeep and first 4.0

[gogmorgo]

Yeah, mine had the quick disconnect, too. It took me a bit to figure out how to make it work, but once I did it came off pretty easily. It also took me a bit to figure out how to get the radiator half off and put it on the new rad. All in all it felt like it was more work prepping the new rad to go in than it was to pull the old one off. I also had to transfer the rubber bushings/mounts over to the new one, and then retap the studs on the top because they'd been painted over.

I was actually surprised by how easily the rad went in and out. It seems like every time I try to do something on my MJ something breaks, or won't go back in right, or whatever. The entire time I was working on it, I had that feeling that I had to be doing something wrong because there was no way it could be that easy... but so far no leaks and nothing's fallen off, so I guess I win?

[Rockfrog]

i can rip the front end off my '00 in half the time it takes to do the same for the 88 MJ .... and yeah the '00 doesn't fight me the whole way either.

 

98 is a good year for the XJ, so's early 99.

[88whitemanche]

Ok so my next question is regarding the transmision....it has 160k miles and I don't know nothing about the service history of the truck...do I still do a fluid flush and filter change anyways? Or do I ride it out till it goes on me?

 

*the transmission is still in good running form*

[Sir Sam]

Ya those 97+ quick disconnects suck compared to the older style. About the hardest part of the job there.