2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport

[dinghyboy]

I have been trying to find a Jeep cherokee for my 19 year old daughter. I'm being pretty picky but my 2 main criteria are no rust and 100,000 miles or less. I want her to be able to drive relatively trouble free for a couple of years to finish college then she's on her own. I was hoping to find a 1999 or a 1998 model but am not having much luck. I have come across a 2001 that looks pretty reasonable. Should I be overly concerned about head cracking issues or was this only a problem on a small percent of vehicles that were "mistreated." Is there an exterior check of the engine I can do to see if the head has cracked. i.e. common spot where it may leak fluid?

 

Thanks for your input.

 

Gavin

[dinghyboy]

Just found out the head was replaced about a month ago with a re-manufactured head. Does this make me feel better or worse? Jeep has 102,000 miles.

 

Gavin

[sinkrun]

Somewhere once I found a chart with mile/falure comparison rates can't find it now. It was and is HIGH if theres any brown in the antifreeze you most likely have a problem don't assume its just dirty. If its clean priced right get it put a different year head on it and be done.

[sinkrun]

Is  the good oil pressure good? What head year did he use?

[dinghyboy]

Is  the good oil pressure good? What head year did he use?

The replacement head is a 0331 casting Clearwater cylinder head.  Is that a good thing or bad?

 

Gavin

[sinkrun]

That should be a good one, as long as the oil pressures good I would go for it. I cracked and cooked A 2001 engine at 150000 put a used head on it as I didnt have much money at the time. That same jeep is sitting here with 227,000 on the same original block with used head still runs strong but it is getting noisy. I have another 2001 I bought knowing it was cracked had 85000 miles pulled the head off and the pistons were melted that one got a new engine.

[DirtyComanche]

I'd not worry about it since the head was replaced.

[Minuit]

Take off the oil fill cap and look around for a "TUPY" marking on the head. If it's there it's the fixed design. If it's not there even if it's "new" (read: reman junk) there is a risk of cracking.