2000 Jeep Cherokee XJ 4.0

Summary:

Can be a great car or a junk, it is all about service

General Comments:

I bought my XJ 2 months ago, I did a lot of search on the Internet and I asked many people about the car, I really wanted a low price "REAL" 4x4, some people really loved it and some just hate it.

So I bought a 2000 XJ, automatic gearbox, lifted 3 inches with 31x 10.5 tires, very good looking car. The dealer told me that the engine, gearbox, rear diff is changed -limited slip diff- dana 44, I was happy to know this.

BUT, the car started to show me the other face LOL, I had oil leak in the power steering, the engine and the gearbox - I consider myself that I know cars, but I trusted the dealer so I didn't check the car.

Then I had some other problems; the idle was always high, which is causing me a high gas mileage, I checked it, then I had the following; the engine and the gearbox are fine, but for an XJ 1994, and the car computer is for XJ 2000 and the distributor is for an XJ 2000, so the electronics were not talking to the engine in harmony, so the previous mechanics just made the idle higher to substitute the poor harmony.

Then the oxygen sensor was not working, and my mechanics were not able to change it because it will get "burned" again; because the catalyst was take off, so when you buy an XJ, make sure that you have the catalyst.

Then I had a problem with the electrical windows, I can control them from the driver's panel, but not from the doors. It is a very common thing in the XJ, it is a matter of wiring, easy to solve.

Then I had a noise in doors, of course the doors pins - very common problem as well, then I had a noise in the rear drive shaft, just changed the crosses in the U-joints, very common in XJ.

I had the horn not working :), it is the "airbag connector thing" has to be changed.

However, despite all of the above, it a damn powerful ride, it goes anywhere, it is really powerful, and the lift kit and the tires make unbelievable.

Now the dealer is going to do me a favor and change the whole car LOL, with another XJ 2000 manual trans. But this time I will check it carefully.

Bottom line, buy Cherokee if it is well serviced and you will get a real off roader, otherwise just run away from it, or you will pay tons of money to repair it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th February, 2010

17th Mar 2011, 02:15

I got a 1992 XJ with 306750 on the original motor and tranny! This has been the greatest thing since sliced cheese!

My only complaint is the lack of cup holders.