1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer from North America - Comments

My 1989 Jeep Grand Wagoneer didn't survive the third fire. The first time it was burned happened at the gas station when the catalytic converter overheated and started a fire. The interior of the car had to be completely restored.

The second fire was due to a short in the wiring harness.

The third fire was the fatal one. The engine started smoking while parked at a service station. The engine was off and the cause of the fire is unknown because the engine was so badly burned.

The Jeep seemed to be part of the family, and we are all so sad because it is gone. It can't be replaced by anything on the market. Despite the many problems we had with it through the years, it always stopped running at a place where I could get help and continue on my way.

We bought the Jeep Grand Wagoneer because of its classic style and its reputation for dependability. It lived up to its looks, but not to its reputation. We loved it anyway.

I owned a 1990 Grandwagoneer which is to say that it was the same as the 1989 model. I had nothing, but problems with it, replacing smog pumps 3 times, distributors twice and carburators twice also.once, the hot Nevada sun melted the wire insulation on two of it's doors and another time, while on the freeway, the catalytic converter almost cought fire, it's orange glow alerting a good samaritan taxi driver that was driving behind it.Yet, through it all I loved this wagon...love, I guess, blinds you.

I also have a 1990 Grandwagoneer with 163,000 miles on her. However I have to say she has been one of the strongest trucks I have ever owned.

Granted parts are hard to find for good prices and the truck can be a pain to work on!!! Seeing as the big V-8 is packed into such a small space. Not to mention vacuum hoses every where. And the gas mileage is terrible, but I can't say that I have had the problems you all have had.

The only thing I have had to replace was the power steering pump and the high pressure line at 133,000 miles. And yes there are other small faults such as the headliner falling out and the crappy carb. But nothing major at all as of yet.

The biggest problem I'm having now is with the 4 wheel drive. Once engaged it will lock and unlock back and forth. And I must admit it's my own fault. I had a buddy with a stuck K5 Blazer in about 5 foot of mud. And to top it off his left driver side rear tire was hung up on an old tree stump. After several hard jerks in 4 Low I got the Blazer out. But I'm afraid that something is wrong. Must be a vacuum line. You can hear the air leaking in the selector switch as it tries to lock and unlock. Any suggestions would be great.

Besides that she has been a great truck, and has taken rather hard abuse on my part very well both on and off road. I once pulled a loaded trailer weighing 12,000 lbs at a distance of 40 miles. You see I worked in construction and all the other heavy duty trucks were out on other job sites. So I volunteered to pull it with my Wagoneer. She did not even grunt. She pulled just as well as those 550 Super Duty Fords. The only side affect was that it sits about an inch and a half lower in the rear now. But that's all. The tranny didn't even get hot. I know it sounds unreal, but it's the truth. I know I shouldn't have done this because they are not rated to pull this amount of weight, but I couldn't help, but to show off to all my fellow coworkers.

I'm not saying that the problems you all have had isn't true. I just wanted to tell every one about how well my Jeep Wagoneer has done. And one more thing, when my buddies and I go out on a 4 wheeling trip. It's usually my Wagoneer that gets them unstuck. It's almost as if claws come out of the tires and grab the dirt and mud. I love it!!! I just wish there were more web sites dedicated to after market parts for off road use. Sites comparable to the Cherokees. You can find tons of parts for them. Every thing from lift kits to roll bars. Does any one know of any after market Grand Wagoneer sites? If so please let me know. Thanks all and good luck with your Wagoneers!!!

The air noise from the 2wd 4wd selector when shifting is normal, check out BJ's offroad. com and ifsja.org...I've got an 85 so I know how these things are, good luck!