Replaced the transfer case, Jeep only had rear wheel drive when I bought it. The 229 transfer case was fairly difficult to find and the Jeep was out of commission for 5 weeks.
The Ford carbuerator leaves much to be desired. I would have rated reliability higher if not for it. This is a re-manufactured carb and is not that old. Very problematic.
Rear wiper and washer were non-operational when bought. Can't get a new wiper setup for the tailgate on a newer model, but can get one for an older model (1984 and older).
Rear defrost non-operational when bought.
Rear window out of track, but still operational.
Headliner is slowly, but surely coming down.
Overall this vehicle is sound. I like it allot (I'm a big AMC fan) but as with every vehicle, it has its problems.
It could definitely use a bigger gas tank. 20 gallons at 10 miles a gallon sometimes just doesn't cut it.
The AMC designed V-8 is great, lots of power and relatively easy to work on. But, as mentioned above, the Ford carburetor sucks (I'm a carb kinda guy too). The most unreliable carb Ford made just had to be utilized on this vehicle. Oh well.
Great ride, excellent interior, lots of room, nice and heavy and still made of steel, minimal computer usage means you can still work on it yourself if you wish. Most parts are not a problem to get with the exception of the few mentioned above. This truck will smash through a brick wall and keep going.
Looks great too. Has that awesome vintage look to it. Big button door handles, vinyl wood siding, roof rack, it just plain looks good!
10 mpg?
Gee, when gas reaches $5.00 a gallon I guess we will have guys like you to thank!
Well, I guess that's one way of looking at it. Demand does help determine the price of products in any given market (especially when there is too much money/power on the supply and distribution end to regulate). BUT, we're talking "cars" not "politics".
I have a 1990 Jeep Grand Wagoneer and love it!
However I find it rather hard to work on the big V-8 in such a small area.
I have also found it hard to find parts for. Other than it being a pain to work on, I have not had any major problems yet.
The biggest one I have now is with the 4 wheel drive. Once I'm in 4 wheel drive, the air lockers lock and unlock back and forth. I think I may have an air leak, but am not sure. Any suggestions?
It's not exactly an 'air' system that controls the four wheel drive in your GW. It is, however, a vacuum system. Sounds like you have a vacuum leak. Time to buy some new vacuum lines. They're not hard to find. The problem could be at your switch, or at your actuator (the part that moves a lever at the transfer case depending on the direction of the vacuum flow.)
Good luck!
Ref.
Full-size GW's 4WD is 'in' when vacuum is off, look at the linkage with vehicle off, then crank up and see the vacuum pull the actuators (at transfer case and front axle) pull the 4WD to off position. This is to allow vehicle to stay in 4WD if vacuum leaks occur (or a hose is pulled off by ground debris) when 4WD is needed to get out of problem area. In other words 4WD is activated by absence of vacuum and is deactivated by presence of vacuum (through switches to actuators).
Note: A Comments RSS Feed is available. New comments appear in the Members Area before the main site