1990 Jeep Cherokee from North America - Comments

Two years ago I bought my first Jeep (1990 Cherokee Laredo, Selec-Trac" that allows me full-time 4WD) for a whopping 2,700 bucks. The older man that I bought it from thought that he had dumped off a piece of junk on me, but after giving the Cherokee that maintenance that it was due many miles ago, it was off-road ready! I just love my Jeep, and all of the desert and mountain driving (Southern California/Mexico) I have been doing. For less than $4K, I have an SUV that leaves nothing to be desired from the newer generation SUV’s available at the dealer for seven to ten times more the price. Even if I invest several thousand dollars more in the years to come.

Sounds like someone had a bad one!

I own a 1990 jeep Cherokee with 180k plus miles on it.

Sure my Jeep can be a real headache at times. I've had the usual annoying problems and quirks that they are all known for.. replacing sensors...water intrusion fouling up wiring, modules, etc., but... all in all.. I can't complain too much. Decent MPG, 4WD...4L six easy to work on. If someone has a problem taking off an oil filter on a Jeep they are in real trouble. I've owned cars that you have to take a minute to even find the oil filter! Best thing is the Jeep Cherokee's are a dime a dozen. Finding good used parts or even a whole "parts car" is no problem... many times you can get a good deal on a jeep that the owner just can't wait to unload.. but you have to be careful,..cheap can be expensive.

There's also a wealth of info out there that can really help you out when you start scratching your head with a problem.

I feel you must be willing and able to work on these vehicles yourself,... if you can't?

You'll get hammered with many repair bills... and you'll end up really hating your Jeep.

As far as I'm concerned, regular routine bolt on stuff like water pumps, alternators, dist. caps and bulbs and so on, are all part of the game with any car, at any time.

Jeep Cherokees aren't the best by far, but they aren't the worst either.

I have a 2 door sport with 260,000 miles - runs like new. I also agree with the guy above on the oil filter comment. It is the best placement I have seen thus far on any vehichle for the reason that you can reach under the hood and take it out with your HANDS in seconds, truely a very good choice on Chrysler's part. Any Jeep is a wonderful vehichle, and people who don't like them belong in a Daewoo or something, in which case you can really have something to complain about.

Having owned a 1990 jeep cherokee (and a 1984) and 1990 isuzu trooper (and a 1986), I must say that the Trooper beats the cherokee in all categories except one: engine. The amc 4.0 engine was the best ever made by that company. The jeep accelerated like a sports car, but handled like a shopping cart. Off-road it left much to be desired. Bump steer was a constant annoyance; the vacuum actuated hubs, while nice at first for shifting on the fly, left me spinning my wheels in the mud when the vacuum switch cracked. The trooper, on the other hand, is an off road beast. The transfer case is solid and gear-driven, the hubs are manually locking- I don't ming getting out and locking them knowing that they won't fail unless something really really catastrophic happens. The independent front suspension virtually eliminates bump-steer.

The engine in the trooper (a GM 2.8 liter) is a real dud. So underpowered, with no acceleration (I like the 4 cyl in the 86 trooper better) The cherokee would accelerate to highway speed in no time and would do well over 100 mph easily. And as long as I was pointed in a straight line, I felt safe driving it at 90 mph down the highway. The trooper... well, lets just say once I reached 90 mph, my trip was already over and if I did get her up to that speed, my heart would start racing as the adreneline coursed through my veins.

In all, I love both vehicles. The Cherokee, now owned by a friend of mine, has 220,000+ miles and is going strong. She's been reliable. The trooper engine with 140,000 miles needs to be overhauled.

Get a jeep if you're not going off road a whole bunch. Get a trooper if you plan on going off road often.

Disagree, Jeeps are awesome off road, unbeatable, only possibly by Land Rovers. Never stuck in mine, 1991 Commanche 4x4 long bed, 180K and going strong! Jeep On!

I have a 1990 jeep xj and not a dam thing has gone wrong has 345,000 on it I bought it with 12,000 on it when I was 16 I'm 20 now so learn to maintain.

I bought a 89 XJ pioneer for $300 2 years ago with 375000 KM. What a piece of junk. It was not maintained at all. I have had all the problems mentioned above and I also had to take the tranny apart because it was stuck in overdrive. Mine was equipped with the 5 speed manual overdrive made by Peugeot and is not able to be fixed from the top. I also had the drivers door come off in my hand. I love my jeep. People call it garbage and it just makes me want to keep driving it so it outlasts there rigs. I want another one, but mabey this time I will spend $500 and get one in better shape.

I just purchased a 1989 cherokee laredo today, 78319 miles, it runs great, one owner, I will keep and eye open on the heating aspects, There is a small noise when you accelerate, The guy I bought it from took it in to his mechanic and he said the noise is in the water pump bearings??? or something like that..??? I hope I can get to the 200000 mile mark with out spending to much $$$. Any issues with the serpentine belt or the pulleys?? I did have a Jeep truck years ago tough. Talk with you soon wish me luck...

N.

I own a '90 Jeep Cherokee which crossed the US-Mexico Border in 2000. It has had 3 owners in US and 3 here in Mexico. It has had all the issues related above (window motors out, A/C out, headlights switch burnt, burnt head gasket, cracked coolant reservoir, steering box grade 8 bolts broken in half, etc), but with proper maintenance all issues can be even avoided. Let's see.

Burnt head gasket: It overheated, because the fan did not kick in. Install a direct switch to start the fan and place it near the hood opening lever under the steering wheel and whenever you see the temp rising, it may mean the fan is not kicking in due to some sensor failure, switch the fan on and continue driving and checking the temp, and so later you can have it checked. The gasket being made of that wood-like material is great, as the aluminum gaskets melt and cause the engine head to bend and then they need to be rectified which is very costly. The coolant reservoir can be changed for that of a Golf with some minor adaptation, I was able to find two used bottles for $5USD each before making the adaptation. Something to put attention on is the radiator, as mine had come plugged with aluminum and some other welding material, thus making it inefficient. I had to buy another one. Always use coolant fluid instead of water, this engines are natural to be very hot, so plain water won't work.

Headlights switch burnt: Some times the headlight switch (the one you have to pull twice) gets dirt and causes shorts, burning the harness and sometimes the switch. Also, if you open the start switch and turn the lights on, it may also cause shorts. Better turn the lights on when the engine is already running and before making any gear change. It is not very expensive to replace anyway, just ask for a Chrysler part instead of Jeep, because the price difference, at least here in Mexico, is considerable.

All the issues I currently have with my Jeep are because of the spare parts being impossible to get in Mexico. Take your Jeep to maintenance every year, change all oils (differential, engine, automatic transmission, steering, brakes) and have the lines drained / cleaned with compressed air to get rid of dirt. Is not expensive and makes the Jeep go better.