fishinpolejoe
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Virginia - southwest tip
Hello again.
I've been giving a lot of thought lately as to how long I can make my XJ last. I've been thinking about it so much because I'm on the fence about how much time and money I want to invest in it. At times I want to go all out and really fix the thing up but then I consider the mileage I have and wonder if I can keep it going and what it will cost me to do so.
I can't let you guys test drive my XJ of course, but I'd like some advice on the matter. I'll try to give a good idea of the current condition.
96 XJ 4 door sport - all stock
4.0 LITRE (LITRE as spelled on the vehicle. I assume this means a Euro model?) HO (what is the difference in a HO motor anyway?), Auto with the part time 4wd (what is the corresponding number?), transmission cooling system, right at 280,000 miles, power windows/locks, rear speaker bar, luggage racks, class 3 tow package I believe.
So far I have replaced:
Front Brakes - calipers, rotors, and pads
All four shocks
Fan Clutch
Water Pump - had cooling system flushed as well
Engine temp sensor
Temp sending unit
Blower Motor
Blower Motor Resistor
Fuel Filter - I believe it was stock, no kidding.
Alternator
Wheel Cylinder and spring/cable thing for the self adjusting brakes on passenger side rear brake (it was leaking profusely)
IAC
TPS
I bought this XJ from my mechanic. He told me that the previous owner had taken it to Wal Mart for an oil change :dunce:. They broke the oil sending
unit off and told her it would be okay to drive it :dunce:. The engine locked up not long after she left the lot. This happened at around 200,000 miles. My mechanic did a top end rebuild on the engine and also put "another transmission" in it, which I assumed to mean a used one.
It's running/driving/shifting great now that I have most of the kinks worked out. The 4wd also works well. It apparently has fantastic oil pressure according to what I have read here. Not too high but never as low as the 15 - 20 that some wish for. The interior is all to crap. The headliner needs to be re-covered, door handles are coming off the back doors, two of the seat belts have been chewed in half by rats, various other things have been destroyed by rats like the padding on the door handles, the rubber cover on the shifter etc, the front seats are kind of gross, the back seat is nice, and so on. The paint has some issues. I bought a can of Stonegaurd for the rocker panels. I have a touch of rust and a leak at the corners above the windshield. The leak is minor to moderate depending on how hard it rains. The frame has a little rust as well in the back. The entire floor pan is in fairly rough shape with holes and rust. I didn't attempt to remove all the rust because there wouldn't have been a whole lot left to work with, but I did seal the holes and riveted in sheet metal over them. The passenger front tire skips and barks on tight turns in parking lots which makes me think I could use some ball joints. I need plugs and wires as well.
Which direction should I go? Nurse it along until it dies or pour money into it until I basically have a new Jeep? Is it still worth it?
Also, I read where lots of people say they have owned multiple XJ's. What happened that finally made you get rid of them? What catastrophic failures do I need to be aware of that could send mine on to it's next life?
I've been giving a lot of thought lately as to how long I can make my XJ last. I've been thinking about it so much because I'm on the fence about how much time and money I want to invest in it. At times I want to go all out and really fix the thing up but then I consider the mileage I have and wonder if I can keep it going and what it will cost me to do so.
I can't let you guys test drive my XJ of course, but I'd like some advice on the matter. I'll try to give a good idea of the current condition.
96 XJ 4 door sport - all stock
4.0 LITRE (LITRE as spelled on the vehicle. I assume this means a Euro model?) HO (what is the difference in a HO motor anyway?), Auto with the part time 4wd (what is the corresponding number?), transmission cooling system, right at 280,000 miles, power windows/locks, rear speaker bar, luggage racks, class 3 tow package I believe.
So far I have replaced:
Front Brakes - calipers, rotors, and pads
All four shocks
Fan Clutch
Water Pump - had cooling system flushed as well
Engine temp sensor
Temp sending unit
Blower Motor
Blower Motor Resistor
Fuel Filter - I believe it was stock, no kidding.
Alternator
Wheel Cylinder and spring/cable thing for the self adjusting brakes on passenger side rear brake (it was leaking profusely)
IAC
TPS
I bought this XJ from my mechanic. He told me that the previous owner had taken it to Wal Mart for an oil change :dunce:. They broke the oil sending
unit off and told her it would be okay to drive it :dunce:. The engine locked up not long after she left the lot. This happened at around 200,000 miles. My mechanic did a top end rebuild on the engine and also put "another transmission" in it, which I assumed to mean a used one.
It's running/driving/shifting great now that I have most of the kinks worked out. The 4wd also works well. It apparently has fantastic oil pressure according to what I have read here. Not too high but never as low as the 15 - 20 that some wish for. The interior is all to crap. The headliner needs to be re-covered, door handles are coming off the back doors, two of the seat belts have been chewed in half by rats, various other things have been destroyed by rats like the padding on the door handles, the rubber cover on the shifter etc, the front seats are kind of gross, the back seat is nice, and so on. The paint has some issues. I bought a can of Stonegaurd for the rocker panels. I have a touch of rust and a leak at the corners above the windshield. The leak is minor to moderate depending on how hard it rains. The frame has a little rust as well in the back. The entire floor pan is in fairly rough shape with holes and rust. I didn't attempt to remove all the rust because there wouldn't have been a whole lot left to work with, but I did seal the holes and riveted in sheet metal over them. The passenger front tire skips and barks on tight turns in parking lots which makes me think I could use some ball joints. I need plugs and wires as well.
Which direction should I go? Nurse it along until it dies or pour money into it until I basically have a new Jeep? Is it still worth it?
Also, I read where lots of people say they have owned multiple XJ's. What happened that finally made you get rid of them? What catastrophic failures do I need to be aware of that could send mine on to it's next life?
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