Jeep Grand Cherokee advice.....

[1QWIKBIRD]

These vehicles seem to be a popular sideline for quite a few members on this board and I need advice. My sister is looking to pick up one used. We have a few of them at work for the survey crews and they are pretty reliable inspite of the general lack of care they receive.

Any specific years or options or models to steer clear of or gravitate towards? Known issues/recalls to look for?

I am thinking the Inline 6, has to be automatic A/C with power locks/windows etc, but am just guessing.

I haven't done any homework on these yet so anyone can bring me up to speed quickly I'd appreciate it.

Thanks
Chris

[79CamaroDiva]

Stay away from the v8. Aside from a trans that can't handle it they're frequent with electrical gremlins that are impossible to track down. I6 is an awesome engine

[sweetbmxrider]

def i6. the cooling fan likes to die on all of them. its usually the motor or the relay under the passenger headlight and under the header panel. very reliable trucks though, i'd deff pick one up as a dd. the steering linkage is a little funky but they have grease fittings most of the time so it helps. really can't think of much though. maybe go for the later years with the coil packs instead of a distributor? i'm sure justin will tell you everything so i'll just let him bring you up to speed.

[qwikz28]

Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva

Stay away from the v8. Aside from a trans that can't handle it they're frequent with electrical gremlins that are impossible to track down. I6 is an awesome engine

the 4.7 has the same problem? or just the old 318 and 360?

[98CamaroSS]

My wife has one as a DD and its been 100% trouble free.

[band77one]

my dad has a 2001 he bought used about 5 years ago, put almost 100k on it on the highway, no major problems with it yet, the cooling fan ( and related parts ) had to be replaced it died but other than that its a fantastic vehicle. it runs great, they look good, and they are very comfortable. i would buy one if i had to replace my silverado

[Ian]

Originally Posted by qwikz28

the 4.7 has the same problem? or just the old 318 and 360?

the 4.7 is much better than the old 318. all those electrical problems Melissa is talking about was more in the 93-98 body style.

try to get a 2002 or newer Grand Cherokee, in 2001 the I6 motor had problems with the head cracking. I work on them nearly every day and I very rarely see anything major go wrong with them (99-04 body style, save for the head problem in 2001)

[crazyblazer87]

Agreeing with ian here. I also work on them a lot (dealer technician). The I6 is great, better longevity vs. any of the v8s. The transmission on them aren't the greatest (harsh shift quality) but as long as it was taken care of with maintenance the transmission should last.

[The Fixer]

I also agree with Ian. The 2001 head issue is apparently hit-or-miss, I guess it would depend on if it's ever been overheated in its lifetime. My '01 Cherokee has the same motor, and hasn't had any issues (has 80K on it now). However, one of the guys I work with also has an '01 Cherokee and the head cracked on his at 60K miles; his was overheated in the past.

FWIW, My mom had a '99 GC with the 4.0 and it was very reliable. It did have some electrical issues; I had to replace a front window regulator and a rear door lock solenoid, and before she traded it in, there were some large wet spots in the rear cargo area. I think the seal around the rear side window failed and water was getting in during heavy rain. My brother-in-law has an '04 GC and it's been relatively problem free nearing 70K miles. And, he beats the death out of it.

Cliff's Notes - Jeeps FTW!!!

[Tru2Chevy]

I have the 4.0L I6 in my '96 Cherokee - great motor, as just about anyone who has ever had one will tell you.

My wife has had her '04 Grand (4.7 v8 / 5spd auto / full time 4wd) for 2 years now and she loves it. Only issue we have ever had with it was some odd electrical issues with the driver's door switches - turned out to be the ground wire passing from the body to the door. It had been completely separated, but it was simple for me to fix in about 30-40 mins taking the door apart my first time.

My opinion would be that she couldn't really go wrong with any 02-04 I6 or v8. If you are gonna get stuck helping her out with it, go here: www.wjjeeps.com Tons of basic info about the 99-04 Grand Cherokees.

- Justin

[1QWIKBIRD]

Thanks for all the advice and the links. My sister got caught in a bad situation with her 2003 Nissan Murano. Evidently the CVT transmission in them are very hit or miss, and when they miss, they miss to the tune of $4500 to $6000 plus labor. The tranny is either so complicated (I don't think that's the case) or the technology just isn't perfected yet (this is what I think) that Nissan does not service the tranny at all. They only replace them as a unit, hence the outrageous price, and from what I have gathered even the replacments are just as likely to fail. Luckily my sister caught the problem early, took it to Haldeman Nissan on Rt.33 (in Central NJ) and they were up front and made it very clear, dump the vehicle ASAP or you will be putting a tranny in. So without thinking she asks what they'd give on trade. Their reply "We don't want the vehicle" Her car is gorgeous otherwise and its a nice ride, but this is not a problem she can afford to deal with both from a $$$$ and time/aggravation standpoint. So she settled on getting into a used Jeep.

She found one she liked, a 1 owner 2005 Grand Cherokee Limited fully loaded with all the toys including the Hemi (I'm not thrilled about that part, but?). Hopefully, this will prove to be a solid vehicle for her. The truck doesn't look like it was ever off road, never had a drawbar in the receiver, 58K on the clock, non smoker, all factory services records from original owner still in glove box and the balance of the 7/70 factory warranty. Brand new tires all the way around, runs and drives straight, clear carfax report so.....

Fingers crossed

I did alot of homework in the last week about the whole Nissan CVT issue, thinking there must be a solution 6 years into the model run. Its is a pretty widespread deal and Nissan refuses to do a recall (too much $$$) and from what I've read the new tranny is just as likely to fair in short order. Even the new models suffer from the same thing. There are complaints logged at the NHTS board, Nissan plays dumb and doesn't acknowledge the problem exists, yet they are very adept at the diagnosis and the symptoms that lead up to it. NISSAN=SUCKS

Chris

[crazyblazer87]

well to just put my $.02 in on the cvt transmissions, chrysler does the same thing with their cvts. they are not rebuildable yet. They are training their techs to take them apart but have not released any parts for them. they are pretty simple design but have expensive fluid (something like $100 a gallon). If the wrong fluid is used the transmission only last about 100 miles if you are lucky.

[1QWIKBIRD]

Originally Posted by crazyblazer87

well to just put my $.02 in on the cvt transmissions, chrysler does the same thing with their cvts. they are not rebuildable yet. They are training their techs to take them apart but have not released any parts for them. they are pretty simple design but have expensive fluid (something like $100 a gallon). If the wrong fluid is used the transmission only last about 100 miles if you are lucky.

I think that the same company is supplying them (JATCO) to Chrysler. And the Nissan fluid is 28/quart, so yeah 100 per gallon. My sis had Haldeman do the factory 60k recommended service (which included the tranny) back in November. Either way I think that's a pretty poor design/support process. We can't service them, we don't supply parts for them, we only give you new ones and charge you major $$$$$ to do so.

Imagine if everytime your computer crashed Microsoft sold you another copy of the OS to reinstall instead of troubleshooting and fixing the computer? Oh wait they sort do that don't they

NISSAN is on the permanent **** list and I hope their attempt at a super car completely and totally gets spanked and ends of being a complete and total black eye for them both on the track and in sales and in warranty....F that company.

[qwikz28]

Originally Posted by 1QWIKBIRD

I think that the same company is supplying them (JATCO) to Chrysler. And the Nissan fluid is 28/quart, so yeah 100 per gallon. My sis had Haldeman do the factory 60k recommended service (which included the tranny) back in November. Either way I think that's a pretty poor design/support process. We can't service them, we don't supply parts for them, we only give you new ones and charge you major $$$$$ to do so.

Imagine if everytime your computer crashed Microsoft sold you another copy of the OS to reinstall instead of troubleshooting and fixing the computer? Oh wait they sort do that don't they

NISSAN is on the permanent **** list and I hope their attempt at a super car completely and totally gets spanked and ends of being a complete and total black eye for them both on the track and in sales and in warranty....F that company.

We share the same sentiments. Many (if not most) of my friends drive Nissans and many of them swear they will never buy another. I remember one of my friends saying he was about to buy a Nissan, and my friend John (owns a 2000 Maxima) told him "listen to Jake, I used to think he was biased when he used to tell me this, but he's completely right. Trust me." His car is disintegrating and has only 80k miles. It's sad, but true. I can write for hours about similar stories. Nissan sucks. I am so glad I didn't buy that Murano I cross-shopped with the Vue. I did my research, and made a good call.

[maroman88]

as for nissan... my gf had a 2000 maxima, from about 30k miles untl she sold it with 75k+... and it was a solid and fun car,did not have a single problem! my aunt had a 97 and then a 2000 pathfinder, and again not a single problem!... seems like nissans goin down the crapper fast with there new cars