Hey guys,
Iam going to buy a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a 4.2 engine. I had a XJ couple of years ago but it was to small. My question is, do you have any Tipps for me to look after? Rost and electrizity is something i know, but what about the gear box etc?
Thank you for helping
Benni
A first generation Grand. Over here they designated those the ZJ. 1993-1998. Some people dont know that the ZJ was originally intended ro be the replacement for the XJ in 1993. They tested very well and the test group loved the new ZJ, but they protested when they were told it was going to replace the XJ. That's when Jeep decided to run a "Grand Cherokee" alongside the Cherokee.
Not sure how they have these offered in Germany but there was an all-time 4wd and there was a Select-Trac 4wd. I have a WJ, 1999. While they are different they are similar in many ways. I prefer to be able to manually shift between 2wd, 4 hi and 4 lo. Saves me fuel when I dont need 4x4. I also prefer the 6 cylinder. Here, the ZJ had a 6 cylinder and there was a special edition with the 5.9 liter. Dont know if you have those there. But they are rare enough I would stick with the 6 cyl as they are everywhere and you can get replacement parts easier.
The ZJ and WJ both had an electrical issue where the interior lights would not shut off after the door was shut. This may or may not also manifest itself with windows not going up or down.
Often the solution is to open the drivers door all the way and slide the electrical harness boot back. Chrysler is notoriously cheap on wiring, and they only give you exactly enough. At this hinge, in th2 wire bundle, a ground wire often fails. I patched in some primary wire.
Another thing is heat. A lot of times the blend door actuator will break. It's a big job to replace that cheap part if you do it by the book. But there is a way to do it by opening the glove compartment and cutting through the back wall there.
Watch for the hinges at the top of the rear glass hatch. Not the hinges for the entire hatch, I've never had trouble with those...the hinges that allow only the glass to open. At the point where they attach through the glass, they can rust. One of them will flop around when you close the main hatch. If both rust out, repair immediately as the glass can slide backward from the top and come completely undone.
Watch for soft metal in the drivers side front wheel well. May become a hole.
I was looking for a ZJ when I bought my WJ. Good luck and keep us posted
