Grand Cherokee

My son has a 95 and I have a 97 ZJ so we have you bracketed. Both have the Off road package and were set up for trailer towing. That way you can find all the factory skid plates and a Dana 44 rear with 3.73 gears.

With the off road package you get a one inch lift and can fit 30s without problems.

The 97 has the noise absorbing cast iron pumpkin replaced by aluminum (saved 40 pounds) so there is some "singing" at about 62 mph. Mine has

Other than that both vehicles (the 95 is at 135000 miles) have been very cheap to operate. The Bilsten shocks are still fine, the exhaust system is still tight, body is as tight as it was. Both tend to need brakes but that may be due to the drivers, rotors are finicky, need to hand torque the lug nuts. Other than batteries, wipers etc and a fuel pump on the 95 things have been pretty good.

Thanks, Howard, Bill, and Philthy.

Howard-

Test drove a 95 Grand with 138,000 miles. Has "Up Country" suspension package and factory tow package, with rear disc brakes. Leather, 5.2L, ect. Only problem is it leaks a little trans fluid. Ran and drove and rode great. One other thing I noticed was the lower display below the fan controls, that displays the car's status had an odd reading. It said "service, 4000 miles" Does that mean tune up in 4000? Does that mean major service in 4000? Assuming the fix the trans leak, the price is right.

Carl

Carl did pass the time by typing:

The trans leak is most likely the output shaft seal. I've gone through several of those.

That doodad below the fan controls is the VIC (Vehicle Information Center) or BAIL (Big Ass Idiot Light) :) All that is telling you is the 4000 mile countdown has elapsed and it's time to change the oil and reset the idiot light. That number is programmable via the two buttons on the VIC to anything from 1000 to 7500 miles.

If you can, have a jeep knowledgeable mechanic do a pre-buy inspection to make sure it isn't something more than a loose or worn o-ring or similar. I bought one used, and had all the fluids replaced immediately since I didn't have a service history available.

That display can be reset details in the Owners Manual. It displays the miles to service on a 7500 mile increment. Don't worry about it.

If you pick it up and it doesn't have an owners manual, you can get that from Jeep website [click for owners] for about 10 bucks. Worth a lot more is the Factory Service Manual and Body Diagnostic Procedures manual. You can also use the VIN to order the Build Order of everything on it that left the factory.

Nice vehicle. With care it may outlast you. As long as it isn't one of the rare but infamous "Friday" machines that plague all makes.

Carl proclaimed: