Looking at '94 GC Laredo, new to Jeeps--bad idea?

Sounds like a good deal. I sure wouldn't sell my '93 for that. The A/C problem is no doubt a failed evaporator which was an infamous failure for those years. It means tearing the dash apart to get to it. At least $1,000 at the dealer. Probably more. Depends upon how important A/C is to you. But you still would have only $2,500 or so in a vehicle that has a lot of miles left in it.

Dick

GTO69RA4 did pass the time by typing:

Probably Command Trac

case. 2W full time, 4W Hi full time, 4W low part-time.The key is never drive it in 4W low on pavement or packed dirt, only onloose dirt/sand or gravel and it will last a long time.

At that Jeeps age, a leak is common. Could be the accumulator, they had a recall on those.

You could do worse.

Forgive me for asking with my limited 4WD knowledge, but what's the mechanical reason behind this? Like the old military vehicles with totally locked drivetrains that would pop an axle unless driven over a curb to "unwind" now and then?

John

GTO69RA4 did pass the time by typing:

Exacly. Except with weaker powertrain it tends to snap the drive chain in the transfer case.

Recall notices were sent out recently for the P/R detent work.. GC's had problems in the early days, but would have been fixed by now by the old lady.. :) .. the V8 option was a 5.2.. more power and torque than the I6, greater gas consumption too.. one should never expect real economy out of any Jeep.. Selectrac shift allows for shift on the fly, and you can use permanent 4x4 if you wish.. there is an explanation of the transfer case functions in the driver manual and behind the driver sun vizor..

They lack the interior room of other vehicles, and storage space is limited.. but the GC is shorter and narrower than the majority of vans, has good vision all round and is easily parked in the average mall parking space.. seating is pretty good, and the heater works well.. ride can be a little jiggly over rough surfaces, but that is to be expected running two solid axles..

I live in Eastern Ontario, Canada.. roughly an hour from Ottawa, Montreal and Cornwall.. weather in the winter can be vicious with copious amounts of snow.. my '94 GC (I6, nv242) has been a lifesaver (literally) and I would not be without it.. Jeeps are made to cope with all kinds of terrain and conditions.. this is why we Canadians like them.. when the Great Wite North is throwing its worst at us, we know that our Jeeps will get through..

My advice would be to go for it, especially at that price.. you will hear good and bad about all vehicles.. take it for a drive, remembering what it is and what it can do that other vehicles can't.. I am fairly sure that you will like it..

GTO69RA4 proclaimed:

If this is the detent, there is a recall. The dealer should be willing to tell you.

And possibly not worth worrying about short term.

Check the A/C accumulator and the lines for corrosion, not unusual on the ZJ. You should be able to get an estimate on that cost to fix worst case.... The A/C is used as part of the defrost system.

A nice 4x4 very cheap. Spend a few bucks on a Factory Service Manual link available off

"for owners" which will take you to

You are describing a select-trac transfer case. However, I am am almost positive the only transfer case available on the 1994 Grand Cherokee with V8 was the Quadratrac.

Selec-trac allows 2wd, 4wd part-time, 4wd full-time, N, and 4LO

Quadra-trac only allows 4wd full-time, N, and 4LO

Please double check for us.

Maybe it's not the V8, maybe it's the 4.0L I6 engine.

As I remember. The V8 was auto only, and Quadra-trac only.

The I6 could be auto, or manual. And had a choice of 3 transfer cases. Command-trac, Selec-trac, and Quadra-trac. Manual transmission Jeeps got the Command-trac only.

considering

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR !! Go for it, The GC is a very nice vehicule and cheap to repair + With Bill and Mike you will always get a solutions to your problem. and anyway at 1500 $ what do you have to loose.

Pat

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-- LE CLONE

279 Notre-Dame Gatineau, Qc J8P 1K6 (819) 643-0511 SANS FRAIS 1 888 643 0511

garage-kept,

Thanks, I haven't yet given this thing an in-depth inspection, or even lifted the hood yet. (not quite at the selling point) She said it was a V8, my bad memory recalls possibly seeing the logo, and it certainly makes enough noise to be one. It _does_ have the Selec-Trac case with an auto tranny. Is there any way one could have gotten into a V8 on a stock, residentially-driven truck?

If I can manage this deal it'll probably get done in early spring.

John

GTO69RA4 did pass the time by typing:

You could get the V8 with any of the transfer cases. Quadratrac was just the most commonly installed one. Selectrac and Commandtrac were available just special order. Same goes with the limited slip rear end. (it will have a round metal tag on the pumpkin stating you need to use a special additive)

If you don't know what engine is in it, how can you be sure it is Select-Trac? Of course an examination of the shift pattern would reveal which one it was. The Select-Trac has 2WD-4 Part Time-4 Full Time-N-4 Lo. The Quadra-Trac has only three positions. 4 All Time-N-4 Lo.

Right, I've been in the vehicle and seen the shift pattern, just not looked under the skin. It's a Select-Trac. I'm also nearly positive it's a V8.

I'm not exactly the closest of freinds with this person, although I know I will probably end up with it. Giving a full systems inspect this far in advance would complicate the deal.

John

$1500, lady owned, 84k miles, I'd say you can't go wrong, I'd go without fixing the A/C, just drive it, put up wit hte 10 days in the summer that you need the A/C...

Those are the types of vehicles that when we get them in on trade, someone at the dealership buys it or for someone in their family...

Kevin O'Brien Jeep dealer Eastern Massachusetts snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net

Jeep dealer, Eastern MA? Heck, you may have sold it to her.

John