So my 2002 Grand Cherokee 4.7 4x4 has 147000 miles on it and I'm looking to switch out of it into something else. At the moment it really could use
valve cover gaskets
front/rear diff cover gaskets
pinion nut seal
front rotors and pads
and probably the accessories belt

and it also has an exhaust leak that I can hear on start up that goes away when it has been warmed up

In the past 10-15000 miles it has had a new radiator, new TPS, new passenger window motor, and a nearly failing accumulator plate was replaced with a beefed up SONAX unit and the mechanic said the rest of the tranny looked good. I've been keeping full syn and a good filter in it since about 75000 and I changed it every 5k. I drive it like a grandmother (seriously, it probably hasn't seen over 3000 rpms in years?)

I don't buy and sell cars much. Do you guys think there are folks out there that when hearing this info would buy it without trying to really put the screws on me because it's going to be their problem to fix those little annoying things or is that wishful thinking? If I had the time and desire I'd certainly fix all that stuff myself (rotor and pads are easy, not sure I want to be annoyed with some of the other fixes) before trying to sell it but I'd likely end up taking it to a shop and I imagine all that stuff would probably run ~$7-1000 and I'm not sure I want to gamble paying all that when I'm thinking it's only going to fetch $4000 (if I'm lucky) private party.

[Edited on January 10, 2012 at 9:56 PM. Reason : .]

1/10/2012 9:56:06 PM

all that could be fixed in a saturday or two

1/10/2012 10:15:56 PM

dump it. cut your losses, take the hit on it and get something you'll take better care of.

1/10/2012 10:17:02 PM

Quote :

"valve cover gaskets front/rear diff cover gaskets pinion nut seal front rotors and pads and probably the accessories belt "

if a buyer doesnt notice, well, then... seriously though the only thing that would bother me would be the pinion seal. the rest is just shenanigans

the big question is on that particular axle, does the pinion depth/preload have to be reset when replacing the gasket (i dont know myself)

1/11/2012 7:32:40 AM

I would ask the question as to whether its just a worn out seal or has the pinion nut slowly backed off over the years leaving too much play and killing the seal. Without a mechanic taking an hour to check/torque it to spec I'd be a bit leery of it. Other than that the only thing that's a deal breaker is the brakes, which IMO I would knock off the appopriate amount for during a sale (100 bucks top unless the rotors are fucked).

[Edited on January 11, 2012 at 4:02 PM. Reason : .]

1/11/2012 3:58:59 PM

It does need new rotors. Well, the rotors were new as of about 10k ago and my dumbass didn't swap out pads (which themselves only had about 10k on them which is why I didnt think to change em) at the time and "warped" them with a quickness. Do any places turn them these days as a new set is $100.

The pinion nut leak is quite odd. It will go weeks/month with no leak and then it will go a couple/few days where i get about a 3-5" sized stain from the leak. I've been keeping the diff topped off but it hasn't actually seemed to leak in the past couple of months.

I just figure replacing gaskets and things is kind of "putting lipstick on a pig" and is it worthwhile or are most people looking to buy 10 yr old Jeeps with nearly 150k miles on them kind of expecting those things and are pricing it in?

1/11/2012 9:10:09 PM

Quote :

"does the pinion depth/preload have to be reset when replacing the gasket"

i don't think so at least it didn't on my shitbox. a seal puller would've been nice but i got mine out with a combination of a flat-head screwdriver and prybar.

Quote :

"Do any places turn them these days as a new set is $100."

pep boys will machine them for $7/rotor.

and don't sell your shit. it'll turn you into a hell of a mechanic. my '90 cherokee 4.0 now has 418,xxx on it. i've replaced the same shit on it several times already.

1/11/2012 9:15:10 PM

I honestly don't see how 147k miles and those niggling little things make your Jeep a clunker. Shit, that's all chump change to fix.

As far as the exhaust leak, I think cracked manifolds are a known issue with the 4.7. Jeepman had to replace one on his sister's Jeep with the 4.7.

Do like underPSI said...

1/12/2012 12:05:37 AM

Forgot to mention I've got a heater core that was leaking and Bars seemed to fix it for the time being.

Part of the reason to get something else is strategic. I have the GC and my wife has a Liberty. We have two dogs. And kids aren't so far in our future. So the plan is to get an econobox for me because I drive farther to work and then when we trade out her Liberty (has 97k on it) it will be for something bigger to haul around dogs and kids and shit.

1/12/2012 10:18:58 PM

you gonna pull your boat with that liberty?

1/12/2012 10:27:52 PM

Gayberty

I learned a lot about my XJ when i bought it in 2005 by just wrenching on it and joining some forums. You'd be amazed at what you'll learn by doing this, if you care to do so...personally, i have a hard time paying someone, i.e. a mechanic, to do something i can do myself unless the machinery is highly specialized.

1/12/2012 11:58:31 PM

Quote :

"you gonna pull your boat with that liberty?"

It's about 2000ft to my ramp from my driveway.

Quote :

"if you care to do so...personally, i have a hard time paying someone, i.e. a mechanic, to do something i can do myself unless the machinery is highly specialized."

Some stuff I can wrench on and other things I can't. I swapped out the radiator this summer and it generally just wasn't fun. Satisfying that I saved a couple/few hundred on the labor bill, I guess. Sure, this is The Garage where you guys eat this shit up. More than half the time there is just other shit I'd rather do with my weekends than wrench on my daily driver.

[Edited on January 13, 2012 at 11:38 PM. Reason : .]

1/13/2012 11:35:53 PM

yup, it's different when it's something you'd use in competition

1/14/2012 12:02:07 AM

[Edited on March 15, 2012 at 9:05 PM. Reason : nm]

2/18/2012 3:57:33 PM

Stillen rotors on a Jeep, that is the dumbest shit I have ever heard of!!!

[Edited on February 18, 2012 at 4:02 PM. Reason : a clunker Jeep as an UPgrade? Do you live in a trailer park???]

2/18/2012 4:00:25 PM

[Edited on March 15, 2012 at 9:05 PM. Reason : nm]

2/18/2012 5:21:58 PM

Quote :

"My Grand Cherokee also has a custom exhaust, K&N air intake, dual steering stabilizers, and is programmed. Would you care to talk shit about those as well?"

What could I possibly say? You hot rodded a grocery getter SUV, and brag about it.

2/20/2012 10:20:00 AM

^^ haha, he is dead set on 12 mpg and a stupid body kit on a jeep? And I agree, why are you putting those mods on a grocery getter?

Quote :

"My Grand Cherokee also has a custom exhaust, K&N air intake, dual steering stabilizers, and is programmed. Would you care to talk shit about those as well?"

sure........

Quote :

"what is the point in paying for a V8 if you are going to admittedly drive like a Grandma anyway. "

Quote :

"husband & I own our home"

having a mortgage doesnt qualify as owning your home. The bank owns your home

2/20/2012 10:32:37 AM

Perhaps they do own their home, but lease the parking space it sits in. LOL

2/20/2012 10:37:54 AM

Quote :

"Just for curiosity, what color is your Jeep (interior and exterior), cloth/leather, other features? Is your heat/AC fully functional? Clear title? Wreck history/external damage? I'm looking to upgrade in the near future. Was planning to go much newer and far fewer miles, but for the right price it could be an option. "

It's Pewter on the outside with darker grey on the inside. It's a Laredo so it has the plastic around the bottom on the outside. Heat/AC work well. New radiator was put in last summer and AC was recharged then. New alternator about 4000 miles ago. Clear title. No wrecks no external damage other than typical door dings and paint chips from rocks. It's got the Selec-track 4 wheel drive which as I understand it is less trouble prone than the quadra-drive. I've been putting full syn and a good filter in it about every 5000 miles since ~70k. Tranny had the accumulator plate beefed up and of course new fluid about 10,000 ago.

2/20/2012 11:00:22 AM