[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Jeeps (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 3/2/2012 12:16:06 AM EDT
| Everyone I know who has one says they are always being fixed. A friend of mine, for example, says the next thing he needs to do is to fix the motor mounts. Are Jeeps so undependable as that? |
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I'm sure I've spent over $10k in my 1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport, not including the purchase price. To be honest, about $8,500 of that was lifting, motor mounts, skid plates, interior crap, some exterior crap, cb setup, etc. The rest, on general maintenance because the previous owner was a fucktard. So far, a new starter, a 3rd water pump, new idler pulley, new ac compressor clutch and a rebuilt transfer case. From what my mechanic told me, the most common problems with Jeeps, other then the lifting and modifying, is the water pump. Apparently they tend to die frequently, but it is a cheap and easy part.
Also, if it doesn't leak a little bit of oil, there is no oil in it. Don't forget, leaking fluids is a trademark of great vehicles: From Wikipedia, regarding the SR-71 Blackbird: "...the lack of a fuel sealing system that could handle the thermal expansion of the airframe at extreme temperatures, the aircraft would leak JP-7 jet fuel onto the runway. " |
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My Jeep is 35 years old, things are going to break on any 35 year old vehicle. They're stupid easy to work on, parts are common and the ability to customize them is only limited by your imagination and $$.
Jeeps are just like any vehicle, things wear out and things break, neglected routine maintenance, heavy off road use and modifications like lifts and bigger tires that put stresses on the vehicle beyond what the designers intended all lead to more frequent breakdowns. The inline 6 series of engines 232, 258 and 4.0L engines are legendary in their durability, over the years the transmissions varied from bullet proof to meh, axles were fine for the stock tire sizes but often require upgrades when moving to larger tires. My Jeep is the one vehicle I own that I love to wrench on, it's so basic and easy to work on, it's refreshing after working on more modern vehicles. |
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My Jeep is the one vehicle I own that I love to wrench on, it's so basic and easy to work on, it's refreshing after working on more modern vehicles. Even my 97 I6 is a damn near masterpiece to work on. Everything is so goddamn easy! It's insane. I look at engine compartments from newer vehicles(not just Jeeps), and I just scratch my head and say, "WTF?" |
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jaxed dot com is your friend.  I prefer quadratec.com for fast shipping, and 4wd.com for good prices, and northridge4x4 for miscellaneous stuff. Brown Dog is amazing too. Joe Bob Outfitters for miscellaneous gun parts too. Joe Bob Outfitters, them fuckers had the audacity to call me within 15 minutes of me placing my order, to call and tell me they are out of a certain part, and then offer me a better part at no charge. Those assholes, do they not know about customer service? /end sarcasm. |
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My 97 Wrangler is a work in progress. I always have a list of things I am going to be working on. Not because it needs it, but because I can. I have 180k on mine and the only mechanical failures I have had was a locked up caliper and some steering parts that were worn out.
I will be needing new front fenders soon. That does not pose a problem, but an opportunity to install tube fenders. |
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jaxed dot com is your friend. I prefer quadratec.com for fast shipping, and 4wd.com for good prices, and northridge4x4 for miscellaneous stuff. Brown Dog is amazing too. Joe Bob Outfitters for miscellaneous gun parts too. Joe Bob Outfitters, them fuckers had the audacity to call me within 15 minutes of me placing my order, to call and tell me they are out of a certain part, and then offer me a better part at no charge. Those assholes, do they not know about customer service? /end sarcasm. jaxed is a craigslist search engine. eta: Got the Black Rock 941 Dune steel rims for my zuki from quadratec |
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Everyone I know who has one says they are always being fixed. A friend of mine, for example, says the next thing he needs to do is to fix the motor mounts. Are Jeeps so undependable as that? Some people pound on their Jeeps ie: go off road a lot Those vehicles needs repairs often duh wonder why Some people do the lifts get bigger tire all sorts of stuff they need repairs all the time I wonder why DUH I use mine all the time and go real easy off road a little I have no problems but it is still stock and it leaks no oil |
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Some of it's because they see some hard use and some of it's because many Wrangler owners like wrenching on their vehicle.
I'm always wrenching or "fixing" mine, but it's not due to unreliability, design flaws, or faulty parts. I replaced stock control arms, not because the stock ones failed, but because I wanted some adjustability. I replaced the stock motor mounts, not because the stock ones failed, but because I wanted to raise th engine. I replaced the stock front axles, well because I killed them, but that was a perfect excuse to get new mo' better ones. |
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jaxed dot com is your friend. I prefer quadratec.com for fast shipping, and 4wd.com for good prices, and northridge4x4 for miscellaneous stuff. Brown Dog is amazing too. Joe Bob Outfitters for miscellaneous gun parts too. Joe Bob Outfitters, them fuckers had the audacity to call me within 15 minutes of me placing my order, to call and tell me they are out of a certain part, and then offer me a better part at no charge. Those assholes, do they not know about customer service? /end sarcasm. jaxed is a craigslist search engine. To be honest, I did not know that. Off to google! |
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Quoted: I wonder why the re-sale on Wranglers is so high? Since they aren't reliable and all... Crazy, huh? And honestly...Jeeps rarely ever NEED to be fixed, but the owners usually are doing something to them anyway. My '03 TJ...had few issues with it that weren't my fault (bent a tie rod...control arm wore a hole in the frame from being loose). Otherwise...besides routine maintenance over 8.5 years I had it...I think I put about $800 into in actual repairs. Not bad I'd say. We'll see how the '12 JKU Rubi holds up... |
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My 08 JK hasn't required any attention beyond oil, tires, and hammering out a couple dings from a boulder.. My 93 YJ took some effort, but it's was almost 18 years old when I sold it and spent most of its time in Ohio so I can't complain.
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Off road vehicles require more maintenance . Who-da-thunk ? This. Slam things against rocks and trees and it's going to take a little more maintenance than the neighbors civic. |
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Its a Jeep thing... You would not understand.
Had a 1978 258 straight six CJ5 when I was 18. Flipped it on the highway one night in Cherry Hill on black ice and walked away from it (Thanks seat belt and roll bar!). Current owner of a 2004 4.0 stick shift TJ Rubicon, stock. Current owner of a 1994 5.2 V8 ZJ Grand Cherokee Unlimited, stock. I love my Jeeps. If you "use them" like they are built to do, you eventually will have work on it as parts get used and abused. The key here is "YOU" can work on a good potion of it and not take it to the shop. RW3
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Left stock and driven like a typical passenger appliance they are darn near bulletproof.
But that is a next to ridiculous proposition for anyone that would buy a Jeep in the first place, so they see hard and abusive use that passenger cars and Pick up trucks typically don't. Consider what Jeeps get put through, the next time some diffwit says "Jeeps are unreliable" or some shit. It dosn't help that Jeep owners are the type of folks that are compelled by personality to add shit, delete shit, and fabricate shit, even if they don't know what the heck they are doing half the time. Damn things should have Picatinny rails. |
I love my Jeep. Even though she is going in the shop today to replace a bad fan motor!  .
I have a 2001 WJ 4x4 with 87,000 miles and here is what I have had to do to her so far: Replace Spark Plugs Replace thermostat twice Replace Relay Replace Radio Sea Foam it twice ...and now replace the bad Radiator fan motor. Everything I have done except the fan motor I have done on my own. Easy breezy! ! Edit: and not to mention I average about 20-22 mpg on the highway! 
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01 wrangler 4.0, 4" lift, 79,000 miles.
I've replaced: tires brakes battery 1 heater/ac blower motor relay...$14.95 changed the oil religiously every 3-4 thousand miles Oh...and replaced the soft top last year....after 10 years of use the seams started to let loose If thats not reliable....then I don't know what is. 
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'06 LJ. 107k miles with some occasional off roading. Repairs to date include two batteries, set of heavy duty shocks, set of tires, 2 sets spark plugs, brake pads all around, regular oil & filter changes. Fixing it costs no more than any other vehicle, often a lot less since I can do most of it myself.  |
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It's only a '46-I'll let you know if it's a POS after it gets older...
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh63/jeep442007/S6001387.jpg 
now that's the original indestructable Jeep....made simple with not much to break.... 
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If I didn't modify mine and only drove them on pavement they'd be the most reliable vehicle per mile that I've ever owned. My 2000 Cherokee is almost all stock and has made it to just under 200K on unscheduled repairs of only one fuel injector and an upper radiator hose. Beyond that, oil changes, etc. My '06 Rubicon has had no unscheduled maintenance in 61K miles but thousands have been spent on aftermarket parts, and the CJ-7... About $25K and it can't hardly be driven on the street any longer!
Jeeps are not a hobby, it's an obsession. But properly taken care of and driven only on the street? Plenty reliable. -Gator |
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It's only a '46-I'll let you know if it's a POS after it gets older...
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh63/jeep442007/S6001387.jpg
now that's the original indestructable Jeep....made simple with not much to break....
Several generations of Bubbas have tried to fuck up this jeep,but they failed. |
| I bought my '94 cherokee three years ago with 203k on it for $860. Since I've had it, I've replaced the original water pump, not because it went bad but because the gasket rotted out and it started leaking. I also replaced the radiator and hoses, and the shocks. The engine and transmission are original, it runs perfect and doesn't leak anything. Other than some old rotten vacuum hoses causing some problems, it's been one of the most reliable vehicles I've ever owned. When I was 17, I had a CJ-7. It was also pretty damn good, and I can't think of anything on it that was a problem that I didn't break by abusing it. The problem with jeeps is that people expect them to take a beating that would make a HEMTT cry with no PM, and still never break. |
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Everyone I know who has one says they are always being fixed. A friend of mine, for example, says the next thing he needs to do is to fix the motor mounts. Are Jeeps so undependable as that? Well since mine is 21 years old I would expect to fix/repair/upgrade things. If you keep them stock and cruise the malls the 4.0 I6 will last forever. Once you start modifying them and hitting the trails, and hitting them hard, shits gonna break. I stopped keeping track of the money spent on modifications. I just hope I can get this 5.3 motor swap finished in the next week. |
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/snip/ It dosn't help that Jeep owners are the type of folks that are compelled by personality to add shit, delete shit, and fabricate shit, even if they don't know what the heck they are doing half the time. Damn things should have Picatinny rails. any coincidence that many, many Wrangler drivers are also ar15 afficianados? Sometimes it turns out fine and dandy and sometimes it's an abomination. I watched a guy wheel who "fabricated" his own sway bar disconnects with 1/4" diameter threaded rod.
A good buddy tried to make his own spring shackles out of mild steel plate. When they gave up the ghost after 15 minutes in a field it was a glorious sight to behold.  (to this day we give him shit, even though the YJ is long gone)
I've also seen some "why didn't I think of that/wish I had the skills to do that" creations. |
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my wife bought an 04 V6 wrangler, which I drive now, just turned 100000 miles this morning. Most we have done is routine maintenance. Been very reliable. I6 Fair Enough! To be honest I hate the damn thing––I find it to be the most useless vehicle on the planet. Its the sports car of trucks. However, its reliable, its easy to work on, oh....and it been paid off for going on 2 years. |
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I have a 95 YJ, 93 ZJ, and an 05 WJ. Really no issues with any of them other than the standard maintenance required.
I've modded my YJ pretty extensively and I still haven't had any issues with the Jeep parts/drivetrain. I've replaced a water pump and radiator after getting stabbed in the front while offroading but otherwise, just standard maintenance. The 4.0L is nearly bulletproof (cams seem to be the leading cause of failure in them), the AX15 is ok but not great, and that D35 rear end is shit (got rid of that very early on!). I'm gathering parts now for the next build which will completely eliminate the entire Jeep drivetrain, not because of reliability issues but because I'm looking to go with larger tires, higher HP, etc..... For someone driving around town, I don't think they're any worse than anything else out there. Cheers, cc |
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My 2010 Wrangler has 45K and has never been in the shop for any reason. I have an 09, once I pay it off I'm going to start saving up to switch out the engine and tranny to something a little bigger and keep on driving it. Hopefully that will take years to happen |
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Quoted: Quoted: Everyone I know who has one says they are always being fixed. A friend of mine, for example, says the next thing he needs to do is to fix the motor mounts. Are Jeeps so undependable as that? Its because people do dumb shit in them Best assessment so far; and I'm a Land Cruiser guy.  If I had a dollar for every person I've ridden with that crashed some obstacle that could simply be crawled through or over, I'd have ALOT more off-road toys!!! Buying a vehicle like a Jeep etc increases the odds that someone somewhere thought it was invincible and had no idea what they were doing at some point in the lifespan of the vehicle. I will not comment on my own actions as a teenager behind the wheel of a 4x4 way back when... |
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It's only a '46-I'll let you know if it's a POS after it gets older...
http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh63/jeep442007/S6001387.jpg 
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