Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!

Jeep Grand Cherokee Maintenance and Repair

1…34689…99

Comments

  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    Sounds like you've got a pretty significant short or live circuit somewhere if it can drain a brand new battery overnight. Good luck with finding this problem. If it's any consolation, at least you know that a new or decent battery will solve the spinning gauge/blinking light problem.
  • wlbrown9wlbrown9 Member Posts: 867
    Did you have the work done at a Jeep/DC dealer? If so, I would either open a case with the dealership or directly with DC asking for a refund and reference this new TSB... If they honor the TSB, you might get the new calipers out of the deal as well.

    If you had the work done elsewhere maybe after being rejected by a 5 star dealership and/or DC and have some documentation of that, I would also ask for at least a portion of that back, plus replacement of the calipers perhaps as well.
  • wlbrown9wlbrown9 Member Posts: 867
    If indeed DC designed, produced and delivered several hundred thousand 'defective' brake systems, then they should replace them...

    '99 JGCL first rotors warped at 4,500 miles
    '99 JGCL second set warped at about 21,000 miles

    '00 JGCL first rotors warped at 14,000 miles.
    '00 JGCL aftermarket from AZ $100, self installed
    still good at 35,000+ miles.

    Small sample, but I have been convinced of the manufacturer's problem for a long time. Service manager at 5 star dealer refused to replace at 14,000 miles. I asked him about the pallet behind the dealership with at least 50 sets of 'used' rotors piled on, but he was not willing to consider any remedy other than to 'turn the rotors at owner's expense' for more than I paid for the replacement rotors. Then he wondered why I gave the dealership low scores on the service survey form. Plus, neither DC or the dealership ever responded to my request to put the rejection in writing...I opened a case with DC and all they did was forward it to the dealership who then followed up by phone. I am considering asking DC to reopen the case and will re-install the warped rotors if I can basically get a complete front end brake job out of the TSB for my trouble.
  • janzjanz Member Posts: 129
    Yes, I did to to the closest Jeep/DC 5 star dealership because I knew there had been brake/rotor problems and wanted to keep the documentation of service clean. They kind of acknowledged the problem when told me they'd used parts from a different mfg. and I should not experience the warping again, which I haven't to date.

    This occurred after, but not too long after, the 12,000 rotor warranty expired. In you opinion, would this matter? Do you think I could still try to appeal?

    Thanks in advance for your info. I do appreciate it. janz
  • wlbrown9wlbrown9 Member Posts: 867
    All I know about the TSB is what is posted on that one site:

    Model Year(s): 1999-2002 (models built May 11, 2002 and prior)

    Another user here sent me an e-mail...he has subscribed to Alldata for Jeep GC TSBs...they have not updated yet and it is not on the NHTSB site either. Maybe the dealer would show you the complete TSB if you show up with the basic info..not sure. I have seen comments from other folks that have had rotors replaced after the 12,000 miles, so a lot of that is up to the dealer's warranty rep.

    BUT, since this apparently covers ALL JGC built in '99, '00, '01 & '02, I doubt they could expect some of the early ones to be less than 12,000 or (forget if it was 12 or 36 months) for the brake warranty exclusion. To me DEFECTIVE means DEFECTIVE! If I wanted to do weekly maintenance on a vehicle, I would probably get one that would qualify as an antique or special purpose vehicle. IMHO, a modern, standard use vehicle listing for $30,000 should not require that type of maintenance to keep it going.
  • eenglisheenglish Member Posts: 22
    Alldata did come up with the complete TSB.

    Most of the info other than what wlbrown9 posted relates to the details of the repair.

    Under policy

    POLICY:
    Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty

    I'm not sure whether this means 12,000 miles. To me it seems that if a repair was done and then the repair TSB was superceded by another method to fix the problem then they should fix it right.

    There seems to be a lot of flexibility as to how the dealers cover the warranty. I'm on my third set of rotors (now warped), but they did replace them beyond the 12,000 mile limit.

    I don't have the exact numbers with me but I think it was:

    15,000 - rotors
    20,000 - pads and rotors
    24,000 - "new improved" pads and rotors

    All these were covered under warranty. I think what was instrumental on getting it covered was bringing in the specific TSBs describing the repairs required. The reason they covered the last repair was that the TSB I brought in said that they were supposed to replace the pads with one's that had sticky backing (supposed to pull the pads off between braking) and they didn't.
    They then replaced the pads and put on new rotors.

    I plan on going back and trying to get them fixed again using the latest TSB, since they didn't do the "final, right" fix.

    I have an extended warranty that covers calipers so I shouldn't have problems if I use the extended warranty. However, I was hoping to not use it since my son is using the Jeep and I don't want to transfer the warranty to him if I don't have to (only one transfer) in case I want sell it and use the warranty as a selling point.
  • augirl1augirl1 Member Posts: 3
    This just happened to me today. Its so weird b/c all the gauges just spin, even when the key is not in the ignition. I was beginning to panic and thinking that it was going to be a huge problem. I'm relieved to know that it may only be a dead battery. Thanks!
  • gmanichgmanich Member Posts: 3
    That's me counting my blessings. I've had my brakes serviced ONCE in my '99, and that was at 30k miles. Even at that point the rotors weren't too bad, but the mild pulsating was starting to bother me. I guess they all don't leave the factory in equal condition. I was thinking of spinning the wheel and buying an '02. Maybe I should just keep the '99 since it has been good to me.
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    The 02 will be good to you too. :o)
  • mastercraft2mastercraft2 Member Posts: 7
    When the battery is weak it quickly becomes dead because it has to spin all of those needles. Mine was spinning with the key out too. You can keep the battery good overnight by charging it and disconnecting it. If a new or charged battery doesn't work, do what I did. Take the car to the shop. We're still waiting for the diagnosis.
  • mday2mday2 Member Posts: 4
    I am in the market for a used suv. I came across a 98 GC 5.9 limited. Do these vehicles have any problems that any of you are aware of? This car does have high mileage, but they are obviously highway miles. The last two cars I have owned turned out to be serious lemons. I do not want to get burnt again. If anyone has any input, it would be much appreciated.
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    Can't really speak for the 5.9L, but I had a 98 Ltd go back under the lemon law for some serious drivetrain vibrations.

    There are potential cooling issues with the 5.9L in a JGC. I believe it has the same radiator capacity as the 5.2L engine... which is not good. To compensate, they put the louvres in the hood to aid airflow through the engine compartment. I know from my 98 owner's manual that there were quite a few towing restrictions placed on the 5.9L's because of "cooling issues." Reading this left me with the impression that it wouldn't take much to get one of these to overheat. Funny how they never pointed any of this out in their catalogs/brochures in the 98 model year.

    Anyway, you really need to take a look at the vehicle's service history and compare this to known TSB's for this year and model to determine what's been fixed and what potential problems remain.

    Even though the high mileage is "obviously" highway miles, the fact remains that there's a lot of miles on the vehicle and you need to look at possible maintenance issues and costs. Just changing trans, transfer case and front/rear diff oils and fluids (recommended every 30K) can run you several hundred bucks... it's not a cheap service.

    Your call I guess...
  • mday2mday2 Member Posts: 4
    After reading these posts, there are obviously issues with these jeeps. I definately need to get the info on service records before anything else. There are quite a bit of miles, 144000 to be exact, so this may be somthing to definately pass up. Thanks for the input.
  • bigorange30bigorange30 Member Posts: 1,091
    He didn't mention the possiblity of rotor warping that many of these JGC's have. I have a friend that has a 2000 that gets the rotors replaced when she gets the oil changed (every 4K miles).
  • augirl1augirl1 Member Posts: 3
    I got a new battery for my car, and so far so good. Please post the diagnosis for your problem when you find out, as this may really help if this new battery does not solve my problem. Thanks!!!
  • milsuperdocmilsuperdoc Member Posts: 29
    Hello, ya'll! I found this forum very informative, and this is my first post here.

    I have a 1994 JGC 5.2L V-8 Limited with 102K trouble free miles. Now, a low pitch/frequency growling noise occurs with vibration when moving at 58 to 65 mph from the front end area independent of turning or moving in straight direction. The noise and vibration are worst at about 62 mph with accelerator only slightly depressed. Noise and vibration goes away completely during coasting or hard acceleration, or at any other speed.

    My mechanic checked the wheel bearings, drive shaft, CV joints/boots, pinion oil seal, front axles, front differential, universal joint, motor mounts, and other possible sources. He found no obvious problems with them. The transmission, and both front and rear differential services were completed recently with appropriate fluids/oil. My mechanic thinks that the vibration and noise may be coming from the TRANSFER CASE.

    What do all of you think? What do you think I should do next? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

    Thanks!
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    There are many things that can cause that noise. It's also difficult to isolate where the noise is actually coming from. Your mechanic may be right that it's in the transfer case but I seem to recall that this was more of a differential ring and pinion problem. When he serviced your diff's, did he closely examine the ring and pinion for unusual signs of wear?

    I know DC issued several TSB's over the years regarding this problem. Either stop at your dealer and inquire about them, or you can get a brief TSB description by searching either the NHTSB or AllData web sites. If nothing else, that should point you in the right direction.
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    "He didn't mention the possiblity of rotor warping that many of these JGC's have. I have a friend that has a 2000 that gets the rotors replaced when she gets the oil changed (every 4K miles)."

    You're right, I didn't. The brake rotor issue has been addressed a thousand times here already. I'm sure mday2 is intelligent enough to already have picked this up. Why continue flogging a dead horse?

    I feel very sorry for your friend if she's having her rotors replaced every 4K when she changes her oil. Apparently, she isn't intelligent enough to figure out that replacing the OEM rotors with MOPAR replacement rotors doesn't solve the problem... it just starts the same problem all over from the beginning.

    Brake rotors aren't a big issue, even on the JGC's. Simply replace them once and for all with any decent set of aftermarket rotors (for half the cost of MOPAR rotors) and quit worrying about it. Deal with the problem and get on with life... it's too short to worry about the small-potato stuff. Now if she's your friend, and you're a reasonably knowledgeable person, why aren't you pointing this out to her? It doesn't sound to me like you have.

    If a person wants to walk away from a JGC because of the "horror stories" on brake rotors, then they're walking away from one of the best SUV's out there. If they're that particular, I don't think they'll be happy with any SUV.

    "It's a Jeep thing"... you wouldn't understand. :o)
  • bigorange30bigorange30 Member Posts: 1,091
    But why should she have to? There are many SUVs (and other kinds of vehicles) out there that don't have these kinds of problems. I have a Mustang GT with 115 K miles that have rotors that have never been turned.
  • milsuperdocmilsuperdoc Member Posts: 29
    Thank you for your prompt response!

    My mechanic is a good personal friend of mine, who is also an ASE certified mechanic with many years of experience. He owns an independent auto service center, and currently employs several other mechanics. I trust his honesty, experience and skill.

    He told me that he was not able to find any unusual signs of wear with ring and pinion when he was servicing the differentials by opening it up and cleaning the magnets last week.

    Today, I dropped my Jeep at a reputable independent transmission shop, which my mechanic friend referred me to. So far, three technicians have examined my Jeep, and they can all replicate the growling noise and vibration from the front end. They are not sure if the noise and vibration is coming from the transfer case. Now, they are all baffled, and can not seem to precisely locate where the source of the problem is.

    Both my mechanic and the transmission shop technicians had access to the official DC Technical Service Manuals and JGC TSBs. Hmmm...truly puzzling...
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    You're absolutely right, she shouldn't have to. Today's rotor quality just isn't what it used to be and DC has done a serious disservice to an otherwise fine vehicle by not addressing this problem back when it became apparent on the 93's.

    Like other JGC owner's, I've never been happy about this fact. But I live with it and I don't let that stop me from owning and enjoying a vehicle I love. The simple one-time fix for this is to buy aftermarket rotors when the time comes. And it's considerably cheaper than having to pay for another defective set of MOPAR rotors.
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    If your mechanic feels confident that he's ruled-out the items you mentioned in your first post, then the only thing left to look at is the transmission and transfer case.

    94's were notorious for transmission failures, but this problem usually manifested itself by noticeable shifting problems.

    The transfer case viscous coupler was also trouble prone in the 93-94's. If you make a tight radius turn (say pulling into a parking spot) do you feel the front wheels fighting each other... kind of a lurching sensation? Or hear any growling when doing this? That's an indicator that the viscous coupler is going out. Don't know whether this would cause the symptoms at the speed you describe.

    The only other thing I can think of would be a bad differential pinion bearing. They had failures in the later 90's models and the symptoms were quite similar to what you describe. You definitely have enough miles on yours where this could finally be wearing out. Has your mechanic checked this by any chance?
  • hansm14hansm14 Member Posts: 16
    I have a 1995 Grand Cherokee Laredo and the automatic transmission went out with only 62000 miles on the vehicle.
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    No transmission should go out at 62K. Unfortunately, that was a common problem on 93-98's. The 93-95's seemed to be particularly bad for this though. Replacing it isn't cheap... usually $2500-4000 depending on your locale. A rebuild would be cheaper but probably still well up into a 4-digit bill.
  • jeeppjeepp Member Posts: 1
    help! My 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited has some front end grinding noise. Ive talked ot many mechanics and at first they said it was the rotors then they said it was the wheel bearings. The noise comes from the drivers side, and we replaced the rotors and the drivers side wheel bearings. NOW the mechanic says it is the passenger side wheel bearing even though the noise is coming from the drivers side .. can the noise TRANSFER? is it something else?!!! HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    It can be really difficult to pinpoint exactly where noises are coming from underneath a vehicle. Does the mechanic know for certain that the noise is coming from the passenger side, or is he just making a WAG?

    It's still a good idea to replace the pass side wheel bearings. Just doing one side makes about as much sense as replacing only one tire or shock absorber.

    Some other possibilities are front diff ring and pinion wear, pinion bearing or transfer case parts. All of these have been known to create the same kind of noise on the earlier Jeeps.

    Also, have your mechanic do a better job of trying to isolate the noise, otherwise you're going to get severely "nickel and dimed" to death before you actually find the problem. Good luck!
  • mbrygambryga Member Posts: 1
    I've got a '95 Grand Cherokee Orvis with 90K on it. Factory rotors lasted 60K, but replacements have only lasted 15K (unrelated, but that's how long the batteries are lasting now too). Master cylinder replaced at 50K, A/C work at 55K, Radiator at 60K, starter at 80K, Fan clutch at 85K.

    Had the transfer case rebuilt at 50K (didn't like to disengage from Full-time 4WD, front end would scrub in corners and then a big BANG,...). Transmission computer replaced at 85K (was that ever hard for the dealer to diagnose - code said all 3 solenoids failed at once ).

    Now I'm getting the front end fighting on tight corners again. What/where is the "viscous coupler", and what does it cost to replace?

    Does anyone keep details on MTBF on these vehicles and make that info available to the public?

    I love the vehicle, but have used up all my AAA tows/jumps for the year. Do I spend the money, or sell it? Opinions welcome.
  • rwharcharwharcha Member Posts: 19
    Hi: I read your post with great interest. I baby the Orvis. Use it everyday, but now have only 55K miles logged. Never offroad. Only problem , am experiencing what sounds like an abnormally loud higher than normal RPM (roaring sound ) that disappears after the 1st shift, and then it comes back at approx. 55-60 MPH . No vibration just noise. No one seems to know what it is. There was a bulletin , earlier about transfer case vibration, which needed bracing. This was not covered by factory warranty, so I did not have it done. This has been a very reliable auto and I will continue to own indefinitely. I am surprised at the work you have had to do on your auto. I would recommend you keep car. It's good transportation in my case. I would sell if I ever felt it was not reliable. I own several autos, and I like the jeep's size and handling. I consider it fun to drive. It's great in city driving conditions , parking, etc. Wife also likes to drive jeep. Let me know if you experienced the high RPM roaring noise thing.TIA. Russ.
  • bigorange30bigorange30 Member Posts: 1,091
    #1292 of 1292 I just bought mine..... by domi4 Aug 02, 2002 (08:21 pm)
    A 2002 Silver QX4.

    The vehicle is awesome. Handles well, good performance and a solid SUV.

    I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. The Qx4 is a much better SUV... there is no comparason.

    Glad I made the purchase
  • fishrxmanfishrxman Member Posts: 31
    I owned a '93 JGC Laredo. No major problems. Sold it after 7 years. My 2001 JGC Ltd had too many drive train and electrical problems to mention. Traded for a 2002 JGC Ltd which has been trouble free since last December. I could afford to take the big financial hit and bail out of the 2001. You have an early JGC which was plagued by problems, (especially transmission, air conditioning, & electrical) which have been aired consistently on this, and the other Jeep Grand Cherokee strings. Reevaluate what vehicle fits your needs. If the power, utility, towing ability, comfort, and appearance suit you, then consider putting your money in a new Jeep (cheap financing, extended powertrain warranty). Or wait for the JGC update in a couple years.

    Generally, I like to buy and keep my vehicles for 7 to 8 years. If average monthly repair costs are roughly equal to financing on a new vehicle, it makes sense to buy new. Leasing is another option.

    If you need more room for people or storage, Suburban, Expedition, Excursion, Navigator, or even Durango may work for you.

    I hope my experiences and thoughts help.
    I REALLY like Grand Cherokee, even though I had a bad one last year.
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    Sounds like you've got enough years and mileage on your 95 where it's starting to "nickel and dime" you to death if you hang onto it. The earlier JGC's were definitely plagued with several problems. Even the early production 99's (the new design) had more than their fair share. But what you do here is a decision you have to make for yourself.

    With the end of the 02 model year coming up, you can get some great deals on new JGC's along with decent rebates or 0% financing. With what's offered now, I wouldn't even consider a lease. The 02's have been virtually complaint-free and much smoother and quieter than previous years. Or, maybe you may want to try another make/model of vehicle for a change. That's fine too... there's great financing options on almost everything out there today.

    To answer your question about the viscous coupler... this is located in your transfer case and is the component that transfers power between front and rear wheels. It's kind of like a hydraulic differential. The symptoms you described are a failing coupler. This can be fairly expensive to fix... I believe over $400 depending on whether your dealership does it the hard way by removing the transfer case or if they were smart enough to get the "tool" that allows them to remove the coupler parts without removing the transfer case. The repair cost is high due to the amount of labor involved... not the parts.

    You also need to take what bigorange30 has to say with a grain of salt. His feelings towards Jeep are well-known out here and he loves to troll in this forum. While I'm sympathetic to the bad experience he had with his Jeep (and he does have a right to voice his opinion), he's only owned one... and to me that doesn't justify the amount of complaining he does about them. Anybody can get stuck with a bad vehicle. My 98 JGC went back under the lemon law. Sure, I certainly didn't like that but it didn't "turn me off" on the JGC's. As for his statement that "there's no comparison between a JGC and a QX4"... I'm LOL.

    I'm sure you're intelligent enough to be able to read between the lines and weed-out some of the extremely biased opinions you'll find out here. Good luck to you!
  • hansm14hansm14 Member Posts: 16
    Has anyone had good luck with this vehicle?
  • bigorange30bigorange30 Member Posts: 1,091
    domi4 did. I just passed it along.
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    My appologies... I thought that was your quote.
  • rutgersgradrutgersgrad Member Posts: 1
    Unlike most of you, apparently, we have really enjoyed our Jeep and have experienced very few problems. I am however starting to experience some loud roaring noise sometimes when accellerating from a stop. Does not happen all the time. Any ideas on the problem? Anybody else have this problem? Someone told me it could be the lock up torque converter. If you had this problem and had it fixed, let me know how much it cost.

    Thanks
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    Can you be a little more specific about under what operating conditions the loud roaring occurs? Stuff like hot days, AC running or not, etc. It would help us narrow down the possibilities. It could be something as simple as the fan clutch starting to go out.
  • djj215djj215 Member Posts: 2
    I've been having a problem with my '97 JGC. At random, when I am applying my brakes, at the point of actually stopping my vehicle, there is a spring kick-back feeling in my foot.

    Has anyone else had this problem?

    I have taken it to a break specialist, the repair center where I purchase the car (CarMax) and now an actual Jeep service center. And none of them can find a problem.

    It's not the break pads or rotors, because they were change with the recall. Any suggestions????
  • knhillknhill Member Posts: 33
    I bought a 95 GCL new in 95. It has 80k miles now with some mild off-roading on the clock. A plastic coupler to the transmission cooler broke causing a slow fluid leak. The transfer case tends to leak at the drain plug - two dealers worked on swapping plugs until the tendency became manageable. No other problems; I consider it a reliable vehicle (more than I can say about the wife's 97 Rustang). I wish we had a reliable dealership in Raleigh, NC.
  • chrisg6chrisg6 Member Posts: 3
    READ THIS!..Against my better judgement, I recently purchased a 99 Grand Cherokee I-6 2WD(4WD's are few and far between down here in Florida). My previous ride was an 87 Wrangler. I love Jeeps. I put my Wrangler to the test MANY times so I decided to give the Grand Cherokee a try. Having got much of my aggression out on the Wrangler, I figured I was ready to chill for a while in comfort. The reason I said I purchased this vehicle against my better judgement is because all you hear on sites like this is about how awful these vehicles are. So I did my homework. I researched the 99 Grand Cherokee to the T. I asked EVERY person I came into contact with driving a 99 or above about their vehicle. I'm talking at the mall, the supermarket, red lights, you name it. And this is a fact--I could not find ONE SINGLE person with a complaint. I also asked how many miles they had so I could get an idea if they just didn't have the miles that some people state their complaints start happening. NONE, ZERO. I am being COMPLETELY HONEST. I must have confronted over 50 people in a 2 month period (Grand Cherokees are everywhere) and I ALWAYS got "I love my Jeep" as the response. When I asked about the brake issue, people actually looked at me funny! I know this problem is real because I have it, but looking back on the responses, I can't believe nobody I spoke to had this problem! So after test driving a few, and being very cautious I found a 99 with 28,500 miles on it that just came off a lease. I picked it up for $15,800. Within a week I came across the well documented "wet passenger floor as a result of the AC not draining properly". I took it to the dealer because it was still under warranty. They said the drain tube needed to be pushed out further from the firewall so it could drain onto the road properly. Also there was a recall to put a "debris shield" on the manifold cover and the fuel pump seal(which is why every now and then it wouldn't start on the first crank). I knew all of these were a problem because of my research, but I wanted to see how honest and knowledgeable the dealership was. A week later my passenger floor was still getting wet. Not a huge problem, but annoying never-the-less. I took it back and they said it was not doing it. I said "Keep it overnight, drive it first thing in the morning for at least 2 hours. Low and behold they discover the problem and blow out and clean the AC drain line. I then 1 week later decide to break this thing in and see if I'm going to have some problems or not. I take it with my wife and my dog on a 2600 mile round trip road trip up to PA & New Jersey. Flawless. Not one problem,(except of course, for the pulsing, warping, brakes). It was THE most comfortable road trip I've ever taken. I folded the back seat down and my dog was in heaven. Gas mileage was about 22 miles to the gallon according to the trip computer (gotta love that thing, they should come in all cars). I will be honest, because I educated myself on this vehicle, I knew what to look for and expect. That's what makes forums like this redeeming. I recognize my brakes are warping by the gentle pulsing that is starting to build up when I apply the brakes. Yeah, it sucks that this is happening. Yeah, it sucks that Chrysler made crappy brakes on this thing. But since we all know this is a defect and Chrysler can't seem to correct it (At least on the 99's. Although NOT ONE person I asked said they had brake trouble whatsoever), do something about it..the problem has a fix people-QUIT COMPLAINING AND BUY SOME DECENT AFTERMARKET BRAKE EQUIPMENT!! Just recognize it's a freakin' defect and move on!!! Your life will be much easier!! You people out there that keep putting Chrysler brake equipment back on after it has failed you 2 and 3 times are amazing!! I genuinely believe the problems that people are stating, but sometimes you have to take matters into your own hands. The vehicle I purchased now has 34,000 miles on it and runs great. Granted, it makes a low, grinding noise when shifting into gear after it has been off for a while. I informed the Jeep dealer and had him put it in writing that this is "normal for Grand Cherokees". Should this be happening? I'm sure it shouldn't. But it's a 1 second noise I can live with. Now if anything goes wrong relating to this complaint, I will have something documented. Choose your battles people, I can let this one slide. I also as a result of forums such as this, decided a GOOD extended warranty like the one WARRANTY GOLD offers would be a good investment. Bumper to bumper 5 years from the warranty purchase date and 100,000 miles on the vehicle I am covered. I purchased this warranty because you people out there scared it into me. BUT, all these Jeeps are NOT bad. Educate yourself on these Jeeps, do your homework, find a nice one, perform ALL the maintenance, purchase an extended warranty, and for God's sake recognize that these things are Jeeps..not Mercede's and Lexus's or whatever other Luxury car SOME, not ALL, SOME of you people are switching over to because you want a JEEP. They are a different animal. I promise to keep you informed of ANY and ALL future problems. I will be completely honest. Just realize that there is NO perfect car and go in armed with knowledge.
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    Very well said! That's pretty much what I've been saying in the almost 10 years and 4 JGC's I've owned. People sometimes tend to be a little unrealistic in their expectations.

    Yes, it's sad that DC couldn't/wouldn't do anything about the warped brake rotor problem after all these years. 8 out of 10 complaints are about the rotors and people make it out to be such a "horror story." Like I always said (and you say above) the fix is simple... replace them with any decent set of aftermarket rotors for half the cost the dealer will charge for another warped set of MOPAR rotors.

    The low, grinding noise you're hearing when initially putting the trans in gear IS normal. To me, it's kind of a faint, ratcheting sound that lasts a second or two. Doesn't always happen either. Never had anything go wrong because of it on either my 99 or 02. And I don't worry about it.

    Congrats, and may you have many enjoyable miles with your JGC!
  • maqseniormaqsenior Member Posts: 1
    I thinking about purchasing a 1996 JGC Limited 4x4 with 70,000 miles, driven by a middle aged lady. Good to excellent condition. What types of problems does this vehicle have and what maintenance issues would I expect going forward?
  • bmb1373bmb1373 Member Posts: 8
    I know this isn't exactly the right place to post this, but as I do respect some of the people who have posted here I've decided this is where I want some advice.... I was about an ink pen away from trading in my '97 JGC and purchasing a new '02 JGC, then this silly little neighbor of mine suggested I take a look at the Trailblazer. The first thing that came to mind, "Chevy..zipp it, I don't think so!" I'm not much of a bow-tie man. But I went ahead and test drove one, '02 4x4 w/ loads of equipment on it, 270 hp and a nice hitch to boot... If it wouldn't be for the Kia looking dashboard, I think I would have stayed at the dealership... Please, someone.. anyone, talk me out of buying that Chevy!! I love my little leaky Jeep, but that Trailblazer in a side to side comparison just about takes it from the Jeep...
  • cookie6602cookie6602 Member Posts: 5
    bmb1373 about the Trailblazer: I have had my trailblazer for about 7 months after trading in my 2000 wrangler. It is a XLT fully loaded 2002,
    very nice ride,no problems whatsoever, but I have had to finally admit to my husband, it just isnt me, and I need to be back in a Jeep. Actually going to Camp Jeep helped my decision along. We went in my husbands 2002 GJC Patriot Edition. So yesterday I put in the order for my Limited Liberty, and will say goodbye to the Trailblazer. I think once you go JEEP, you can't go back.
  • awaughawaugh Member Posts: 6
    Having just got a Dog and nociced that my Alfa Romeo just isn't built for transporting dogs, I'm looking around for other vehicles. I really like the Chreokee Ltd, especially the older boxy looking ones (early 90s???) I live in Switzerland, meaning that if I'm not driving uphill then I'm driving downhill. Questions: 1)Is the brake problem really that bad? 2) Who makes a ggod aftermarket disc? 3) Which motor (Remember that when I'm overtaking I'm doing it going uphill too).
    Jeeps here have a reputation of being expensive to keep...How feasible is self repair?

    Regards

    Andrew
  • fishrxmanfishrxman Member Posts: 31
    to maqsenior...Many problems were discussed thoroughly on the main JGC thread before a 'problems' thread was created. Check out the older posts on the main thread for discussions of those problems and solutions. Also, posts #279 & 280 (above) answer a similar request about problems. Some posts appear to be nothing more than 'heckling' (i.e. bigorange30). Still, everyone is entitled to an opinion.

    to bmb1373...When I first looked at JGC in 1993, I also checked out Explorer, 4-Runner, and Blazer, the ONLY mid size SUVs at the time.
    Explorer had mushy handling (compared to 4-Runner & Jeep). 4-Runner was under-powered and cramped (compared to Jeep & Explorer). Jeep had the most car-like ride and a v8 engine option. The Blazer still had locking hubs for four wheel drive. In fact, the Blazer salesman said he wouldn't even buy it! Granted, that was nine years ago. But I mention this because I think Jeep still has a better 4x4 transmission than Chevrolet. The ride is comfortable. There is a powerful engine for towing. Financing is cheap. Then there is the 7yr/100k powertrain warranty.

    If this was a test, I would always go with my first thought. But I'm biased-I love my 2002 Jeep.
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    The best is to stick with your original feelings. If you like the JGC, then stick with it. If you liked your 97, then you're going to love the 02. It's an entirely different animal.

    Like fishrxman, I always take a hard look at what's available whenever I'm in the market for a new vehicle. You owe it to yourself to do this so you can make an intelligent choice on how to spend your money.

    Prior to buying my first JGC in 93, I always considered myself a hardcore GM person. I've had Chevy 4WD trucks, full-size K5 Blazers, Buicks, Oldsmobiles and Pontiacs. Man, I fell in love with my first JGC! Yeah, I've had a few of the problems you've read about out here. I even had a 98 go back under the lemon law. But overall, no more problems than anyone else has had with the vehicles they drive. And anyone can get a lemon.

    There are times I wish I had a little more room than the JGC offers. I am on the tall side and would like to stretch out more. The only vehicle I'd consider as a replacement to my JGC is the Tahoe or Yukon. Everytime I buy a new vehicle, I always give these a serious look and test drive.

    I won't even look at a Blazer or Trailblazer. I can't speak for the Trailblazer, but I've heard "rumors" that it has its share of reliability issues. You may want to do some further research into that possibility yourself, so please don't take my word for that.

    I just can't help but feel the JGC gives me more value for my money. The JGC has more features, the fit and finish is better, best 4WD system out there (Q-D) and it's more manueverable... plus it's $4K+ cheaper than a Tahoe or Yukon. I always talk myself out of one when I really weigh my needs and situation. Well, I'm on my fourth JGC so far! Enough said.

    Awaugh... the earlier ZJ's (93-98) could present some problems for you. Especially if parts or service aren't readily available. It's kind of a 50-50 proposition. From watching the history of the vehicle in those model years, I'm under the impression that you either got a relatively problem-free one or one that had one problem after the other. My 93 was very dependable, and like I mentioned above, my 98 was a lemon.

    If your financial situation allows it, I'd highly recommend a WJ (99-up) with the 4.7L V8. The early production 99's (built before 4-99) had quite a few problems. WJ's produced from 4-99 to the present have improved considerably. The 02 is by far the best of the bunch. Regardless of what year you're looking at, for your driving needs, the V8 is the only way to go.

    Brake rotor warpage has been a chronic problem since 93. I see that DC has a new caliper/rotor fix. Time will tell if they finally got it right. Any decent set of aftermarket rotors will fix the problem once and for all. Do not waste time and money on MOPAR replacement rotors as they are the same poor quality as the OEM rotors.

    One good way to get an idea of what model year had the most problems is to do a search on TSB's and recalls. You can find this at either the Alldata or NHTSB web sites.

    There are no special maintenance concerns on the JGC vs. any other SUV. And like any other SUV, there's nothing cheap (money-wise) about performing maintenance and repairs. If you're outside the U.S., this will be a concern to you. Just do the research before buying any vehicle.

    Remember... people write more words of complaint than praise, so you need to read between the lines on a lot of the posts out here. Most of the JGC complaints are unrealistic and about things that are more annoying than anything that led to actual part failures, or breakdowns that left the owner stranded. To me, that's the true measure of a vehicle's reliability.
  • olizerolizer Member Posts: 38
    I've had my 98 JGC now for almost two years and 20,000 miles. I've had no problem with the rotors although I am of the opinion that you must torque the front lug nuts to factory specs (100 ft lbs) with a torque wrench. I think that driver technique also has something to do with the "warp-age". While driving with my son in his Tahoe last week I noticed that when he sees a red traffic signal a half mile ahead he continues at highway speed until he is almost on top of the traffic light before he starts to slow down - and he wonders why his rotors warp.
  • milsuperdocmilsuperdoc Member Posts: 29
    After five mechanics and seven days at three different independent auto and transmission shops, my 1994 JGC Limited V-8 with front end vibration and growling noise is finally fixed...with total cost of $716.15 including tax...which also included all the tranny fluid/filter, front and rear differential fluid, and transfer case fluid changes. I have been driving it for over one week now...over 1000 miles...and it is just as smooth, quiet, and drives excellent as the day I bought it back in Oct. 1993. Guess I'm one of the lucky ones with the good one of the batch!

    Happy Jeepin'!
  • kkuligkkulig Member Posts: 150
    Way to go milsuperdoc! You got by fairly cheap on this. May you get many more pleasurable miles off your JGC.
  • milsuperdocmilsuperdoc Member Posts: 29
    Your guess was correct. It was the front differential pinion bearing that had to be replaced. I now have over 103k miles. I never really had any problems that others have experienced on this thread...including warped rotors/brakes, A/C, Transmission...etc. Other than routine battery replacement, engine oil changes every 4k miles, tire/serpentine belt replacements and other power train/cooling system fluid/oil/coolant replacements, I've had no major repairs so far. My JGC is averaging about 17.3 mpg with regular 87 octane in mixed traffic/highway driving in Northern VA/DC area. I have owned many different vehicles in the past...all bought brand new...including '80 VW Rabbit, '84 Pontiac Trans Am 5.0L H.O., '90 Nissan Sentra XE, '99 Mercedes E430. So far, my '94 JGC Limited has been better than any one of other cars I have owned in the past. Hope this continues to be the trend. I'm now in the market for brand new Lexus LS 430. But I'm definitely keeping my JGC!
Sign In or Register to comment.

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles