Need advice on what to do with problematic 2001 Sahara

[TJ60Anniversary]

I’ve owed my ‘01 Wrangler 60th Anniversary Edition for 13 years. It had one other owner in California who drove it across county. 13 years later and being oblivious to what the salted winter roads of NJ can do to the underside of a Jeep, I’m facing severe rust/rot on the front frame below the engine. It was my daily driver and has 187,000 miles.

Last month the transmission went out — will drive forward, but not reverse. Got a quote for $2,300 to rebuild.

Not sure what to do. I haven’t found anything to replace it yet, but I can’t continue to rent a car as I’ve already spent what I would have on replacing the trans.

Is it worth it to replace the trans and drive it until I find a replacement? Is it sellable with the trans not working and a rusted front frame?

Opinions / advice needed.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Only you can answer that question. Is the Jeep worth fixing to you? I personally wouldn't sink $5,000 (transmission/quality frame repairs) into a Jeep, unless I could sell it and get the money back. I'm poor though.
p.s. Maybe buy a cheap "beater" car until you can fix the Jeep. Cheaper than rental cars long term.

 

[BlueC]

I’ve owed my ‘01 Wrangler 60th Anniversary Edition for 13 years. It had one other owner in California who drove it across county. 13 years later and being oblivious to what the salted winter roads of NJ can do to the underside of a Jeep, I’m facing severe rust/rot on the front frame below the engine. It was my daily driver and has 187,000 miles.

Nearly 200,000 miles doesn't bother me anywhere near what rust does. Post some pics so we can see how bad it actually is. The Jeep has value no matter what, but that value may be in salvageable parts only now, or it might still be worth fixing. Either way, I'll second what Boogie said and recommend you get a second vehicle.

 

[NWPA Jeepy T]

Welcome and greetings from Erie County, PA!! Rust is and always will be an issue here. We just bought a junkyard ax15 for 700 through car-part.com for my son's 01 Sahara - perfect solution at a reasonable price. If you have an nv3550, it's not worth rebuilding when you can get an inexpensive ax15. Safe-t-caps bring that rust repair bill down too

 

[TJ60Anniversary]

Only you can answer that question. Is the Jeep worth fixing to you? I personally wouldn't sink $5,000 (transmission/quality frame repairs) into a Jeep, unless I could sell it and get the money back. I'm poor though.
p.s. Maybe buy a cheap "beater" car until you can fix the Jeep. Cheaper than rental cars long term.

I’m poor too! This is my daily driver and I haven’t been able to find a replacement. Found a 2009 X at my price point last night and it was gone before I could get to the dealership today.

 

[TJ60Anniversary]

Welcome and greetings from Erie County, PA!! Rust is and always will be an issue here. We just bought a junkyard ax15 for 700 through car-part.com for my son's 01 Sahara - perfect solution at a reasonable price. If you have an nv3550, it's not worth rebuilding when you can get an inexpensive ax15. Safe-t-caps bring that rust repair bill down too

Unfortunately I’m not that mechanical. I can do minor repairs but I wouldn’t even attempt to replace a transmission.

 

[TJ60Anniversary]

Nearly 200,000 miles doesn't bother me anywhere near what rust does. Post some pics so we can see how bad it actually is. The Jeep has value no matter what, but that value may be in salvageable parts only now, or it might still be worth fixing. Either way, I'll second what Boogie said and recommend you get a second vehicle.

Yeah I was afraid I might have to part it out.

 

[macleanflood]

If you're not wanting to dive in a crash course on welding and mechanical work...all things I would highly encourage you to dive in head first...then you've got a couple of options.

I'd start off buying a winter beater with decent gas mileage. I'd head south and road trip it home. You'll need something to drive while you fix your Jeep, wait for a shop to do the work, or find a replacement someplace...also probably south and west.

Beater will get you out from under car rental costs. And give you something else to drive/destroy in the salt months.

Lots of newer Jeeps out there too...I love TJs but at their age you're either an enthusiastic mechanic, got deep pockets or have that friend...or d all of the above. Might be time for a new 10 year old Jeep. We bought a 2012 JK for my wife last summer.

-Mac

 

[Claybirdd]

Replacing a manual tranny is easier than you think if you have the tools and a buddy to help.

 

[NWPA Jeepy T]

Replacing a manual tranny is easier than you think if you have the tools and a buddy to help.

True. Mostly just plugs (not the spark kind, the electrical kind), bolts and weight

 

[TheBoogieman]

Found a 2009 X at my price point last night and it was gone before I could get to the dealership today.

Jeep?

 

[TheBoogieman]

Replacing a manual tranny is easier than you think if you have the tools and a buddy to help.

Sounds like an offer to me.

 

[Shank]

If you can post some photos of underneath that would be helpful.

I bought my LJ in college to replace my Cavalier that I was daily driving. Turned out the Cavalier didn't want to die so the LJ only had to see salt one day.

Beater cars are nice, something relatively clean from a southern state would be great if you want to keep the Jeep and work on it.

 

[BlueC]

I'd start off buying a winter beater with decent gas mileage. I'd head south and road trip it home.

Beater cars are nice, something relatively clean from a southern state would be great if you want to keep the Jeep and work on it.

I'm all for the second vehicle idea, and we do typically have much less rust to deal with down here, but I will caution anyone looking for a used car in the South nowadays as the latest scheme has been for used car dealers to bring rusty northern cars down here to sell just below normal market price. You really have to look up under them and run the VIN to see where they're from.

 

[Shank]

I'm all for the second vehicle idea, and we do typically have much less rust to deal with down here, but I will caution anyone looking for a use car in the South nowadays as the latest scheme has been for used car dealers to bring rusty northern cars down here to sell just below normal market price. You really have to look up under them and run the VIN to see where they're from.

I know that drill all too well.

Almost the opposite but my brother just bought a used truck up here, I probably looked at 100 trucks carfax's before he found his, came from Texas last year.

 

[macleanflood]

I'm all for the second vehicle idea, and we do typically have much less rust to deal with down here, but I will caution anyone looking for a used car in the South nowadays as the latest scheme has been for used car dealers to bring rusty northern cars down here to sell just below normal market price. You really have to look up under them and run the VIN to see where they're from.

Or flood/hurricane cars...

-Mac

 

[TJ60Anniversary]

Replacing a manual tranny is easier than you think if you have the tools and a buddy to help.

It’s an automatic

 

[TJ60Anniversary]

Nearly 200,000 miles doesn't bother me anywhere near what rust does. Post some pics so we can see how bad it actually is. The Jeep has value no matter what, but that value may be in salvageable parts only now, or it might still be worth fixing. Either way, I'll second what Boogie said and recommend you get a second vehicle.

 

[GPK03X]

Could be the transmission is not working properly because it’s about to fall out!

 

[Minderbinder3]

That rust is in an important spot.