Pre-purchase advice needed

[time2play]

Hello! Hoping to get some expert eyes and advice on a Jeep I am considering. 2004 Wrangler Sport, 4.0 with 5 speed manual with 49k miles. Asking $16.5k. What do you think of the engine bay and undercarriage for rust or any obvious deal breakers. Vehicle history shows priir locations spent in NY, HI, Guam, UT and now ID.
Let me know what you think. Thanks! BTW- Love this group and the wealth of knowledge shared for us DIYers.

 

[97TJNM]

It looks in ok shape from the few pictures. Low miles is nice. That's a third of the miles mine has.

Still, around here, (northern NM) that's an 8-9k jeep at best. Prices are highly location dependent, but for that price, for a pretty much stock TJ, I'd expect it to be showroom quality. Good luck!

 

[P man]

It seems kind of rusty for the low miles. I know people will think im crazy but that is more rust than we see on the west coast.

I personally think that's too much for that jeep. The low miles gets people all excited but doesn't do alot for me. Is the seller negotiable?

 

[time2play]

It looks in ok shape from the few pictures. Low miles is nice. That's a third of the miles mine has.

Still, around here, (northern NM) that's an 8-9k jeep at best. Prices are highly location dependent, but for that price, for a pretty much stock TJ, I'd expect it to be showroom quality. Good luck!

Thanks! Yeah, prices up here in the PNW are pretty high. Was stoked about the low miles, but have since learned it's been in NY, HI, Guam, UT before coming to Idaho. 6 prior owners. Sigh. Not sure now.

 

[time2play]

It seems kind of rusty for the low miles. I know people will think im crazy but that is more rust than we see on the west coast.

I personally think that's too much for that jeep. The low miles gets people all excited but doesn't do alot for me. Is the seller negotiable?

I was thinking the same about the rust, especially in the engine compartment...seemed pretty rough for low miles, but wanted to be sure I wasnt crazy and pass up a nice rig. Not sure about price, was planning on viewing this weekend.

 

[Danarch]

Looks fairly clean, might be a little high, but as others have said its location dependent. A little more rust then I see here in CA, but we are spoiled.

Here is a great link with info.

Thread 'What should I look for when buying a used Wrangler TJ?'
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/what-should-i-look-for-when-buying-a-used-wrangler-tj.375/

 

[tr21triton]

yea I'd say it's 3-4k overpriced.

 

[time2play]

Looks fairly clean, might be a little high, but as others have said its location dependent. A little more then I see here in CA, but we are spoiled.

Here is a great link with info.

Thread 'What should I look for when buying a used Wrangler TJ?'
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/what-should-i-look-for-when-buying-a-used-wrangler-tj.375/

Thanks!

 

[Danarch]

Do you know how many owners? Do they have any service records? That has some impact on how much I’m willing to pay. For instance the LJ I just bought was a one time owner, had almost all the service records so I knew regular oil changes and maintenance was done on it. They had the owners manual, Jeep marketing brochure, still had the locking nut key tag to reorder a key, etc. so I knew they took care of it. That is worth paying a little extra to me.

 

[MikeE024]

yea I'd say it's 3-4k overpriced.

If not more tbh. Low mileage doesn't tell the whole story even if it's legit.

I bought a rig with 90k miles on it and the engine compression was much worse than my rig with 185k miles. Before making a purchase, consider having the compression tested and see if you are leaking any oil from the valve cover, rear main seal, front main seal, or oil pan. And check for transmission and differential leaks and look up from underneath to see if the exhaust manifolds are cracked.

 

[JustDandee]

For comparison on I paid 13k out of Washington for 90k On the odometer 05’ well kept Jeep. slightly less rust but no hardtop. You get them to 15k or less and if you feel maintenance was done-I think you’re in the reasonable ballpark.

 

[time2play]

Do you know how many owners? Do they have any service records? That has some impact on how much I’m willing to pay. For instance the LJ I just bought was a one time owner, had almost all the service records so I knew regular oil changes and maintenance was done on it. They had the owners manual, Jeep marketing brochure, still had the locking nut key tag to reorder a key, etc. so I knew they took care of it. That is worth paying a little extra to me.

Do you know how many owners? Do they have any service records? That has some impact on how much I’m willing to pay. For instance the LJ I just bought was a one time owner, had almost all the service records so I knew regular oil changes and maintenance was done on it. They had the owners manual, Jeep marketing brochure, still had the locking nut key tag to reorder a key, etc. so I knew they took care of it. That is worth paying a little extra to me.

6 owners, 2 countries, and 4 states to include NY, HI, Guam amd Utah lol

 

[P man]

6 owners, 2 countries, and 4 states to include NY, HI, Guam amd Utah lol

Knowing that info it's a hard pass

 

[Danarch]

That would be a no for me. Way too many places and transfers.

 

[MikeE024]

6 owners, 2 countries, and 4 states to include NY, HI, Guam amd Utah lol

That’s a lot of salt. I won’t buy another rig that comes from the islands and certainly not from the US rust belt.

Utah might be ok. Lol hard pass man you can do better.

 

[P man]

When I think of Guam I think about Hawaii (no idea why) and I have seen the weirdest rust come from jeeps that spent time in Hawaii..it was never the usual rust it was the kind of rust that made you wonder how in the hell it started there

 

[time2play]

Knowing that info it's a hard pass

Unfortunately! Thank you

 

[time2play]

For comparison on I paid 13k out of Washington for 90k On the odometer 05’ well kept Jeep. slightly less rust but no hardtop. You get them to 15k or less and if you feel maintenance was done-I think you’re in the reasonable ballpark.

Ok! Will keep looking for that unicorn! Thank you

 

[time2play]

When I think of Guam I think about Hawaii (no idea why) and I have seen the weirdest rust come from jeeps that spent time in Hawaii..it was never the usual rust it was the kind of rust that made you wonder how in the hell it started there

Yes! I saw Hawaii and Guam and instantly thought jungle and beach abuse! Yikes!

 

[time2play]

That would be a no for me. Way too many places and transfers.

Sadly, agreed. On goes the search.