Jeep Wrangler PCM and module repair and replacement

My continuing search for an XJ...

TJMexico

TJMexico

TJ Enthusiast
Original poster
Supporting Member
Joined
May 26, 2025
Messages
576
Location
NW Mexico
The new year is in and we are in the city for a few days. I plan to look a few Cherokee XJs in the next couple of days. I have two in particular that have my attention. Granted, I have to go actually look at them to know whether they are worth it, but any insight into model year or things to look for would be appreciated from the collective wisdom and experience of the august members of this forum.

I'll describe on in this post and another in the second post.

Please note that I am NOT looking for something pretty. I just want something that will get me, a couple of other people, and some cargo into the mountains. A beater would work if it is in fair condition mechanically. That said ...

This one is probably a beater. Of course, I'll have to check for rust and I'll be surprised if it's not an issue, but it costs nothing to look.

Here are the specs that I have:
1988 / 4wd / AC works / Mexican plates / 4.0l /automatic

The squatty rear end does not excite me. It's been on FB Marketplace for several weeks, so either it's a real lemon, or I can get it cheap and put some work into it.

Asking about $4,000usd. Here are some photos.
XJRedWithRack.jpg


frontseat.jpgbackseat.jpg
 
Last edited:
TJMexico said:
The new year is in and we are in the city for a few days. I plan to look a few Cherokee XJs in the next couple of days. I have two in particular that have my attention. Granted, I have to go actually look at them to know whether they are worth it, but any insight into model year or things to look for would be appreciated from the collective wisdom and experience of the august members of this forum.

I'll describe on in this post and another in the second post.

Please note that I am NOT looking for something pretty. I just want something that will get me, a couple of other people, and some cargo into the mountains. A beater would work if it is in fair condition mechanically. That said ...

This one is probably a beater. Of course, I'll have to check for rust and I'll be surprised if it's not an issue, but it costs nothing to look.

Here are the specs that I have:
1988 / 4wd / AC works / Mexican plates / 4.0l /automatic

Asking about $4,000usd. Here are some photos.
View attachment 668921


View attachment 668922View attachment 668923
Click to expand...

Not enough doors if you want to cart around a bunch of people
 
  • Like
Reactions: Weasellee, chili_pepper and ColoJeep
Here's a 1998 Cherokee XJ, asking just over $5,000usd. 185,000 km (about 115,000 miles).

Tires look decent. No photos of interior or undercarriage.

Listed specs:
  • LS 6.2 Valves
  • Ford 8.8 Positive Differential
  • Disc Brakes
  • Spring Suspension
  • 41-11 Gears
  • Headers
  • Hard Drive Steering Rods
  • Modified Front End
XJBlue.jpg
 
Last edited:
TJMexico said:
The new year is in and we are in the city for a few days. I plan to look a few Cherokee XJs in the next couple of days. I have two in particular that have my attention. Granted, I have to go actually look at them to know whether they are worth it, but any insight into model year or things to look for would be appreciated from the collective wisdom and experience of the august members of this forum.

I'll describe on in this post and another in the second post.

Please note that I am NOT looking for something pretty. I just want something that will get me, a couple of other people, and some cargo into the mountains. A beater would work if it is in fair condition mechanically. That said ...

This one is probably a beater. Of course, I'll have to check for rust and I'll be surprised if it's not an issue, but it costs nothing to look.

Here are the specs that I have:
1988 / 4wd / AC works / Mexican plates / 4.0l /automatic

Asking about $4,000usd. Here are some photos.
View attachment 668921


View attachment 668922View attachment 668923
Click to expand...

The pre -1991 Renix fuel injection can be harder to find parts for. The cage is nice and $4000.00 isn't a ton of money these days .
I hope you find a XJ that will work for you guys ! Also IBasket has a great point on the door count.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TJMexico
IMHO the XJ is the best, most reliable jeep ever built. I've had 5 myself, 86 thru 95, and I liked my 95 the best. Things like the 0331 head do apply, and for me the later ones have a awkward door arm rest that seems to just be in the way if your tall. Some came with the Dana 44 rear too. IIRC the high pinion front 30 in not on all years, stopped in 00 or something. The AW4 trans is indestructible pretty much as well. Be aware of one thats beat, they are unibody. I will add dont even think about a ZJ if you stumble on one. Ive had two of them and can honestly say Ive never had 2 bigger piles of SXXt. Yep, same engine, crappy trans, horrendous electrical BS and for what ever reason lifted ZJ, are mysteriously more prone to DW. My 98 tried to kill me. You might stumble over to the NAXJA website for more details. Good luck ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Squatch, TJMexico, chili_pepper and 2 others
Gilaguy23 said:
IMHO the XJ is the best, most reliable jeep ever built. I've had 5 myself, 86 thru 95, and I liked my 95 the best. Things like the 0331 head do apply, and for me the later ones have a awkward door arm rest that seems to just be in the way if your tall. Some came with the Dana 44 rear too. IIRC the high pinion front 30 in not on all years, stopped in 00 or something. The AW4 trans is indestructible pretty much as well. Be aware of one thats beat, they are unibody. I will add dont even think about a ZJ if you stumble on one. Ive had two of them and can honestly say Ive never had 2 bigger piles of SXXt. Yep, same engine, crappy trans, horrendous electrical BS and for what ever reason lifted ZJ, are mysteriously more prone to DW. My 98 tried to kill me. You might stumble over to the NAXJA website for more details. Good luck ;)
Click to expand...

I agree , great compact 4X4 ! the 8.25 MoPar rear end was strong , and I had 2 with the 4.0 , AX-15 5 spd. great highway combo , but the 3.07 axle ratio was only fair on mountain roads. I could get 26 m.p.g on the interstate with the 5 spd. 74 m.p.h @ 2000 r.p.m. The bad things are D-35 rear end , prone to run hot , 2000 , 2001 had the most issues in my opinion. The Germans can screw up a great vehicle by "improving" it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TJMexico, Gilaguy23, chili_pepper and 1 other person
  • Like
Reactions: Squatch, chili_pepper, lBasket and 1 other person
Gilaguy23 said:
I will add dont even think about a ZJ if you stumble on one. Ive had two of them and can honestly say Ive never had 2 bigger piles of SXXt. Yep, same engine, crappy trans, horrendous electrical BS and for what ever reason lifted ZJ, are mysteriously more prone to DW. My 98 tried to kill me.
Click to expand...

That's interesting.

I have a 95 ZJ with ~290k on the clock. My wife bought it at about 70k.
It's still on the 100% original running gear.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ColoJeep and Squatch
ColoJeep said:
transmissions, electrical, and evaporator leaks were the common issues.
Click to expand...

All I ever heard about 'em, and why I sought out an XJ. Every time I consider selling the XJ, I take it out for a spin, which automatically hits the "Reset" on my way of thinking. My general appreciation of it rivals that I have for my truck. Well, most of the time...;)
 
  • Love
  • Like
Reactions: MtPockets and ColoJeep
Squatch said:
My general appreciation of it rivals that I have for my truck. Well, most of the time...;)
Click to expand...
Exactly my sentiments about my ZJ- absolutely love it.
I made a recent trip to Mn, and actually considered taking the ZJ. It's my DD, but I decided against the long haul with it.
Then, an unexpected issue with my pickup had me driving an Xterra.
I know it's blasphemy to admit liking the X, but we bought a second one last year because we like them so much.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ColoJeep and Squatch
MtPockets said:
Exactly my sentiments about my ZJ- absolutely love it.
I made a recent trip to Mn, and actually considered taking the ZJ. It's my DD, but I decided against the long haul with it.
Then, an unexpected issue with my pickup had me driving an Xterra.
I know it's blasphemy to admit liking the X, but we bought a second one last year because we like them so much.
Click to expand...

When I was looking for something for the wife to drive, I was looking at Xterras, Pathfinders, 4Runners, and Cherokees. The 4Runners were more than I could afford at the time, and I wasn't a fan of what I was finding under the hoods of the Nissans in regard to what would be involved to be able to do basic repairs and such. When I opened the hood on the XJ, I was "Hey! I know these!" (coming from an AMC background). It's funny to think that I had to talk the missus into the 2-door. Her tune changed when she immediately started getting compliments on it. ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: MtPockets and chili_pepper
Squatch said:
I wasn't a fan of what I was finding under the hoods of the Nissans in regard to what would be involved to be able to do basic repairs and such.
Click to expand...

I have always done my own service/repair work and a big reason we bought a second Xterra was how easy the 05 has been to work on.
Another is how solid they were built. They have a full frame and are based on the Frontier pickups.
The 05 has just over 200k on it and been pretty reliable.
Not as reliable as my ZJ, but still dang good.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Squatch
MtPockets said:
I have always done my own service/repair work and a big reason we bought a second Xterra was how easy the 05 has been to work on.
Another is how solid they were built. They have a full frame and are based on the Frontier pickups.
The 05 has just over 200k on it and been pretty reliable.
Not as reliable as my ZJ, but still dang good.
Click to expand...

I'm sure I could have accomplished whatever I might need to do on one (a Nissan), but I'm a huge fan of simplicity, and the XJ's 4.0 has that in spades. I just elected to stick with what I knew. Not very adventurous of me, but in the end, I was very happy with my choice. I did eventually buy a '98 4Runner (just sold it last week), and while it felt extremely solid and substantial, I still found myself appreciating the much lighter and nimble XJ. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: MtPockets and JMT

Similar threads

TJMexico
My Continuing Cherokee Search-Part III
Replies
11
Views
614
Other Jeeps
TJMexico
TJMexico
TJMexico
Continuing my search for my second Jeep vehicle (99 Comanche?)
Replies
7
Views
798
Other Jeeps
TJ Jim
TJ Jim
TJMexico
I done did it! New (to me) XJ
Replies
11
Views
507
Other Jeeps
ColoJeep
ColoJeep
StG58
Continuing soft top saga (JKU)
Replies
30
Views
4,973
Other Jeeps
StG58
StG58
06lj
My $37,000 XJ
Replies
6
Views
1,856
Other Jeeps
danof76
danof76
Collector grade Jeep Wrangler TJs for sale
Top Bottom
Back