Lets play, "Would you buy it?"

[xc130jetmech]

Have a friend who has a 99 TJ, ran and was a daily driver, started doing mods, and then a few months later.. it stopped running... this is the description...

Good solid frame, 2.5l 4cyl 5spd. Shifted smooth, runs fine, compression is good. New 35” tires and wheels (less than 30mi) 4” RC lift, new PCM, new crankshaft positioning sensor, new throttle body positioning sensor, new fuel pump, new relays, new alternator, new cap and rotor, new plugs and wires, new ignition coil...all that, and she won’t start. Not getting power to the PCM, or the PDC (fuses) I can’t seem to find the gremlin. Everything else is good, no rust, straight frame, the tub is in good shape.

It cranks. Won’t turn over. Not getting spark or fuel and the computer isn’t talking to any of the sensors to get them to run. It’s gotta be a degraded wire somewhere in the harness, I’ve checked the most obvious areas and cleaned grounds but still can’t get it to turnover

The computer is brand new. I have no way of testing it other than the OBD port but it “no links”

Tires, wheels, lift, and new parts are almost worth the asking price alone. If I could get it running you could add another 4K to the price. I just don’t have the patience or time to figure out the problem.

Selling it for $3500

So, would you buy it if you had the money? Looking for advice, Thanks!

 

[glowell222]

I wouldn't buy it at $3500. Your friend needs help from someone that can troubleshoot, because throwing all new parts at it is never the answer.

 

[Rubicon88]

No.
35's on a 4 banger would be irritating!!


Just find an unmolested 4-cylinder TJ that's running fine for not much more. They're out there. Build it the way you want. Just know even the slightest tire increase will turn low power of the 2.5 into NO power.

 

[Sun Dog]

Negative.

 

[defenderu]

No.

 

[P man]

It figures I'm the odd ball but I would buy any complete rust free wrangler I can get my hands on for $3500 here in the PNW

 

[Jorge Bolivar]

I would. Rust free frame and that amount of new parts and new tires is a deal.
Just need to troubleshoot the issue or find someone that can help with it and called the day.
Wish you were closer.

 

[Mike_H]

I'd buy it. I need a nice, rust free frame. The lift is probably garbage (Most RC stuff is) but someone would buy it. The tires are worth a few hundo, the tub is worth a grand, probably. axles...you might be able to sell em to someone who wants 4:10s without re-gearing and doesn't mind the 30/35 combo for a few hundred. The interior is worth some $$. The value is there. are you willing to get it?

 

[Rubicon88]

I'd buy it. I need a nice, rust free frame. The lift is probably garbage (Most RC stuff is) but someone would buy it. The tires are worth a few hundo, the tub is worth a grand, probably. axles...you might be able to sell em to someone who wants 4:10s without re-gearing and doesn't mind the 30/35 combo for a few hundred. The interior is worth some $$. The value is there. are you willing to get it?

I don't think the OP is looking to go all Sanford and Son on it.

Moreover without it running...
The entire drivetrain isn't worth but scrap metal. Unless you can hear/feel it run, axles included...you can't confirm anything is good. Only assume.

If he wants a turn key wrangler this isn't the answer.
If excitement is building due to the lift and tires...that will exit stage left once it's driven. It might top out at 53 mph. Downhill might hit 55 mph.

 

[TheBoogieman]

Tell him to get it running and you'll give him $3,600 for it. Then sell the tires for $500 and get some nice 31s. If it was something simple, he would have fixed it already.

 

[rasband]

I hate to say lowball, but if you could get it for $2500 or less I’d part out most the drive train and then engine swap it with an R2.5 and beef up the axles.

If I wasn’t so far away I’d offer that in a heartbeat - then I’d swap a lot off my LJ into it and do the R2.8 to the LJ.

 

[TJ4Jim]

Is your friend throwing chain parts stores parts at it, Jeeps do not like the BWD and similar crap from O'Rielly and similar stores.

 

[Mike_H]

I don't think the OP is looking to go all Sanford and Son on it.

Moreover without it running...
The entire drivetrain isn't worth but scrap metal. Unless you can hear/feel it run, axles included...you can't confirm anything is good. Only assume.

If he wants a turn key wrangler this isn't the answer.
If excitement is building due to the lift and tires...that will exit stage left once it's driven. It might top out at 53 mph. Downhill might hit 55 mph.

He asked if I would buy it. I would... And do exactly what I described. Whether he buys it or or why he should was irrelevant to the question.

 

[AndyG]

Hit with the old parts cannon.
I’d say I’d take it for 3500, but I want cash.

like the guy down here they tried to get to mate with a Bigfoot they caught...said it paid 1000.00. He said , “can I make payments?”

 

[Fouledplugs]

It figures I'm the odd ball but I would buy any complete rust free wrangler I can get my hands on for $3500 here in the PNW

Only to let the rust take over once it crosses into the PNW.

 

[P man]

Only to let the rust take over once it crosses into the PNW.

Only to let the rust take over once it crosses into the PNW.

Not sure what that means..I have bought and still buy wranglers from all over the PNW and the only times I run into rust is when the jeep has been transplanted here...it may rain alot but we don't rust here

 

[Mike_H]

Not sure what that means..I have bought and still buy wranglers from all over the PNW and the only times I run into rust is when the jeep has been transplanted here...it may rain alot but we don't rust here

Pretty much the only place vehicles really rust badly is above the mason/dixon line, east of the Mississippi. Seems out west, they use different chemicals and the snow doesn't really stick around. I'm not sure why they use such a corrosive mixture of de-icer here, but it's really terrible. The other place would be coastal vehicles, that are blasted with salty air from the ocean.

 

[P man]

Pretty much the only place vehicles really rust badly is above the mason/dixon line, east of the Mississippi. Seems out west, they use different chemicals and the snow doesn't really stick around. I'm not sure why they use such a corrosive mixture of de-icer here, but it's really terrible. The other place would be coastal vehicles, that are blasted with salty air from the ocean.

We don't see much snow in my neck of the woods and when it does snow or get icy it's gone pretty quickly..im not even certain we use salt/deicer here..almost every frame I get is still mostly black paint on the inside around the holes

 

[Mike_H]

We don't see much snow in my neck of the woods and when it does snow or get icy it's gone pretty quickly..im not even certain we use salt/deicer here..almost every frame I get is still mostly black paint on the inside around the holes

Send one east!

 

[chuck47]

Pretty much the only place vehicles really rust badly is above the mason/dixon line, east of the Mississippi. Seems out west, they use different chemicals and the snow doesn't really stick around. I'm not sure why they use such a corrosive mixture of de-icer here, but it's really terrible. The other place would be coastal vehicles, that are blasted with salty air from the ocean.

My TJ was a dune rig in South Carolina in it's past life. Still far less rusty than anything in my area, but not as clean as ones more inland. Helps that the undercarriage gets sandblasted every time you take it out I guess.