I'm new and have a question.

[Shane]

Hello,

My name is Shane and My wife has a 2001 jeep wrangler sport. Anyway the radiator just blew, it's gonna need new shocks/struts and a new fender for inspection the floor pan is rusting and will need replaced/welded along with a new soft top at some point. We don't have the money to put into all the repairs at once, however with that being said is it worth keeping or would we be best to sell.

Thank you for your input.
Shane

 

[Jerry Bransford]

The 2001 is a good/desirable model year, I'd rather have a 2001 than my current 2004. I think it's worth keeping. Shocks (Wranglers don't have struts) are easily installed, you don't even need to lift the Jeep to install them so they can be installed at home very easily if you have tools. A radiator isn't hard to install either, it's just kind of a PITA.

A big factor on if it's worth keeping though is if you can do the simpler jobs like changing the shocks or if you will have to pay a mechanic. Shocks are not expensive, you could buy four decent shocks for $160 or so. A junkyard fender shouldn't be expensive either. Paying a welder to replace (or repair if possible) the floor pan would probably be the most expensive thing to have done.

 

[Chris]

I agree with everything Jerry said.

The issues you're having are things that are really easy (and cheap) to fix. I would keep it!

 

[UpperMI]

The 2001 is a good/desirable model year, I'd rather have a 2001 than my current 2004. I think it's worth keeping. Shocks (Wranglers don't have struts) are easily installed, you don't even need to lift the Jeep to install them so they can be installed at home very easily if you have tools. A radiator isn't hard to install either, it's just kind of a PITA.

A big factor on if it's worth keeping though is if you can do the simpler jobs like changing the shocks or if you will have to pay a mechanic. Shocks are not expensive, you could buy four decent shocks for $160 or so. A junkyard fender shouldn't be expensive either. Paying a welder to replace (or repair if possible) the floor pan would probably be the most expensive thing to have done.

Not to high jack a thread (but I'm going to do it anyways), but what makes a 2001 more desirable than a 2004? Or for that matter is there a best to worst year ranking for the TJs? Just curious. Thanks jerry

 

[Stockli]

Not to high jack a thread (but I'm going to do it anyways), but what makes a 2001 more desirable than a 2004? Or for that matter is there a best to worst year ranking for the TJs? Just curious. Thanks jerry

Is 2003 a good one to have?

I jumped into jeep xj's years ago with limited mechanic experience. Within one year of having it, with the support and help of tons of experienced jeepers through various forums, a friend and I performed every imaginable job from lifts to full on engine swaps. Basically everything you can do on a jeep including wiring. It is not hard and the forums make learning easy. Just need to be patient.

Once you start working on them it gets in your blood. Thankfully I am too busy and poor from graduate school to do much jeep work. It has given time to enjoy the 2003 Sahara I acquired in May.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Not to high jack a thread (but I'm going to do it anyways), but what makes a 2001 more desirable than a 2004? Or for that matter is there a best to worst year ranking for the TJs? Just curious. Thanks jerry

Nearly every year has its pluses & minuses. For me, I'd rather have a 2001 rather than my 2004 because I prefer the strength & durability of its 3-speed 32RH automatic transmission over my current 4-speed 42RLE automatic transmission, not to mention the 42RLE has a stupid high .69 4th gear (overdrive) ratio that drops the engine rpms so low that the engine lugs without gearing the axles significantly lower than is normal.

The two model years I would not buy, period, are the 05-06 which have a problem with their oil pump drive assembly which can sometimes be easily fixed but sometimes it's not easily fixed. I like the earlier TJs since they have fewer O2 sensors (two vs. four), simpler designs in many areas, and just seem to have fewer electronic sensor issues.

Edit: Yes the 2003 is a desireable year, it doesn't really have any issues that would stop me from buying one.

 

[NCJeeper]

05-06? Now ya tell me...

 

[Chris]

05-06? Now ya tell me...

They aren't that bad. My 05 never had any issues at all. It's hit or miss, but don't lose sleep over it, seriously. Usually the only ones you hear about online are the guys who have had issues. You never hear about all the guys who haven't had any issues (myself included).

 

[UpperMI]

Nearly every year has its pluses & minuses. For me, I'd rather have a 2001 rather than my 2004 because I prefer the strength & durability of its 3-speed 32RH automatic transmission over my current 4-speed 42RLE automatic transmission, not to mention the 42RLE has a stupid high .69 4th gear (overdrive) .69 ratio that drops the engine rpms so low that the engine lugs without gearing the axles significantly lower than is normal.

The two model years I would not buy, period, are the 05-06 which have a problem with their oil pump drive assembly which can sometimes be easily fixed but sometimes it's not easily fixed. I like the earlier TJs since they have fewer O2 sensors (two vs. four), simpler designs in many areas, and just seem to have fewer electronic sensor issues.

Edit: Yes the 2003 is a desireable year, it doesn't really have any issues that would stop me from buying one.

Thanks Jerry! I didn't know about the low overdrive gear on the 42RH and the number of O2 sensors. Oh, and mine is an 2002 actually both of my TJs have been 2002's. Other than a TPS sensor and a malfunctioning defroster switch, they've both performed well (knock on wood).

Edit: I thought you were talking to me on the 2003 comment. I didn't see Stockli's comment above yours (oops!)

 

[billiebob]

They aren't that bad. My 05 never had any issues at all. It's hit or miss, but don't lose sleep over it, seriously. Usually the only ones you hear about online are the guys who have had issues. You never hear about all the guys who haven't had any issues (myself included).

agreed... plus I have 6 friends with '05, '06s. No problems. Mines got 150K miles on it.

 

[billiebob]

Nearly every year has its pluses & minuses.

Sort of why my preference is to CJ2s and CJ5s.