I've been dreaming of getting a 4x4 for a few years, finally made it happen about 2 weeks ago when I found this 2000 TJ, 4.0L, 5 speed with 220k miles listed for $6500 (California prices, btw). PO before the one I bought it from told them that most of the miles were from being towed behind an RV, I found out that may or may not be true depending on how they towed it. They mentioned a few problems, the axle leak and the dead a/c. Smog was already passed recently which is a big deal in CA, most of the Jeeps and Samurai I had been looking at hadn't done this yet or even refused when I asked them to smog it after I look at it but before I pay for it. Seems like a good deal without being too good to be true, so I went to look at it. Just a little surface rust on the frame, nothing crunchy or flakey. Engine sounds great and transmission seems smooth as far as I can tell being to to manual transmissions. Steering is as good as I could expect from a Jeep, no death wobble at least. I found some small problems that I've been fixing over the last few weeks, and 2 slightly bigger problems; the engine is leaking oil a little (probably rear main or valve cover) and the blower motor didn't seem to work at all. I used those 2 issues as an excuse to offer $6000 and they accepted!
So here it is on the drive back and finally parked at home for the first time
Of course as soon as we finish the 200 mile drive home the check engine light came on, P0432. I'm still not sure if PO hid that or if it just popped up since they barely even drove it. Speaking of that, I got their receipts and see they spent over $2k in repairs and maintenance in the 3 years they had it and only drove 2000 miles, all in town/zero off-roading too
I'm gonna try replacing O2 sensors but I'm expecting to have to replace a cat. I'm not too worried about it for now since smog is already passed and in my county you only have to do it once to transfer ownership, then never again.
Another slightly bigger issue I didn't discover until it was home for a few days is the steering box has a small leak. Again not super worried about it, I might upgrade it later anyways.
But I also found a bonus that I didn't know about, the rear axle was factory upgraded to a dana 44! (at least according to the VIN it is, I haven't verified yet)
So first I set out to fix the easy stuff...
So here it is on the drive back and finally parked at home for the first time
Of course as soon as we finish the 200 mile drive home the check engine light came on, P0432. I'm still not sure if PO hid that or if it just popped up since they barely even drove it. Speaking of that, I got their receipts and see they spent over $2k in repairs and maintenance in the 3 years they had it and only drove 2000 miles, all in town/zero off-roading too
I'm gonna try replacing O2 sensors but I'm expecting to have to replace a cat. I'm not too worried about it for now since smog is already passed and in my county you only have to do it once to transfer ownership, then never again.
Another slightly bigger issue I didn't discover until it was home for a few days is the steering box has a small leak. Again not super worried about it, I might upgrade it later anyways.
But I also found a bonus that I didn't know about, the rear axle was factory upgraded to a dana 44! (at least according to the VIN it is, I haven't verified yet)
So first I set out to fix the easy stuff...
