I need some advice about my XJ and whether replacing it is a better idea than fixing it.
Background - I have a 1996 XJ with ~225k miles. Bought it for $1200 sometime in 2018. 2 prev owners and stock suspension, with a good body. Orig 4.0 engine and trans (AW4). After I got the vehicle, I had all the usual maintenance stuff inspected and replaced as necessary (all the fluids, timing chain, water pump, axle seals, H4 headlights). Few months down the line, I found a stupid good deal on a ZJ rear axle with disc brakes and had a local shop swap the rear axle out so I have discs on all 4 corners, and with BMB pads it made an appreciable difference esp on the hwy. Vehicle did not come with a center console, but I found one for super cheap locally and put it in. I also replaced the sagging headliner and put new seat cushions in since the old ones were really done for.
After this initial stuff, the vehicle has been good. The main reason I got the XJ was that I needed a 4x4 or AWD vehicle that could ferry 4 adults + gear for local trips (occasionally on decent forest service roads), and something that had enough capacity for the somewhat larger items once the rear seats are folded back. I have gotten a LOT of use out of it thus far. In the past 6 months or so however, a bunch of issues have started to show up one after the other given the age of the vehicle.
Used car prices have gone cuckoo post covid and I am not sure as to what is the best way forward here. While I can keep this XJ going as is for atleast this summer, I want to figure out a plan of action. What would you guys recommend? If I were to go with a different vehicle, other than Outback/4runner is there an option that I have missed? I want it to be new enough to have OBDII diagnostics.
Background - I have a 1996 XJ with ~225k miles. Bought it for $1200 sometime in 2018. 2 prev owners and stock suspension, with a good body. Orig 4.0 engine and trans (AW4). After I got the vehicle, I had all the usual maintenance stuff inspected and replaced as necessary (all the fluids, timing chain, water pump, axle seals, H4 headlights). Few months down the line, I found a stupid good deal on a ZJ rear axle with disc brakes and had a local shop swap the rear axle out so I have discs on all 4 corners, and with BMB pads it made an appreciable difference esp on the hwy. Vehicle did not come with a center console, but I found one for super cheap locally and put it in. I also replaced the sagging headliner and put new seat cushions in since the old ones were really done for.
After this initial stuff, the vehicle has been good. The main reason I got the XJ was that I needed a 4x4 or AWD vehicle that could ferry 4 adults + gear for local trips (occasionally on decent forest service roads), and something that had enough capacity for the somewhat larger items once the rear seats are folded back. I have gotten a LOT of use out of it thus far. In the past 6 months or so however, a bunch of issues have started to show up one after the other given the age of the vehicle.
- Water started puddling up in the front driver/passenger floorboards this past winter. I checked under the cowl and such, but I could not find where the water was coming in from. It was slow but given the winter weather here it never had a chance to dry. I eventually had to go get it checked at a place that specializes in water seals and replace a bunch of door and window seals .. not really surprising but main it was a painful fix in the wintertime since I park this outside and the carpets got nasty fast.
- Then I had to replace the exhaust manifold (it cracked as it happens in a lot of XJs). The noise and the smell just kept getting worse till I got it fixed.
- Rear axle has started leaking again .. seems to be coming from the input shaft seat from what I can see. The axle has also started to make a little bit of noise (gear whine essentially). Note I only drive this on the pavement, nothing offroad. May need to rebuild the rear diff?
- The transmission is starting to act funny (delayed 1-2 shifts, a leak in an unusual spot which my local shop thinks could be a crack in the casting itself but hard to tell without removing the transmission). It was never "smooth" to start given the miles but after the initial fluid change and such it was working OK but now has gotten worse.
- Engine rear main seal leak has gotten worse and the engine really does not seem to be running as well as before, pretty apparent on local highway drives. I don't have as much power as I used to climbing some of the graded sections. Haven't gotten checked yet but would not be surprised if there is low compression or something in one or more of the cylinders or other issues.
- Heater core probably needs to be replaced .. kinda not great heat inside the cabin, and I have tried a full flush and one of those products that you put in the system and drive for a few days (forgot the name).
Used car prices have gone cuckoo post covid and I am not sure as to what is the best way forward here. While I can keep this XJ going as is for atleast this summer, I want to figure out a plan of action. What would you guys recommend? If I were to go with a different vehicle, other than Outback/4runner is there an option that I have missed? I want it to be new enough to have OBDII diagnostics.
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You can't see it, but the paint isn't that great on the hood and the top but doesn't bother me any.
