YJ vs TJ reliability

[Joseph]

Hey all, so I’ve been in quite a debate with a friend of mine. He claims it’s better to buy a YJ because they’re more reliable than a TJ. I keep trying to tell him they’re the same thing aside from suspension and the TJs more modern interior. Oh and the headlights. Can anyone else bring up any talking points with the differences between the two? He’s had his YJ for Id say 8 months or so and hasn’t ran into any issues. I keep trying to tell him that’s cause it has 230k and everything has been replaced or probably bypassed (his heat works off a toggle switch). He points out that my Jeep has a lot of issues, which I’ll hand it to him, it does, but it has almost 100k less than his. And really the only issues I’ve run into are very common ones for any car with age. Occasionally if I hit a bump the right way all my dash lights will flicker on for a hair of a second. No wiring issues however, or anything crazy.
I’m just not seeing much online the separates the two aside from what I mentioned. He says anything after a YJ has a really bad rap. And I’m really tired of beating a dead horse if ya know what I mean.

 

[InOmaha]

Reliability to me is if I get in the vehicle, turn the key, it starts, gets me to where I'm going and does so repeatedly.

A friend of mine had a Ford Focus that would shut off when he was driving on the interstate. He could pull over, restart it and hope he got to where he was going without it happening again. That to me is unreliable. A dash bulb burning out or even a heater core giving out after 20 years is not an indication of reliability. Any car on the market will need repair with that sort of lifespan.

If it was brand new off the lot and having drivability issues, then I'd compare reliability. Not 15-20 years down the road. There are probably too many owners and too many variables at that point.

 

[Joseph]

Reliability to me is if I get in the vehicle, turn the key, it starts, gets me to where I'm going and does so repeatedly.

A friend of mine had a Ford Focus that would shut off when he was driving on the interstate. He could pull over, restart it and hope he got to where he was going without it happening again. That to me is unreliable. A dash bulb burning out or even a heater core giving out after 20 years is not an indication of reliability. Any car on the market will need repair with that sort of lifespan.

If it was brand new off the lot and having drivability issues, then I'd compare reliability. Not 15-20 years down the road. There are probably too many owners and too many variables at that point.

Agreed! Seems the newer the cars are, the more electronics there are that are gonna mess something up. Although I owned a two door XJ that was a dealer buyback “lemon” a year after it was sold. That thing was a wiring nightmare with everything Jerry rigged together. Now that’s unreliable..

 

[Airjunky]

I have an 02 TJ & my old Jeep was an 87 YJ. There is a lot different between the two.... 4 links/coils vs leaf springs, 4.0 vs 4.2, electronic ignition vs not, EFI vs carb, multifunction switch vs individual switches, etc.

Looking back, I've had problems with both. But in the end, I prefer the technology in the TJ's engine & suspension. I'd rather have the old school dash electrical of the YJ though.

 

[Squatch]

Do the YJs have the frame-rust issues that the TJs tend to develop? Inquiring minds want to know...

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

Do the YJs have the frame-rust issues that the TJs tend to develop? Inquiring minds want to know...

The rust that I've seen on YJs doesn't seem quite as bad where the skid plate bolts on. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, it just doesn't rust out as fast. What I have seen more than once due to my son now owning two, the rear of the frame will rust out and the rear leaf spring shackles get shoved up inside inside the rusted out frame which will keep the spring pretty much pointing straight forward so you can drive it home avoiding the freeway... if you haven't already wrecked.

 

[Chris]

Reliability is 100% relative to the owner.

If you had a brand new YJ and a brand new TJ, both with zero miles, the one that would be more reliable would be the one who was owned by the person who took better care of it, plain and simple.

I say this with all due respect, but your friend is an idiot.

 

[A. Paul]

I'd say it depends on the year of YJ vs what year of TJ, but assuming you had a 95 YJ vs a 97 TJ the two are so similar it's really hard to say and a dumb argument to begin with. The only real way I see the Yj being more reliable is with its lack of electronics compared to the TJ.

 

[Joseph]

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I had a YJ that I picked up for $1500 that had the rear shackle mount rotted away, the rot doesn’t go much farther than that. I also was told the 95 YJ had a galvanized coating on it, but I can’t confirm that, nor do I understand why they wouldn’t continue to do it.

 

[A. Paul]

I also was told the 95 YJ had a galvanized coating on it, but I can’t confirm that, nor do I understand why they wouldn’t continue to do it.

They were and have continued to be on every new wrangler since

 

[AndyG]

Reliability is 100% relative to the owner.

If you had a brand new YJ and a brand new TJ, both with zero miles, the one that would be more reliable would be the one who was owned by the person who took better care of it, plain and simple.

I say this with all due respect, but your friend is an idiot.

I agree with Chris and then some -

First , reliable or not , a YJ is headed toward extinction in terms of parts , and is only surpassed in that regard by the CJ. There are simply less of them .

Second , just by the notion on average that older vehicles have more miles , and reliability declines with age on all machines , the YJ can't be a better choice (on average)

Third , on Chris's point, that is dead on , there just isn't a case on comparing these two by model , and you can't pin one on Chrysler , as both have Chrysler genes.

I'd rather be stranded at a parts store in a TJ than YJ from a parts availability stand point also, the newer the vehicle , the more parts are made, stocked and available . Importantly the TJ was produced in far greater numbers.

Forum Verdict : you need a new friend . That has a TJ.

 

[Byhumba]

I had a 1994 YJ that I abused offroad but took great care with maintenance. Only radiator and clutch needed replacement (other things i replaced were upgrades or things I broke while offroading). 285K miles when I sold it.

I had a 2003 TJ I abused on paved road (daily driven 200+ miles a day and did not have the time or money to offroad) also well maintained. Only clutch needed replacement. Also 285K miles when I totaled it.

Both Jeeps had strong powertrains after those 285k miles. I am now on my third Wrangler. I haven't put enough miles on this one. It is a weekend warrior. Mostly local trails.

 

[Jim King]

I had a 1989 YJ I bought new and beat on it for 10 years. I bought my LJ new in 2006 and drive it every day since then. I prefer the fuel injection and electronic ignition of the 4.0 over the carb and points of the TJ, that was the only reliability issues i had with the YJ.

I'm also on North Jersey...

 

[Jim King]

Send me a PM of you know anyone with a stock rear bumper they want to get rid of.

 

[Equilibrium31]

Considering the age difference between the two models and the fact that you're not going to pick up either in new condition, the overall tendency of one being more "reliable" seems to be a moot point. There's just a million other issues, such as age/mileage/use (as you mentioned) that matter more than one model having an overall higher/lower track record of being reliable.

 

[AndyG]

Considering the age difference between the two models and the fact that you're not going to pick up either in new condition, the overall tendency of one being more "reliable" seems to be a moot point. There's just a million other issues, such as age/mileage/use (as you mentioned) that matter more than one model having an overall higher/lower track record of being reliable.

Well said .

Lesser vehicles would probably already be far beyond the point of being reliable at the age mileage condition most of us guys are running these things... especially given what we put them through.

 

[Feistychik]

Hi, guys. I’m opening up this argument again. I’ve just had my third YJ stolen, and while I really hope I get it back, I’m thinking of maybe getting a TJ because of the parts issue. My most recent YJ had a stroker motor and it made a huge difference in towing my boat, and made me realize how hard it had been with the stock. All 3 of them have been ‘93, so 4.0liter. Would I be better off with a 4.2? Would it make a noticeable difference? Pretty sure I’m not going to be able to fine another one with a stroker

 

[OldBuzzard]

The 4.2 is bigger, but puts out less horsepower and less torque, mainly due to the carburetor and smog equipment. So yes, it would make a noticeable difference — in the wrong direction.

 

[TJRick]

Hi, guys. I’m opening up this argument again. I’ve just had my third YJ stolen, and while I really hope I get it back, I’m thinking of maybe getting a TJ because of the parts issue. My most recent YJ had a stroker motor and it made a huge difference in towing my boat, and made me realize how hard it had been with the stock. All 3 of them have been ‘93, so 4.0liter. Would I be better off with a 4.2? Would it make a noticeable difference? Pretty sure I’m not going to be able to fine another one with a stroker

The 1987 - 1990 YJs had more in common with the CJ7 it replaced, while the 1992 - 1995 had more in common with the TJ that replaced it.

From a reliability metric, I don't think there is much difference between a 1995 YJ vs a 1997 TJ in similar condition.

 

[Gilaguy23]

Ive had 3 YJ's and 2 TJ's. The suspension simplicity of the CJ/YJ is nice. Ive seen first hand 3 TJ's with torn off control arm brackets off the axles. No cool when your in the middle of the Mojave trail. As a general statement IMO, all the companies that have owned, or now own jeep/ram/chrysler/dodge suck ass.