<< HOME >>
Jeep Cherokee Mk1 Common faults Buying a Cherokee is usually quite a safe option, as they are extremely hard wearing and reliable. As with any car though, they are prone to a few common problems. Take a look at the following. If the Cherokee you�re intending to buy doesn�t suffer from any of them, it�s a good buy and should last you a long time. Exterior: 1) Check for white spots on the paint, especially around the roof area, this usually occurs when the roof rails have allowed water to seep in, to prevent this happening, remove the rails and apply some sealant. 2) Check the door hinges, they can quite often become loose, this could lead to an expensive welding operation. 3) Take a look at the Jeep from the side, if the back seems lower than the front, the rear springs are probably sagging, this is quite a common problem, and they will need replacing. 4) Tow Bar ! If it has one, try and find out how many miles it has done whilst towing. The only problem with a Jeep engine is that it can become very tired with the excess strain. 5) Look at the tyres, if the sizes do not match, this could be a bad sign. The wheels will have been working at different speeds, perhaps causing damage to the transmission. 6) Check for any sign of a removed LPG conversion (such as an extra filler cap!) This could be a sign of engine trouble. 7) If possible, take the Jeep to a garage with a ramp. And check for any signs of damage to the underside, in particular, check the fuel tank, differentials, and chassis. Interior: 1) Check ALL electric devices, switches, lights etc. 2) Check for damp on the driver and passenger side foot wells. This is usually a sign of water leaking in (usually through the roof rails � see above.) 3) A common problem is with the interior lighting, quite often the rear cargo light can be faulty. This is very common, and won�t be an expensive repair. 4) The air conditioning should be checked. If no cold air is pumped out, this means that the air-con pipes are cracked. A dealer should be able to resolve this with a gas test. Engine: 1) Listen... Any ticking/clunking/knocking should be well and truly avoided. This is usually a sign of stress on the engine. 2) Water pipes. Check these for any signs of swelling and deteriation. If you notice any, have the pipes changed as soon as possible. 3) Remove the air filter, and check for any signs of damp. This could mean that the Jeep was driven through deep water, and could have lead to engine damage. 4) Check the oil on the dipstick for white spots. This is a sign of water in the engine, either through the air intake (as above) or damage to one of the head gaskets. Transmission: 1) Look at the bristles around the ratio selector lever. An indent will usually show which ratio it�s been driven in most. If there are signs that it�s been driven around in low-ratio, avoid it like the plague. There will VERY likely be transmission damage. (On a 4 litre model, driving in 4 wheel drive high ratio is perfectly acceptable. On the 2.5 litre engine models, 4 wheel drive is only low-ratio, which locks the rear differential. If the Jeep is then driven on tarmac, this will place extreme pressure on the transmission.) 2) Take the Jeep to a quiet car park to perform the following steps: a) Try engaging every transmission type. It�s quite common for a delay to occur when changing transmission modes, if this occurs, try reversing a short distance in the newly selected mode. This should �kick-in� the selection. b) Select 4 wheel drive high-ratio. A light on the dashboard should indicate the mode has been selected. If it doesn�t, try the procedure above. Once selected, turn the Jeep in tight circles in either direction. Listen out for any clunking sounds. This could be a sign of worn transmission components, and could lead to a costly repair.
