Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hey i'm looking for any opinions you guys can give me on the jeep wranglers thru the 90's.

i'm a mechanic by trade and one of the "lucky" parts of the jobs is getting to look at cars or getting asked "whats this car like". i've just managed to convince a mate not to get a 40 series soft top with a v8 and suggested a wrangler instead! so any common problems they may have, things i should be looking out for or even price ranges he should be looking at would be a real great help cause i think i'm gonna be spending a few weekends on my back in some strangers driveway looking at wranglers.

Exhaust manifold cracking - pre 2002 I think.

Rear main seal I think on pre-2002 models - it is a warrenty thing but obviously the warrenty will have run out.

Diff seals apparantly leak on some of them (although my mechanic had never heard of it).

Generally the biggest problem with them is people modifying them half-assed or on the cheap, and causing other problems.

Best to find one bone stock and modify it yourself.

Have a search (or ask the same qn over at Ausjeepoffroad.com) - probably get a better response.

Generally the biggest problem with them is people modifying them half-assed or on the cheap, and causing other problems.


this couldnt be more true
if you do it.. may as well do it right and with decent gear straight up
but in saying that not everyone can afford the luxury of having that much cash at hand.

actually it was 2001 that the changes occurred.
easily spotted by things like the a/c controls moving from slider to twist knob and the standardisation of formerly optional equip like the centre console.
had a 40 and jeep is heaps better ride and comfort wise...
would aim for 01+ if possible.

thanks heaps for your help guys. yeah i've gotta say that a wrangler is 10 times better than a 40 series.

but from what i've heard they dont seem to have too many major common problems

Thor wrote:actually it was 2001 that the changes occurred.
easily spotted by things like the a/c controls moving from slider to twist knob and the standardisation of formerly optional equip like the centre console.

Thor - try 1999/2000 - the changes to the interior that you mentioned occured. The exhaust manifold changes occurred in 2001.

ok he's gone ahead and put a deposit on one before i can even look at it down at the gold coast (i'm at brisbane)

it's a 97 model with 120k on the clock, he knows nothing about cars so all he could tell me was its got custom bar work, big wheels (what the....), front locker (air locker i'm assuming) but no suspension lift which is a good thing. we'll just see how it goes

ok he's gone ahead and put a deposit on one before i can even look at it down at the gold coast (i'm at brisbane)

it's a 97 model with 120k on the clock, he knows nothing about cars so all he could tell me was its got custom bar work, big wheels (what the....), front locker (air locker i'm assuming) but no suspension lift which is a good thing. we'll just see how it goes

i wouldnt assume an air locker, there are many types of auto lockers for em too. strange that the person went through the trouble of a front locker with no lift and >31" tyres. sure he didnt get the rear LSD (trac loc) mixed up as a front locker? the max size tyres fitted would most likely be 31" (cant go any bigger unless a lift is done).