I have a thing for ZJ Jeeps...

"505Turbeaux" (505turbeaux) 01/06/2015 at 11:59 • Filed to: None

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My girlfriends WK is a steaming pile of dookie, as are others I have seen early in the production run. She is a Jeep fan for sure, having a wrangler and 2 Cherokees in the past. Her 3.7l WK just sucks gas, costs 1500-2000 a year to get an inspection sticker on, and feels cheap as hell. I am trying to get her to sell it off (she is about even on the payments) and get into a nice ZJ, preferably an Orvis or a Grand Wagoneer. Post all the ZJ love here, and any models worth looking at that are interesting.

mmm dat Orvis leather

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:05

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I have nothing to add to this except that I had a 1:48 gas station one in green as a toy, and it made the best "smash into other cars like a missile" object of them all. Kind of like this one:

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:06

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Get the Overland Trim.

5.7 Hemi and electronic locking front and rear diffs

XK's can be badass

Yes I know it's the same platform underneath hahaha

505Turbeaux > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 01/06/2015 at 12:06

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I think the full size applies here too, great to smash into things with

Milky > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:06

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Had one. It was fun but would not buy again. In 3 years I went through an engine, transfer case, front diff and the transmission never acted right … plus numerous sensors.

I was hard on it (obviously) but the Cherokee I had before took the same beating and never complained.

505Turbeaux > Milky 01/06/2015 at 12:07

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I usually only trust them with the 4.0l myself, and I have seen them go to HUGE mileage with proper care and not being beat on too bad

Sn210 > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:08

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I'd love to get a 5.9 someday as a toy. The GC srt8's dad

505Turbeaux > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/06/2015 at 12:08

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I do love the way those look

Mason > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:11

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I've always loved the ZJ and WJ GC, and still wants a WJ selec-trac with either the 4.0 or 4.7 at some point as a toy, always seems to be hit or miss on the WJ when it comes to reliability, but the WK is by far my least favorite GC ever made. I think I'll end with a XJ 4.0 for a toy if I plan on using it as a daily at any point.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:13

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it's all about the engine and 4x4 system underneath on these guys.

We have the gas sucker wimpy 3.7L V6 and AWD system in our Commander. If it was in budget we would have gotten the Hemi and the true 4x4 with locking difs. it's a bad ass set up and a great looking truck, especially with some lift

Milky > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:13

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I had the 4.ol! I still am seriously confused by that thing blowing up on me with only 130k miles on it. Same engine in the XJ lasted until 210k ….. but that one blowing was more or less on purpose.

John > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:13

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I actually have a 2001 WJ. We bought it in 2007 with 110k for about 6 grand. We've spent around 2 grand fixing the damn thing cause its always breaking. I just hit 170k, so its been good to me. Aside from the head cracks making coolant leak into every gap possible, its a really good car. I want a ZJ to see how it stacks up against my jeep.

505Turbeaux > Mason 01/06/2015 at 12:16

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her mom has a selec-trac 4.7 HO WJ with no options and 35K miles on it as her winter "beater". I want it badly. Seen to the right next to my girls, and her sisters Liberty

SingleOverHeadCamZombie > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/06/2015 at 12:16

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I have to admit, that is the firs one of those that I have seen that I like, minus the bling wheels.. The OEM front end just makes the whole thing look...weak

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:19

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My uncle drove his '92 GC Laredo to 350k+ miles. ZJ is crafted of win.

505Turbeaux > Carl (@stuffcarlsays) 01/06/2015 at 12:20

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this is what I keep seeing. 4.0L?

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:21

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Yes, it was a 4.0. As far as I'm concerned, there is no other engine for a Jeep. :)

Mason > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:24

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OOhhhh, that looks like its a Laredo too, that's a pretty rare setup, and a good one. Damn that is a Jeep family lol.

505Turbeaux > Mason 01/06/2015 at 12:30

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yeah, she is worried the rust is creeping on the frame, which I believe. She bought it from an old lady on the island who used it to go get her medication and that was it, 14K miles on it in 2012 when she bought. Hopefully I can get my hands on it around 60K miles before the frame falls apart. Her summer car is a Charger R/T Hemi - she tried one winter with that and it was a no-go in all senses

Textured Soy Protein > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:31

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I bet her mileage is better than my Hemi WK! I'm doing about 12-13 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. It'll go up to about 16-17 mpg on the highway if I stay under 75 mph and the temp doesn't get too low.

Which by the way, I have encountered my first problem with it, one month into ownership. I got a message on the dash saying SERVICE ELEC BRAKING SYSTEM and the stability control light stays on.

I pulled the code and got C2205 - Steering Angle Sensor. The ABS still works but I guess stability control needs to know what way the wheel is pointed in order to work. Supposedly it might just be the clockspring needs to be repaired , but all in all it shouldn't be too expensive to fix.

I'm dropping it off at my mechanic tomorrow morning.

505Turbeaux > Carl (@stuffcarlsays) 01/06/2015 at 12:31

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I agree for sure. designed by Renault I think too odd enough

505Turbeaux > Textured Soy Protein 01/06/2015 at 12:32

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I think the clockspring retails at $450, but can be had online for $250 or so. Common issues, there is an update to make it work #longer#

HammerheadFistpunch > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:36

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Sort of, it was a mishmash of AMC and Renault.

505Turbeaux > HammerheadFistpunch 01/06/2015 at 12:39

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right, that was what I was thinking of

Mason > Textured Soy Protein 01/06/2015 at 12:39

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This is a common problem on the XC90 as well, not a big deal to fix.

HammerheadFistpunch > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:40

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Every ZJ I've been in can be described as "still running". In that it wont die, but its already dead inside.

HammerheadFistpunch > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 12:41

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White rim, Island of the Sky district canyonlands Utah.

505Turbeaux > HammerheadFistpunch 01/06/2015 at 12:48

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I see them pop up here and there in fantastic condition, but it is a rare thing. I will have to keep my eyes peeled for the right one. I found a 5.2 Orvis that is spectacular, but has a dead tranny (I have seen quite a few with bad 44LE's). Interior is stunning, zero rust, just dont know if I want to spend a frigid weekend putting a tranny in one, though it isnt too bad

Rock Bottom > HammerheadFistpunch 01/06/2015 at 13:00

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No Renault was left in the 4.0 after the Renix fuel infection was dumped in 1991. Then is was all AMC and Chrysler. The only part that was ever Renault was the Renix.

Textured Soy Protein > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 13:02

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I found this TSB to reflash the Steering Column Control Module but apparently it only applies to 2006 WKs. I wish it applied to mine because it states,

A number of vehicles have been shipped to dealers with SCCM software that may set an erroneous Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC), C2205 and illuminate the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Brake Assist System (BAS) lamp.

I also found that apparently you can reset the steering angle sensor by turning the car on, centering the steering wheel, then crank it all the way to the left, all the way to the right, and center the wheel again, and turn the car off.

I'm going to try that out in the parking lot at my office right now and see if it magically fixes the problem!

HammerheadFistpunch > Rock Bottom 01/06/2015 at 13:03

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Exactly right.

505Turbeaux > Textured Soy Protein 01/06/2015 at 13:06

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wouldnt that be sweet!

Carl (@stuffcarlsays) > HammerheadFistpunch 01/06/2015 at 13:09

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Not unlike most products that one could procure at a Jeep/Eagle dealer in the early 90s. Fond memories of my dad's old Premier are now swirling about.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > SingleOverHeadCamZombie 01/06/2015 at 13:09

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yea the front end needs something, and the standard bull bar that MOPAR supplies looks like crap imo.

Even a nice full grille guard fixes the problem i think:

Hey, y'all, watch this! > Mason 01/06/2015 at 13:14

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I've got a '97 XJ with the 4.0 that I dailied for four years. It always has something that could use fixing, but it's been impossible to kill and fun as hell. Bought it with 139k in 2010 and it's at about 222k now. Definitely recommend them.

RallyWrench > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 13:31

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"What's a ZJ? "

"If you have to ask, you can't afford it."

Textured Soy Protein > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 14:17

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Tried it, the code's still there. I figured I'd go to O'Reilly and try to clear the code. They just handed me their scanner—I guess they didn't feel like going outside since it's 11 degrees at the moment. I tried several times to clear the code but it kept coming back.

So...I'm still taking it to the mechanic tomorrow.

505Turbeaux > Textured Soy Protein 01/06/2015 at 14:18

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you need a better scanner than they usually have there to clear a body control or abs/stability code anyhow. Sucks

Mason > Hey, y'all, watch this! 01/06/2015 at 15:05

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Thats what I like about them, I've always had a handful of friends with them over the years, they aren't perfect but it's a good reliable, honest SUV.

TDogg > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/06/2015 at 20:50

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This looks very much like a Hummer. I'd drive the hell out of this though.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > 505Turbeaux 01/06/2015 at 23:23

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The ZJ is the last AMC design. It's an evolution of the XJ, and was intended to be the replacement. Chrysler turned it into a pseudo-luxury vehicle and sold it alongside of the XJ. Everyone loves the XJ, but the ZJ is better in just about every way. They even had a manual transmission option for the first year or two.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > TDogg 01/07/2015 at 09:10

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It actually came down to a 2008 Commander Sport, V6 AWD and a 2007 Hummer H3 I5 4x4.

If you could actually see anything out of the Hummer it would have won.