Watch This Before Buying a Jeep Wrangler TJ 1997-2006

The Jeep Wrangler has been tested and tried. Throughout its many years of production, it has been true. It’s reliability has been one of its staples that makes this machine stand out amongst the rest, right behind its off-road capabilities. Is it aerodynamic? No, but its not meant to be a race car.

Parts:

Welcome back to another episode on Watch This First!
Today I break down the reliability and the common issues with the Jeep Wrangler TJ from 1997-2006.

This video is not saying you should not buy the car, I just want to help educate folks who are new to the car and aware them of issues that they potentially can not afford.

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Timestamps
0:00 Jeep Wrangler 1997-2006
0:52 Rust Spots
1:41 Oil Leaks
2:04 Rear Diff
2:55 AC Blower
3:10 4WD
3:33 Motor Options
4:10 Lifted Jeeps
4:22 Exhaust Manifold
4:38 Death Wobble
5:13 No Start
5:39 Overheating
6:10 Final Thoughts

[kevinhood]

Gonna correct your mistake buddy, but The dana 44 in a 2007-2018 jeep jk wont fit a tj without modification and is about 5 inches longer in size. The jeep jk (2007-2018) rear 44 axle is a lot more beefy then the jeep tj dana 44. The dana 44 in the tj has the same tubes as the dana 35, but has a 8.5 inch ring gear instead of a 7.62 inch ring gear which is in the dana 35. The dana 44 also has 30 spline 1.31 axle shafts and the dana 35 has 27 spline 1.18 shafts. All the rest of the axles are the same though as a dana 35 and 44 have 2.5 x.25 inch tubes. Forgot to mention the tj 44 has retaining plates on the axle to bolt the axle shaft and bearing into. Dana 35 uses c-clips inside the differential, not a big deal if you have disc brakes but very dangerous if you have drum brakes.

[crabbypadty]

Who else is watching this and already owns a TJ.

[zcamaro-bxhn]

I own a 04 jeep wrangler we have over 400, 000 miles on the original motor. This is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. We have owned the jeep for 11 years now. This jeep has no rust on the body or the undercarriage. We will own this jeep till we die.

[markmorris]

1997 TJ owner of one that has 310, 000 miles and has been one of the most reliable Jeeps I have ever Worst was the rectangular headlight 87 YJ, hated that thing!

[JeepTJWheelin]

Cool video. It took me three months to find my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn. Had to have a rust free frame, 4.0L I6, 3.73's, lsd and a Dana 44. It was a lot of searching, but I found my favorite Jeep! I only had to repair the rear main seal and heater core, that's it! By far the best vehicle I've had.

I put a modest 2" lift, Old Man Emu coils, 32" KO2's, Currie RockJock tie rod and drag link, Freedom Off Road front lower adj control arms, the rest are fixed Detroit Axle control arms, JKS quick disconnects, Fox 2.0 Shox, Fox steering stabilizer, transfer case drop kit and a M.O.R.E steering box bracket brace. This is by far the best handling Jeep I've ever had on and especially off road, and I highly recommend this build for anyone who is an adventurer, not a rock crawler.

The closer you are to stock height and geometry, the better! For me as an adventurer, not a rock crawler, there's no need to ever go beyond 32's and a 2" lift. I went with this set up because very early on getting into off roading Jeeps, I was told by several people who just went from 32's to 33's, they noticed that their rigs were very sluggish and lost that excellent 4.0 low end torque. And once you go to 33's, it's an absolute cash nightmare of chasing your tail getting everything dialed in geometry wise, which most have said, their TJ never rides as well as it did at 32's.

If you have good off road instincts and common sense, this is all you need. The aftermarket has been fooling and shaming people for years who keep their rigs stock or near it. They push this false "need" of 33's - 40's with a huge lift to off road, that's pure nonsense!


🇺🇸 Only in a 2 Dr 🇺🇸
'41 - '06

[robinhanscom]

I have an03 tj.If you’ve tried everything for death wobble then please change your castor. When you get a front end alignment you have a castor and camber they adjust. The castor is non adjustable so you can buy an adjustable castor. Put that on and I guarantee you your wobble will be gone. I spent almost 2, 000 trying to figure out my death wobble. This worked and I couldn’t be more happy!

[randythompson]

99 Wrangler TJ Sahara desert sand pearl with a 4.0, no regrets. 170 k miles and strong as ever. Thinking about a stroker kit and a Currie Dana 44 in the front and a Dana 60 in the rear .
Metalcloak fenders with a 4 .5 inch lift with 38 inch M/T tires.
All for much less than a new vehicle.

[AndrewBotticelli]

Nice video! I have a 2004 Jeep Wrangler Rocky Mountain edition in Patriot Blue. Completely stock with 28, 000 miles original owner.

[NMIBUBBLE]

Had my TJ for 80000 miles all hwy they only thing I have wrong at the end of it was the clutch and the radiator got hit with to many rocks. Sold it to my buddy bc he was in the Army at the time and needed a jeep, best jeep ever never had rust or anything. Had 2 inch lift with 33x12.50 on it best vehicle I ever had, Snow rain nothing with stop it, Ice On a hill everyone was sliding around on it so I finally put it in 4 high and passed ten cars trying to make it up a icy hill I just laugh and went on to my job. :)

[indridcold]

I bought mine in 1996 as a 1997. I still have it today. I love my heavily modified, daily driven, rough and tumble, Jeep Wrangler. It still has no leaks at all. No longer stock, today, the RMS Stargazer is configured as such:

Rear Jeep Wrangler Dana 44 from a 2001 Wrangler
rear rotor brake retrofit for the Dana 44
slip yoke eliminator
NV3550 manual transmission upgrade from the same 2001 Wrangler
Skyjacker 4.5 inch suspension lift
Rough Country adjustable track bar
Rough Country ball joints
New front wheel bearings
Rubicon Express front tie rod
Passenger's side Chrome Molly axle shaft
Aluminum 3 tank radiator with electric fan
Smittybilt 3 inch double tube, single hoop, stainless steel front bumper
Smittybilt 3 inch double tube stainless steel rear bumper
Smittybilt 4 inch stainless steel side nerf bars for steps and protection
stainless steel Mopar grill
Hella LED retrofit headlights
six inch round economy fog lights
5 inch round economy spot lights mounted on the bumper
two window hinge mounted 4 inch round Hella LED light pods
52 inch cree light bar
Bestop Supertop with glass upper half window sliders all in black diamond
12 meter, CB, 10 meter, and 6 meter Anytone transceiver transmitting 60 watts AM/FM and 100 SSB
Hustler 259 centimeter long stainless antenna
35x12.5 R15 Dick Cepek Mud Terrain Tyres on modified Grizzly Rims (Yes, you can weld aluminum)
SkyJacker Hydro Shocks
4.11:1 gears on both axles
All new wiring, inside and out
Kenwood Stereo with USB
Lots of switches
Love, lots o Love!
Everything installed by me.

[cocorkiller]

My TJ is a 97"
131k from Florida. Got her up in Maine
3" lift. Keep my tires pretty low key. 31"x10.5" on 15s. Thing goes anywear i need to.. Havent ever really gotten stuck trailing.. If i do got a hitch winch. And a mount front and back. Love it. And costs nothing. Last part i had to do cost me $20.. Was a caliper that locked up. $20 for a brandy new not rebuilt. $120 for all new shocks as well.. $10 for a balljoint. Did all my seals for like 60 bucks i think

[ethanmartin]

Just bought a 1997 Wrangler TJ Sahara Edition with >165, 000 for my first ever vehicle! Only rust spot is on the hood, and it’s just a small bubble the size of a US quarter. Runs smoothly and the heat is great! Only real problems and downsides are a hole in the driver’s seat, the back window having a lot of scratches, a missing sun visor, and an issue with driver’s side door not opening from the outside. I also have to make sure the front passenger seatbelt makes an audible click, otherwise it wants to unfasten while driving.

[tho]

I have the exact silver LJ Rubicon shown early in the video. love it!!

[FlatBunny]

Getting an 06 2.4 for around 10k this week. No rust at all and no issues with around 120k miles. Looking forward to getting it

[Christophersanchez]

400k! I'm almost there with my 2004. Yeah issues are coming up over the mileage, ac giving out, oil leaks, glady no rust much ( southern NM weather). Last year I had to change out the CPU. Still going strong. 🥺

[Nike-lrmk]

It’s very easy to change rear main seal on 4.0 you don’t need to drop the transmission

[brando]

I've got an 04' rubicon with 6" lift, clayton control arms and front trackbar, teraflex shocks, bumpers front and rear, warn winch, on 35x14.5-15 pitbull rockers. I wheel it every chance I get, that thing amazes me every time I'm out.

[jamesberlo]

I got a 97 Sahara, it was fantastic, had it 21 years and would last 100 years more except they do-nothing for the Chassis frame Corrosion that gets in internally and causes structural failure.

[cemsengul]

TJ is the last Jeep Wrangler. I could not believe they released a four door option on a Wrangler. I know there is a two door option still available but it is far too fat and bulky.

[NMIBUBBLE]

01 tj thing was a tank switch out the clutch to a upgraded one after five years, and to many rocks hit the radiator so replaced that, 33 inch tires on it, soft top wish i had the hard top. Hit 90 in 3rd gear. lol Ran that SOB like i stole it. Best dam jeep ever. Did my own oil changes every 3000 miles, Treater her good, until i sold her. All hwy miles. 4.0 with an Upgraded air filter and exhaust. and two inch bump lift. If your going to get one first time you have to replace the windshield look for a replacement with gorilla glass if you can, Never had a problem with the track bar. Buddy took it to a Tank course on a FOB, it did really good without all the hoopla.