OH NO!!! 5 Things About Buying a Used Jeep TJ Wrangler // What to look at for your next purchase

How many times has this happened to you?

You see a really nice used 1997-2006 Jeep TJ Wrangler...
You pull into the used car lot (or someone's front yard)...
You check it out, looks solid...
You take it for a test drive... no strange sounds...
You make the purchase...

Then you take it to your local garage, and next thing you know, there are 15 things that need to be fixed before it can be road legal, and your bill now costs more than you spent on the vehicle??? What just happened???

We've all been there at one point or another. And if you haven't, you know someone who has been.

At SFJ, we believe in being as prepared as possible when picking out your next vehicle, especially in today's times when saving money wherever possible is critical. In this video, Neil takes a look at 5 things to make sure you check out when buying your next used 1997 - 2006 Jeep TJ Wrangler. Is it the ultimate checklist?? Of course not, but for the average person, these 5 things will give you an idea of just how much work you're getting yourself into, and how much money you may have to put in to make it your dream Jeep.

Neil takes an in-depth look at problems affecting the frame/body, the steering/suspension, wiring, tops/covers, and modifications.

Also, follow us on Facebook and Instagram to share in all our wild adventures.

[jackrotter]

I don't get why there's so much hate on TJs in the comments. I am no mechanic and this is one of the easiest cars to work on. Installed my own lift kit, sway bar disconnects, winch, new soft top, stereo system, fenders, etc. This is really the GoldiLocks of wranglers, modern enough to be daily driven, oldschool enough to be considered a Jeep... small two door 4x4 vehicle. Very versatile and reliable 4.0L

[loganjames]

The key is just to live somewhere where rust isn't an issue, and don't buy jeeps from people that do nasty modifications to wiring and accessories. Not a bad video per say, but it is extremely limited on content as most of the things you mention are solely related to rust.

Here's a few of my tips for people interested in buying a TJ. ( I bought one earlier this year and it needed a lot of work)

1. Check the Cylinder head for cracks between the 3 and 4 cylinders. It is easy to do. Just start the jeep with the oil cap off, let it warm up and use a flashlight to look for bubbling/fluid on the metal right below the fill hole. It will appear on the crack line if there is a crack there. (especially common on 00-02 4.0L engine) Do not purchase if there are bubbles. Engine is already damaged.

2. Check that the air conditioning (if optioned) and the heat is functional. Make sure that you can hear the blend door motor spinning when you change the temperature. It is not uncommon for the heater core to leak and the coolant leak to drip down and kill the blend door motor completely. Also check that the lower foot vents are dry and don't smell sweet like coolant. This is to check for heater core leak as well. Heater cores are not too expensive if you need to change one. But it is not a fun or easy job if you don't know what you are doing. A shop will likely charge you over $500 in labor to change one.

3. Check that the factory fan clutch is there and functioning. Electric fans are a band aid that some utilize to attempt to fix an overheating problem. Jeep TJ's should heat up to about 210 on the temp gauge and never go higher after that. Do not let an overheating problem fly. I live in the 118 degree (Fahrenheit) desert and my jeep never gets over 210.

4. MAKE SURE THERE ARE MAINTENANCE RECORDS for oil changes and other wear items (ie transmission fluid, brakes, shocks, etc)

5. Oil pressure should be above 20 at idle. If it is below, then WALK AWAY

6. Check automatic trans fluid and make sure it is at least slightly pink in color. If its black, then WALK AWAY.

7. Check the tires and their date codes. Be aware if tires are going to be needed and account for that in price.

8. Check the top. Tops are expensive as noted in this video. Best top is a good brand generally. But make sure that everything is functional/zippable. If it isn't functional and is old and rotted, the seller should be giving you a break on price.

9. Make sure that 4WD high and low both engage properly with a smooth fast shift of the lever. (Make sure you know how to shift this properly before going to check out a Jeep)

10. Listen for knocking/ticking noises when driving. If it is an auto transmission, the bell housing bolts may back out and start contacting the torque converter making a knocking sound. Knocking could also be a sign of piston skirt failure or other extensive engine issues. AVOID THESE JEEPS if you're reading this/watching this video. Only those that work on jeeps themselves can make a jeep that is this broken worth salvaging.

Thanks for reading. That's all I can think of for now. Good luck finding a nice TJ. They are hard to come by now.
If you do come across one. Take good care of it! Keep on Jeepin on!

[ceadudz]

Great info SFJ! Not just for people looking to buy a used TJ/LJ but also people looking to maintain their current one 👍

[BtRct]

Basically, if you want to save yourself the trouble. Go to a southern state where it does not snow, get yourself a Jeep there so there is no salt damage. Also makes sure its stock, put the upgrades on yourself or pay someone for professional install. So many people have no idea how to build Jeeps and cause severe damage to them trying to upgrade them or trashing their Jeep while off roading. I have a 99 TJ that has a small tear in the driver seat, everything else looks good.

[coltshooter]

This dude is the Bob Ross inspector of jeeps. Excellent knowledge and delivery of info.

[carliemariebeal]

THIS is the kinda guy you want with you when purchasing a used car. Great video, especially since I am from up north and I am trying to navigate purchasing a TJ with no major frame rust.

[stillhammered]

Great information. Videos like these were what I used for reference when I bought my 97 TJ last year with 210, 000 miles on it. Checked frame, suspension, engine performance and handling to figure out it was a steal since it had about 10 grand in custom work already done to it. You can never get enough information when it's your hard earned money your spending.

[JeepTJWheelin]

It took me three months to find my '05 TJ Rocky Mtn. Ideally you would like a rust free frame, strong engine, transmission and transfer case. 3.73 gears, Dana 44 and well maintained. And this is exactly what I found in this '05 TJ. Despite coming from Ocracoke Island NC with all that salt water/air the frame is immaculate. The original owner was wise enough to get professional undercoating and it shows. I thought I had found my TJ five times before I found this Rocky Mtn. They all had rotted out frames and there's no way I'm paying $4k for a new frame. You have to realize these TJ's regardless of their location will require some tcl. Mine needed a rear main seal and heater core. Also the ac orifice tube and ac compressor were shot. Outside of these, this TJ has been the best vehicle I've had. Modest 2" lift on 32" Bfg ko2's with classic Baja gunmetal alloy rims. With basic routine maintenance, these 4.0's I6 engines will last forever!


🇺🇸Only in a 2 dr🇺🇸
'41 - '06

[RenBobbins]

TJ - the best made Jeep of all time (99 and prior). Before Mercedes screwed it up, making them the mechanical liability they are today. Arguably the easiest platform to work on off almost any vehicle on the market, and if you can get one with the 4.0L and 3 speed auto, with regular maintenance, it should last for a very long time!

[cbsjourney]

My 2001 jeep tj 4.0, 5 speed manual has 208, 000 miles and drives amazing! Awesome daily driver 👍🏼

[nemesistj]

I bought my 04 TJ Rubicon 4 months ago no problems no rust it's been well taken care of, and it continues to be well taken care of. Awesome video

[goblinsinatrenchcoat]

Dude, I absolutely LOVE my 2001 TJ. It has a couple spots on the frame that are somewhat questionable but it’s very fixable and NOT severe, I just have to take it to a place when I have time to get it fixed.
I’ve learned how to do a lot of regular maintenance on it, and it’s very easy to work on. The 4.0 is super reliable as long as you give it regular maintenance, just like any other solidly built engine. Idk why people are giving it crap lol

[rogercook]

A few years ago I went with a friend to a town about 25 miles away, He bought a very good looking one and the first railroad we crossed coming home the under part of the frame separated and the right wheel moved forward about 2 inches in front of the other. This is great info for The jeep or any community.

[OntarioFreshwaterFishing]

I enjoy fixing those beat up rusty TJ's. It's amazing what you can do with some fabrication knowledge and the right materials/tools.

[claudehall]

Anyone that tries to hide a rusted frame with bondo should be forced by law to pay the unlucky buyer double what they sold it for.

[mikehartmann]

Take that jeep, paint it yellow, and that’s by and large the Jeep I bought. The salt in the wound is I took the trouble to hire a “mechanic” to inspect the vehicle and he gave it the a-ok, and it wasn’t, not by a long shot. By the time I figured this out, too much time had passed for me to sue. This is an excellent video on the areas of a Jeep TJ to be wary of before you buy.

[crumpb]

Glad I live in Idaho. I looked for 2 years for my 2005 LJ. Bought it in 2015 no rust at all original paint on Body and frame. With a lot of the original part number stickers. Still own it very happy with it. Will never get rid of it.

[robz]

Man, you guys just scared me out of a potential buy. I didnt look for half this stuff. Appreciate your knowledge, and thanks for sharing. Great video

[travelinggnome]

I bought a 1997 Jeep TJ SE this year and it had several issues that were easily fixed including a horrendous wiring job of some aftermarket fog lights. One issue I did not realize till after I bought it was the HVAC Door Lever was sheared. The part was cheap but it was in a difficult spot to replace and since the panel vents were not working the AC was disconnected. After the repair I had my vents and AC working. Other issues were a bad upstream O2 sensor causing it to run rough until the engine got warm which was another easy fix. There were also several top parts installed either wrong or for the wrong top. As a new Jeep owner, it took me a while to sort that all out, as it came with a Hard Top, Soft Top, and Bikini Top. Overall it was in excellent condition with zero rust, good bushings, no leaks, and never used off road with relatively low miles. Great Video!

[jasonbarnes]

As long as that Jeep has solid frame and engine, the top is not a problem.