[Roody]

Hi everybody, I'm looking at YJs for my first Jeep. Are there any major issues to look for? Anything to be aware of?

Thanks for the help!

[Solus]

if its got a carpet look under the carpet. Behind the seats and at the floor pans. Those rust out. Also look at the frame for rust. they tend to rust out in the rear and front so make shure theres no rot on the frame.. normal rust can be fixed. Also go with the 6cyl if you can find one. More power and same gas mileage as the 4cyl. Thats really all i can think of right now. Above all that just poke around and feel it out.

[Clevs]

You're probably going to hear a lot of this, but look everywhere for rust. Other than that I agree with the 6 cyl. like Solus said. It gets decent mileage with more horses. Have fun lookin'.

[Brandon_YJ]

You told me in another thread that you were going to look at an 87 this weekend. Since we both live in the salt belt, and I just purchased an 87 that has lived its 21 years in this area, maybe I can toss you a few things to keep in mind.
* Hope against hope that it has the I6 in it. As someone else said, same MPG as the I4 but more torque, especially in the lower RPM range.
* See if the owner has upgraded the heater. The heater blower in the old YJs weren't the best to begin with, but an old one barely creates more heat in your Jeep than a fart with the hard top on would. You can always install a new heater blower (and heater core) for under $100 total in parts, and the heater blowers you get from Autozone and the like are "updated" versions. Search for the threads about using a blower from a Blazer in a Jeep and you'll see.
* Rust! Check the frame where the bumpers meet. Also check the frame where the shackles and shocks mount. Those are common places for rust in old heeps.
* More rust! The floor pans are probably the biggest place for rust. Just lift the carpet and take a look. Tap the floor pans with the back of a screwdriver or something to see how it sounds. Rusted out metal will sound more hollow and not have the "twang" of good sheet metal.
* Even more rust! The other common places are on the rockers, especially where the fender flares end. Mine has rot on all 4 points. but it's an easy fix if you have the abilities.
* Check that the 4WD works.
* check for carburator upgrade.
Other than that, I can't think of anything else to add.

[Solus]

ah ha i knew i was missing things! Indeed make shore 4wd works! If not its a reletivly easy fix but the price will have to go down.. Also even if its still got the normal carter its not that bad. The po replaced my carter with a carter without a motor. Runs great. They start for crap though. Check for leaks as well. When you do buy one make shore you change all of the fluids and give it a good tune up.

[pat8942]

4.2 112 HP 2.5 MPI 125 HP 4.0 has more HP than a 2.5 but the old carb 4.2 is a low rpm engine like 3k for max HP.
If you want a 6 go for the 4.0.
The 4.2 is ok but it's dated.
If you research the posts on this forum you will see most people with driveability issues or major engine problems have 4.2 engines, not that many complaints about 2.5's or 4.0 engines.
IMO go for 91 and up 2.5 or 4.0

Originally Posted by Clevs

You're probably going to hear a lot of this, but look everywhere for rust. Other than that I agree with the 6 cyl. like Solus said. It gets decent mileage with more horses. Have fun lookin'.

[provinT13]

If your looking for a YJ in general try and get one after 1991. They started fuel injection in the later months of 1991, which is nicer then carburetion espically since the stock carbs weren't the best. Everyone will tell you 6cyl is better which it is, but don't let 4cyl's discourage you. I was in your boat a few months ago, no one had 6's near me and none in my price range, so I got a 4. It's fine except for going uphill and I max out at about 70 on the highway. They do fine on the trails and around the city, but if you can, go for a 6.

[pat8942]

I agree,but my 2.5 (92) will do 70 plus easy even uphill.
Like you I was looking for a 6 but I got a 2.5 and I couldn't be happier.
The 2.5 is basically bullet proof.

Originally Posted by provinT13

If your looking for a YJ in general try and get one after 1991. They started fuel injection in the later months of 1991, which is nicer then carburetion espically since the stock carbs weren't the best. Everyone will tell you 6cyl is better which it is, but don't let 4cyl's discourage you. I was in your boat a few months ago, no one had 6's near me and none in my price range, so I got a 4. It's fine except for going uphill and I max out at about 70 on the highway. They do fine on the trails and around the city, but if you can, go for a 6.

[provinT13]

Originally Posted by pat8942

I agree,but my 2.5 (92) will do 70 plus easy even uphill.
Like you I was looking for a 6 but I got a 2.5 and I couldn't be happier.
The 2.5 is basically bullet proof.

Thanks for backing me up . Idk how yours can do 70+ uphill, on the highway we were doing 70 fine, but that was about it. I haven't taken mine up to the mountains to go snowboarding yet and thats what I really mean by uphill. Other then that small hills around the city are fine, but you will probably have to down shift once you start to go up it

[pat8942]

The only time I have a problem on a steep grade is if I'm fighting a 30-40 MPH head wind.
When I go to town I have two steep grades over the Florida Mountians (That's Flooreda not like the state florida) to go up but if it's calm I can hold 70 or better all the way up in 5th gear.

Originally Posted by provinT13

Thanks for backing me up . Idk how yours can do 70+ uphill, on the highway we were doing 70 fine, but that was about it. I haven't taken mine up to the mountains to go snowboarding yet and thats what I really mean by uphill. Other then that small hills around the city are fine, but you will probably have to down shift once you start to go up it

[Roody]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I will be looking at two YJs next week (I'm on spring vacation), one is a 1987 and the other is a 1995. My dad had an '89, so I'm leaning more towards something after 1991 because I know how much of a pain the carb was/is.

[GrimJeeper91]

1991+ for the 4.0. Way better motor than the 4.2. The 4cyl will get the job done but you will be much happier in the long run with the 4.0...

[schatenjager]

Just to clarify, the 87 and on 2.5's were Fuel Injected. The 6-cyls didn't get fuel injection until later. IF the 87 is a 4-banger, it's a Throttle Body, unless one of the POs changed it for some reason. I live near Chicago and the 87 4 banger I have gives me not problems. It sounds like a diesel engine but it's got enough power to get me down the highway around here (no mountains to worry about though). With a good strong headwind (this is the Windy City, after all), it tends to blow around a bit and the mileage goes down but I am essentially driving a brick wall so I expect that.

I definitely agree with one of the previous posters, tune her up as soon as you get her home.

I think every Jeep out there has a little bit of personality that you really need to get used to before you'll be comfortable with her. I know that on mine the gas gauge is really terrible, dances all over, but i've learned the exact spot to tap on the gauge to get a fairly accurate reading, works every time.

I don't know about other years specifically (my only other jeep was a 91 xj) but the 87 works just fine for me...

[Roody]

Thanks for the responses, everybody.