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Advice on first ZJ!!! Help me please

3K views 33 replies 18 participants last post by  BRae_in_a_ZJ 
#1 ·
today i will be taking home my first ZJ! :D i am excited but i really have a few concerns.
what are some problems i should look out for?
is there anything i need to check for?
how can i get this jeep in ship shape before my inspection?

any advice will help! even the little things. thank you so much!
 
#2 ·
-If it's a 97 with a 4.0 in it, go ahead and plan to spend $249 on a rebuilt PCM when it begins stalling in the middle of busy intersections during rush hour.
- Make sure the front trac bar bolts are tight. ( death wobble)
- When your front passenger side carpet gets wet while running the air, search for the drain clean out procedure here on the forums.
- Keep your battery terminals clean and tight ! This is especially important on Jeeps.
- You headliner is going to fall down. Deal with it and get it replaced. ( $160)
- Now, go run over some Toyotas !
 
#5 ·
x3829

And you have the nv249 transfer case, which means its in 4wd all the time, and if it hasnt already, the vc will fail sooner or later. Since you have a 97, you can find a 242 or 231 out of a 4.0 and swap it in directly if you find one with the right input shaft length. This way you have 2wd. Also, if you plan on lifting it, plan on swapping out the cv joint in the front driveshaft as well, because that is notorious for failing once you lift it.
 
#4 ·
Change your crankshaft sensor along with 2 rapid oil changes @500 miles a piece, transmission fluid (ATF-4 from dealer i suggest), transfer case fluid (from dealer also) and front and rear axle fluid (80w-90 for most). This is what I did on mine and no major problems thus far. Good luck with it! :)
 
#10 ·
Change all fluids ,Ft&RR Dif,Transfer (Case ATF+4),(Trans+ filterATF+4),Power Steering,Coolant,Oil,
New Air filter.Put some seafoam in your gas tank,right off the bat.
If you have a oil leak by the oil filter it is the, oil filter adapter O rings, 5 bucks at dealer.
I could make this list very long but wont.
 
#11 ·
Since your jeep isn't stock, the previous owner has probably addressed some common concerns. It's really hard to say what it's going to need. Make sure all the lights work and nothing obvious is wrong and run it thru the inspection station. Go from there.

Good luck with it, always exciting to have a new vehicle.
 
#19 ·
Welcome! :cheers2:

The best advice I can give you for a ZJ or anything else is to do it right the first time and never be in a hurry.
x2 I cant tell you how many times I have worked on my exhaust and my door speakers. This past weekend, I was re-mounting my driver door speaker and I completely forgot to hook it up. Now I gotta go in there again and actually hook it up this time :brickwall
 
#17 ·
get ready to "ignore" your VIC when it starts beeping and flashing all the crap that is wrong with your jeep, but still works.

dash lights will go out , or work when they want.

change out your lift supports on your rear hatch, and glass.

etc...., etc....., etc......:thumbsup:
 
#20 ·
Be prepared to spend lots of time and money working on it! Just got my ZJ two weeks ago and haven't had a day when I haven't worked on her in some way or another. If you like to tinker and keep busy, perfect vehicle!!! :) I absolutely adore mine.
 
#21 ·
You know I have owned a 98 ZJ since new (now with 136000 miles) two years ago I bought an 07 WK Limited Hemi, but couldn't stand to sell the ZJ, so I kept it as a second vehicle, and use it all the time. I put a new radiator and water pump in it last year, have made some minor repairs over the years, but outside of the ac evaporator, the trans seals (got a Reman Mopar trans under my ext warr) it's been a reliable vehicle. Easy to fix, simple, always starts.
some tips....
Shocks, Bilstein HDs work great on ZJs
brake rotors, don't need fancy slotted or drilled, plain old Wagner full cast iron ones work fine.
ATF+4, nothing else in the auto trans
transfer case you can use ATF+4, or Dexron ( I used to use Mobil 1 Dexron in my Transfer case, but now use ATF+4 since it's synthetic
Syn 75-140 gear oils in the front and rear differentials, mine have held up great with this oil (including towing a 4000 lb boat)....
Exhaust system, a Dynomax cat back is a good low cost exhaust for a ZJ....
 
#29 ·
im a little confused. i have receipts and everything and i think i can see it on the rear. and it definitely sits above stock. is there a way they could have boosted it using coil spacers? also for the record the previous owner had cut and trimmed all fenders to make room for tires (but they still rub on hard cut parking lot type turns)
 
#30 ·
A body lift is blocks between the frame and body.

A ZJ is a unibody, so the frame is welded directly to the body (simplified explanation), you can't unbolt the body and slide spacers between em.

Look on top of your springs. You're gonna see round, black blocks about two inches tall. That's your lift. It's called a budget boost. Some people might call them coil spacers.

Good luck with the truck
 
#32 ·
A body lift is blocks between the frame and body.

A ZJ is a unibody, so the frame is welded directly to the body (simplified explanation), you can't unbolt the body and slide spacers between em.

Look on top of your springs. You're gonna see round, black blocks about two inches tall. That's your lift. It's called a budget boost. Some people might call them coil spacers.

Good luck with the truck
i undestand now thats exactly what i see. thanks for clarifying guys! makes much more sense now
 
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