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YJ Wranglers

2K views 17 replies 12 participants last post by  thunderdan2000 
#1 ·
This is my first post, but I am not new to jeeps, I have owned a 05 LJ Rubicon Unlimited, 82 CJ7, 80 CJ7 and I currently have a 79 CJ5.

I have recently secured a 94 YJ to give to my daughter next month for her 16th birthday. ( I know not the best first car, but she has always loved jeeps since she was little)

The question I would like to ask is what are some common issues that the YJ's have.

A little about the one I got for her. It's a 94 with new 5 speed (documented from jasper includes 3 year warranty) Also documented fresh rebuild 20k on the 4 cylinder motor. The body and the rest have 187k. Its a hard top. I know some of the issues with the models I have owned but this is the first 4 cylinder I have had.

So if anyone cares to help me out on some of the things I may want to pay attention to or replace ahead of time that would be helpful. I hope to share some of the mods and work performed on this jeep, especially since I am going to make her get dirty right along with me...lol...

Again great and helpful forum you guys have here....
 
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#3 ·
Welcome to JF! :wave:

Jeep-wise, the '94 is a good year for the YJ, AND the setup you bought is good for your daughter. The 4 cyl is not under powered, it's just not overpowered. It motivates a stock jeep just fine. I've owned 3 4 cyl YJ's with exactly the same setup as you've just bought, all were terrific vehicles with no major issues and regular routine maintenance .

You have a fuel injected motor, minimal electronics, and a cool/decent first vehicle. Enjoy

Hoss
 
#4 ·
Thanks for the replies guys, I knew the 4 cyl was a bit under powered in comparison to the 4.0's I have had before, but I actually was looking for a decent 4 cyl for this particular purpose. I figured the 4 cyl would be good enough for my daughter, she will probably not ever wheel it (more than a fire service road or wet/slick roads) etc. And it seems to be a little more inexpensive buy in on the used market.

I expect to have to repair items with the age of the vehicle, and with the budget I had for buy in, it seemed to me that I would rather repair an older vehicle that retains value than putting a ton of money into an older expensive to repair import that is pretty much worthless.

It's good to hear that there are not too many, always break and are headache items on these models. I figure with the new powertrain components that it will be a solid first vehicle for her.

The only thing that I know I want to do right away is have the steering system evaluated to make it the best that it can be (its still a jeep) and probably lower it. ( Blasphemy I know) I really wanted to get a bone stock never lifted model, but all the ones that I found had a lot of miles on the engines and trannys with no previous repairs. This one is lifted and on 33's It has a body lift that I will probably bring back down to stock and see how it goes from there. I just want to make sure it handles adequately for her.

If it was just for me it wouldn't be a big deal, I really wanted to give her my CJ but it's just too much of a handful for a new driver (no power steering and handles like an old CJ)

As soon as we give it to her in a couple of weeks I'll be sure to post pictures as well.
 
#8 ·
Thanks, a jeep wrangler has been the only vehicle that she has expressed interest in since she was driving a barbie jeep as a kid. She doesen't care how beat up it is or shiny, just a jeep. I figure if your going to spend a couple of thousand dollars on a used car, it might as well be a cool one that you want. And I am hoping that since it is something she wants, that she will take care of it and pay attention to any strange sounds more than if it was just some old honda or toyota. Not to mention when she gets out of College and is ready for a new car, it won't be too horrible for dad to get her 'old' jeep..lol
 
#6 ·
Personally, I'd drop it back to stock if it's for your daughter... Or stock-ish ride height on 31's. Someone would probably trade those 33's for 31's in a heartbeat. That will take the strain off of the 4 cyl too, especially if it hasn't been regeared. Take the body lift off too, no need for that crap if it has a suspension lift.

The 4 cyl YJ's are great Jeeps. They have enough power to motor around town and on the highways, not enough power to get into trouble with (well, it takes some finesse and precision).

Make sure the Track Bars are deleted. It doesn't need them whatsoever, they cause more issues than solve problems, the swaybar is more than adequate enough (some say it's overkill).
 
#7 ·
Personally, I'd drop it back to stock if it's for your daughter... Or stock-ish ride height on 31's. Someone would probably trade those 33's for 31's in a heartbeat. That will take the strain off of the 4 cyl too, especially if it hasn't been regeared. Take the body lift off too, no need for that crap if it has a suspension lift.

The 4 cyl YJ's are great Jeeps. They have enough power to motor around town and on the highways, not enough power to get into trouble with (well, it takes some finesse and precision).

Make sure the Track Bars are deleted. It doesn't need them whatsoever, they cause more issues than solve problems, the swaybar is more than adequate enough (some say it's overkill).
I totally agree, I have already contacted a 4x4 shop to snatch the body lift off, I guess I will see how it does with the suspension lift, I will probably leave it on and drop down to 31's as you suggest. The 33's on it now are brand new Cooper Discoverer's that I know were 1k when they were put on, so I should be able to get some 31's pretty easy without having to spend a lot of money.

Her driving will consist of semi city streets (suburbs to and from school, and if she needs to go on an interstate trip I figure she can take one of the other more highway friendly vehicles) I figure that 4 cyl will do just fine around town averaging 45-55 mph. Thats about the most you can do with traffic and lights anyway.

I debated long and hard about a wrangler for a first vehicle but there were quite a few plus's and the not enough power to get in too much trouble was one of them, as well as the 5 speed. I think a manual is much safer for a new driver, it makes you pay attention and really hard to text etc. Now if I can just make sure to keep the boys at school from talking her into taking it in the mud it will be just fine...lol

Maybe I should disconnect the 4x4.....nah..then what will dad do.....lol
 
#9 ·
Brand new 33's you say? someone is really likely to trade their 31's for those. Or sell them and buy some 31's.

Hell, drop it down to stock, toss the lift and big tires and stick to stock specs, you'd be really surprised at how offroad capable a YJ is in stock form:



Never found a place I couldn't go. All I did was toss the track bars and disconnect the swaybar. Careful with the brake lines, I had 1" shackles on it, the brake lines were taught at full flex...
 
#13 ·
Agree with everyone on here, the 2.5L stock is fine to push around. It may take a while, but I can hold 70-75 just fine on the highway up here, and thats at elevation. Any sort of incline on the highway on the other hand is a different story, might as well throw a parachute out the back!
 
#14 ·
We've since had a 3.8 '10 Mountain and a 3.6 '13 Sahara, but, in some ways, I miss the simplicity of our '94 (or was it a '95, I forget) Rio Grande with the 4 cylinder, 5 speed. It came with a spice top, but, when it needed a new top, the Khaki was being discontinued and I got a great bargain on it. I put in a new engine, clutch, seat covers, carpet, stereo, speakers, and roll bar padding. Then, took a job in Egypt and sold it. I sold it with a brand new pair of fenders still in the boxes.
 

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#16 ·
I just went back to a 95' YJ 4.0L. I had a Rio Grande as my first SWB jeep and ran it almost to 190k with stock everything but 31's and few bolt ons. Sometimes not having enough power, Can get you into trouble just the same as lacking to get ya into it.
They both have their place and seems you have already don't the homework that a 4cyl is a town jeep for the most part in terms of power/speed. Of all the first vehicles, You picked a perfect first for you're daughter. Box frame, Stock cage etc just in case of *** hats, She will be safe.
If the tires are new and the jeep looks good, Just re-gear the axles to 4.88's. Will still keep speeds down but will look better and mpg will be the same for in town. That's how much it will cost to drop the BL and what not and find/trade/buy 31's.
To each their own, Another vote for kickass dad! Good luck on the project
 
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