What to look for when buying a CRD?

Adanac · **Joined:** Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:30 am **Posts:** 22

Hello everyone,

New to the forum and to the world of Jeep. I currently have a 2000 Chevy Blazer, 2dr 4x4 that has done me very well. However it has come down to dumping cash into it or getting something 'new'. I have always wanted a jeep and have been doing a lot of reading about the CRD Liberty. After doing some extensive searching, I have found a couple close to me that are for sale.

What kind of questions about the history should I be asking? (sorry if I am repeating a previous thread, but couldn't find one on this topic)

The one that I would really like to get a hold of is an '06 limited with 69,000 KM on it. It is the colour I am after. They are asking $18,000 for it. That seems to be a it high of price to pay, so some neg will take place. I have asked if it comes with the tow package and the under body skid plates but the seller is not sure as they picked it up from a used dealership.

Is there anyway from the VIN number or other registration number to find out what the vehicle has on it?

The Jeep is a three hour drive away and would hate to go all that way to find out that it doesn't have what I am looking for.

Thanks for any input, points or suggestions!

Cheers, :JEEPIN:

Adanac.

bhc04 · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 8:03 pm

If you get the VIN, I think you can run it to see if it's been in any accidents, not sure though, never done it. I'd make sure you can see some maintenance records. Find out if they've had dealership service it on routine basis, cause they should have the records as to when and what has been done. Don't know where you're located, but $18k sound a little high side. What model CRD? Any options? How are the tires, shocks, any mods to the suspension? I assume it's 4x4? If it's what you "really" want, I'd spend the money and have a Jeep diesel tech or at least a good diesel tech. check it out. Any extended warranty with it? If you test drive it make sure it shifts into all the gears, including 4 wheel part time, full time, and 4 low. Good luck. If it's a good one you'll enjoy it.

Adanac · **Joined:** Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:30 am **Posts:** 22

Thanks for the pointers.

All I know is it is a green '06 Limited. It is 4x4. Has sunroof. Looks to be a trailer hitch on the back. The rest of the vehicle, from its pictures, looks in good shape. Asked the owner some questions but all I got back was that they are not sure of what mods/options are on it. It sounds like they just picked it up cause it was diesel.

Both the jeep and I are out here in Alberta.

Cheers,
Adanac

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 8:38 pm

With the CRD, in my opinion the most important thing is to make sure it's been serviced REGULARLY and serviced PROPERLY. A lot of folks think the CRD is just like any other vehicle and it's not. It needs the proper weight oil and it needs a good DIESEL synthetic oil. If a quality oil is used and changed regularly it will go a long way. Also, proper warm up and cool down procedures help the engine live a long life. Basically, if you take care of it it'll take care of you. If it has extensive service records at a Jeep dealership, that would be a huge PLUS.

Otherwise there really isn't anything particular to look for. The issues that people have with these will NOT be noticeable visually. When things pop up, there's good info. here to help walk you through the repairs. For the most part, they are solid engines and other than intercooler hoses and a thermostat, my engine has been bulletproof and has 95,500 miles on it now.

mungewell · **Joined:** Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:04 pm **Posts:** 48

It's just a (really) minor point but we miss our console computer to tell us the outside temp (changes so fast around here), the CRD that we got doesn't have one :-(

....

Which part of Alberta? I've now seen 3 CRD's in the Crowsnest Pass including ours.
Simon.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 11:25 pm

Reading the Noob guide would be a good start to educating yourself about the CRD.

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 11:32 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

Reading the Noob guide would be a good start to educating yourself about the CRD.

X2!!!

OldSkull · **Posted:** Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:12 am

warp2diesel wrote:

Sir Sam wrote:

Reading the Noob guide would be a good start to educating yourself about the CRD.

X2!!!

X2.5!!!

METCRD · **Posted:** Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:11 am

Adanac, I recently (two weeks ago) bought my CRD. It is a 2005 limited and it has 21,500 mi/33796km on the odometer and I did not pay that much. I would say that $18,000 is a little on the high side however I am not sure the going price of them in your area. While I was looking the going price for one with the limited package and mileage around the 70-80,000 mi was in the $12-14,000. I myself would probably keep looking. Good luck on the hunt.

Adanac · **Joined:** Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:30 am **Posts:** 22

Thanks all.

I have read the Noob Guide twice. I found it full of great info, but geared towards people that now own one and I am sure I will be referring to it again many times in the near future. I was hoping to get pointers from current CRD owners about things to look for when getting one. I am new to the auto diesel world. I am not a stranger to it in the aviation world, where we call it JET-A. I just like to pool as much info before I put both feet in.

Thanks to everyone for their inputs! So 18 is too high. Got that. What about the skid plating? I tried to do some research on them on the jeep site but I take it they are not part of the package even if it is trail rated. (the five factors they test for). Are the factory plates any good or am I better to put on after market ones? I am looking to lift the Jeep as well so a bit of mods if I pick this one up. I am just keen on this one cause of the colour and KM.

Thanks again,

Adanac :JEEPIN:

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:27 pm

Adanac wrote:

Thanks all.

I have read the Noob Guide twice. I found it full of great info, but geared towards people that now own one and I am sure I will be referring to it again many times in the near future. I was hoping to get pointers from current CRD owners about things to look for when getting one. I am new to the auto diesel world. I am not a stranger to it in the aviation world, where we call it JET-A. I just like to pool as much info before I put both feet in.

Thanks to everyone for their inputs! So 18 is too high. Got that. What about the skid plating? I tried to do some research on them on the jeep site but I take it they are not part of the package even if it is trail rated. (the five factors they test for). Are the factory plates any good or am I better to put on after market ones? I am looking to lift the Jeep as well so a bit of mods if I pick this one up. I am just keen on this one cause of the colour and KM.

Thanks again,

Adanac :JEEPIN:

The "Trail Rated" emblem came standard on ALL 4x4 models. The "Off Road Group" was an optional package that gave you tow hooks, skid plates, etc. Yes, the factory skid plates are worth it and do an EXCELLENT job unless you do lots of rock crawling. They are also relatively inexpensive. On my first CRD that I bought new in 2005, I added all the factory skidplates myself for $150.00. The CRD models all came from the factory with the engine skid...so all you need is the t-case, tranny, and possibly fuel tank skids.

I paid $15,900 US dollars for mine a year ago. It had 74,000 miles on the odometer...BUT it was a one owner and had EVERY possible option except navigation. Window sticker is still in my glove box and it was $31,500 new... so for $15,900 I feel like I got a good deal.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:40 pm

The factory skids are just left of useless.... at least the tranny skid is.... don't even get me started down that dirt road again.

DynoPax · **Posted:** Wed Jan 19, 2011 5:10 pm

@Adanac,

'Bought mine in June 2009, Green Limited 2006 with 74000km & similar equipment, in Mississauga ON and paid $18000... you should definitily bargain lower. Somewhere around the $15K mark would make more sense, IMO. I noticed through my shopping that vendors tended to emphasize on the rarity and exclusivity of the model, which is correct to a certain extent. Still, this is a common SUV, not a collectible muscle car of the '60s. Use the solid knowledge base given by this forum to your advantage, less chance of having the seller taking you down the primrose path, shoveling manure in your ears all that time :lol:

If you want a quick idea about maintenance, check the air filter (sooty means neglect) and engine oil color (black & sooty = EGR not disabled). You should also look for leaks in engine compartment (remove plastic cover) and under vehicle, from front to rear (diff-trans-xcase). Hope this helps!

WolverineFW · **Posted:** Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:19 pm

If it is a Limited, it probably does not have the off-road package with tow hooks and skid plates. I know a lot of the Sport models came with this package. My Limited did not have tow hooks or skid plates.

boilermaker2 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:14 am

What was standard with CRD package:
Aluminum wheels with suicide tires :-)r

Moonroof
Block heater

Optional equipment I wanted on my '05 (which is why I go Blackie and not the white one I liked on the lot :cry:

):
Trac-loc (only available on '05 model)
Trailer towing package.

I bought her new with a couple hundred miles on her (obviously others thought about buying her too) and now she has 126,000.

The '06 does not have Trac-Lok option but they had rollover mitigation and the brakes act like the Trac-lok. I bought her in September of '05 so they were both available on the lot...to my knowledge this is one of a few minor (or major) differences in the two model years. The '06 might have had side curtain air-bags available.

Good luck but this forum is big enough that you cannot say you did not buy her without being duly warned. I love my Jeep BUT I sure would not want it to be my wife's primary mode of transportation. A few here have made the plunge for themselves and themselves. God love'em, they must be better mobile mechanics and drivers than mine. :dizzy:

Good luck, I hope you get what you were dreaming of. I did, but it wasn't until after a few nightmares :banghead:

usa591 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:08 am

Adanac wrote:

Thanks all.

I have read the Noob Guide twice. I found it full of great info, but geared towards people that now own one and I am sure I will be referring to it again many times in the near future. I was hoping to get pointers from current CRD owners about things to look for when getting one.

As a newbie CRD owner (six months), the Noob guide was valuable even before I bought mine. I would say read the Noob guide and look for those mods on whatever vehicle you are looking at. The presence (or absence) of the EHM can tell you loads about how the vehicle was looked after by it's previous owner and what kind of maintenance program you are inheriting. Aside from that, "things to look at" is pretty simple--obvious mechanical problems that you'd use to evaluate any car purchase. Look for frequent oil changes at least, because that indicates that the previous owner cared about his machine.

Great vehicles, when it's all said and done. But, IMHO, you really have to "want" one. It's not just some throwaway vehicle.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:41 am

WolverineFW wrote:

If it is a Limited, it probably does not have the off-road package with tow hooks and skid plates. I know a lot of the Sport models came with this package. My Limited did not have tow hooks or skid plates.

My limited did have the off road package, my sport did not.

My sport has a sunroof, the limited does not. So you can't really even look at anything like that as being standard on models.

boilermaker2 wrote:

What was standard with CRD package:
Aluminum wheels with suicide tires :-)r

Moonroof
Block heater
:banghead:

The Sunroof was not standard on all models.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:59 am

It's true, the way Jeep packaged these was ODD. I've seen Limiteds with NOTHING except cruise control, and I've seen Sports with everything including leather and navigation. You could get any option on either model.

The sunroof was $700 and was available as an OPTION on either.

The offroad package was $150 and was OPTIONAL on either model. (My Sport didn't have it, my Limited does).

The ONLY thing that was different about the Limited as standard equipment is chrome accents (roof rails, dash trim, door trim, etc.) and body color fender flares and grille. Otherwise, Sport = Limited. You just gotta' find one with the options you want.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:54 pm

LibertyCRD wrote:

The ONLY thing that was different about the Limited as standard equipment is chrome accents (roof rails, dash trim, door trim, etc.) and body color fender flares and grille. Otherwise, Sport = Limited. You just gotta' find one with the options you want.

The front bumper, in addition to being painted the body color, is also a different style.

The only other thing of note, the limited is going to carry some extra intrinsic value since it is a limited. So two equally optioned CRDs, one a sport and one a limited, the limited is just always going to be worth a little more.

Adanac · **Joined:** Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:30 am **Posts:** 22

Thanks All!

I am down to three to chose from. All are Limited's.

1. Green 69,000km @ $18,000
2. Black 91,000km @ $19,995
3. Black 115,000km @ $16,955

The first is private sale, the others from dealer. I am not sure but I don't think the first one comes with the trip 'puter, but the third does. All are leather with heated seats. #2 has the tow package. Will be making the decision by next Friday. Will post a picture of my new Jeep soon after.

Cheers,

Adanac :JEEPIN:

(Airdrie AB)

What to look for when buying a CRD?

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