Higher mileage Kj's

_UnLiMiTeD_ · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:33 am

Well the last two times ive tried to get back into kj's people hit my car LOL. So i have given that up for now but my girlfriend is looking to get rid of her first car and upgrade. We have been lookin at 02-03 liberties because they fit her budget and she loved mine.

Now most range from 110km-170km (km not miles) Is there anything to be worried about when looking at these higher mileage kj's? We are going to start looking in the next month or so, hopefully get one before christmas.

Any advice is appreciated, thanks

ihatemybike · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:25 am

Ball joints and tie rod ends for sure.

Check the wire for the rear diff speed sensor, many of these rub on the emergency brake line shorting out or disconnecting the sensor, causing the ABS and Cruise Control not to work.

If looking at a lifted one, the CVs.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:35 am

mainly just regular wear items like have been mentioned above plus
rear u joints , front driveshaft ( rear boot goes) and the rear upper tri link sometimes goes at 130,000/150,000
For example mine at 133,000
have replaced the following
lower ball joints
front driveshaft
rear u joints
one outer tie rod end
idler pulley
battery

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:44 am

Currently my KJ is at 86,xxx miles but we'll call it 85K miles / 136,794 km.

First major issue at my current mileage is rust. It's taken hold of the rear body seam under the flipper glass and spreading faster than a fire in box of matches.

Rust has also taken hold on both rear doors at the seam between the door frame and outter skin.

The suspension is still holding out [stock parts] but it's showing signs of aging. Keep that cost in the back of your mind

Check the break lines for rust... I am not experiencing any rust, but I remember one post where a KJ had a brake line failure due to corrosion.

Check for cracked radiator end caps...

All fluids, ovbiously, should be changed

Look at the basic wear and tear items to start failing (differential seals, water pump, thermostat, etc.)

Overall the KJ has held up remarkably well for the past 7 years. Sitting outside for most of its life. No major failures in the recent history and no problems with the CV's but I'm unlifted.

Rust is the biggest threat to my KJ's existance at the moment. I am hopeing for another good 5 years out if the Jeep before it's time to say good bye.

FreedomKJ · **Posted:** Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:39 pm

Check the steering rack for leaks too.

Cacher123 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:50 pm

146K on my 03:

Radiator went at side top seam on driver's side - seems to be a common problem
Alternator
A/C compressor
Right Front Wheel Bearing
Front Drive Shaft - (this week!)
Fuel pump (when fairly new)
2 belt tensioner pulley assy's
Tie rod ends

LostRenegade · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:03 pm

I am at 147K miles and recently replaced the water pump and the heater supply hose.

evil libby · **Joined:** Thu Nov 13, 2008 11:41 am **Posts:** 296

166k here I am now just starting to replace thing general items and I wheel the hell out of it and love doing so to see the look with 31x10.50 0n it .

JTClimber · **Posted:** Mon Dec 14, 2009 2:41 pm

200K+, replaced 3 front diffs, 2 t-cases, had 2 lifts and just last week broke the timing change, other than that, no major work other than typical radiator crack and other minor misc. fixes.
Goes into the shop after the first for a complete SAS and new engine, tranny rebuild. Should be ready by April.

MojaveKJ · **Posted:** Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:39 am

I have a 2004 KJ Sport 4x4 with 114,500 miles on the clock that I've owned since September of '03 (new) and it has been, and continues to be, a great vehicle. Before the KJ I owned a '98 GMC Jimmy 4x4 and an '88 Isuzu Trooper before the Jimmy. The Jimmy was great right up until it was hit and the Isuzu was a P.O.S., I suspect from the day it left the factory. The heads on those 4 cylinder motors were flawed by design. The Trooper's V6 option was a Chevy motor and I should have bought one of those instead.

The KJ repairs I can remember are the water pump, radiator, drivers side prop shaft and other lesser issues with the most major repair being the transmission rebuild in May of this year at 104,000. Sadly most of the miles I've put on the Jeep are city commuting miles.

This Saturday (with help) I'm going to do a front end "overhaul". I'm installing a rebuilt rack and pinion with MOOG tie rod ends, Al's Upper a-arms, new wheel bearing hubs, new lower ball joints (MOOG), new LCA bushings and new clevis bushings.

My plan is to keep the KJ a long, long time. I may get other Jeeps, cars, etc. but I think the KJ will remain.

Good thread topic, gives the owners of 'younger' KJs a preview of things to come.

liquidxit2 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 16, 2009 1:02 pm

I have to admit coming to this thread I was scared I would hear some bad things, but to be honest I'm not scared at all. Everything I have read seems pretty normal and nothing huge, as well as makes me feel better then I already do that I bought a KJ!

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:01 pm

i have an 02 with 79k miles, and so far:
front wheel bearings
steering rack and tie rod ends
lower balljoints
2 sets of upper balljoints/arms before i went to AL's 4.5's
rear tri-link bushings
rear axle seals
2 sets of rear shoes
2 sets of front brake pads
front calipers
Engine at 45k :lol:

rear driveshaft u-joints
AC compressor/clutch is toast
front passenger side CV and intermediate shaft

i think thats it, but a lot of it was caused from wheeling, the place i went to was a rock quarry and silica sand eveyrwhere, which likely caused the brakes/seals/bearing issues :lol:

harsh20 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 27, 2009 10:40 pm

02 Renegade 5 speed basically factory stock other than I added an EVIC. 153000 so far.
One alternator.
Tensioner Pulley at the same time of the alternator.
One serpentine belt
One battery.
3 sets of tires.
One set of spark plugs.
CV joints (yesterday)
a few vacuum hoses.
Next will be a new clutch.
all highway miles mostly

I was not at all worried until I read that someone broke a timing chain at 200,000.
Hard to break one of those
So a timing chain is in the near future.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Dec 27, 2009 11:56 pm

153,000 miles and one set of plugs! :shock:

almost 135,000 and almost next to nothing as far as major problems, most general wear items like u joints etc.
But I have had 7 sets of plugs :lol:

harsh20 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 28, 2009 8:59 pm

tommudd wrote:

153,000 miles and one set of plugs! :shock:

almost 135,000 and almost next to nothing as far as major problems, most general wear items like u joints etc.
But I have had 7 sets of plugs :lol:

Ha Ha you need to buy better plugs lol
$2.00 plugs with the correct heat range go a long way.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Dec 28, 2009 9:16 pm

harsh20 wrote:

tommudd wrote:

153,000 miles and one set of plugs! :shock:

almost 135,000 and almost next to nothing as far as major problems, most general wear items like u joints etc.
But I have had 7 sets of plugs :lol:

Ha Ha you need to buy better plugs lol
$2.00 plugs with the correct heat range go a long way.

I buy the best plugs that work great for the KJ and I change them due to the fact it keeps it running great , 153,000 miles and only changing plugs once is,.... well lazy I think, bet there is nothing left of them! Not many run them that long

Higher mileage Kj's

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