1998 gc

hi everyone, i am new to the forum, glad i found it, i am buying a 1998 grand cherokee laredo loaded with 64,000 miles for 4500, run and looks great is this a good price and is there problems with this year jeep that worth backing out of the deal, thanks for any info.

hi everyone, i am new to the forum, glad i found it, i am buying a 1998 grand cherokee laredo loaded with 64,000 miles for 4500, run and looks great is this a good price and is there problems with this year jeep that worth backing out of the deal, thanks for any info.

my opinion for the price and the mileage you're good to go i'd just take it for a ride and make sure the transmission is in good shape and if it's a 4x4 run it through all the selections and make sure it works other than that look through the forum and make sure you know what you're getting into

As my brother who owned a GC before I did said...its called a grand because everytime you have to take it in, it costs a grand to fix. I'm a recovering master mechanic (he lives a long distance from me or I would've helped) so I don't take mine in.

There is a sticky that has a pretty complete list of the usual issues. May sure you don't overlook the standards though...check the fluids very carfully, check for replaced body panels and if found, check the frame, check for rust etc., also check and make sure all the warning lights work and then go off, and check for ECM codes...starting in the off position, turn the key on, then off twice, then on a third time (not start) and record the codes the "Check Engine" light flashes. (on-off-on-off-on-off-on-off-on-off-pause-on-off-on-off-on-off-on-off-on-off) would be code 55 and should be the only one you see. It will repeat each code three times.

:nono: As a master mechanic you should know that the key trick doesn't work on the 98's. It's the only year they removed that feature...also in 96-97 the check engine light doesn't flash, it displays the codes on the digital odometer... the 93-95's is where the check engine light blinks...

:meant: Not too proud to admit when I'm wrong. (but I did say recovering :)) I use my scanner on mine.

It's okay, it happens to the best of us...I just wanted to clear it up so he didn't think something was wrong with his Jeep when he tried it and nothing happened

If you have never owned a jeep then you will be pleasantly surprised. It's a cushy ride and a good vehicle. I got 280k out my my 98 with the 242 straight six before I had to rebuild it for a bad piston. (almost finished) I don't know if that kind of mileage is the norm but I certainly put that engine through her paces in the course of the 8 years I have owned it. The rest of the jeep was in good enough condition that I opted to rebuild the engine verses replacing the jeep. I will drive it until it falls apart.

If you have never owned a jeep then you will be pleasantly surprised. It's a cushy ride and a good vehicle. I got 280k out my my 98 with the 242 straight six before I had to rebuild it for a bad piston. (almost finished) I don't know if that kind of mileage is the norm but I certainly put that engine through her paces in the course of the 8 years I have owned it. The rest of the jeep was in good enough condition that I opted to rebuild the engine verses replacing the jeep. I will drive it until it falls apart.how can you tell its a 242 straight six? and is the 242 straight six the best set up, thanks for any info.

When you look under the hood you will either see one long valve cover in the center of the engine bay with an aluminum intake manifold attached on the right-hand side. That would be the straight six (six cylinders in a row). If you see two valve covers with the intake manifold between them then the engine is a V-8. (2 sets of 4 cyliders at a V angle to eachother) Perhaps the easier way would be to look on the back of the jeep and see if it has a 4.0 emblem on it (242 cc is roughly 4.0 liters). The various v-8 engines would have a 4.7, 5.2, or 5.9 emblem on the back. Or you can just count the spark plugs or plug wires coming off the distributor. Either 6 or 8. As far as which engine is better, I honestly couldn't tell you. The only v-8 experience I have is from a mustang gt 302. Perhaps some other folks have input on the larger jeep engines...

When you look under the hood you will either see one long valve cover in the center of the engine bay with an aluminum intake manifold attached on the right-hand side. That would be the straight six (six cylinders in a row). If you see two valve covers with the intake manifold between them then the engine is a V-8. (2 sets of 4 cyliders at a V angle to eachother) Perhaps the easier way would be to look on the back of the jeep and see if it has a 4.0 emblem on it (242 cc is roughly 4.0 liters). The various v-8 engines would have a 4.7, 5.2, or 5.9 emblem on the back. Or you can just count the spark plugs or plug wires coming off the distributor. Either 6 or 8. As far as which engine is better, I honestly couldn't tell you. The only v-8 experience I have is from a mustang gt 302. Perhaps some other folks have input on the larger jeep engines...sorry i must soud like a dumb a$$ i know i have a six 4.0, i thought the 242 was the transfer case that went with the 4.0, 242 or 249. trying find out what i have.

sorry i must soud like a dumb a$$ i know i have a six 4.0, i thought the 242 was the transfer case that went with the 4.0, 242 or 249. trying find out what i have.

Slec-Trac is the 242
Quadra-Trac is the 249

Almost all the V8's came with the 249, however it's common for people to swap them out for 242's because the 249's have a common problem with the v/c going bad and they tend to generally like the 242 better.

As for the 4.0's...it's mixed which transfer case they have. I think it's more common for the 4.0's to have the 242 though.

If you have 2wd, 4PT,4FT,N,4Lo then you have the selec-trac np242. If you have 4wd, N, 4Lo then you have the Quadra-Trac np 249

HTH!

So Eggie, You bought it?

FWIW It's generally accepted that as long as you change the oil on a regular basis the 4.0 I6 is an unkillable motor. My 93 has 214K.

Actually, I feel like the numbnut for missing the point of your question. My bad. I apologize.

So Eggie, You bought it?

FWIW It's generally accepted that as long as you change the oil on a regular basis the 4.0 I6 is an unkillable motor. My 93 has 214K.yes picking it up today, hoping it last at least another 60,000 miles.

Slec-Trac is the 242
Quadra-Trac is the 249

Almost all the V8's came with the 249, however it's common for people to swap them out for 242's because the 249's have a common problem with the v/c going bad and they tend to generally like the 242 better.

As for the 4.0's...it's mixed which transfer case they have. I think it's more common for the 4.0's to have the 242 though.

If you have 2wd, 4PT,4FT,N,4Lo then you have the selec-trac np242. If you have 4wd, N, 4Lo then you have the Quadra-Trac np 249

HTH!

There is also the command trac NP231. 2HI, 4HI, N, 4LO.

There is also the command trac NP231. 2HI, 4HI, N, 4LO.which is the best?

If you live in an area that gets alot of snow the 242 would be the best, because you get the option of the FULL-TIME 4WD which will allow you to put it in FT 4WD and drive around all the time like that. It is similar to the 249 which is a ALL-TIME 4WD transfer case.
The 249 is a nice transfer case, and it does really well in snow and mud, but it does have it's fall back - the Viscous Coupling which engages the front axle is known to go bad and lock-up prematurely, But I had this TC in my old jeep, luckily the VC was replaced right before I bought it and I have this transfer case in my new jeep right now and I haven't had any problems with it yet, KNOCK ON WOOD.......

how are the transmissions on the 1998 gc?

All the transmissions used on grand cherokees are pretty good, never hear to many complaints about them. they have their lil quirks - weird shifting, things like that but overall the seem to hold up very well.

My old GC had 220K on it and the transmission (46RH) had never been replaced and I never had any major problems with it. I hard shifting once because of water in the tranny after going wheelin' but that was fixed with a transmission flush, also I recommend flushing the transmission and using ATF+4. My new jeep (46RE) has 160K miles and has never had any major tranny work done, when I got the GC it did shift really hard, and I did the usuall transmission flush using ATF+4 and adjusted the bands, which didn't help the hard shifting, but I checked the adjustment on the Throttle Valve cable and it was way out of adjustment so i adjusted it and now she shift very very smooth.

Also on the new jeep, I was worried I was gonna be replacing the tranny soon when I first got it and found out it had a 46RE transmission in it, they use these trannys in dodge trucks and there are many threads on the dodge site that talks about people having to have the tranny rebuilt/replaced at around 60K miles and these trannys are junk. But luckily I was able to locate my shifting problem.

yes picking it up today, hoping it last at least another 60,000 miles.

Oh it should go much further than that. :grinyes:

What do you have for info about it's history? Private sale or dealer? With such a low mileage did it sit around?

Oh it should go much further than that. :grinyes:

What do you have for info about it's history? Private sale or dealer? With such a low mileage did it sit around? private sale, this guy has all records, at 60,000 new tires, front and rear diff change, battery,trans fluid and filter, tranfer case fluid change,power stering fluid flush, picked it up today and it run great.no it did not sit around just not driven much, college student from out of state now he is moving to new york and does not need a car.

You're in great shape then. You are gonna love that vehicle.

You're in great shape then. You are gonna love that vehicle. thanks for all the info. is there anything else you recomend?

thanks for all the info. is there anything else you recomend?
Don't skip any maintenance if you continue to change ALL the fluids in it like the guy before you has that thing will go damn near for ever

I just bought a 99 with 85,000 miles for 4500.. its a limited V8 with AWD.. sux up gas but gets through mud.. i'd keep looking around.. only like 30 parts stayed the same from 98 to 99.. upgrade!

thanks for all the info. is there anything else you recomend?

Please for the love of god don't put 20" bling low profile wheels on it.

20's are cool if they have 35" tires around em..

good point......lol