Sentry Key and rpm's at 55 mph with AT.

I just bought a 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4x4 with 114,900 miles for $4,400 from a single Mom.
It has an Automatic Transmission.
She had an extra set of wheels which I will use for studded snow tires !

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/4607/lftsidejcs2001b.jpg

She had only one key to it !

Her "ex" had bought it used - the key history is lost....

She said it is a "Special Type" of key that is not replicatable except by Jeep.

She was told that 'fact' by a Key clerk in a LOWE's - he looked in a book the store had.

Was / is the Jeep Sentry Key feature an "Option" when buying a Jeep ?

I submit that this key is not a "Jeep Sentry Key" by it's looks.
The black plastic "head" is fairly thin.
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/514/jeepkey2001.jpg

Images of the Jeep Sentry Keys show larger gray plastic key
heads - not what I have.
http://media.photobucket.com/image/Jeep%20Sentry%20Key/mjl2610/Picture141.jpg
Any one know for sure ?

ALSO -

At 55 mph the Tacometer shows 1900 rpm - again Automatic Transmission.

Can THAT be right !

For a big old straight - six cylinder 4x4 four door like this, 1900 rpms seems
close to lugging the engine.
However - ????
Anyone ?

ALSO -

The AIRBAGS light is on.

Is that indicating a problem with them ?

DoctorBill
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/812/jeepkey2001.jpg/

Congrats on the good purchase. You'll likely love your Cherokee.

The Key: Looks like a normal Jeep key to me; we have an 04 Wrangler and 04 Grand Cherokee, keys are very similar (identical with the Wrangler). We've also owned 97 Wrangler, 99 Cherokee and keys look pretty much the same as those years.

RPM: 1900 at 55 sounds ok. With my 04 GC (4.0 and auto, 3.55 rear end) I show about 1600 or 1700 rpm so you may have a different gearset in there. IIRC (and don't quote me on a 1990's model) there may have been a tow package with 4.10/4.11 gears, which would make your rpm around 1900. [You can check axle ratio by rolling the vehicle forward 1 rotation of the tires and noting how many rotations of the driveshaft you get. Tape/tie a string or ribbon to the driveshaft]

Airbag light: Problem = YES. I'd get it checked to make sure that 1) You actually have both airbags and 2) there isn't a problem. Wish I could tell you how to check for airbags on both sides, but I can't, other than taking the steering wheel apart.

1900 rpm at 55 mph seems like a low rpm for the engine doing that much work.
That Straight Six is a good, old powerful and reliable engine, but still.....

Yes - the key was a normal old non-electronic key.
A locksmith laughed when I told him what a Lowe's Clerk had told the
previous young woman owner.
Lowe's clerks........they act like they have immense knowledge. lol.

I will have this transmission serviced by a well known & reputable transmission
shop here in Spokane (Lois' Transmission).

The vehicle does not have a towing package on the back end - so it has never towed anything.

Last year I had to sink $2800 into a Nissan Pathfinder transmission that stripped
out the splines in a drive shaft going into a planetary gear assembly inside of it.

The owner (a Chinese fellow named Rick Lois!) told me that Jeep's Transmissions
are pretty tough, so based on his assessment and my knowledge of that "Straight Six"
Jeep engine, I bought it.

17 mpg is hard to swallow, though !

DoctorBill

1900's not bad for an inline 6. If you're used to a 4 (Geo?) which turns 3000 at the same speed it will seem low.

I'd look to get around 22mpg highway if you're doing 65 or less. Synthetic oil helped our GC move up a mpg or so, worth the extra cost over 5000 miles.