Test drive Jeep Grand Cherokee 1999 - 2003 SUV

Jeep Grand Cherokee (1992-1995)

His profile could be seen in the escorts of important officials, in a criminal chronicle, at the entrances of solid offices. Russia loved and hated Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Grand Cherokee was made in four configuration options: Base, LaREDO, LIMITED and WAGONEER.
The first - the most Spartan, basic - questioned the very idea of \u200b\u200ba chic city SUV and, not finding a response in the hearts of customers, was forgotten almost immediately after the release, in the same 1992.
The LAREDO version is characterized by a chrome radiator grill, a gray bumper and overlays on the lower part of the doors. But the Grand Cherokee Limited is easily recognized by leather seats, a special radiator grille, bumpers and door pads painted in body color. The Wagoneer equipment was the most sophisticated and was intended mainly for the US domestic market. She had a 5.2 liter V-shaped 8-cylinder engine under the hood, and outwardly differed in wood on the sides.
In 1994 and 1995, Grand was produced in an exclusive version of Orvis. This rare modification has a reinforced suspension, the protection of the handout, steering rods and gas tanks. Its salon is finished with two -tone skin - green and brown. Outwardly, Orvis is easily recognizable thanks to causing red moldings.
Since 1994, Grand Cherokee began to be produced in parallel in Austria at the Steyr Daimler Puch in Graz. It is very simple to distinguish an American from a European. On the front wings of the latter, turn signals flaunt, while they are not on the Americans. If you are suspicious of the discrepancy of the configuration and the year of release, then you must go to the dealer and punch VIN on the Kraisler computer. In his memory there is information about all jeeps, many of which, alas, have a criminal past in our country.
Turtle shell. The Grand Cherokee body is very strong and opposed corrosion even in the most severe salt Moscow winters. If you find traces of rust, then this is a sure sign that the car was broken and underwent poor -quality repair. If there are no problems with the appearance, then look at the rear wiper motor - the drive often rusts and the motor wedges. A new one will cost you about $ 250.
One insignificant disease has only European models-the loss of glass disperflowers of the front block-far. Since individually no one will sell them to you, you have to buy a headlight assembly, and it costs about $ 300. But you can get out of the situation and establish an American one, with plastic diffusers, which is also cheaper - $ 145. The only drawback of such a replacement is the lack of a corrector of the height of a light beam from the cabin.
Strong stomach. In 1992, Grand Cherokee debuted with a single gasoline engine with a volume of 4 liters and a capacity of 178 hp, and a year later a V-shaped 16-valve eight with a volume of 5.2 liters and a capacity of 212 hp. Both engines can consume 92nd gasoline, but the 95th is more useful and preferable.
The reliability of these engines is beyond praise. During the initial inspection, it is enough to verify the absence of fuel oils around the front and rear oil seals, as well as pay attention to the condition of the drive belt.
Replacing the seals will cost $ 30 for a couple of details and $ 120 for work. With a belt is more difficult - if it has worn out edges, then you need to change the pulley. It costs $ 90 for details and the same $ 120 - for work. By the way, a good reason to replace the notorious oil seals with new ones, even if the old ones have not yet flowed.
A common sore is overheating of the engine when moving at low and medium speeds with the air conditioner in severe heat - a typical verdant situation. The culprits are thermomouft, clogged with dirt, dust and fluff, or all together. It is difficult to determine this by eye, except that in the air filter, oil appeared in the form of an emulsion. It is better to contact the specialists on the service, let them look at the compression. Because the subsequent bulkhead of the engine will cost more - about $ 1 thousand for work and details.
Who knocks ... The suspension on the Grand Cherokee is a spring, dependent, with whole beams of bridges. With enviable zeal, she practices pits and potholes of Moscow streets, but do not abuse it. The dashing of off-road and irresponsible races along the car traffic jams and curbs sooner or later result in replacing ball supports, silent blocks and bushings of the front stabilizer. Work plus details - $ 160 and $ 150, respectively.
The design of the rear suspension is such that with all its advantages it, alas, is quite noisy. So you should not be scared of the knock of the hind pennants, but you can’t confuse it with a roar of really damaged and requiring suspension repair. And if during the pre-sale trip suddenly someone began to knock loudly to your salon from under the trunk floor, do not immediately write off it on the usual noise of the semi-axis. Otherwise, pay about $ 300 for new ones.
Close attention should be paid to what kind of rubber the previous owner rode. Various Grand Cherokee modifications are shod in tires of different types and size depending on the engine power. It is not recommended to confuse what is needed with what you like or want. Because if you put all 4 wheels of an abnormal size on the car, you will only get an error in the speedometer readings. But if you overcome two wheels, then you can ditch the viscous coupling in the distribution box, and behind it the whole transmission. This coupling costs about $ 500 with replacement work.
Reaganomics of the repair. Together with 4x4 jeeps, Yankees also are in demand for more urban 4x2 faces, that is, rear -wheel drive. When buying, be vigilant and do not crushing this moment.
The American Grand is equipped with a four-speed automatic, the lever of which sticks out from under the steering wheel. In Canar and Europeans, the gearbox lever is located where we are used to seeing it. Grandes from Europe can also be equipped with a 5-speed mechanics that Russian jeepers love so much. The automatic machine for Cherokee is legendary - it practically does not break. And its diagnosis on the go is no different from the diagnosis of any automatic transmission. The mechanics are more capricious and when a run of about 200 thousand km begins to crunch - a signal that it is time to change synchronizers. Work along with details pulls $ 300-350.
All Grand Cherokee electronic lotions are surprisingly reliable and unpretentious. The most sore spot is the American ignition coil, which is very unreliable and causes failures in the ignition system. Its replacement is the owner of $ 50. The exact opposite is Japanese coils, which later all Grand Cherokee began to be equipped.
When servicing Grand Cherokee, you can save a lot by abandoning the use of branded spare parts. It is enough to contact the services of MOPAR, which is an authorized manufacturer of consumables and spare parts for Jeep. As a result, the savings will be noticeable, and the pleasure of owning a jeep is wide - complete.
 
Text Sergei Lortachin, photo Alexey Ilyin, drawings Alexander Krasnov

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 5.2
Working volume (cubic cub) 4000 5200
Power (L.S.) 178 at 4600 rpm. 212 at 4400 vol./Min.
Maximum speed (km/h) 180 200
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 10.2 9.8
Fuel consumption (l/100km):
city 19 21
highway 13 17
Prices in Moscow (for August 2002)
Year of release price
1992-1993 $ 7000--8500
1994-1995 $ 8500-10 000
Prices for spare parts and components
The original non -original
Front stabilizer sleeve $ 10 -
Front stabilizer racks $ 55 $ 40
Front brake pads $ 100 $ 40-65
Rear brake pads (drum) $ 90 $ 45
Rear brake pads (disk) $ 100 $ 50
Oil filter $ 15 $ 10
Air filter $ 35 $ 30
AKCP filter $ 20 $ 15
Fuel filter $ 35 $ 30
High -voltage wires $ 70 $ 45
Trambler cover $ 20 $ 10
Trambler runner $ 8 $ 6
Turner belt $ 65 $ 45
Shock absorbers $ 80 $ 60

 

Source: "Autopilot"