Test Drive Jeep Cherokee (Liberty) 2001 - 2005 SUV

French inheritance

About the French are glory as people are quite nimble. But the most nimble people make gifts, and sometimes these gifts are held in history. For example, France gave America a statue of freedom, traveler Rena Robert Revenue de la Sala, who gave the name Louisiana and New Orleans, and that it is much more important for us, Antoine de la Mott Cadillac, who founded Detroit. And France presented America and the world Jeep Cherokee.

What does France? Now learn! The history of the Jeep brand, as a good rally route, is rich in steep turns. In 1970, the rights to the production of Jeep cars moved from the company Kaiser to the American Motors corporation. It was a good acquisition, and in 1974 the first car named Jeep Cherokee. That's just for the hero of our story, this machine has nothing to do. The first Cherokee was a three-door version of the Jeep Wagoneer and wore the SJ alphabetic designation with him. It was a large full-size (full-size American classification) frame SUV with a luxurious interior, air conditioning, on Dana 44 bridges, equipped with a powerful V8 of 5.9 liters. Actually, it is Wagoneer / Cherokee, and not at all Range Rover Classic, was the first truly comfortable SUV. Machines were well sold - for example, in 1979 they were produced 66,620 pieces. But then the energy crisis rang and began a period of temporary sunset of the entire American car industry. In the 1980th, only 7,614 Cherokee SJ were sold. There were no better things with sales and road vehicles of AMS. One view of the insane queues from the benzokolonok brought American buyers to the idea of \u200b\u200ba visit to the dealers' salons of significantly more economical European and Japanese marks.

The AMC management decided to correct the situation through the Alliance with some major European firm. The French firm Renault was chosen as a partner. It was said - Made, and in 1980, 46 percent of AMC shares passed into the hands of the French concern, and in 1982, a compact car assembly Renault Alliance began at the factory in the city of Kenosh, Wisconsin. The buyer met a novelty more than cool, and the Renault Concern himself turned out to be not the best partner. He had full of his own problems, and the cases of the Zaochansky Passion worried the leadership of the concern is not too much. But the project of a compact (on American concepts) of an SUV, which was designed in the depths of the SUV, absolutely not needed, as it seemed to the Europeans, came across the ocean. A lightweight, dynamic car with a bearing body was represented by the American public in 1983 as Jeep Cherokee XJ 1984 model year. And it became a sensation! The car used rabid popularity and immediately became a bestseller in America. In the very first year more than 78 thousand cars were sold.

From its predecessor Cherokee SJ inherited a new car ... Yes, she did not inherit anything except. The car was much less (in the American MID-SIZE terminology) and with a bearing body. Although, if you understand, the frame of Cherokee is still there, but the spars are welded into the body structure. This scheme was called Uniframe, or Frame-in-Body. The body turned out to be very durable and easy, Cherokee weighed less than one and a half tons, and the engines on it were installed quite at the time powerful - inline four AMC-150 (2.5 liters, 105 hp) and GM-173 V6 volume of 2.8 Litra and 115 horsepower. In addition, Cherokee was equipped with RENAULT J8S 814 diesel engines (or J8S 890). Diesel Indians were intended for deliveries to Canada and Europe. All these motors were completed with the mechanical five-speed CAT AISIN AX-5 and PEUGEOT BA.10 / 5 or automatic three-step 30RH and 32RH. The four-wheel drive provided a two-speed distribution box NP207 with a gear ratio of 1: 2.61. In 1987, it changed NP231 with a gear ratio of 1: 2.72. These boxes provided a rigid connection of the front axle. Such a scheme of the PART-TIME transmission received the company name Command Trac. In the same 1987, the Cherokee began to set the NP242 dispensing box equipped with a blocked inter-axis differential. This box allowed the use of four-wheel drive on solid dry coatings and was called Quadra-Trac. For the sake of fairness, it should be said that on the machines of 1984 - 1986, you can find a variant of a dispensing box with a constant full-wheel drive. This is NP229. In the instruction manual for this box, it is said that in order to ensure complete lubrication of the box, you need to periodically drive in the full drive mode. But who reads instructions for use? Many owners did not follow the rules, the boxes often faced and earned a reputation of unreliable.

Bridges took from the classic jeep CJ - front Dana 30 and the rear Dana 35, but the diagram of their suspension was completely new. The front axle received the Quadra-Link spring suspension on four longitudinal levers, the rear suspension remained a spring, the bridge was suspended under the springs. This provided decent manageability and comfort on the roads with a solid coating, which made it possible to maintain high reliability and permeability. The success of one model could not save AMS, and in 1987, the production of Jeep car was sold to Chrysler. The first thing the managers of Chrysler refused to use the GM-173 engine, especially since this motor stood on the machines of their worst competitor - Chevrolet. His place was taken by the famous in-line six AMC-242 AMS-242 with a capacity of 177 horsepower with which Cherokee became a real sprinter, reaching 60 miles per hour in just 9 seconds. Agree, very good for the SUV! Under the hood of cars intended for export, began to establish a row four-cylinder diesel engine VM Motori 424CX2 with a volume of 2.5 liters and a capacity of 113 liters. with. On the most richly equipped version of Limited, a four-stage automatic transmission with electronic control of the AW4 brand appeared. In 1989, the ABS system was introduced on Cherokee, and for the first time such a system could operate with a connected full drive. In 1991, Cherokee engines finally lost carburetors. The use of injection systems made it possible to bring the power of a four-cylinder AMC-150 to 130 liters. p., And the flagship AMS-242 received the power of 190 horses.

But the appearance of Cherokee changed very little. After 13 years of production, it turned out that the car suffers from one very significant disadvantage expressing in fast and, you can even say fatal corrosion of the body. Apparently, European roots manifested themselves, because for American cars it is generally unusual. It became clear that restyling could not be avoided. In 1996, Chrysler significantly strengthened the construction of the body. The car squeezed kilograms at 40, but the strength and corrosion resistance increased very significantly. Nevertheless, the life of the warrior of the Cherokee tribe knees to the sunset. In 2001, its place on the factory conveyors in Toledo, Ohio, took a loup-eyed animal named Liberty. And although in Europe he is trying to fade into the Indian blanket, wear a headdress from the eagle feathers and see the Cherokee, this is already a completely different car.

In Russia, Cherokee XJ arrived from the first wave of immigrant cars and even became a symbol of social status for some time. For an amazing dynamics at the beginning of the 90s, the crime workers were very loved in the early 90s, which was fleeing the reputation of Cherokee for a long time. But the time passed, the criminal authorities took places in cemeteries or, having arranged, moved to the salons of completely other machines, and Cherokee became what had to become: a comfortable and reliable utilitarian SUV. Probably it is difficult to find a car that has earned so much nickname: brick, thicker, wide. But the nickname does not give a faceless car. Of all these names, I like the most likely. Here you read from Sabaneyev: Chirina-Trescokun, Anas Crecca L. One of the smallest of our ducks. It has narrow and sharp wings among all river ducks and, accordingly, the fastest flight. Normal, widespread view. Also convinced in choosing habitats. Is it really suited? The strong side of Cherokee is small weight and small dimensions, and weak - relatively continuing body and small for its wheelbase capacity. Frameless design made an uncomfortable landing and disembarking of passengers. Jeep had to be equipped with a high threshold, through which it is necessary to overpand and which is always dirty pants in bad weather. The landing height in Cherokee millimeters is 10 more than in classmates, and the volume of the trunk is less than 150 liters.

A person acquiring a used Cherokee, first head to go to the service for the diagnosis of the body. Unlike other Cherokee SUVs, you need to choose as a passenger car, according to the body. Cherokee body repair is much more expensive than repairing a frame of a frame SUV. For example, Cherokee floor repair costs more than $ 500, and for cars over the 95th year, such an operation is necessary in most cases. The rusted bottom at the feet of the driver and the front passenger and the roof in the areas of the middle rack and the top of the windshield frame are very often found on chirks defects. Replacement Spring on a frame SUV requires exclusively buying sheets, spring bolts and a stepladder, and on Cherokee, it is often necessary to turn the brackets and replacing mortgage nuts. The rear door of Cherokee is made of plastic, so it does not rust, but it is almost unrealistic to deny it after the strike. But rotes the motor of the rear door wiper drive. And when you begin to walk a brush very slowly - running on the car service. If you do not fix it in time, the motor will burn and the replacement of the mechanism is shining. In addition, it is not necessary to forget to periodically change the pneumatic machine. Progressive jeeper experience shows that it is quite possible to use the rear door stops from the Sabol-Barguzin car.

Buying elderly Cherokee requires special caution. The injection machines released before the 91st year are better not to take, since spare parts for them will most likely be ordered and wait for quite a long time. The carburetors in old cars are also pretty cunning, and in the event of a malfunction to repair them difficult. In general, Cherokee is beneficial from other machines with a relatively low price for spare parts. For example, spare parts for GM cars are more expensive than interest at 20 - 25, and for Japanese cars - and more. Unfortunately, this is due not only to the pricing policy of the company, but also with the quality of the parts supplied by spare parts. For example, the springs for Cherokee go to three years, and then they saw. On Yukon or Tahoe, you will not see the springs. They can burst, but the Square is never. On the other hand, one spring on Tahoe costs about $ 800, and the springs of the spring on Cherokee is only $ 250. The same applies to the bridges. For Japanese SUVs and Chevrolet Replacing the main pair - an emergency event and extremely rare, but for Cherokee, a buzzing rear axle is a fairly ordinary phenomenon. This is due to the fact that the bridge carries the car, which is harder and more powerful to the one they were originally calculated. When buying Cherokee, it is necessary to look under the left front wing and check whether the oil from the air filter housing does not drive. If so, it means that the engine is worn out of the engineering rings and it is time to change or sort. Do not be lazy to open the hood and see what is happening under the filter itself. If there is sterile purity, it also suggests that the engine is not all right, and the owner used a cloth to mislead you. Be sure to try to disperse the car to 110 per hour and play the gas at this speed. If, when resetting or adding gas, it is rapidly heard, it means that the main couple is time to change. Check the operation of the full drive. Put the wheels directly, plug the front axle. If the box has a Full-Time mode, turn it on. If the car goes smoothly and does not twitch, it means everything is in order. If not, it means that this car is better not to take, as it is most likely to be very worn out of the transmission. Remove the steering wheel and try to move with the bridge turned on and the wheel turned. If the machine has a 242th handout, then in Full-Time mode, it must be easily moving. If the SUV be rests, most likely there is a dispensing box defect. But for the machine with the 231st box, the fact that it does not want to go through asphalt with the full-wheel drive turned on and the steering turned out, just says that everything is in perfect order. Riding in the turn of such a Cherokee should be hung up. But if at the same time there are angry sounds from the bottom, then this means that the chain slips in the box. The new chain is worth about $ 400, and work on its replacement is $ 120. Many cars suffer from crosses of the front axles, ball supports, very likely to replace the suspension levers. Broken silent blocks change only with the lever. It consotes that the lower levers cost $ 65, and the upper - $ 55, and the work is not too expensive. The state of the ball supports, crossing, the suspension elements is better to look at a specialized service, as there are many subtleties that can only detect masters who know exactly the Jeep cars. By the way, the reliability of the front axle can be seriously raised, replacing the semi-axes with crosses for grad cherokee shurtles. Hubov on machines with a 231th box no, the wheel is planted directly on the semi-axle. This is done specifically, to reduce the construction. You can purchase WARN sets, but they are not very cheap.

The rear brakes are very vulnerable. For their normal operation, it is necessary to regularly use the parking brake so that the pads are supplied. But since in our conditions all the mechanisms rust are covered with dirt and rot, even with regular use it does not always save. Cherokee service is relatively inexpensive. The average cost of the regulatory work of a small maintenance period of 5 thousand kilometers, is about $ 80, a large one is made every 48 thousand and costs from $ 180 to $ 500.

Separately, you should talk about diesel cars. To buy spare parts for diesel in our country, it is almost unrealistic, they will have to order them. But after the merger of Daimler and Chrysler, Pedantical Germans were forbidden to acquire spare parts in America. Now the details are ordered from European dealers, but they are still going through America, and delivery takes them sometimes sometimes. And since on the old Diesel Renault of 2.1 liters of spare parts no in Europe, nor in America, then the service of such cars causes serious problems. In short, we cannot recommend buying diesel modifications Cherokee. If you want to have such an SUV, it is better to look for it among the products of the Japanese car industry.

As a result, we can say that by buying a used Jeep Cherokee, you acquire a comfortable urban SUV, all the disadvantages of which are the continuation of its advantages: unpretentious in service, dynamic and maneuverable, possessing a plus to everything else and quite decent patency. Not in vain recently, chirks are increasingly becoming a platform for the construction of cars for off-road.

Olga Lableeva:

- Buying this car was forced and related to certain circumstances. I bought it for $ 2500 and, you know, I expected the worst from the car of the 85th year. The car, three-door, with a 2.8 engine, a distribution box NP229, is quite richly equipped with: power windows, air conditioning, CD changer. As I was told, it was a limited series for the Middle East. ACPP three-step. For six months, I go on it, but it does not break. Yet stamina in Cherokee is just amazing!

I bought the car by no means in perfect condition, but I had to repair a bit - the damper of the steering, ball, shock absorbers, to move the caliper and change the rear brake cylinders. Here, in fact, all. The car ratches, of course, a little, but runs. I already had a Cherokee with a four-liter engine. Of course, 2.8 is a compromise option, but for urban driving, the motor is enough. And then, 18 years old is still the age for the car, and you are not trying to go as fast as he can. In principle, there are no complaints with me, neither by repairmen. He eats the 92nd gasoline, could probably use the 76th, but it seems to me that it is not worth doing this - the old man will be cough. It would be necessary to do the carburetor, the flow rate is still large. The oil leaks through the rear seal of the crankshaft, but the replacement of the gland is much more expensive than the oil that has to pour. If you leave with asphalt, then everything is fine, although the power to go through the lady, he is missing, it is necessary to storm the obstacles to the move. Now the car, of course, requires some investments on the chassis, but in general, even such an elderly car quite justifies. And this car is very clear, and I can cope with many small problems yourself.

Dmitry Suslov:

I have a fairly fresh car, 1994, collected in China at the Beijing Corporation plant under license. Grade is the simplest: 2.5 liter carburetor engine, 231th handout. I got into my hands the car completely by chance, just offered it for only 3,500 dollars. The previous owner, owning this machine for two years, did not make anything with her at all. The car has fallen healthy, I mean not the body, and the details of the running, brakes, cables and springs. First repair was done in the club 4x4. After the first pokatushek, I decided that it was necessary to invest in the car, and raised it by 2.5 inches. Spring installed reinforced, grind Cherokee springs. The car is very reliable. Due to the low weight and light engine, the suspension is practically not broken. I do not know what to brake on the tramways and what is the repair of the suspension. Cherokee is a very patient car. She rises when others are already turned into trash, and can continue to ride even with very serious breakdowns. Pleases ratio of price and quality, first of all in terms of spare parts, repair and maintenance. I try to pour out my car with synthetic liquids, and the result is obvious: it has already passed about 180,000 km, and the motor in perfect condition and practically does not eat oil. The car is very simple, there is no electronics at all, she will gladly eat 92nd gasoline. By the way, I have a carburetor from the UAZ, in the winter the car starts fine. She has excellent permeability, especially in the snow. I will service the car itself, everything is very easy and accessible. Cherokee is an excellent machine for the city, small in size and exclusively maneuverable. Salon is quite suitable for me, I do not feel any inconvenience with an increase of 190 cm, and with a folded back seat in the trunk, just a monstrous amount of cargo is closed.

Vladislav Artemov:

- I have a Jeep Cherokee Country 1993, an automatic, 4 liters, 231th handout PART-TIME. Machine in Russia from birth, from the 93rd year, and today there are 82 thousand miles, that is, about 140,000 kilometers. I bought it a year and a half ago - on the occasion and not very expensive. Immediately the car demanded some investments (about 1000 dollars). Although it happens almost with any purchase of a used machine. I think many have already said that from relatively available Cherokee SUVs is one of the best options. Because the car is quite simple, in Russia they have been repaired and there are inexpensive spare parts for it. By the way, the spare parts are really not so expensive, certainly cheaper than the Japanese. So, I had to change the sprinkled springs, the pump (on Cherokee they do not go to the Cherokee), a cracked headlamp, rear shock absorbers, stabilizers, brake discs and a bunch of all sorts of gaskets and glands. He had already changed crossmen twice, the first time some poor-quality fell, passed only 5000 km. Something had to cut, because the machine began to rust in some places. It took to move the castle of the rear door: he broke up and the door was told. Perhaps all. Here is a trapezing of janitors to replace, the original costs more than $ 200. Plus, the air conditioner does not work because of problems with the radiator of the air conditioner. Well, not very necessary. Maybe she is harsh, springs ... In general, I like the car, only there can be smaller. Still, about 20 liters turns out. 92nd gasoline tolerates well, but it's better to go on 95th. So usually I pour a cocktail of 20 l 95th and 40 L of 92th. In the cold starts perfectly. In general, the four-wheel drive is really great. Although, in my opinion, if at all is not interested in the topic of off-road, hunting and fishing, then in the city you can ride on something smaller ...

Text: Andrei Svybin, Ivan Evdokimov
 

A source: 4x4 magazine [July / 2003]