TJ DD for me?

Please ignore the typo in the title (argh).

Been having a lot of trouble with corrosion (in the wiring) of the VW. Last winter was really hard on my DD. Connectors are corroded enough that I've had to wire-in jumpers around them. I love this car, but this does not inspire confidence.

Been looking at 2.4L 4-cylinder TJs online. Any comments? Seems like the main liabilities are - 1) it's a 4-cylinder and not direct injection, and 2) the 35 rear axle.

The EPA mileage specs aren't that far off from my 1995 2.0L Golf, which at best gets 24 mpg on the highway. I'm looking for an economical but trail-competent vehicle that could drive for long distances. I was thinking about a first-gen XTerra, but why not a 4-banger TJ? The early XTerras are getting pretty old, and the 2.4L was used through 2006. The Pentastar would give me a newer vehicle, but they can't match the 2.4L mileage.

Thoughts?

 

Tacoma?

 

I love my 4.0 TJ I bought last year which I use as my daily driver. It is a 2005 X. I lucked up on a low mileage one with a 6 speed. If you want that mpg, I'm assuming you want to keep it stock, so the D35 shouldn't give you problems. I think most of that hype is forum stories of forum member's cousin's brother's nephew's friend. But, you are well aware of the jeep mod bug I know. What gears and tranny give you 24 mpg? I'm thinking some 2.4's came with 4.10's and 4.56's. My X had 3.07's but I've regeared to 4.10's with Truetracs, added 3" lift and 33's. My mpg is no where near 24. I get about 17 or so for my setup driving 45 to 70 mph, including stop and go, 75 miles round trip to/from work everyday.

 

Had a stock 2000 4.0 TJ for a while. Don't recall what gears it had, I'm thinking something like 2.90? Couldn't drive W. PA interstates without downshifting on hills, which I found disappointing for something getting 17 mpg. A 4-cylinder not on highway would be OK I suppose, but will probably be running at its limit to maintain 65 mph on highway rolling hills.

 

The 2006 that I may go to look at after the holiday has 3.73s. I understand the 4-bangers have higher (numerically) axle ratios from the factory.

My VW gets 24 on the highway typically. I thought that was pretty good in 1995. IIRC the 2006 with the 2.4L, 30/35 and 3.73s is rated 17/22 or something like that.

 

Just as a point of reference, My 3B with a 225, overdrive, and 5:38 gears only gets around 15MPG. The Commando with a V6 and 3:73 runs about 17 MPG. My '86 Volvo, I don't remember the axle ratio, runs about 24 MPG combined and has hit a high of 34 MPG on a trip ti ID with the AC on full blast and I was running over 80, between the construction zones on I 80.

 

The VW got a ride home on a flatbed tonight. Thank my stars for AAA Gold. Apparently my repairs did not last. 40 miles on the road and the CEL starts flickering on deceleration. Hardly made it through the exit toll both on the pike.

MAF sensor? An expensive part... need to get out the laptop and check the codes after the holiday.

 

Tim go kick the tires on the 4 cylinder TJ . if it's a stick . I think you might like it . but on another note . I know people in ohio . that just drive hooptys during winter months because of all the salt on roads . and keep the good vehicles in garage or driveway . got to love the junk yards out there

 

No TJ yet?

 

We had a '97 4-cylinder TJ for a short while, and I had a '98 6-cylinder for years. If you have the choice between the two, get the 4.0, hands down. Like the f-head on our Cj's, the 2.5 can't keep up well with modern traffic unless you are on a downhill with a tailwind. It struggles to get up in the 70's. I've heard that the tranny (AX-5?) had a bunch of problems, but I never experienced any.

Keep an eye out for frame rot, especially near the rear spring perches. The frames tend to hold muck and rot out quickly. Other than that, I think they are great vehicles, as long as you realize you won't be winning any MPG competitions!

 

Thanks for the input all. I think nothing will happen until the VW is on the road again.

Working on a vehicle "wish list." I'll post when it's finished.

 

Yes, in Ohio if you run your nice ride in the snow, expect it to die a rusty death unless it gets a daily wash along with a chassis bath and gets stored in a garage at night. I imagine many other northern states share this issue.

I started the 61 Cj5 this past Sunday since it's been sitting since April when it got parked in the backyard at the end of winter. Fired right up and I let it run until it got to operating temperature. Checked it over for nasty rust issues due to the salt, but ol' Willy seems to repel corrosion for some odd reason, considering it's coated in aluminum diamond plates that is rather amazing. Might have something to do with being a PA Jeep that moved to Ohio??

 

Tim, the main thing I see going bad on TJ's is the upper control arms rust off the frame on both sides. There's going to be a TJ dropped off by a customer later today for me to evaluate for repairing of the frame on that very issue.

 

Seriously considering another car, not a Jeep. The new Golf.

 

So Don is waking this up...

Still driving the VW. I gutted the interior to repair the floors, and bought some rocker repair panels which I plan to install... as soon as I can. Working on the J20 currently.

Browsing on Expedition Portal got me thinking about 2004-2006 Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited.... 4.0L, stretched wheellbase, 2 doors. Hmm... too bad there aren't that many of them.