After owning a Jeep WJ for 4 years, daily driving it, and having over 210,000 miles I have found the most common problems for the Jeep WJ Grand Cherokee (1999-2004) I am going to go over a list of the top problems I faced and how I fixed them.
- Rocker Panel Rust
- Coolant Leaks
- Headlights & Taillights
- Valve Cover Oil Leak
- Fading Trim Paint
- YouTube Video
Rocker Panel Rust
All older cars in the salt regions are known for rocker panel rust. When I got my used Jeep WJ it was the only area with rust on it. I went ahead and patched the rocker panels with sheet metal and panel bond. For people looking for a quick easy fix I suggest this method. Its faster and easier because you don’t have to weld. Check out the panel bond I used below and I would recommend using undercoat after fixing it to prevent further rust.
Coolant Leaks
One problem that keeps causing issues are coolant leaks. Be prepared to replace your radiator and hoses having a high millage Jeep WJ. I would recommend replacing your radiator with a OEM one, be careful buying aftermarket aluminum ones because I had a new aluminum radiator and it started leaking after a couple hundred miles.
Headlights & Taillights
Another Issue I faced was foggy headlights and taillight that would stop working due to contact issues. Fixing the foggy headlights is very simple because you have the choice to buy new ones or fix the original ones. You can fix the original ones by picking up a headlight restoration kit. I recommend the one listed below because I had amazing results with it making my headlights look brand new. The taillights seem to loose connection due to water leaking into them and corroding the terminals. You can fix this by getting new taillights or cleaning the terminals.
Valve Cover Oil Leak
The Jeep 4.0 l is a great engine with very few issues but the one common problem with it is oil leaks. Replacing the valve cover gasket is simple and the part to fix it is linked below.
Fading Trim Paint
The Laredo edition of the Jeep WJ had the gray fading trim around it. One major upgrade anyone can do to there Jeep WJ is to paint that trim including the bumpers. Check out the trim paint I used below to paint my trim it turned out great and has been holding up over the past 4 years. I put 2 coats of paint on my trim took about 6 cans to be safe.
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