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88MJ4X4 · 06-08-2010, 11:57 PM

Best place to start is to ask if their worth a crap??? Been out lookin for a 99 or newer Grand Cherokee for my daughter. (an 02-03 is about the newest she can afford) Anyway, we've come across several with the 4.7 engines. Out of probably 5 we saw at least 3 of those ran like crap. Rough idle, throttle hesitation and just not tha git up and go I'd expect out of a v-8. One 4x4 we drove that did idle and responded pretty well to throttle still didnt seem to have much git up and go. Another 4x4 we drove ran really good having both great response and exceleration.
Are there any known common problems these engines are prone to?
Most of what we've seen have in the neighborhood of 80-100k miles . Not gonna buy anything with more than that and would prefer less like a couple we saw in the 70k mile range. We're looking for a Limited model having the exterior colors matched instead of ugly faded out gray plastics like on a Larado.
Two or four wheel drive doesnt really matter so long as it's not a full time QuadraTrac/Drive. She doesnt need 4x4 but if we find a nice SelectTrac we wont pass it up. In fact, we're looking real hard at an 02 with a 4.7 and SelectTrac.

I'm not new to tha used car game nore am I new to Cherokee's with 4.0's but any advise on what to watch out for on the 4.7 would be appreciated.

BRIANKAISER · 06-09-2010, 04:10 PM

my grand cherokee is a little older, 1994, but my v8 has 186,000 miles on in and runs great, no problems and always has good oil preasure. but i dont know if it is the same motor as the newer years

88MJ4X4 · 06-09-2010, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRIANKAISER

my grand cherokee is a little older, 1994, but my v8 has 186,000 miles on in and runs great, no problems and always has good oil preasure. but i dont know if it is the same motor as the newer years

Nope, not tha same engine but thanks for your reply.

cherojeep06 · 08-31-2010, 05:34 PM

yea i got a 2006 grand cherokee lerado with the 4.7L and it always run like crap, it seems to miss fire all the time and i cant figure out why it keeps over heating. and it already blew a head gasket and it only had 60000 miles on it at the time. maybe less. but im already saving up for a different enging for it bc im sick of fixing it. but idk what eng i want.

**lifted1994xj** · 08-31-2010, 06:56 PM

I might be wrong but i think that they are either 2 wheel drive or full time 4x4, three of my friends have 99+ grands and they all have the quadradrive full time 4x4.

**WJCraig** · 08-31-2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88MJ4X4

Best place to start is to ask if their worth a crap??? Been out lookin for a 99 or newer Grand Cherokee for my daughter. (an 02-03 is about the newest she can afford) Anyway, we've come across several with the 4.7 engines. Out of probably 5 we saw at least 3 of those ran like crap. Rough idle, throttle hesitation and just not tha git up and go I'd expect out of a v-8. One 4x4 we drove that did idle and responded pretty well to throttle still didnt seem to have much git up and go. Another 4x4 we drove ran really good having both great response and exceleration.
Are there any known common problems these engines are prone to?
Most of what we've seen have in the neighborhood of 80-100k miles . Not gonna buy anything with more than that and would prefer less like a couple we saw in the 70k mile range. We're looking for a Limited model having the exterior colors matched instead of ugly faded out gray plastics like on a Larado.
Two or four wheel drive doesnt really matter so long as it's not a full time QuadraTrac/Drive. She doesnt need 4x4 but if we find a nice SelectTrac we wont pass it up. In fact, we're looking real hard at an 02 with a 4.7 and SelectTrac.

I'm not new to tha used car game nore am I new to Cherokee's with 4.0's but any advise on what to watch out for on the 4.7 would be appreciated.

What do you have against the Quadra-Drive? It's a very well designed system. It was't #1 on my list, but I've been quite happy with it...It's got me through some pretty funky obsticals where lots of other Jeeps (Many with the Selec-Trac system) got stuck.

Just sayin...

As for the 4.7L, aI and a couple of my wheelin buddies have that as a powerplant and I wouldn't trade it for a 4.0L or a 5.2L if I was paid...Great engine, lots of torque, decent mileage for a V8...what can I say? It's served me very well! Perhaps the ones you've looked at were bagged, or needed a little maintenance? O2 sensors will make 'em run like a bag of crap when they start to go...so will a dirty fuel filter...

Mine has always run strong though, and I'm very happy with it.

A little more info on the engine specs:

Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ - Engine specifications

Quote:

Originally Posted by lifted1994xj

I might be wrong but i think that they are either 2 wheel drive or full time 4x4, three of my friends have 99+ grands and they all have the quadradrive full time 4x4.

Nope, you could get a 2wd, a couple of part time 4x4, and the Full time 4x4 version in a 99-04 WJ...

Have a look here for more info on drive options:

Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ - WJ Four-Wheel Drive Systems

Later!

cherojeep06 · 09-01-2010, 09:11 PM

yea my 06 WK is a quadra-drive and i love the 4x4. it got me throught kansas mud, witch is like thick clay. and i never got stuck but my buddy with a lifted titan. got stuck. hahaha. foreigners. ok thanx ill check the o2 censor.

88MJ4X4 · 09-02-2010, 03:09 PM

I appreciate the somewhat mixed bag of responses on the 4.7 motor. Sounds to me their no better or worst than any other motor and like all motors their life expectancy or how well they run depends on how well their maintained.

Thanks.
Robert

Rebuilder · 10-25-2010, 03:01 PM

Just thought I'd throw in my vote for the 4.7.
Those other poor performing 4.7's had problems that needed to be fixed. Mine is very responsive and powerful.
I have 147K on my 02 and it purrs like a kitten at idle and is a beast when I hit the accelerator.
I sometimes feel like it's the HO but I'm 95% sure it's not.
Nothing wrong with the 4.0's as far as I know. I just bought two WJ's with 4.0's trying to fix em up for wife and spare car. Can't wait to crank it up and compare the power.

codyfisher · 11-14-2010, 02:46 PM

I drive a 2000 4.7 V8 with QuadraTrac all-time 4x4 and 13x,xxx miles. I haven't had any problems other than something that changing spark plugs fixed. As long as the maintenance is kept up on, you shouldn't have any problems.

JEEPFIXITMAN · 01-11-2011, 01:57 PM

Maintenance is always foremost and the 4.7 is a good motor, but after 13 years as a tech id have to say if properly taken care of a 4.0 is bulletproof, less in power and torque , but ive seen many well over 300k and still going!!!!!!!!