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The ending of my jeep

2K views 21 replies 11 participants last post by  medalguy 
#1 ·
Tomorrow will be the end of my jeeping life. Being 16 with limited funds I just could not afford to keep my jeep. From replacing the engine to being stranded broken down in fields, neighborhoods, in the rain, and off-road, the jeep was just too unreliable. The term just-empty-every-pocket is so accurate and if you don't think that's the case you just need to wait. I have currently not had a running jeep in 2 months and 3 weeks. I have gone through 2 mechanics and 2 automotive shops and nobody can yield an answer. My parents have ultimately decided that I just need to call it quits and move on. Tomorrow I will be selling my jeep for $3200 not running and I personally think that is reasonable. Hopefully I can get back In a jeep in the near future because I'm sure I'm gonna miss it. Thank you to everyone for all of the help especially DREDnot and LuckyMac. It has been an honor.
Sincerely
Jack Perryman
 
#3 ·
Hey, being a car owner builds character. You will move onto another type of car and learn many lessons. Just cause it’s a jeep doesn’t mean it unreliable. Proper maintenance and care is the answer to any vehicles life span. I went back and looked at some of your posts. Looks like you might have bit off more than you could chew for your first encounter. This forum is great for info and guidance, but there is no substitute for having some experience standing next to you when things are not going as per plan.
You’re young and will learn a lot more in years to come. I think back when I was 16 and working on my damn 58 Ford. I was working on my next car (62 Impala) and couldn’t get the starter back in. Soooo frustrating. Sucking exhaust valves on a VW bug because I didn’t set the clearance correctly (didn’t know about go/no go gauges). On, on and on…… each one an adventure.
Point is, live and learn. Best of luck on your next adventure!
 
#4 ·
Reading your post made me happy I searched until I found one in really nice condition. Stuff still breaks, but it's manageable. Are you a sophomore or a junior? Whatever grade youre in, you have a capasity to work with your hands that surpasses anybody(other than me maybe) at my highschool. keep your head up, I'm sure we will be seeing more of you in the future!
 
#5 ·
Sorry to hear about your Jeep. From my experience of owning my YJ for about 8 months, mine has been very reliable but I don't use it as a daily driver. I think unless you're a moderately skilled mechanic a YJ at their current age is best as a fun weekend vehicle. I wanted a YJ since I was very young but I didn't get one until recent because I had the same concerns you do. I have been fortunate with mine so far but it's also not a big deal if I have problems with it now because my wife and I each have a daily driver. Plus I can take my time learning to fix or modify things since I don't rely on it to get to work. Part of the fun of owning a Jeep, or YJ in particular, is working on them. I'm 33 now and a YJ costs next to nothing to buy and keep up (compared to buying other dream cars) on a post college budget. Purchasing a 2.5L, despite the power and speed detractors, is especially cheap.

A YJ is too damn fun and cool to be stressed about so I think you're doing the right thing. My advice is just save a little here and there and buy another YJ after you've had your first steady job for awhile.
 
#6 ·
As an aside, I bought my YJ not in the best condition with the goal of resurrecting it.

Well over a year (and $20k...yes, $20k) later, and it's finally pretty much where I want it.

For the time I've had it, it's been pretty damn reliable...knock on wood. Luckily my issues were frame (ugh...I guess that's unluckily. haha) and body/cosmetic in nature...not mechanical (other than minor things...not engine or transmission).

Anyway, the point is, I can feel your pain, and putting that much money and time into an old Jeep is definitely a big undertaking for someone in High School...so don't feel too bad about it.
 
#7 ·
Well over a year (and $20k...yes, $20k) later, and it's finally pretty much where I want it.
I viewed your build thread before Dral97, but wow I had no idea you put that much into it. Your Jeep looks fantastic and the YJ Sahara is very slick to begin with. What did you have to do with the frame? Was it rust repair or repair from an accident? What did they do to repair your frame?
 
#9 ·
We've had several Jeep vehicles ..... mostly XJ's and ZJ's.

They've all had their issue ....... but they were all OLD vehicles ( 15 yrs and older ) when we got them.

When my last ZJ's was totaled after being rear ended ..... I had enough with Jeeps and bought a used GMC SUV.

Oh boy ..... in the first year that thing needed over $1400 in repairs ...... it too was an older vehicle when purchased.

I just acquired a 95 YJ ..... 2.5L 3spd Automatic.

I *know* it is going to need a lot .... and have begun acquiring the parts to restore it to it's original glory ( mechanically at first )

Frame is in excellent shape ( according to the dealer )

  • First major job ....... suspension overhaul
  • Second major job ...... steering system overhaul
  • Third major job ...... replace all the door, window and various other rubber/soft seals and parts.


Will be doing all the work myself .... except where shop equip is needed ( like for alignment )



My son still drives a 95 XJ ..... and it breaks down from time to time ..... but out insurance covers road side assist and towing !!!!
 
#10 ·
We've had several Jeep vehicles ..... mostly XJ's and ZJ's.

They've all had their issue ....... but they were all OLD vehicles ( 15 yrs and older ) when we got them.

When my last ZJ's was totaled after being rear ended ..... I had enough with Jeeps and bought a used GMC SUV.

Oh boy ..... in the first year that thing needed over $1400 in repairs ...... it too was an older vehicle when purchased.

I just acquired a 95 YJ ..... 2.5L 3spd Automatic.

I *know* it is going to need a lot .... and have begun acquiring the parts to restore it to it's original glory ( mechanically at first )

Frame is in excellent shape ( according to the dealer )

  • First major job ....... suspension overhaul
  • Second major job ...... steering system overhaul
  • Third major job ...... replace all the door, window and various other rubber/soft seals and parts.


Will be doing all the work myself .... except where shop equip is needed ( like for alignment )



My son still drives a 95 XJ ..... and it breaks down from time to time ..... but out insurance covers road side assist and towing !!!!
Best of luck.

So many ups and downs with this kind of thing. The goal is to end on an up though!

Those doors you'll be working on are painful. Other than my frame and persistent water leak problem, the doors were the biggest pain in the rear. It didn't help that I was restoring both full and half door sets...but man, so frustrating.
 
#11 ·
Catcalls, Sorry to hear that you are letting go.

Sometimes practicality takes over when determination and money aren't enough.

It will be difficult to get $3200.00 for a non running Jeep. Why not park it and fiddle with it as your skills and resources develop?

Wishing you all the best, L.M.
 
#16 ·
Good luck man, don't forget your password here... You'll be back eventually, whether in a YJ or TJ. Maybe in a few years. I sold my TJ in 2012 and finally ended up back in a jeep in late 2015.

Don't worry- they made over 600,000 YJ's, you'll be able to find a good one!
 
#17 ·
Yeah, keep visiting here from time to time.

Save up as you go and another Jeep will come your way.

I am 59 years old and the YJ I just bought is the first one I have ever owned.

I have a lot of work ahead of me and I hope that I can afford to stay in the game with it.
 
#18 ·
I am sad to say that my little red jeep actually did get sold last week. Both of my axles were shot and there were too many things wrong that it just was not financially possible to keep. I will miss it a lot but I have already bought a 97 tj with 4.0 and hardtop and that will be my baby. I have learned so much from the jeep and all of you in this forum. Thanks again
Jack
 
#19 ·
Well, atleast you're not gone, just transferred lol. Good luck and have fun with the TJ!
 
#20 ·
Well, atleast you're not out of the jeep game, just transferred lol. Good luck and have fun with the TJ! Edit- my first post didn't show up at first, so I figured posting twice would be a good idea... Sorry for spamming your thread.
 
#22 ·
Good luck with your new baby. I feel your pain. I'm 70 now but when I was a youngster I had a 56 Chevy I worked on all the time and finally sold it for the same reason you sold your Jeep.

Fast forward a century or so. I wanted another Jeep when I retired and a friend of my son had one he wanted to sell because people kept cutting the windows and stealing his radios. I picked it up at a very good price, and every couple of months the PO asks my son if I still have his Jeep, and am I interested in selling it to him. The answer is always the same. :censored: I guess he'll get the message eventually. It runs like a top. Keep looking forward and you'll get to where you want to be.
 
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