Cherokee CRD - pre-purchase questions

[garbage]

OK, I posted a message in the general Jeep forum but haven't yet got any replies. I've now spent a couple hours reading a lot of the posts on this forum and now have figured out what I want - a Jeep Cherokee KJ CRD. I now have some specific questions I'm hoping someone can help me with:

- Is there a difference between an MY05 and an MY06?
- How necessary is a suspension lift? Could it do Fraser Island in stock form?
- Given the cost of the 100,000km service, is it best to try and get one that has just had it done? I've read of one instance on this forum where this wasn't done right, and it ended up writing off the engine. Is this a common thing?
- How many kms can you get on a tank of diesel driving in peak hour traffic?
- Does it come standard with a transmission cooler?
- Is there room under the bonnet for a dual battery setup?
- What are the service intervals?

[Gi Frog]

Originally Posted by garbage

OK, I posted a message in the general Jeep forum but haven't yet got any replies. I've now spent a couple hours reading a lot of the posts on this forum and now have figured out what I want - a Jeep Cherokee KJ CRD. I now have some specific questions I'm hoping someone can help me with:

- Is there a difference between an MY05 and an MY06?
- How necessary is a suspension lift? Could it do Fraser Island in stock form?
- Given the cost of the 100,000km service, is it best to try and get one that has just had it done? I've read of one instance on this forum where this wasn't done right, and it ended up writing off the engine. Is this a common thing?
- How many kms can you get on a tank of diesel driving in peak hour traffic?
- Does it come standard with a transmission cooler?
- Is there room under the bonnet for a dual battery setup?
- What are the service intervals?

Hi,
The difference between MY05-My06 not much slight changes .
You could do Fraser Island in a stock Kj But a lift will inprove ground clearance .
Un sure about the 100,000 km service as mine has not reach it yet,mine is a 05 crd limited 76,000km.
How many km's per tank I average about 480/500km's per tank it depends on where and how you drive and traffic.
Transmission cooler yes
Duel battery setup not much room under bonnet but priahna do have a duel battery setup for the Kj for approx $300 diy or $700-$900 fitted.
Service intervals approx every 5,000-10,000km's
others will add and explain more .
Cheers Gi frog

[glend]

I believe that there are a few differences in the 05 and 06, these are primarily in the area of electronic stability program and traction control (Braked Lock Diff functons etc). I have an 07 and it has all of that electronic stuff.
For offroad work I would suggest that a lift is a good investment. I did Jambo 2008 without a lift so you can get by, but you absolutely should get the underbody protection plates fitted (minimum of transfer case and transmission plates). The CRD comes with the engine protection plate.

The timing belt replacement is an expensive service, if possible get one that has had it done or get a discount for the future cost of that from a seller who is trying to escape that cost by selling it just before its due. Few timing belts break before the service interval, although keep in mind its five years or 100,000kms (so if it has less kilometres but is old enough it should still have the replacement done). THere have beena very few of these that break their timing belt prior to the service interval, i'd be looking at changing it by 80,000kms in mine. Yes if the belt breaks there is likley to be some valve train damage and there has been a post or two about that.

Re fuel economy, suggest you read the fuel economy thread on the KJ section. It all depends on how you drive it obviously. I can get 550-600kms per tank in the city but I run some aftermarket engine management software that improves fuel economy and performance (think of a DP CHip but with more).

Yes there is a small tranny cooler standard in the CRDs (its imbedded in the bottom of the Air COnditioner Condensor at the very front of the stack (AC, INtercooler, and radiator). I added an aftermarker auxiliary cooler because I tow a fair bit (See posts on that - B&M maks some good small coolers).

I think a couple fo people have managed to get a second battery under the bonnet, however, if you install a Provent oil recovery system that may takeup the room for the second battery. My second battery lives in a custom battery box attached in the rear seat passenger side footwell, and wired to a distribution panel on the cargo barrier.

Service interval is as per the owners manual nominally 10,000kms for many people. I service (at least oil and filter) every 5000kms as these turbo diesels ingest a fair amount of soot thanks to the egr system and you want that out as soon as possible - its just cheap insurance for engine longevity. Again, since I now have software that minimises EGR, the oil is much cleaner and stays that way.

Turbo diesels depend on two factors: engine breathing and fuel delivery - most problems with these engines can be broken down into thsoe main categories. If you keep deliverying clean air into the engine and the sensors are all clean (MAF and MAP) and the fuel filter is doing its job (and there is no air in the fuel head or system) then it will run like a train for a long time. As with any machine, if you look after it then there will be few problems.

Known problems with the breed: CCV system pumps oil mist back into the non-fuel rated turbo hoses - can lead to failure of the turbo hoses as early as 40,000kms. Fix is Provent of similiar device: EGR pipes have been known to break their welds on the exhaust manifold side on models from 05 onward. Check you service history to see if one was replaced - the replacements have better welds on the flange mount.

Come back anytime with anything else you'd like to know.
Cheers

[garbage]

Hi Glend, thanks for that. Answers just about all my questions.

Quick one though - what's Jambo 2008? I've seen it mentioned in a number of posts.

[glend]

Sorry. Jambo is the short form of Jeep Jamboree - a national gathering of Jeep people and their vehicles that occurs every two years. This year's Jamboree was held in Warragul Victoria. The event is hosts by a local Jeep club and rotates around. THere are typically hundred of Jeeps and the owners/families that attend for a long weekend to drive various grade tracks, socialise, camp out, and enjoy the community life that comes with the ownership of a Jeep. Just check out the Jeep Jamboree website (google it), or read the threads on here about it.