My little cousin is very ambitious and hard working he is 16.. i drop him off at work and pick him up and i told him if he finds a job i will make sure he gets there and back.. today he text me a craigslist link saying spark plug broke off and engine tries to turn, me myself i wouldn't mess with it but he loves jeeps and has a little money to buy a car.. i have always heard of rusty spark plugs breaking off but the engine would still turn.. any suggestions on why wouldn't the engine make a full spin? http://jackson.craigslist.org/cto/4468955681.html
If its a 4.7, run, run far away those engines are junk, I've seen them throw rods on many occasions. If its a 4.0 getting a broken spark plug doesn't sound too bad, if anything you could replace the head in a couple of hours. The wj's(99-05? grand Cherokee) are junk, the zj's(94-98 grand Cherokee) are somewhat better, both body grand Cherokee's are know to have transmission issues. Tell him if he wants a jeep to get an xj(84-01 Cherokee), preferably an 87-01 with the 4.0 engine, xj's with the 4.0 are bullet proof!
Checking you on the '98 Grand Cherokee; I have the 5.9'r with nearly 140k miles and NO transmission problems. Then again, maintenance exceeds manufacturer's requirements. Absolutely concur on the Cherokees and 4.0 motors. They can take serious neglect and abuse...
I should have made an exception for the 98 zj w/ 5.9. I'm not 100% sure but I think they have a different trans, same as the ram trucks.
I believe the 4.0L of that era had issues with exhaust valves sticking open due to carbon build-up. I think there is a TSB out on that, too. Worse comes to worse, offer $500 on it and throw a head at it! If it's the V8, then I'd pass.
thats what i told him, i didnt get to ask him what engine but i will tomorrow... yes i know about the 4.7, my buddy had a ram 150 had 60k on it rod started making a noise, Dodge really dropped the ball on that engine
