2000 TJ Advice

[Spiffy]

I am looking at lifted 00 Sahara trim TJ on a used lot. It has a clean 4.0 engine and is 5 speed. Haven't drove it yet but I looked it over inside and outside. The inside is very very good for 2000 model and the outside doesn't have any damage I can see that was repaired.

The manager said he had to send it to the transmission shop when he got it and spend $800 to fix 2nd and 4th. I am going to take my brother in law down to look it over. He is a certified auto tech so he is better than poking it with a stick to look under it and at the motor.


Any think that I should be looking for problem wise with the 2000 models?

[McTavish]

Did you look under it?
It's hard to hide abuse underneath. If the skid plates are beat to death I'd walk away myself.
The 4.0 is a very good engine, lots of Jeepers were/are mad that Mother Mopar dropped it for the JK.

[Spiffy]

I'm going to crawl under it and get my BIL in crawl under there too on my next visit. Then the 3rd time seeing it will be when I see if they will take my offer.

[dirtydirtysouf]

look for any oil seeping out of the rear main seal, the 4.0s loved doing that after 30-40k miles.......

[TennDECA]

My BIL in a ASE tech at a Jeep dealership, and drives them for his POV. Let me ask him...

Okay, I'm back. He says they have rear diff issues if it's a Dana 35. Other than that, pretty bombproof.

[Netpackrat]

Yes, unless you really want ABS get the Dana 44 rear axle (not available together in '00). The only way to get them together is to spend $$$ on a custom built aftermarket axle from Dynatrac. I've got the wimpy 35 axle because I drive on snow and ice for half of the year and ABS can save your ass on road in the winter. It hasn't broken yet, and I've only got 31" tires, but plenty of Jeeps on 31" or even stock tires have broken the 35.

[Spiffy]

I'm going to go crawl around under it this morning. I figure it has the upgraded axle since its lifted. It looked like there were skid plates on it but I will know more this afternoon.

[Netpackrat]

I figure it has the upgraded axle since its lifted.

Having a lift is irrelevant to what axle is installed. Plenty of people lift and install big tires without doing anything to upgrade the axles.

[McTavish]

Mine has a Dana 35 with 33" Yokohama MT+ and over the last 11 years I have only broken one axle shaft. But I don't beat on mine, I do off road it, just use finesse.
It's funny back in my younger days I broke a Dana 60 min a Power Wagon. WAY to much stupid pedal.