HOW TO GET ONE IN YOUR GARAGE
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That kind of performance earned it a place
at the table occupied by Porsche and BMW
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)8 APRIL 2 020 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 71
USED CARS
An expert’s view
N I C K P E AC E , R I N G R OA D J E E P
“I’ve owned a few Grand Cherokees,
including a 5.7 Hemi, but for the past
12 months I’ve been at the wheel of
a seven-seat Commander 3.0 CRDi.
Based on the Grand Cherokee, it’s
practical, spacious and reliable. It’s
well-equipped, too: there’s air-con in
the rear, for example. It does 35mpg
on a cruise and 20mpg around town.
The build quality is good. Even though
it’s done over 100,000 miles and is 13
years old, it still feels reasonably tight.
And there’s not a speck of rust, either.”
Buyer beware...
QENGINE
Petrol engines thrive on 5W-20 or even
0W-20 oil, so check this has been a
V8’s regular diet. On post-2009 CRDengines, look for oil cooler leaks caused
by worn seals. Repair requires removal
of the inlet manifold and turbo, costing
around £1200. Oil can also leak from
the sump and from the oil temperature
sender. Listen and smell for V8s leaking
gases from the exhaust manifold.
QRUNNING GEAR
Listen for the back axle whining.
It needs fresh oil and a filter every
35,000 miles but this can be
overlooked; it’s around £800 to fix.
A transmission warning light may
i n d i c a te a sti c k y tra n sfe r b ox. I t ’s
caused by the electric motor jamming
through lack of use. It can be reset and
regular low-range engagement should
keep it free. Check the case itself for
oil leaks. Scroll through all the gearbox
changes, checking they’re smoothand engage without jolting.
QSUSPENSION AND STEERING
Ball joints in the front upper and lower
wishbones wear, so listen for clonks
on bad roads. Lower front wishbone
replacement costs £200 per side.
Shock absorbers last around 120,000
miles. Noises as the steering turns
could be the power steering pump.
QBODY
Check the underside for off-roading
damage and rear crossmembers for
towing strain (metal deformation or
cracks). Inspect the door handles
for cracks and be sure the struts still
support the bonnet and tailgate.
Check for damp
footwells and that
the air-con works
This 6.1 SRT-8 model
packs a whopping
420bhp and 420lb ft
One we found
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
5.7 V8, 2006/56-REG,
99,000 MILES, £5995
A full service history and, better still,
one of two that the dealer has in stock,
so you can compare them. Shame it
hasn’t got the LPG conversion but they
begin at around £7500 for a good one.
QINTERIOR
Be sure all features work, including the
air-con. Feel for damp in the footwells
and boot floor from tired window seals.
Also worth knowing
The swirl port actuator on the 3.0 CRD
engine can play up. The first you’ll know
of it is a dashboard warning light before
the car goes into limp home mode. It’s
caused by oil dripping from the turbo
hose above it. Jeep fitted a better hose
with a tighter seal but the problem can
reoccur. A good solution is to bypass
the actuator with an emulator that
makes the ECU believe all is well.
How much to spend
£1500-£2499
Early 3.0 CRD Limiteds.£2500-£3499
Tidier cars and towards the upper price
limit, with good or full service histories.
Mileages around 120,000. Also
includes some high-spec Overlands.
£3500-£5499
Mainly CRDs but around 90,000 miles.
£5500-£7999
More CRDs but now around 70,000
m i l e s. J o i n e d fr o m £65 0 0 by p o st-
facelift examples. Also some 5.7
Overlands with 100,000 miles; more
expensive ones with LPG conversions.
£12,500-£17,000
Small choice of 6.1 V8 SRT8s that
have done around 70,000 miles.