Stop! 5 Things to Check Before Buying a Used Jeep
When browsing used car dealerships in Colorado, a Jeep might catch your eye. Cherokees are among the fan favorites, and the Wrangler tends to stick out like a sore thumb on a car lot thanks to its legendary reputation. For some, buying used might mean changing your style. That style might be a Jeep. But, you have to stop and think about it for a second because buying a used Jeep is a lot different than buying other used car models. While it would be possible to use 90% of this blog and relate it to used car buying in general, Jeeps are a whole different animal. Why? Because, most of them have been used for off-roading. Therefore, you need to take extra care when inspecting these vehicles, and understand what exactly it is thatĀ youāre trying to buy.
With that in mind, here are five things to check before buying a used Jeep.
Undercarriage
Like any car, the undercarriage should be the first thing you check on a used Jeep. This is a great way to tell how much life the vehicle truly has left. Without a frame for the vehicle to sit on, itās useless. Therefore, it doesnāt matter if the vehicle has low transmission miles and a newly refurbished engine under the hood. If the undercarriage/frame is rusting through, or ārotting outā to useĀ a more common term, then donāt buy it.
When it comes to off-roading vehicles like Jeep, you have a little bit more to look for. Most Jeeps have skid plates if theyāre off-roading rigs. Skid plates are installed to help protect the guts of the vehicle from stumps, rocks, or any other hazardous objects found on the trail. Therefore, theyāre going to take a beating. Itās important you take a look at the skid plates (if there are any) to see how hard the previous owner pushed the vehicle when off-roading. If they look like theyāve gone through years of punishment, it could indicate the Jeep is more worn-in than you might like.
Make sure to crawl all the way under and look for any scratches, scrapes, dents, or other signs of damage from hard trail use. Also, make sure to check for fresh paint, and recently replaced parts.
All of these are good indicators that the Jeep has been through some rough country. If youāre looking to get it for a fun daily driver and are inexperienced when it comes to repairing a used car, then you should look for a Jeep in better condition.
Modifications (If Any)
Perhaps the best (and most-fun) thing you can do with a Jeep is modify it. For those who might not understand the feeling, itās like decorating for Christmas.
Therefore, youāre bound to come across a modded used Jeep Wrangler when perusing a used car lot. If you choose to buy a used modded Jeep Wrangler, you need to understand two things. First, it will be more expensive than a bare-bones Jeep. Second, there willĀ be more parts you need to check.
Since these parts are aftermarket, the manufacturer doesnāt install them. There are dealerships with professionals where you can go to get them installed, but a lot of off-roading fans like installing the mods themselves. Which is great for them, but what if they installed a modification wrong, sold it, and the dealership failed to notice? Mistakes happen, and itās your job to make sure you know what youāre getting. So first and foremost, check to make sure the modifications are installed correctly. If you donāt know how to check if the modifications were installed properly, then you probably shouldnāt be getting a heavily modified off-road Jeep in the first place.
One of the most common modifications that can be made is on the suspension. Therefore, check all parts of the suspension to make sure everything is ship-shape. This includes things like the bushings, control arms, and ball joints. That way, you can get a good idea of the condition of the suspension. A shot suspension (or close to being shot) is going to not only give you problems, but perform inadequately on and off the road.
Keep in mind, some off-road parts are purely aesthetic, but some affect the performance of the vehicle overall. Only buy a modded Jeep if you are looking to off-road. If you arenāt ā or are just looking to start ā itās best to buy a used Jeep stock and get the parts put on or learn to install them yourself down the road.
Tires
Consumers will often overlook tires when browsing used cars. While you should make it a point to check them, itās even more important on a Jeep. A little tire wear here and there is okay, but unless itās a real killer deal on the vehicle, avoid a Jeep that has tires youāll need to immediately replace. Especially if itās an off-roading rig. Tires are already expensive enough, imagine how much a set of 33ā tires would cost?
Apart form having extra costs added, itās also important to go further when it comes to looking at the wear on the tires. Since different types of wear can indicate different problems, this is a good way to see what else might be wrong with the vehicle.
For example, if the tire tread is wearing unevenly on the edges or down the middle, this could indicate an alignment problem. If the front tires are more worn-down than the back tires, then they werenāt rotated properly. Meaning, the front-tires have been bearing the weight of the engine for the entirety of their life.
Point is, tire wear is not only expensive if youāll need to replace the tires, but can also indicate a host of problems you might end up paying for.
Rust Spots
I know, for those who are living down south, rust seems like a mythological creature to you. But, for those up north, rust is a real and serious issue thanks to the salt and sand put down on the roads in the winter. Naturally, a little rust is to be expected on a used vehicle. Itās once that little bit of rust here and there turns up in the cabin of the floor, trunk, or you can poke holes in the frame because of it that it starts to become an issue.
For Jeeps, checking for rust is even more important. Most likely, that Jeep your looking at (even if itās stock) has left the pavement for some form of off-road action. Whether that was driving through the mud and getting the undercarriage caked in it or fording rivers. If the previous owner didnāt take care of it properly after repeatedly exposing it to these conditions, chances are it will have rust trouble.
If you do see a lot of rust on the Jeep, then itās best to look for a different one because itās just not worth the trouble and expensive repairs ā if the repairs are even possible ā soĀ soon after you purchase it.
Leaks
Just like other cars, checking for leaks should be a priority, too. Make sure to look at that used Jeep on a dry day so you can see any liquid that might be dripping underneath it.
Most commonly, the leaks youāll see are engine oil and engine coolant. Check all of the hoses for any cracks, start it up, and see if you can see anything leaking out of the seals, and make sure to check under the vehicle like I said before.
Cars can spring leaks in many ways. But for Jeeps, all it takes is kicking a rock up the wrong way when itās off-roading to split a hose, or potentially bust open the oil tank on a boulder in a rock-crawling-gone-wrong incident.
If you are vigilant about checking these five things on a used Jeep, chances are youāll grab one thatās in good condition. If you decide not to buy a Jeep, make sure you look at any other used car with the same scrutiny.
20 comment(s) so far on Stop! 5 Things to Check Before Buying a Used Jeep
Very valuable information and we’ll written, thank you for your time and knowledge.
Thank you for the feedback Tommy! We’re glad you found the information useful!
It really helped when you said that a problem with the tires means that the vehicle’s tires are not aligned. I will share this tip with my sister to help her buy a used vehicle. She will be buying one for her son as a gift for this Christmas since he is already in the right age.
Thank you for the valued information. I had not thought about some of the issues that you pointed out.
Thanks for helping me understand that the suspension should be in good condition before buying it to ensure that it can be used safely. I will keep that in mind when I buy a used vehicle for my son who will be getting his driver’s license this coming February if he passes his test. This will be our gift for him since it is also his birthday in February.
Great
jk I’m very confused how the year 2013-2015 is different?
Thanks for the information,very well done. I had a 1989 JEEP Cherokee and Iām now looking for a 1998 JEEP Cherokee XJ thatās in real good condition but can be without motor and trans as I would like to replace the motor with a Chevy 350 plus the right transmission to go with it. Iām looking in the area code 90501. Can you help me?
We would love to help, unfortunately, we don’t come across those too often. I would recommend looking for something like that through Craiglist, Facebook, or through local Classified ads. If there is anything else we can do for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Thank you the information you gave was very helpful. My granddaughter is looking at a 2010 Jeep Wrangler. And I had no idea what to look for now I do have some knowledge thanks to you.
How do you know if your motor is gone in a Jeep Liberty 2006 when I went to start the car is still turned over please advise ASAP thank you
We would recommend reaching out to your local service center to get an appointment scheduled. We cannot advise you without properly diagnosing the vehicle.
Nice article, seems very helpful
You made a good point that I should look out for rusting when buying a used jeep. I plan to own one soon in order to make the planning of off-roading trips easier. Once I buy a used jeep, I think it will be best to take it to an off-road vehicle repair service in order to make sure that it’s in the best condition.
I always check first the engine but you gave me of idea about undercarriage. Yes, need to look that too. And all of these tips are useful, really.
I was looking for this information relating to such stop 5 things to check before buying a used jeep. You have really eased my work by posting this article, loved your writing skill as well. Please keep sharing more, would love to read more from you!
This so helpful! The information is invaluable! So lucky to have the opportunity to be educated.
Thank you , thank you!
Yes, one should consider these points before buying used jeep because it helps you to get quality product that lasts long.
Thanks for the tip to check the undercarriage when getting a used car. I had not even thought to do this. Glad I found this article before buying a car.
Thank you all for the info, it is very helpful . I will do your check list when I go look at it.