What to look for before buying 98’ Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

Today I'm giving my personal insights on what to look for before buying the forgotten 5.9 limited. I didn't want to go too in depth about the mechanical aspects of it just exterior and interior differences. If someone wants to post the mechanical differences in the comments you are welcome to do so.
See you on the next one!

[@problemwithlaptops4016]

This guy seemed to go over pointers that ensured you were getting an all original 5.9 Limited, including checking the VIN for "Z88Z". It's important if you value it, there were so few 5.9 Limiteds versus other ZJs that I'm sure a casual shopper would come across a regular Limited/Laredo kitted out to look like or be like a 5.9 Limited, or a 5.9 Limited that was beat on or wrecked and had been repaired mostly with standard ZJ parts. I was hoping he'd go over some quick issues that could make or break a good deal though, speaking mechanically or even with features such as interior trim and accessories, if you're looking to actually buy one. -The e-fan (Electric cooling fan) that he shows in the video is prone to failure. The fan motor has a low and high speed, and the wiring harness to the motor or the motor itself can become faulty and you'll lose one or the other speed, or lose the fan entirely which isn't immediately noticeable and can allow the engine to overheat badly while sitting or during city driving. -As anyone who has run Magnum V8s knows, it's common for the heads to crack and be prone to warping. The heads can actually develop these issues and it can go unnoticed for a long time, especially if you don't drive your Jeep hard. If the Jeep is leaking coolant anywhere (particularly the rad cap or if the heater core's blown), have the coolant bled and tested for back pressure. -Try to somehow test the rear axle to see if it's limited slip. The 5.9 Limiteds all had a Trac-Lok LS rear axle carrier. It's clutched and they commonly get toasted at 100k+ miles, and they are either left alone with ruined clutches or replaced with a standard open diff when the axle is rebuilt or swapped. -The 5.9 Limited was the only ZJ to come standard with a 46RE transmission. Make sure it has this, and wasn't swapped to a 44RE which is straight swappable and easier to find. -Last and probably what you may certainly encounter when shopping around high mileage 5.9 Limiteds, the viscous coupler in the NP249 Transfer case (4WD) has a common issue where the silicon material inside will completely seize up after 80-120k miles, effectively trapping the Jeep in 4HI. You can test this right away by turning at full lock left and right, the Jeep will "bind" or "hop" as it turns, from the wheels binding up. Hope that helps anyone who bothers to read it. Either way, I did enjoy the video, personally I feel like these Jeeps don't get enough exposure for just how genuinely cool and fun these things are. They drive like a late 90s mustang and are pretty fast, but seats 4 comfortably and can go places even modern SUVs wouldn't dare touch. And they look like a 90s pile of junk, which makes them the ultimate sleeper. (Personally I think the ZJ's styling is amazing, especially the 5.9.)

[@newyorkdragon]

Hey man! Great comment. I didn't go into the mechanicals of it because when I made the video I didn't have time to go through all of that. With that said, I made sure all of mine had that before I bought it. I think if most of the things I mentioned check out then it's a pretty good indicator that the car is a real "niner" however as the cars become more rare and the quantity decreases even further then it's definitely going to help to know all the extra details like you mentioned. Lastly, I agree the 5.9 don't get as much exposure but that's what I love about it at the moment. I know there's gonna be a time when they blow up and I don't plan on selling mine.

[@thunaru]

Viscous coupler in np 249 has nothing to do with 4Hi so, You are wrong stating that the transfer case will be trapped. The VC is doing the front to rear torque bias and is not in use while in 4Lo

[@problemwithlaptops4016]

@newyorkdragon I certainly hope they blow up! Not because yeah it'd be cool to flip mine, but because I really do think people are missing out on a neat automotive experience. I've driven a lot of cars, old and new, and as I mentioned the 5.9 Jeep does sort of feel like a muscle car but even then it feels different. I'd almost think of it more akin to an AMG G-Wagen, but the better part is that you can mess with it on the cheap. (For now) I can understand that you wanted to keep the video brief too- your vid did do a good job of keeping my attention at least 👍 best of luck man!

[@problemwithlaptops4016]

@thunaru it might not have been said correctly- what I meant when I was saying it was "stuck in 4HI" was that it was like if you had another transfer case like the 231 that has a 4HI, and you were driving around everywhere with it like that. I understand that the 249 doesn't have a 4HI as such, and when you're in the 4Full, the VC normally would balance the drive, front to back, and allow slip where needed. A bad VC cannot slip at all, it pretty much binds the front and rear outputs together and forces the same speeds from the input. This isn't unheard of with 4x4s, it's almost exactly what 4HI does in other transfer cases which is why I made that comparison. 👍 The 249 however isn't supposed to do that, as it has no 2WD or other option that prevents binding. I've removed the front driveshaft on mine 😅

[@tonygambino4485]

Any ideas on how to fix the E-fan? Mine is having the same problem. I swapped the temp sensor in the middle of the radiator hose (hard to find) and it worked for a bit. The fan should kick on around 3/8's temp and mine is going up to 5/8's before it kicks on. It is fine and doesn't completely over heat but parked, and in traffic, the temp is getting too high before it cools.

[@mraiwa1000]

Very informative video! Thanks for the info! Would love to see more of your Jeep and your progress with it.

[@newyorkdragon]

I appreciate it! I’m working on some videos at the moment, please subscribe so you don’t miss out! Thanks again!

[@runningkirkwa2934]

I used to own this same jeep. I Drove it until unreliable at 175,000 miles. Then i bought my millionaire maker, my 2013 honda civic. I loved my 5.9 jeep though. Had it for 12 + years.

[@newyorkdragon]

That’s awesome what made it unreliable?

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

the 5.9 grill ISNT larger or wider.. its just styling. Simple as that.. All grills are interchangable.. dude ive had grand cherokee zjs for 20 years now including 5.9 limited. Lower coolant hose also has a sensor not just the upper hose. No 5.9 has a button on the seat to turn on the heater. whatever yours has. That isnt factory. Factory is the slider on the dash. Your Jeeps heated seat was modified. Youre also missing the 98 cup holder insert. Which i sell dozens of every year. Only the 98 ZJs had them. They are rubber. Insert in the cup holders. To hold your cup tight. Your cups just wobble around without it. So prior owners of your Jeep lost yours. Youre also missing the Jeep center cap on your front drivers tire. Only the 5.9 ZJ had that. So thats another special feature people will steal to put on their own rims. Youre also forgetting the 5.9 ZJ had a 46re transmission. And a dana 44 Aluminum versus iron on the 5.2 v8. The 5.9 limited also had a much much girthier rear drive shaft. The 5.2 and 4.0 have tiny driveshafts. You should also check the PCM for a deathflash sticker.. deathflash is a factory flash to use 87 octane. You can go to the dealership to flash the pcm to use 87 octane versus 91. This lower power some but the main reason for this deathflash was to fix the pinging aka predetonation the engine has. The 5.9 limited is HEAVILY prone to predeotnate it sounds like marbles ina tin can at half throttle or going up hills.. usually using 93 octane can solve this but sometimes it still does it. Another reason people did the flash was to lower gasoline costs.. having to buy 93 octane sucks.. most gas stations are 87 89 or 93. So you gatta buy 93.. 89 will wont work. And 93 is usually 70-80 cents more per gallon. There were also performance models of the 5.9 limited. Some were flashed to use 92 octane. They had more power than the standard ones. There were also CALIFORNIA emission compliant 5.9 limited. You can tell from the pcm on it. And they also had 3 o2 sensors. Versus the standard 2 o2 sensors. Also if the 5.9 doesnt have an electric fan anymore that doesnt mean anything. The electric fans use a high and low speed sensor on the upper and lower radiator hose. The upper tends to go bad on all these Jeeps and the fan wont kick on until the Jeep is abive 220f. and they havent made these sensors for 15 years now. There are 0 replacements.. no aftermarket. So you have to get lucky finding them in the junkyard like i have or yoy swap the lower hose sensor to the upper hose.. but doing that will cut your high speed off. Overtime youll be forced to go to a clutch fan or use a aftermarket sensor that turns on at higher temp. Make sure your low speed is working. It should kick on at 210f no higher and it keeps the jeep at 200f. There is also another sensor on the A.C line unique to this model Another feature is the 5.9 limited had a 150Amp alternator. The 4.0 had 90. The 5.2 had 136. The 150 isnt made aftermarket. So if yoir 150 dies.. you need to rebuild it.. or youre stuck buying a 136amp Youre missing lots of features on this video lol do more research next time 5.9 was also geared to 3.73 Also replaced your auto dimming mirror my man that isnt safe to have all the liquid leaked out and you cant even use the mirror lol. All 5.9 limiteds btw had this auto dimming heated mirror factory. It was optional on other models. Also the main tjing i suggest to anyone wanting to buy a 25 year old Jeep.. Is you better have lots of money for repairs. Or learn how to do it yourself.. These things are old now. Ball joints go bad.. i garuntee every rubber bushing is bad on the 4 control arms. Things leak. Power steering pumps alternators go bad. Radiator will leak eventually. Garuntee it. Cv boots tear youll need to learn to replace the axle shafts.. which isnt fun. The plenum aka intake manifold on 5.2 and 5.9s all blow and leak oil into the engine.. 99.99% of them need to the intake manifold taken off and repaired These Jeeps arent for a young person who has no money and no know how to fix things. Trust me.

[@newyorkdragon]

Good insights! Thanks!

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

@@newyorkdragon check your alternator part number im curious if you still have the original 150amp. Start lookimg for that cup holder insert. Its a god send trust me lol. Also i forgot how many miles you got.. but over 150-200k miles the timing chain really needs to be replaced. Does your upper hose sensor actually still work ? What temp does the fan kick on ? 210 or 220 ?

[@newyorkdragon]

I’ll have to check it once I get back to my storage unit, and I know those cup holders are pesky! Lol And I believe the sensor does work it but not sure what temp. It has 120k miles

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

@@newyorkdragon just remembered.. another thing 5.9 limited specific were the sun visors. They were black like the black pillar trim black grab handles and black geadliner. But they also had those sliding visors to fully cover the door window as the sun woyld always get into your eye with regular shirter visors. Only the 5.9 had this

[@JeepsOnTheRun]

Nice video! I had one of these back in 1998 - still one of my favorite vehicles. That heated seat button on the side of seat is not factory as you have the heated function up on the dash.

[@newyorkdragon]

Interesting! I’ve seen this exact thing on other 5.9 I’m wondering if it was a common mod ?

[@JeepsOnTheRun]

@@newyorkdragon The heated seats were a common failure on these. That aftermarket option was a 'cheap fix' so I bet it's more common than we think. The sliding levers on the dash are the OEM switches

[@AMF96]

I have a white 98 GC 5.9 Limited with 113K original miles that I’ve owned for 6 years. It’s been a pretty good car but have had to fix a few things on it in the time I’ve had it. Some cooling system issues and a couple of other issues but no major drive train or transmission issues. About a year after I got it I did swap the original 249 transfer case to a 242 transfer case that I got from a pick n pull yard so that I could switch back and forth from 2WD to 4WD. I had hoped that swapping the transfer case and leaving it in 2WD most of the time would help for better gas mileage but it really didn’t help all that much. Maybe 1 mpg improvement at best. When I bought the car it was basically rust free and in perfect condition. It’s still in very good shape but after sitting outside the last 5 winter’s it’s accumulated some rust on the undercarriage, rear gate, and some minor rust starting on the front fenders. I love the power and it’s great in the snow but as you would except fuel economy is not very good. I average 10-11 mpg around town and maybe 13-14 mpg on the highway. Plus it requiring Premium Fuel definitely doesn’t help. Overall I have loved it but will probably be selling it next year. I currently have too many cars and no longer have as much of a need for it. I recently bought a 2011 Toyota RAV4 V6 that has taken its place and I’m liking the RAV4 every bit as much as the Jeep except for the fact that, that V6 is never going to sound anywhere near as amazing as that 5.9 V8.

[@newyorkdragon]

I get you the gas mileage is extremely bad plus needing premium fuel is another blow to wallet. I personally don’t mind it as much because it’s the price to pay for driving such a car on the road, I like the peace of mind knowing it won’t leave me stranded in crazy snow conditions 💪🏽

[@AMF96]

@@newyorkdragon Yeah while the bad gas mileage kinda sucks, it honestly hasn’t bothered me too much.. I generally have just driven mine locally around town for the most part since I’ve had it. I’ve only put a little over 10K miles on mine in the 6 years I’ve had it. I have another car I’ve driven more in the Summer months, so my niner would sit in storage for a good 4-6 months throughout the year. I’m not quite ready to sell mine just yet but let me know if you are ever in the market for another one since I will very likely be selling it sometime next year.

[@j.f.h.j.3274]

That's absolutely very true. It,s a special Truck .

[@Budrob998]

U want to sell it?

[@AMF96]

@@Budrob998 Yes I will eventually be selling it, however I’m not ready to sell just yet at this time. I’m planning on keeping it another 6 months to a year at most. Would you like me to let you know when I’m ready to sell?

[@paulieboots]

I have this model,colors are the same. Transmission is out and its at the Aamco for a diagnostic. 200K original. Yours is super clean.

[@paulieboots]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGbHd4KngJ6DbK8

[@newyorkdragon]

Thanks! I’m still trying to get it back as close to original as possible.

[@jesus-go7us]

this is the best cherokeee ever.! i have one i love it 7 inch lift on 35 muds 😎

[@newyorkdragon]

That’s a nice setup 👌🏾👌🏾

[@amandaschuch2372]

U missed the auto dimming driver mirror

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

5.9 limited came factory but that was optional for other zjs. No what he missed was the 46re transmission. The 150 amp alternator. The 2nd sensor on the lower rad hose. The heated seat button isnt factory someone did that to his. Hes also missing the larger drive shaft on 5.9s only. And thr dana44 aluminum. 5.9 PCMs had a performsnce model as well that uses 92 octane not 91 octane. And a california emission model as well with 3 o2 sensors. The wheels also had JEEP caps on them no other Jeep has this. Hes really missing a lot and tbh the video smells noob lol

[@dankdizzl3546]

I wish I had that sound bar in my WJ.

[@newyorkdragon]

It’s pretty sweet !

[@beebridge2306]

The wheels are not aluminum, they are magnesium. None of the badges should be silver in color , they all should have the same chrome appearance finish. If the exhaust tip is missing , measure the tailpipe to assure it's 3" '

[@newyorkdragon]

The wheels are aluminum according to the build sheet.

[@rayj33]

If you think wheels can be made with magnesium. You have real issue my boy

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

The tip is 4 incjs.. the rear tailpipe is 3 but everything else is still 2.5

[@harlow815]

@@rayj33 Wheels were made out of Magnesium years ago. Mostly on Race cars. Look it up.

[@HILLBURKE]

Mine's little wore out but at least it has everything it's so hard for me not to lower it and take the roof racks off

[@newyorkdragon]

It’s tempting to modify but I’d hold out bro ! Keep it as stock as possible with maintenance

[@urtron5754]

I have this jeep 5.9✋👍👍

[@newyorkdragon]

They’re awesome

[@angelmagana3963]

Jeeps are just more reliable than other cars in my opinion

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

Eh theyre old... 25 years old now. The 93 is 30 years old. Reliable to a point yet.. but things wear out... rubber goes bad.. ball joints go bad. I garuntee no one has ever greased any joint ever.. Unless youre made of money or know how to do car repairs.. I dont recomend getting any 25 year old car.. And i own two ZJ a 4.0 with 400k miles and a 5.9 with 220k.. trust me. Its constant repairs on them as they age. Im lucky i have a workshop and tools to do it. Ive had to replace balls joints. U joints. Control arms. Engine mounts. Transmission mounts. You also need to replace the timing chains after 150-200k miles. The intake manifold on the 5.9 and 5 2 is defective by design and needs repaired 99% of the time theyre blown and burn oil. The transmissions almost always have broken snap rings for overdrive. Or actuator springs. There is a long long long list if repairs ive done over the last 15 years. It isnt a vehicle to own if you cant afford to replace things.

[@angelmagana3963]

Nice information. But if ur gonna educate someone then do a video 😂. And I was saying that jeeps in general are reliable not this specific car. Just don’t be a hater bruh ❤

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

@@angelmagana3963 ever hear of books.. writing.. I just wrote down what goes bad generally... I dont need to make a video to satisfy you.. I work on these Jeeps i own 3 Jeeps. Two ZJs and a wagoneer. If i didnt know how to fix cars itd be tens of thousands in repairs between the two by now. Ball joints. Axle half shafts. U joints. Radiators. Timing chain. Water pumps. Power steering pump. A.c compressors. Headliner sagging. Electrical issues bad solder joints on switchs. Window motors that go bad. Door lock actuators go bad. Trust me itd easily be over 10k in repairs from a shop.. i know because ive spent 4-5k$ on parts between the two lol. My wagoneer alone is a 90 and it took 5,000$ in parts to repair it. And it still has things breaking. The reason i see hundreds and hundreds in the salvage yards in (mint) condition looks wise is because people no longer could afford to repair what you cant see on the outside. I aint a hater.. I jist know a shit ton more than you. I bet you havent turned a wrench in your life lol. You drive a newer wrangler and call it reliable right ? I bet you havent driven a vehicle ilder than 7-10 years old.. When in fact the newer Jeeps are even worse. The engines are all Junk hemi lifter issues.. V6 pentastar lifters also go bad. Ive seen tons of newer wranglers with 100k or less miles that knock badly. No, the ZJ IS reliable. My whole point on trying educate youre dumbass though, was saying NO (note i said no) 25+ year old car is reliable. Again i said no old car is reliable they all need repairs. Try to read and learn Next time. You dont need a video to learn for christ sake

[@olliejabooty6777]

The first thing you should look for when buying these is don’t pay out the ass for them. 2 years ago you could’ve picked one up with a 150k miles for $1500 now with the same miles sellers are asking around $10k. The people buying these up right now are either boomers who had one back in the day for a very short period of time now looking to piss away their retirement fund or a middle aged person with lots of disposable income discovering 5.9 ZJs for the first time now

[@newyorkdragon]

To each his own. Have a great day!

[@sparkie5571]

yea, car prices did rise for a while these last two years but i just found another one to add to my collection for $1,200

[@jeepsblackpowderandlights4305]

No one is asking 10k for a 5.9 lol theyre still 1500-3000$

[@aldicroce6505]

In Canada they are going for and getting $4 to $10,000.

[@newyorkdragon]

@@aldicroce6505 Yep! i've seen them go for 24k the really mint ones

[@amandaschuch2372]

Z88Z ftw

[@Nivavod67]

Зачётный аппарат 🤝

[@Budrob998]

It’s not missing the emblems, towards the end of production jeep literally ran out of badges

[@newyorkdragon]

Wow good to know thanks for the info!

[@Budrob998]

Most rare one is the stoner (white)without a sunroof

[@newyorkdragon]

I also know that stone white was the least produced, thanks for watching!

[@AhlaRanna-ld9qt]

مرحبا

[@AhlaRanna-ld9qt]

نبى سيارة جيب شروكي محرك 59 عندك

[@AhlaRanna-ld9qt]

الووووووووو كلمني

[@paultynan8705]

If you find a moonroof delete jump on it less than 500 made

[@newyorkdragon]

Subtract crashes and neglected ones there’s probably around 100. Do you know total production numbers ?

[@NektarVision]

COOLANT SENSOR BAD

[@MrSrtman18]

Its filthy. Ill buy it if you don’t want it.

[@newyorkdragon]

It’s pretty filthy I’m looking for my next one !

[@ramcharger9146]

Your 98 is not rare by any means and 5.2 318 way better

[@newyorkdragon]

How so ??