Jeep Question

[Monkey Butler]

Where else would I go if not V20.com?

Looking at buying a 1997 Grand Cherokee Limited 5.2L with 165K from a co-worker. This will be a project car for my 17 YO son. The car needs some work but I can do most of it myself but there is one thing that concerns me regarding the tranny. After a full throttle acceleration the tranny shifts at much higher RPMs than normal for a few miles and start/stop cycles then it is okay. If I disconnect the kickdown cable and do a full throttle of the problem doesn't occur. Any thoughts? If I were looking at a tranny rebuild then the car isn't worth it.

Steve P.

[THEFERMANATOR]

The kickdown cable needs to be connected whenever it is driven or else you will fry the tranny rather quickly. The adjustment on it is rather touchy, but you can try adjusting it to make it so it isn't pulled out as far, but go 1 or 2 clicks at a time max when adjusting it. Trannies in the GRAND's are notoriously weak and are known to fail at roughly 70K miles from my experience.

[Monkey Butler]

Thanks for the quick reply Ferm. I can get a picture in the AM but I don't think I see an adjustment on the cable???

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by Monkey Butler

Thanks for the quick reply Ferm. I can get a picture in the AM but I don't think I see an adjustment on the cable???

I assure you there is one if it is indeed a 97 with a 5.2L. There should be a white tab that wraps around it that you push down or pull up to release it. They changed them from year to year so I don't remember exactly what each year had.

[Jack]

hey ferm you sound like the jeep man. How much do you know about the 94 cherokee?

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by Jack

hey ferm you sound like the jeep man. How much do you know about the 94 cherokee?

A little.

[Jack]

This is Jack's son by the way. I have the cherokee for a project and i might need a little help along the way. I know who to ask now.

[Monkey Butler]

Ferm,

Okay, now I see what you are talking about but it looks like it's not an adjustment issue. It seems that the cable is binding up. I took a quick look underneath last night but coldn't really see where the cable connects to the tranny. The car has been sitting for quite a while so maybe just working it some will loosen it up.

Not a bad looking vehicle:



Aside from that it needs brakes (those composite rotors do some weird things):



and while the exhaust isn't leaking yet it is on its last legs.




Anything else to look out for on this year/model?

Steve P.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Those rotors should be covered under the recall. The kickdown cable will hook up on the drivers side at the tranny right next to the shift linkage.