New to me Jeep Liberty

1911gobang

1911gobang

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So I shook hands and made a deal on an ‘02 Jeep Liberty 4x4 with the V6. Anything I should know? It’s my nephew’s SUV and he’s a mechanic….a very skilled and meticulous one at that. I drove it about 10-15 miles, and I gotta say I’m impressed that my Sasquatchian frame was actually comfortable in it!! Nobody is sitting in the back seat behind me, but I bought it to get 20+ mpg when all I have to take to a jobsite is myself, a few hand tools, and possibly some diagnostic gear.
194,000 miles with religious maintenance since they bought it in 2016. New tires, fresh oil change, VERRRRY cold A/C, cruise, sunroof, power windows/locks.
Got it for $4K.

I think I did right well….

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Seems like a good deal for a 4x4, congrats on the buy. Im sure it's in great shape and will be a great addition to your fleet, especially getting higher MPG in this climate

And when I read the post I remembered a meme. Did some googling and here you go

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I have a 2006 with 212,000 miles, she purrs like a kitten. Can't image I won't get 300k out of her. I am religious about oil. Things I have replaced myself mostly just because are:

Front struts
Radiator
Water pump
Rear shocks
AC. This one I just did the whole cabuki cause it wasn't that much for a compressor and condensor.

Ball joint. Ok if there is a weak spot on this car it's the ball joints. Three so far. One I did myself.


Next I will do upper control arms just cause.

The paint on these are amazing. I do keep mine under a carport but holy cow, look at this picture. The parking garage has good lighting but man, for a car pushing 20years!

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My sister had one with that little Italian turbodiesel.

Lol
 
Around here, young ladies who wanted a wrangler but couldn't afford one or daddy wouldn't buy them one, all ended up with these. They all would say, "I drive a jeep".

But knowing several with them back in the day. They were pretty darned durable for the maintenance attention a 16-20something girl would give them. Been behind the wheel of many for one reason or another.

I always considered them at least decent compared to Cherokees and grand Cherokees of the same era. Just the same as those, still moving along under their own power 300k miles later somehow. Wayyy better then the next gen of crossover little utes that were bought to be able to claim "I drive a jeep"🤣

I always had a soft spot for the crd version. Would still look into a clean one.
 
Trevillian said:
I always had a soft spot for the crd version. Would still look into a clean one.
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Same here except the stupid price of diesel fuel right now has kicked that rock down the road pretty far for me.
 
Mike79 said:
Never messed with one but do recall something about the brake caliber pistons are plastic 🤔.
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Perhaps bakelite. Ford used that in the 1970's.
 
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Button Pusher said:
Perhaps bakelite. Ford used that in the 1970's.
Click to expand...
Quick Google gave this info.

A phenolic piston is a caliper piston that has been made using phenolic plastic. Phenolic plastic is exceptionally strong, making it the perfect material for use in brake calipers as it resists heat, rust, and oxidation.
 
I love my 2005, but I shouldn't have bought this particular one. I looked at the frame rails for rust and didn't see any, but it turned out there was a ton of rust underneath on everything else. Just had to put all new brakes including calipers on it for $1500. Also rust is now coming through the otherwise nice paint job on the bottom of the doors.

What I do like about it is its a 6 speed manual, is a ton of run to drive, and the exhaust has a nice gurgle to it. Only 140k when I bought it, now probably 160, still less than my Mustang, lol. 4wd works awesome, and it pulls a trailer well.

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Keep close watch on the coolant level…3.7’s will warp the heads and suffer head gasket failure with very little proding. Yours has got enough age/miles for random things to start leaking, but hopefully, being previously mechanic owned, all the hoses, radiator, timing cover gasket, etc have been replaced already.
 
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