Buying This Used Jeep Wrangler was the Biggest Mistake I've Made *Blue Jeep Update
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely LOVE Jeep Wranglers, especially the TJ series. I daily drive one and love it way more than I should. But when the opportunity arose to purchase this WAY underpriced Jeep TJ, I couldn't pass it up. Only when I tried to take the wheels off did i discover why this purchase was a mistake.
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I bought my Jeep TJ new in late 1996 as a 1997. It is the best vehicle I have ever had. Right now, she has 408,000 miles on the odometer and climbing. The secret is never to let anybody work on your Jeep. Always do all your own modifications, maintenance, and repairs. Study schematics, buy quality tools, learn all you can about your Jeep. I am sure I can get 30 more years out of her.
30 more years???😲😲😲
@@walterfernandes2014 Only 27 years left to go. The mileage is now 431,000 miles and climbing. Still, nobody has touched her for service, maintenence and repairs. Only I have cared for my dear RMS Stargazer. There was a fire in the engine compartment Christmas of 2022. I lovingly, and dedicatedly, rewired everything in the engine compartment after a week and a half of cleaning the fire retardant from the two fire extinguishers discharged to turn off the fire. I also changed the fuel line to stainless steel. Yesterday, I took her on a 351 mile journey for a long road test to get supplies for my generator and get a new trailer. Besides a small radiator leak due to the acidity of the extinguisher fire retardent causing a seam to degrade on the radiator, she did wonderfully. In the spring, I will change the burnt hood and resolder the weakened seam and save the original radiator. I am already looking for a replacement hood. I foresee 500,000 by September 2024. I can not part with a vehicle that has been so enormously reliable, so rugged and durable, so fun, so beautiful. She is my best friend. I love my dear RMS Stargazer. She has been with me through things humans simply were not. That is why when she finally did fail, I repaid the wonderful years of being with me through so much with all I could do for her. It was 14°F when I rewired her and changed the fuel line. It took an entire day. I would have done it if it were 0°F. Never underestimate the love between a boy and his Jeep.
@@indridcold8433 WOW that's really impressive, may you enjoy many more years my guy...
I have a 2000 wrangler 2.5L manual with 237,000 miles., very reliable . The big issue I see from the jeep in this video is rust.
Spends $1500 on a running Jeep then "gasp", he has to replace some parts.
I mean...the wheels did suck. But yeah.....
LOL...poor baby...LOL
I bought mine new in 1996. Besides regular consumables, I have never had a problem until Christmas 2022 when there was an electrical fire that crippled her to a point that she could not run. But that was the first time in 26 years I had any problem. Granted, it was actually a really huge failure. But, I repaired the damage. In spring, I will be resoldering the radiator and replacing the burnt hood. But, she is running like new again. She just does not look very good right now. But a new hood and paint is coming soon.
@@blade913 There is a tapered lugnut remover that would have made short work of those ceased and broken lugnuts. They are very cheap and easily available at your local auto parts store.
@@indridcold8433 it's been awhile since I've seen this, but I said the wheels suck. As in, they're not that cool in appearance.
Bought my 1998 Jeep for $6,000.
Within the first year replaced the engine mounts, fan shroud, alternator. Second year the transmission case was cracked and had to be replaced, then had to have the transmission rebuilt. Third year got the death wobble, and spent a small fortune getting that fixed properly. Also replaced the coolant lines the same year. Now the radiator is leaking and I have to replace it this weekend. All told I have spent almost as much fixing it as I paid for it.
Still have to recharge the a/c, fix some rust spots, replace the brakes, and some other small items.
I still like my Jeep. Just glad I don’t live in an apartment complex anymore where I can’t work on it myself.
Jeeps are like strippers; they are happiest when you keep throwing money at them.
I had a 99 it needed frame work but it got wrecked in a accident, just picked up a 01 and it needs a floor pan and some minor other body work from what I've found but it has a clean frame, 2500CAD and I live in the salt belt.
same with any 20 year old car though
LOL Your last comment about Jeeps and strippers!!!! I'm cryin'!!!
I'm definitely gonna use that one!
I've got an '01 myself and just in the last month ALL the brake lines, hardware, both front rotors, both pads and calipers, and both rear cylinders had to be replaced.
Then a week later, the driveshaft dropped out and both u-joints had to replaced.
When it rains, it pours!
Is the engine the Jeep the 2.4 litre engine?
@@Paul-md8ms If it was the inline six, no engine replacement would have been needed. Anybody can rebuild one of them with little effort and expense. It is an antique, push rod, one piece cylinder head, single valve train, simple intake, two valves per piston, engine. A completely ceased, cracked cylinder head, bent push rod, cracked cylinder, broken crank shaft, engine is easy to repair and cheaper than buying a replacement engine.
$1500, I'll take it! That's a steal! Work on it and that thing can become a beast. 4.0 too!
Completely agree considering the value of these Jeeps, especially the 4.0L. I bought a 98 TJ 2.5 with new Toyo 33's lift winch, A/C 5-Speed 4:10's, etc but a blown engine for $1750.00. That is a steal out here on the west coast. No keys which is an issue as they are chipped, but I have the new engine ready to go in and I am regearing to 4:88's.
Wait wait wait you found a TJ for $1500 and your complaining?
EXACTLY!!
Idiot
mines a 97 and got it for 1,200. have completely rebuilt the frame 😂
I've seen wrecked TJs go for 2 grand!
So you had a bad starter and bad lug nuts. Thats not a lot wrong. You sound like a whiner.
yuh, yuh, yuh, memories... in my case I found out later from someone who thought they knew the history of the jeep; The one I bought may have gotten stuck in the surf at Pismo Beach. Apparently, they didn't clean and grease things up correctly. But after... a lot of work it turned out to be a good vehicle! You're keeping a smile on your face, that's the main thing! It looks great!
I can not believe you destroyed the wheels that way! 3 drill bit sizes thru the center of the lugs would have done the job in a quarter of the time! This is a common occurrence and would have saved the wheels.
Looking good man. Its always the "easy" quick flips that bite you in the ***. Thats a hard lesson I've learned more than once..
F man. You must use impact rated sockets if beating them on. Iv never broke one of them. Impact sockets are better than the tools iv used to get lock nuts off when the key is missing.
Cutting the rims made as much sense as not being able to take the oil filter out and torching the whole front end of the vehicle off.
I had the exact same problem with my lug nuts on my 99 tj Sahara! There is a solution for those who might have the same issue !
Use a 6 foot long wrench bar to apply gentle high torque but dont try to undo the nut just apply pressure then at the same time get a friend rhythmically beat the socket with a bloody big hammer ! This worked on every stripped nut like a charm !
That turned out awesome. If I were in the market, I'd take it!
Thanks! 👍🏽
Just found your channel. Love your humor! At least it wasn't raining.
When I go to a tire shop I requested to have my lugs tightened by hand they frown at it but it pays dividends when out in the boonies changing a tire
It may have been a pain but that's really not that bad for $1500. I was expecting much worse.
I've seen worse Wranglers on Craigslist sell for more.
Hmmmm... not seeing an issue here. For $1500 and a few MINOR issues, you have a damn fine Jeep.
$ 0.02, If anyone ever has the stripped lug nut problem, dont cut the wheels off. Please. Take a 1/8th in drill bit and bore through the center of the lug nut. Keep drilling with progressively bigger bits until you have completely removed the lugs. Happened to me. Wasn't fun, but I still have my wheels.
This was one of the first issues I dealt with too when I bought my TJ five years ago. I ended up painstakingly drilling out each stud. Good quality drill bits were key, and it sucked. Ultimately what I would do now is just drill around the stud with a bi-metallic hole-saw bit (1 inch diameter, inexpensive at home depot or lowes) and just sacrifice the rims like you did....those hardened bits will chew through the aluminum easily. Then just cut the studs with an angle grinder. Better yet, just yank out the whole axle/wheel/tire and get rid of it. Get some alloy axle shafts with decent wheels and tires. Wish I'd started a YT channel to document my own journey from trash heep to rad jeep.
Considering the level of effort to get the wheel off, would dismounting the whole wheel bearing/hub assembly be an option in this type of situation for the fronts? It would get the wheel and the work free of the jeep so that you could bust the studs out more easily. Random thought.
That color is sure a blast from the past. I believe that is a 97 or 98 Jeep Wrangler in gunmetal blue. Same color as my very first wrangler!
Good story...fun to watch...Thanks!
LOVE that TJ!!! That's a pain having to remove the wheels like that but it looks like it had to be done
Thanks! It absolutely was a pain if you couldn’t tell from the tone of my voice 😑. But it was the only way those wheels were coming off in a timely manner.
hey, if you have this wheel/stud/lug problem, let me know. this happened to me and "we" came up with a successful solution much better then cutting the wheel off...
Wish I could've say I haven't been through the same. Night a nice looking 01 with only 84k on it. 6 months later I found out it had internal frame for when it broke. I could have bought a new one for what I have in it now.
HOW MANY MILES WAS ON THE JEEP AND WHAT SHOULD BE THE MAX MILES FOR PURCHASING A JEEP???
Loved the presentation! It does look sweet.
It's really easy to drill out the lug studs, especially when the lug nuts are half way off.
@Scott Duffy a torch would work but needlessly heat and discolor everything around it, and if the lug is already have way off then pounding a socket onto it would just push the stud out through the back and then the stud and nut just flop in the hole and make it impossible to do anything with.
I have the same color and had the same problem with my lug nuts but I drilled them out. Not long after my rear axle broke. 8.8 for the win
Did you use the right size socket to remove lug nuts?
Is that last clip of the puddle done in Merrimack Nh?
You've got a great deal on this jeep.
First thing that comes to mind is an air chisel and split the lug or drilling them out.
And pull the rusted fenders off and put rock crawler fenders on.
I doubt you're going to loose money on it yet.
It will sell right now for twice what you have in it.
Yup. My 99 Cherokee had the chrome caps. Everyone was stripped. Cut the cap off and still they wouldnt budge. Imlact worked on a few. Some just spun. Most all the studs were screwed. Took a while to find the correct studs, locally. Bought all new grade 8 nuts. At this point looks are not an issue so at least all studs have nuts that actually work.
Guess I need to tell my Dad to hang onto his '05 Wrangler Sport, always garaged, only driven in the Southwestern US, no rust with 21K miles.
shoot I'll give him 1500.00 right now!!
3k
I almost Buy a Jeep like this ...Thank You for Your review
I got a 2001 TJ with 178,519 miles and in fair condition. I paid 3,200 do you think I got a good deal?
Did you try an ezy out on those studs first?
I'm just glad to know someone else has the same stupid crap happen to them
I have owned 3 Jeeps and they certainly are a lot of maintenance. That being said since you are familiar with Jeeps you could make this a business opportunity and purchase older Jeeps fix them up and resale them knowing you are selling a good solid product to people who want a Jeep Wrangler. Certainly something to think about!
no!!
What stopped you from using drill with those lug nuts? After releasing tension, remains could be removed by a simple extractor... 🤨
We tried on my sisters older focus... Broke four bits. Ended up torching it
Drill works the best.
You have done a good job keep up the good work
What size socket did you use on the lug nuts?
We're you using a 12 point socket?
with the amount of visible rust, I would look very closely for frame rust. It's a not-uncommon issue with Jeep Wranglers in northern areas.
You are so right, if that frame is rusted out he's looking at some pretty major repairs.
I just bought this same model basically, a gunmetal pearlcoat 1998 Sport with 5 speed and 4 liter engine. Mine is "rust free" and it's spring of 2022 so I paid beaucoup bucks for it... But every fastener is prone to breakage because it's a Chrysler product.. I'm pretty sure they engineered them with grade 1 bolts and expect rust to act as loctite.. Watching you saw a wheel off of its hub tells me you have a longish journey in front of you, learning to be calm and creative when dealing with issues like that.
Hey man, absolutely love watching you videos. You’re hilarious and a real joy to listen to and watch. Also being from New England and being a lover of NH, just started watching your videos today and love the channel brother !
I just weld similarly sized nuts or even another lug nut on top of the stripped lugs, bolts ect. Iv used this for many stuck bolts and nuts. Just pick up a cheap HF mig welder for those crappy moments.
LOL having a corroded NH jeep myself, its alot easier to pull the shafts and grind the studs from the back.
Also another option to removing stuck wheels, you an pull the axle shafts and just get new ones at a yard and scrap the lot. Saves the trouble of torching and cutting
can you get the caliper off while the wheel is on ? i did not think there was enough room
MrMrsregor it’s possible, it would be a tight fit for sure
I had a 98 XJ that almost all the lug nuts were stuck on. So frustrating. Didn't have to go as far as you did though haha.
Get a Milwaukee hammer drill, I’ve got one that has up to 1400 foot pounds and so far it’s been undefeated with every vehicle I own.
How did someone manage to strip every bolt on that car? Is that from over torquing them when putting them on?
The problem we have in Florida is the drive on beaches and the saltwater. It corrodes them on and you end up stripping either the lug nut or the studs themselves. A little noncorrosive graphite and actually a good washing will prevent that. Actually vice-versa.
I can't wait to get my hands on one of those Jeeps they're popular to drive in Puerto Rico and I always see you at the Puerto Rican date festival I like the classic Jeeps they'll make them like that no more
For anyone looking to buy a good Jeep, go to a south western state and get one with no salt rust on the undercarriage. Saves you a lot of maintenance. I bought my 99 TJ back in 2009 in north Hollywood and this thing is clean. All original stock except new soft top.
Had a 1998 Wrangler that I bought new, biggest piece of garbage I've ever owned BY FAR. What was particularly ass-chapping about it was I sold a Nissan Hardbody to get it. That Nissan I owned since new had 165K miles on it and ZERO had gone wrong with it in those miles.
You said” Damn the torpedos, full steam ahead”...you persevered and now you have a great jeep...I think the person that sold it to you didn’t tell you that the nuts were put on too tight and tires haven’t been removed for some time!
Cool video, and you posted on my bday. 😁
Get a drill , drill your studs out so you don't have to cut the rims off . Ya I replaced a lot of parts on mine also , stay clear of the 07-11 3.8 motors /electrical problems/oil eaters/ Money pit .
It's a nice Jeep. I had a '99 TJ and wish I never sold it. Back in a Jeep again, '17 JK, loving it. Great Jeeps and great videos...keep it up!
David Mcgranahan why did you sell it? Full regret getting rid of my first tj
Just wasn't working out for small kids/carseats.
David Mcgranahan don’t say that I have a kid on the way
An unlimited back then would have worked fine, but the 2 door was tough. Best of luck!!
Cheap jeeper what are you driving now?
Excellent video.
where did you get a TJ for $1.5k dlls? I need one!
I live in MASSACHUSETTS and am looking for my first Jeep. Could I buy it from you?
Let me tell you a horror story about a Jeep I purchased 3 months ago. It's a 97 4-cylinder TJ. Immediately one week after buying it I had to replace all four fuel injectors, the distributor cap, the radiator, straighten the frame on the body, get a new muffler, have an oil leak fixed, a new exhaust manifold, paint the dash, had the steering wheel fixed, get a new battery, get a new tie rod, get a new voltage regulator, get all four new spark plugs And to top it off I even had to paint the damn thing myself
You need to use a impact wrench to take it off. Or get a hammer and tap it. This take it right almost to the braking point, but in tap that slowly move the nut.
My van was on the same way. You can stand the the braker bar. But I knew it would snap. So I drove the flat about a block and pass one intersection into Midas . He was on one nut white the impact wrench about 1 minute some nut more. I got all new tire too so I told him hand tight it back please
Hey, I'm looking for a jeep to buy, would you take 2,000 for it?
I would have looked on Craigslist, eBay, FB Marketplace, Jeep Forums, local pull a parts, etc. You can find old TJ Dana 30s and 35s for loose change these days.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO GET RID OF ALL THE “””RUST””” ON THE JEEP?????
Cut it out, weld in new metal and paint it.
I’m an Original owner of a spec-ordered 97 TJ Sport. (143k on the clock....All my kids learned to drive stick in it...and I don’t have the heart to get rid of it...in fact, I often drive it over my 2020 Tacoma, my Porsche or my wife’s Forester). My factory steel wheels are pretty rusted....and I picked up five of those exact rims on C-list. What am I missing here? How the hell were three out of four wheels “stripped”? Too much torque installing them? It is almost unfathomable to me that your luck was that bad. Regardless, I’d like to think, your luck is changing....that is a good looking Jeep.
I like the metal rims better anyway
its looks awesome...not like the new ones...it not lifted as much...great stance...as per my taste!
Lol I don't feel that bad about my jeep now. Is the point where they say" it's a jeep thing you would understand" haha
Wow this is something that would happen to me!
Get a Milwaukee hammer drill it’ll get anything off with 1400 foot pounds I got mine for 200 bucks. Just hammer on a slightly smaller size of a socket to get the lugs off. I’ve had this problem with vehicles before and that method worked good.
you cooed have used a dip 16 point socket to git them off have dun it a lot
i bought a 98 tj in march 2017 with only 96000 on it and now it only has 102000 do not wheel it just a short daily driver.had too do some replacements parts but nothing really crazy. normal work i guess you would say for that old of car. paid 8000 worth every penny.
Should have removed the brake calipers before cutting. Consider the rotors lost
Ive owned 2 of them style jeeps 1st thing i did to both of them is drop it off at all out off road and got 4 in lift kits installed with 35in tires and steel wheels i let them have the headache for 3500 bucks installed
Did u have to weld the rust on that Jeep?
I had to cut the wheels off my first YJ. Lug nuts were destroyed on it. I paid 3000 for it and that was cheap.
Someone went to Walmart or a Discounter tire and some kid got silly with the impact and stretched the studs beyond yield. I have one old Gas station tire shop I go too, and their help stays the same very little turn over. My relatives go into the above and when one lost a tire lug nuts sheared and never found the tire he pulled it into my farm on the hub.
What year is your Jeep?
I don’t understand how you “stripped” a nut taking it off. I’d twist the stud off before ever stripping a nut that size...explain what you did.
So your biggest gripeswith the Jeep are the starter which is a wear-and-tear item anyway and then lug nuts that were put on way too tight. Not too bad
What year Jeep is this? Not all jeep years are created equal.
Watching this vid..it looks like you are all set to buy an Old Landrover....well you have been through all the things that could go wrong.
My 130 model TDI, best on earth tuff to kill.
Wow - that was unlucky- but it will be an awesome car !!
Yeah the cheapest jeep tj here in western Colorado is 3500. Got 210k miles and a check engine light and bad gauges. I've been in the market for a tj for a while now and just can't find one reasonable
I feel you there. New prices are ridiculously expensive too. I finally gave in and said fuck it. I figured if I was ever gonna buy a brand new vehicle this is it.
I like the stock rims better anyway.
That’s a nice TJ 👍
Notorious TJ. Rust buckets.
1:57 fart noise was amazing
Constant droning music gatta go.
Rust issues are the worst !
Where in New Hampshire ru from I am too!
So you guys took those rims off in the hardest way possible. When this kind of thing happens I do not suggest doing what you did. The easiest way to fix this problem is very simple. Take your strongest drill and a really good set of drill bits and you drill it out. You start with a small pilot hole and work your way to a bit that is the same size of the center of your lug nut. You then drill into the lug nut stud just behind the rim making sure not to drill into the rim. When you have gotten in far enough the lug nut will come off with the drill bit when backing out or pop off on the way out repeat for all lug nuts then take a big ball pin hammer and hit the lug nut stud out. Replace lug nut studs and lug nuts and your good to go.
With a purchase price of $1500 I'd gladly spend money on maintenance to get it going. but that lug nut issue is crazy
For 1500$ running driving and not in worst shape, that's not bad dude. Getting a jeep in decent shape that needs some work that your gonna use to wheel around, hunting fishing mudding, that's a normal setup for the price IMO. I would probably turn that thing into a pretty big straight up mud truck or rock crawler. Just go all out and take my time making a nice project out of it
Omg I thought I was alone I had to do the same thing to my Cherokee after buying the new ridged impact gun I was fucked after putting a new hub assembly in cause I cranked the hollow acorns on and they never came off again lol
I've owned Jeeps since 1978 and just remember what Jeep stands for, Just Empty Every Pocket. Nice looking buggy.
The inline 6 Jeep Cherokees are much more reliable, just not as cool looking.
Wow. I hope you pulled the valve stem core out before using the torch. People have been killed this way.
Oh man, bummer man!
You should have Known about RUST back East.
What you could of done on lug nuts over tighted them n twist them breaking the bolt n those can be replaced $ 3- 10 a piece or junk yard,, starter was easy it's the brushes, I hit mines dented it all the way around the brushes were touching n working for about 5 months,. Leaking oils will mess up motor n lite starts or hard ones getting stuck on flywheel , then again you can just buy the motor on it,,, last when you have rust on it you can either hide by brushing top layer putting a rust primer stop bleeding, 3 coats then the paint match by can ,n clear coat 3 phase, the other is removing the rust completely making holes using shears n other metal tools using metal as a back brace either jb cold weld or hot weld grinding sanding lightly on metal on top of metal to filled in line up with body,, or used JB weld as a filler n Bondo which works way better it's more work but cheaper than buying fenders doors large cut outs on back fenders then welding