1998 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L I-6 from North America
Summary:
A fun, generally reliable vehicle
Faults:
Toe-in had to be corrected at 12K, but that was my fault for driving like a maniac down a Forest Service Road.
Cost: ~ $100.
Dash instruments had a short at 25K miles, so they would go on or off when you hit bumps.
Cost: Fixed under warranty.
Engine died on me on a Saturday night 30 miles from the nearest service station at around 45K. The coil was replaced and it's worked fine since then.
Cost: ~$500, including the new coil, new spark plugs and spark plug wires, and a new distributor cap.
There is a slight leak coming in through the hardtop in the tailgate area when it rains, but I live in the desert now so that's not much of an issue.
General Comments:
It's my second Jeep and I knew what I was getting into when I bought it. It's loud and it sucks gas.
Despite the coil problem, I like the 4.0L engine and it has a good reputation for longevity.
Classic styling means Jeeps never really look old.
Not a fun car on long road trips, but great around town.
Very fun with the top and doors off.
Unstoppable off-road, I've never come close to its 4x4 limits.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 17th December, 2003
11th Jun 2004, 13:53
It is interesting to hear your fuel gauge woes. I, too own a '98 Wrangler with the trusty ol' 4.0 and ran into a situation where the the gauge read a half tank and yet it was drained dry. I must say it is not an enjoyable experience to push a Jeep 200 yards prior to heading to work on a Monday morning. Additionally, the engine bogs every time I start it... I have to let it warm up for a good 5-10 minutes (even if it's already warmed up and I just shut it off for 10 minutes). Other than that... not many issues to speak of.