Longevity of Liberty KJ?

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tbryanh

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I am thinking about buying a used Liberty KJ for the daily commute.

How long do these Jeeps last? Will the engines go 300,000 miles?

Whats the 4 cylinder engine like? Is it like the Japanese 4 cylinder engines? With timing belt, etc.?
 

JeepJeepster

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Some may make it to 300,000, but I personally dont believe they will be widespread.

4 cylinder IMHO is pretty useless..
 

tommudd

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All depends on the maintenenace its had etc pretty much
I have an 04 I bought new with 220,000 on it, buddy has an 03 he bought new with over 240,000
So they are out there

4 cylinders don't have enough power to get out of their own way, worthless and no better gas mileage than the 3.7
 

Birdman330

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A vehicle will last as long as you want it to, if you take care of it. Plenty of examples IE the Multi Million Mile Volvo, the legendary Million Mile Saab from Wisconsin, a Million Mile Triton V8 F250. Only exception on said phrase is the Chevrolet Beretta, no matter how hard you care for that car, it will always ALWAYS fall apart.
 

ltd02

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A vehicle will last as long as you want it to, if you take care of it. Plenty of examples IE the Multi Million Mile Volvo, the legendary Million Mile Saab from Wisconsin, a Million Mile Triton V8 F250. Only exception on said phrase is the Chevrolet Beretta, no matter how hard you care for that car, it will always ALWAYS fall apart.

Interesting, I had a 1988 Chevy Beretta. Drove it off the lot brand new with 17 miles on it and traded it in on a minivan 6 years later with 247k on it. Had the original clutch (5spd) and second set of brakepads. All I did was change the oil every 10-15k (you read that right). Drove the hell out of it and never had a problem. Paint peeled (big issue back then) with 160k on it and GM painted it for free. Had a 91 Chevy Corsica around the same time that my wife drove and I inherited post minivan purchase. We bought it used with 40k on it (daily rental). Traded that in after a few years with about 250k on it. Those things were bulletproof. Then got to the late 90's, first decade of 2000's and GM went all to hell. Had a couple real pieces of crap so I'll never own another one. :shrug:

Definitely agree with this for the most part:

A vehicle will last as long as you want it to, if you take care of it.

I've had many different shapes, sizes, models and brands of vehicles over the years and there are some real duds out there. From my experience I wouldn't say my KJ or KJs in general (I see tons of them everyday) fall anywhere near the dud end of the spectrum. I love mine. I'd probably say it's the most enjoyable vehicle I've driven in a long time.
 
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Birdman330

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Interesting, I had a 1988 Chevy Beretta. Drove it off the lot brand new with 17 miles on it and traded it in on a minivan 6 years later with 247k on it. Had the original clutch (5spd) and second set of brakepads. All I did was change the oil every 10-15k (you read that right). Drove the hell out of it and never had a problem. Paint peeled (big issue back then) with 160k on it and GM painted it for free. Had a 91 Chevy Corsica around the same time that my wife drove and I inherited post minivan purchase. We bought it used with 40k on it (daily rental). Traded that in after a few years with about 250k on it. Those things were bulletproof. Then got to the late 90's, first decade of 2000's and GM went all to hell. Had a couple real pieces of crap so I'll never own another one. :shrug:

Definitely agree with this for the most part:



I've had many different shapes, sizes, models and brands of vehicles over the years and there are some real duds out there. From my experience I wouldn't say my KJ or KJs in general (I see tons of them everyday) fall anywhere near the dud end of the spectrum. I love mine. I'd probably say it's the most enjoyable vehicle I've driven in a long time.


One thing about my family, were uptight when it comes to caring for our vehicles. My Uncle was an avid Beretta fan, gave my brother one given to him for free. First one was totaled in an accident didn't get too many miles on it. Second one he got, went through four engines in under 100k miles, a transmission and the paneling began to crack and fall off on the interior. The one my brother had, had a bad motor when given and went through 2 replacement engines before one that worked was put in. Half the electronics worked, the metal power steering lines which GM put all the way under the front end of course rusted out and blew. That earned me a grounding when I said that Beretta had power steering and something wasn't right. To which I was told, that it didn't have Power Steering and the brakes were squealing... By my mother... I was right and got punished for it because I pointed out what my stupid brother said and I quote ''Lynn says I'm leaking brake fluid but I can't turn my steering wheel" So sure enough, some spare PS fluid poured it in threw a trash can lid under the car and showed it had power steering and the lines blew. High School classmate of mine had one her parents gave to her, sharp looking very sharp looking, but the bumpers started to crack, body molding came off and began to develop engine problems so it was traded for a Grand Prix. One of my Frat brothers said the known nickname for them was ''White Betty Trash''.
 

ltd02

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One thing about my family, were uptight when it comes to caring for our vehicles. My Uncle was an avid Beretta fan, gave my brother one given to him for free. First one was totaled in an accident didn't get too many miles on it. Second one he got, went through four engines in under 100k miles, a transmission and the paneling began to crack and fall off on the interior. The one my brother had, had a bad motor when given and went through 2 replacement engines before one that worked was put in. Half the electronics worked, the metal power steering lines which GM put all the way under the front end of course rusted out and blew. That earned me a grounding when I said that Beretta had power steering and something wasn't right. To which I was told, that it didn't have Power Steering and the brakes were squealing... By my mother... I was right and got punished for it because I pointed out what my stupid brother said and I quote ''Lynn says I'm leaking brake fluid but I can't turn my steering wheel" So sure enough, some spare PS fluid poured it in threw a trash can lid under the car and showed it had power steering and the lines blew. High School classmate of mine had one her parents gave to her, sharp looking very sharp looking, but the bumpers started to crack, body molding came off and began to develop engine problems so it was traded for a Grand Prix. One of my Frat brothers said the known nickname for them was ''White Betty Trash''.

I guess I got the good one. :happy175:

Tried a few Pontiacs and even a Buick before I completely gave up on GM. Had a 2001 Montana that was loaded and bought brand new. Took extra special care of it and barely made it to 100k before it fell apart. That was the last straw. :thumbsdown:
 

Birdman330

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I guess I got the good one. :happy175:

Tried a few Pontiacs and even a Buick before I completely gave up on GM. Had a 2001 Montana that was loaded and bought brand new. Took extra special care of it and barely made it to 100k before it fell apart. That was the last straw. :thumbsdown:

The Montana was a joke. I don't think I have actually seen one now for over a year on the roads.
 

tjkj2002

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Work long enough as a tech and you know what vehicles are good and bad and the basic "what's going to fail" list for each vehicle.Every vehicle has it's major flaws.


Take a KJ(3.7 V6,4wd).................


Going to fail no matter what...................


-radiator
-water pump
-brake light bulb holders/housings
-front driveshaft
-pass side intermediate shaft
-power steering hoses
-radiator
-radiator
-radiator
-radiator
-radiator(yes I listed it that many damn times)
-window regulators(un-confirmed by my experience,have replaced 2 in 9 years at work)
 

Birdman330

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Work long enough as a tech and you know what vehicles are good and bad and the basic "what's going to fail" list for each vehicle.Every vehicle has it's major flaws.


Take a KJ(3.7 V6,4wd).................


Going to fail no matter what...................


-radiator
-water pump
-brake light bulb holders/housings
-front driveshaft
-pass side intermediate shaft
-power steering hoses
-radiator
-radiator
-radiator
-radiator
-radiator(yes I listed it that many damn times)
-window regulators(un-confirmed by my experience,have replaced 2 in 9 years at work)

3 out of four on mine are all brand new replaced within a year, the fourth got the steiger kit.
 

Birdman330

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Still have all 4 factory originals in my 14 year old KJ.

Service records showed in the first two years in Germany that the rear ones were replaced, each side. Both rears again when purchased by me were replaced, month after purchase front driver side replaced. Year after that steiger kit on the front passenger.
 

teeje

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3 out of four on mine are all brand new replaced within a year, the fourth got the steiger kit.


You forgot one thing 3.7l engine. Replaced that. 5600 miles ago with a new one


2002 Jeep Liberty 3.7L with brand new engine ;)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

tommudd

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Still have all 4 factory originals in my 14 year old KJ.

My 04 still has all of the originals, still all working great, 03 and 05 has all of the originals as well
04 still has the original water pump as well at 220,000 miles of course the other two do as well but low mileage so....
 

JasonJ

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OK, From "the list":

Take a KJ(3.7 V6,4wd).................


Going to fail no matter what...................


-radiator
-water pump
-brake light bulb holders/housings
-front driveshaft
-pass side intermediate shaft
-power steering hoses
-radiator
-radiator
-radiator
-radiator
-radiator(yes I listed it that many damn times)
-window regulators(un-confirmed by my experience,have replaced 2 in 9 years at work)

I've never replaced any of that. Inspecting the parts shows they are all still original on my 03. Guess I've been lucky. Or I'm about to be very UNLUCKY. lol.

I've replaced blower motor resistor, brake pads/rotors, fluids/filters, one headlight bulb, one set of tires in the last 50,000 miles, and both tail light housings because I backed into a tree.
 

teeje

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Light is more focused on the road, wider angle of light spread (not into people eyes of course) someone just posted a thread of a comparison too. Go look at it when you get the chance


2002 Jeep Liberty 3.7L with brand new engine ;)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

tjkj2002

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The Multi Million Mile Volvo I was talking about, proof that if you take care of it, then it will last as long as you want.

This guy
What I want to know is how many engines he's had put in it(or how many times it's been rebuilt).


I know that million mile 1 has had several engines and trans put in it,they had a story about it a few years ago and he spilled the beans it was not the original drivetrain.
 

Birdman330

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What I want to know is how many engines he's had put in it(or how many times it's been rebuilt).


I know that million mile 1 has had several engines and trans put in it,they had a story about it a few years ago and he spilled the beans it was not the original drivetrain.

I've driven a couple Semi Tractors that were over the Million Mile marker on the original clutches and transmissions, engines had been rebuilt once over. In fact that's why one engine blew up, because it wasn't assembled right after the rebuild causing the injector tip to break and wash out the cylinder. It was really REALLY cold that morning in Laramie WY too.
 

profdlp

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...I know that million mile 1 has had several engines and trans put in it,they had a story about it a few years ago and he spilled the beans it was not the original drivetrain.
Yep. And I own the axe George Washington used to chop down that cherry tree. It's only had six new handles and nine new heads. :mexsmoke:
 

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