1997-2006 Jeep Wrangler (TJ) Frequently Asked Questions

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1. So you're thinking about buying a Wrangler...

1.1. What's the difference between the 1997-2005 Wrangler and older model years?

A brief history of the Wrangler is in order here. Back in World War II, Willys-Overland designed the first military Jeeps. After the war ended, returning GI's thought of using Jeeps for civilian use, and Willys-Overland saw a market. Thus began the first CJ-2A, which stands for Civilian Jeep.

The CJ line progressed through the CJ-2B, CJ-3A, CJ-3B, CJ-5, CJ-6, CJ-7, and CJ-8 Scrambler. (Oh, and there was a CJ-4, but only one of these was ever made.) The CJ-5 was made through 1981, and the CJ-7 was made until the 1985 model year. The Jeep brand itself was owned by a succession of companies, starting with Willys-Overland, which was bought by Kaiser, and ended up being a part of AMC. Fortunately, the designers of the Gremlin and the Pacer never got their hands on the CJ.

Meanwhile, consumer magazines and TV shows were pointing attention at the CJ and similar vehicles for their high center of gravity and the tendency to roll over in accidents. Some of these charges were rather trumped-up, but AMC's response, shortly before it was absorbed by Chrysler, was to design the first Wrangler. This debuted in the 1987 model year and featured a wider track width, a lower center of gravity, anti-sway bars, improved setteing, and a number of interior improvements to make it a more consumer-friendly vehicle. It also had the infamous square headlights. This model, known as the YJ, was produced from 1987 through 1995. It sold well, but its off-road capabilities were more limited than the CJ.

Chrysler redesigned the Wrangler again for the 1997 model year. The new Wrangler, also known as the TJ model, was designed with a coil spring suspension, instead of the leaf springs on earlier models. This was designed to provide a smoother on-road ride, while providing more axle articulation for off-road ability. It also marked the return of round headlights. The interior also got a major upgrade, including airbags and a more friendly climate control system. Despite the 1997 model year debut, it was actually available starting in the spring of 1996.

The differences between Jeep model years and their off-road capabilities are a subject of friendly debate in clubs, but also a source of flames on web sites and Usenet newsgroups.

(Oh, and so much for a brief answer to this question.)

1.2. What's a TJ? What's a YJ? What's a CJ?

(copied from old FAQ section 1.4)

Jack Elias (a former Jeep salesperson) posted the following explanation:

In article <4v8ivo$c21@newsbf02.news.aol.com>, kvvick at aol.com (Kvvick) wrote:

> Jeep "new guy" here. Would someone please help me out with the acronyms.
> Go ahead, shake your head in disgust, groan, roll your eyes, and then
> help out this pathetic newbie, will 'ya? :-)

SJ...Wagoneers, Old (Big) Cherokees
XJ..."Small" Cherokees
MJ...Comanches
YJ...Wrangler '87-'95
CJ...C'mon...you know what these are
DJ...those cute little postal Jeeps
TJ...The '97 Wrangler
ZJ...The Grand Cherokees

Did you know
FJ...The Eagle Talon

What do they mean? CJ meant "Civilian Jeep". The rest don't mean
anything...they're just body model codes...for instance:
TJJL77...A Wrangler 4x4
XJJL74...a Cherokee 4x4
XJJL72...a Cherokee 4x2

I'd like to think that "TJ" means "Todd's Jeep", but that really applies to me only.

1.3. Does the new Wrangler really handle and ride a lot better than older Wranglers or CJ's?

(copied from old FAQ section 1.3)

Most people seem to think so, and I'd agree. The ride is smooth on the freeway, yet it still has the off-road capability of before. I had a friend who owned a Wrangler several years ago, and he told me that I shouldn't think about buying one because it would rattle my kidneys all over the place. Well, after 5000 miles in my new TJ, my internal organs are still attached.

As far as off-road capabilities go, I've found that it can handle most of the territory I've thrown at it, except for a few places where I'm too sensible to risk body or component damage. (It IS a new vehicle, after all.) Bill Doty (bdotyjr at hiwaay.net) posted the following comparison:

Please note: My friend and I are beginners to 4-wheeling (as I think most of the people in this newsgroup asking about the new TJ are), so this article is aimed at all the beginners out there.
My friend and I finally got a wild hair and took our Jeeps deeper into the woods than we ever had before. In North Alabama, its hard to find a good place to go, so neither of us has a lot of experience off-road. The trails we found were a combination of both wet and dry river beds, limestone rock step-ups, and sloppy Alabama red clay mud holes.

I have a stock '95 Wrangler Sport 4.0L, with P225/75-R15 tires, off-highway suspension package, and the Trac-Lok differential. My friend has a stock '97 Wrangler Sport 4.0L, with the 30x9.5x15 tires, off-highway suspension, and Trac-Lok differential. Since we both paid the same for our almost equally equipped Jeeps, I thought this was as even a test as one could have between the YJ and TJ.

I'm sorry to say that his TJ outperformed my YJ in every category. The extra 2 inches of clearance helped him over obstacles that I bottomed out over. The Wrangler GSA tires on the '97 also provided a much better bite in the mud and on the rocks. And finally, the extra 7 inches of suspension articulation from the new quadra-coil suspension kept his wheels more firmly placed on the uneven ground. He even had to pull me out of a mud hole when my transfer case skid plate got stuck on a half-submerged rock. (Thank goodness for recovery straps and tow-hooks!) We both survived with only minor rim scratches, and are ready to get even deeper into the woods next time.

TJ - 1, YJ - 0

YJ owners take heart, because I'm just about ready to put on a 2 inch lift, some quick disconnects, and 30" tires! I think that will even the score!

On the other hand, it isn't perfect - one person pointed out that there was a Jeep Jamboree where TJ's and YJ's got stuck at exactly the same point on the trail.

1.4. Is it safe? Or will I roll it over right away?

(copied from old FAQ section 1.9)

Many prospective Jeep owners wonder if they're likely to roll over their Jeep, or if it's as safe as a car. This concern is amplified by news reports about CJ's rolling over, or other SUV's (the Isuzu Trooper comes to mind). The short answer is: You are unlikely to roll your Jeep over as long as you drive it safely and don't take corners excessively fast. That said, the Jeep Wrangler is no more likely to roll over than any other SUV, as far as I've noticed or read.

Here are a few web sites that can help you out:

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) : New Car Safety Assessment Program. This site rates various cars, trucks, and SUV's on crash data. The 1997 through 2000 Wranglers get four out of five stars for driver's side crash safety.
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety : The Wrangler gets their second highest ranking (although it's just "Acceptable" in their scale of "Good", "Acceptable", "Marginal", and "Poor".)
www.crashtest.com : Gives it an "acceptable" rating on a scale of Excellent, Good, Acceptable, Marginal, and Poor.
Edmunds' article about Isuzu Trooper rollovers : basically, it states that the worries are overblown.
A listing of safest to most dangerous cars at cartalk.com: Among small SUVs, the Wrangler has more deaths than the Toyota RAV4 or Subaru Forester, but fewer deaths than the Ford Escape, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Kia Sportage, and Chevrolet Vitara

I've read a few random reports and Usenet news articles about people who have been in crashes involving a Jeep Wrangler and who have survived with only minor injuries and damage. Still, it's possible to get killed in an accident with any car. Drive safely and defensively, whether you're in a Jeep or not.

1.5. Is it a good buy?

This is a matter of debate among car magazines and reviewers. Then again, they get paid to debate this sort of thing. Here are excerpts from some reviews:

edmunds.com:

What Edmunds.com Says
It has a stiff ride, offers about the same noise isolation as a motorcycle and has a soft top that's a nail-buster to operate, but if you're dying for a cheap convertible or an off-roader that can go just about anywhere, it's hard to beat the Wrangler.

Pros
Cheap, fun to drive, classic styling, go-anywhere capability.

Cons
Soft top a handful to manipulate, difficult ingress-egress, slow steering, bouncy suspension on the street.
Consumer Guide:
For: Cargo room, maneuverability
Against: Fuel economy, acceleration (four cylinder with automatic transmission), noise, ride, entry/exit
Quotes: "Wranglers really are more carlike than before -- far better in ride quality and ergonomics. Occupant comfort is vastly improved, though few would call the Wrangler experience comfortable. True Wrangler fans don't fret about its flaws. For other potential owners, the great strides made in safety, ride quality, and refinement in this generation bring Wrangler closer than before to serving as an everyday vehicle."
Consumer Reports New Car Buying Guide:
"Consider the Wrangler a vehicle for off-road use rather than highway travel. While its off-pavement credentials are impeccable, this smallest and crudest Jeep is perhaps a bit too true to its roots. The ride is noisy and uncomfortable... The steering is vague and imprecise. The driving position is unpleasant, and outward visibility is poor. Reliability has been average of late." (Wow. I'm surprised they didn't complain about the amperage rating of the fuses.) On the bright side, they rated the Wrangler as excellent for predicted depreciation in value.
Motor Trend, May 1999:
Thumbs Up: Lowest priced 4x4 SUV, the king of off-road ability, wind in hair, bugs in teeth
Thumbs Down: Unrefined on-road handling, not available in olive drab with stars on doors, wind in hair, bugs in teeth agony
Money, June 1999: Rated as one of the five best buys for your kid's first car or truck. Quotes: "Since teenagers hardly ever like anything that's good for them, I was surprised to discover that their favorite sport utility, the Jeep Wrangler, sports pretty good safety statistics. The Wrangler scored four out of five stars in government crash tests."

1.6. What are some common problems with the Wrangler? What do I need to be aware of before I buy one?

Generally speaking, the Wrangler has been a success as a vehicle model. However, it isn't for everyone. If you are concerned about any of the following, you may want to consider a different vehicle.

Gas mileage isn't great. This is probably more due to aerodynamics than anything, since the Wrangler has the aerodynamic profile of a billboard. It's a little heavier than other small SUVs because of the body-on-frame construction.
Seating tends to be a bit cramped in front. If you have long legs, take a test drive first to see if you fit comfortably in the driver's seat.
The soft top, while quieter than earlier years, is still kind of noisy. Again, a test drive on the freeway can tell you if you can put up with the noise or not.
There isn't much storage space. There's only about 12 cubic feet behind the rear seat when the seat is down, although this increases to about 55 cubic feet with the rear seat folded up. (The Wrangler Unlimited is a longer-wheelbase model with more storage space, but you still can't fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood into it.)
The ride can be somewhat stiff due to the short wheelbase. You'll feel bumps more on the road more than you would in a big SUV or an expensive German sports car.

These aren't necessarily "defects" to many Wrangler buyers. If you're the kind of person who likes to take the top down in the summer, explore the farthest reaches of the outdoors, or play around in the snow, you will probably enjoy the Wrangler despite these issues. On the other hand, if you want rich Corinthian leather and seat warmers, or you have four kids to transport, or you carefully scrutinize Consumer Reports for all of your purchases, these might be a few reasons to consider something other than the Wrangler.

1.7. What kind of mileage does it get?

(copied from old FAQ section 1.2)

When I had a 4-cylinder Wrangler, I got about 18 MPG driving my 4-cylinder Wrangler in mixed city/highway driving; some people report getting up to 20 MPG. I now own a 6-cylinder Wrangler and I seem to get somewhere around 16 or 17 MPG. Some people with the 6 cylinder Wrangler say they get between 15 and 18 miles per gallon. As they say, "your mileage may vary."

1.8. Does it handle well in winter conditions and lots of snow?

(copied from old FAQ section 1.5)

Being in Minnesota, I'm well-qualified to answer that question. :-) We've gotten a lot of snow in mid-November, which is kind of early. I'm happy to report that the TJ handles really well in the snow, as long as you watch what you're doing. I haven't had any problems losing forward traction when using four-wheel drive. However, like any other car, it CAN slip sideways or fishtail in slippery conditions. This behavior might depend on what kind of tires you have, but be aware that you need to reduce your speed and drive sensibly in bad weather.

Some people ask, "Isn't it cold with a soft top?" Surprisingly, it isn't that bad. It can be pretty cold after being parked outside for several hours, but a hard top would also get cold after being parked outside for a while. (It's just that the soft top loses heat faster.) The heater is well-designed, though, and it starts heating up and getting things nice and warm within a few minutes of starting. I've heard that you can buy heated seat covers and possibly even a heated headliner, but I'm not sure who sells them.

1.9. What's this I hear about the Jeep Wave?

(copied from old FAQ section 1.10)

Jeep owners have a custom of waving to each other upon passing on the streets or on the trail. It began with CJ owners, who recognized that they were driving different vehicles than everyone else and started waving to say "hi" to each other. I'd like to see the tradition continue. I always wave to other CJ, YJ, and TJ owners, just to show that I'm a heck of a nice guy and that I can carry on traditions -- even if I can't tell the difference between a Spicer T-18 and a Spicer T-20 transmission.

(The Jeep Waving Rules page explains this in detail, but spends way too much time segmenting owners based on vehicle usage and modifications done to their vehicle. <RANT> I'd rather not see Jeeping turned into a hierarchical thing where new TJ owners have to pay homage to CJ owners with big lift kits. I think all Jeep owners should stick together, regardless of what they've done to their vehicles. </RANT>)