I'm looking to buy one and wondering if I could get some pointers to look out for. $3,000 is my max currently looking for under 200k mileage. I was wondering if I should get something more basic without upgrades and slowly upgrade it myself or should I get one already with upgrades and just put on the minor things I want on it. Kind of like a project vehicle to give me something to do. If I should go with something with upgrades what should I choose first to look at? Thank you.
Main thing is to check for is rust on a Jeep that old. Pull up the carpets to check the floors. Leaks are common, especially on the passenger side. Over a period of years the floor can rot out from inside the Jeep. The most common water entry point is the air intake under the cowl. The cowl needs to be cut open in order to seal it.
1996 was kind of an "in-between" year for the Cherokee. Last year of the old AMC body and interior. First year of OBD-II. There are a number of one-year-only parts for that year.
If that Jeep has the 4.0 six and Aisin-Warner automatic (probably the most common drivetrain) that is a very reliable combination but it is 25 years old so have it checked carefully. The engine does have core plugs in the back that require engine or trans removal to replace. At that age those core plugs could start leaking, especially if the cooling system has not been properly maintained.
Replacing the heater core or AC evaporator requires taking out the dashboard. Usually both are replaced at the same time while in there if one needs attention.
Another thing to watch out for is "death wobble", something that vehicles with solid front axles are prone to when components wear. If you feel a shimmy in the steering wheel when hitting bumps or potholes chances are death wobble is in your future. Most common cause is the track bar but any worn suspension parts can contribute to it.
You're much better off buying one that is stock and modifying it to your taste if desired. There are a lot of badly-done "upgrades" out there and you don';t want headaches that someone else's modifications have caused.
Millions of Cherokees were sold and despite production ending in the U.S. 20 years ago there are still plenty of them around. There's a lot of support out there, such as:
