re: '94 Jeep Cherokee review

[Jeff Reeves <amcnut@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jerry: 
My Cherokee has the exact same cupholder, and I agree: it sucks! But, there is a cure for this: track down a cupholder from an 89-91 model Cherokee. It attaches to the center console just in front of the console lid, just above the park brake handle. It partially covers the park brake handle, but the brake handle is still readily accessible. And, this cupholder holds bigger cups/bottles than the side-mount cupholder does!

The childproof locks are activated/deactivated by a little metal tab just beneath the latch in the door jamb. All this does is deactivate the inside door handle to keep the kiddies from opening it accidentally. If your power lock isn't working on that door, you probably have a bad lock solenoid which would need replacement. 

Front-end clicking could be the U-joints at the steering knuckles. Luckily, my 88,000-mile Cherokee exhibits none of the odd behavior you describe yours having. I would guess you may have a bad bushing or two in the front end.

Jeff Reeves
Auburn GA
94 Cherokee
79 Spirit GT
73 Javelin 401
72 Javelin SST
69 Ambassador DPL

Message-ID: <20051028010821.53108.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 18:08:21 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jerry Casper <gremlingts@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: '94 Jeep Cherokee review - 2-month owned mark...Gremlin-marked now
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx

  Well, I've owned this Jeep now for 2 months, driving
it to work and around town, and it has been a pleasure
so far. Starts right up, runs smooth, gets about 20
MPG with extended driving. Even around town, stop and
go, it's about 18-19 usually. Long as I don't put my
foot into it. That has been the surprise, that it has
so much pep and go. Not that I'm complaining!
  Other than a local kid ( probably ) keying my hood
and a few spots on the side, it looks good.
Operationally, I have found a few things that concern
me. The front wheels "click" some, I guess the 4-wheel
drive components. It usually clicks more when I make a
hard turn parking or backing out, then goes away
mostly or completely under normal straight-line
driving. I'm not worried about it (yet), just wonder
how normal for a 119k mile Jeep this is. The other
(scarier) thing I've noticed is when I've hit some
rough roads with bad patches, the front end can start
to shimmy and shake a few seconds before stopping. My
Chevy Van does that, it has bad A-arm bushings. I
haven't crawled under to look at the Jeep yet, but
that hard shimmy on rough roads is a problem that I
need to fix. Doesn't make me comfortable with it doing
that!
  Other than those two problems, I've noticed no oil
leaks, no other problems mechanically that annoy me -
except one. PO had said there was a child-proof lock
option on the rear doors, I'm not sure, but the
passenger left side door won't open or lock by itself,
it must be done manually. The right side works with
the front two doors, electrically locking and
unlocking with me pressing the Lock button on teh
driver's door. I guess I need to break out the owners
manual to check for this option, and reset it. 
  A few trips to a junkyard have allowed me to replace
the missing ashtray, and I got another set of roof
rack rails, 4 total now, so I could spread the load
more if I carry stuff. Haven't messed with the
optional sunvisor/mirror conversion yet, but I have
the junkyard visors with mirrors and lights, but
they're way dirty, I was hoping to transfer the
mirrors and lighting to mine. But not a biggy. 
  <snip>
  Only complaint I've had with my 'kee so far is the
cup-holder, it has two tiny tabs on the top to hold it
on the passenger's console lip, I've had it fall off
TWICE ( with full loads of coffee or drink in it ),
the coffee went splooshing, soaked the carpet by the
sill...Grrr! It's still damp from 3 days ago. 
  <snip>

Jerry in Virginia