Jeep Mag Question: 90k Service

IE · 05-08-2007, 06:30 PM

What's the standard practice for 90,000 mile service for Grand Cherokees? I have a 4.7L, V8 and getting quoted $850-$1k for it by the dealers. Are they out of their fucking minds or is that the norm? I called a bunch of other shops, but they are all already closed for the day.

I'm a car jong, so I have no idea what's standard practice on these at that mileage. I did all my oil changes and had a dealer do 60k service and charge me $600 for it - not doing that again, if I don't have to. I skipped the 75k, 'cause I think I was still pissed off about the 60k.

Is it even needed, or should I just go about with my regular (3000 miles) oil changes, 'til someone tells me: "Dude, you need to get [this] done..."?

**El Chupacabra** · 05-09-2007, 10:49 AM

I do all my own car work, with the sole exception of working on the internals of an automatic transmission. I've had Jeeps for years.

Not much to do for so-called 30K/60K etc service. Things I'd do every 30K (or more frequently if it makes you feel better):
- change front & rear differential fluids, and transfer case fluid (do this more often if you tow or offroad)
- change transmission fluid & filter -- on the 4.7L (IIRC 545RFE trans - 2 filters involved)
- change spark plugs

Every 60Kish, or time-dependent (i.e. if it takes you 10 years to get to 60K, do this more often):
- flush & replace brake fluid (usually done when redoing brakes anyway)
- flush & replace coolant

For your Jeep, at 90K miles, it's worth checking for wear & replacing as needed:
- all radiator & heater core hoses
- ball joints
- U-joints in driveshafts

More frequent maintenance:
- oil & filter changes
- air filter changes (or cleaning, if you have a reusable filter)
- retrieve codes from OBD and see if the computer thinks you have any sensor problems

IE · 05-09-2007, 11:56 AM

Hey, El Chupa, I figured that you'd respond, thanks.

It sounds like I should just go in and have them take a look at what needs replacing and do this:

- change front & rear differential fluids, and transfer case fluid (do this more often if you tow or offroad)
- change transmission fluid & filter -- on the 4.7L (IIRC 545RFE trans - 2 filters involved)
- change spark plugs

Now, I just got to find a mechanic that won't lie to me...

**rightcoast** · 05-09-2007, 07:58 PM

find a local mechanic. theres no way doing the above mentioned things will be close to $800.

**Blatant** · 05-12-2007, 01:20 PM

it's about an eight beer project...find some jeepers that are local and hook up with them. jeepers are an odd sort that like to play grabass, drink beers and compare their ratchet sizes; while wrenching on their shit or standing around looking at their shit speculating what lift to put on or what tire swing arm to install and if it will infact hold jerry cans or if indeed the backspacing on those rims will fit those hideous procomps since they are sized differently than tsl's.

**splat** · 05-12-2007, 03:30 PM

One of the most important things to remember - change the fuel filter.
If it clogs and fries the in-tank fuel pump, you're loooking at a $400-$800 repair.
Don't go to Jeep dealers.

IE · 05-12-2007, 05:54 PM

Thanks, guys. I don't really have time to do any of this stuff myself, so I'll try to find a local mechanic that won't charge me $800. I got a couple of quotes in the 400-500 range, so I'm trying to figure out which one of these guys to trust, will probably talk to my friends and hopefully get a recommendation.

**splat** · 05-12-2007, 06:32 PM

You can get all that done at a Jiffy Lube, but for the spark plugs.
I have almost 280K on my Grand.
It's run longer and better since I stopped going to the Jeep dealer 10 years ago.

**Blatant** · 05-12-2007, 07:57 PM

actually splat dropping the tank on a cj/yj/tj is an easy deal as far as getting to the fuel pump etc. I've never done it on a z or wj however but have had the pleasure of replacing tanks. Easy but just time consuming.

**El Chupacabra** · 05-12-2007, 09:01 PM

Originally Posted by splat

One of the most important things to remember - change the fuel filter.
If it clogs and fries the in-tank fuel pump, you're loooking at a $400-$800 repair.
Don't go to Jeep dealers.

WJs do not have an external filter to change; they're integrated into the fuel pump in the tank.

**splat** · 05-12-2007, 09:58 PM

My Grand's fuel filter is external and when it clogged, it burned out the pump. I change it more often now. Fukkin thing had to go right after I filled the tank, too.

MTT just had to do his fuel pump last week. Pump alone is $400. It's not a big deal if you wrench, but it's about $800 if you're garage service inclined.
I'd install an inline filter if I only had one in the fuel pump in the tank.

**jfost** · 05-12-2007, 10:07 PM

just trade it in and buy a new one when it needs a big service like that... that $1000 could be 2 months worth of payments on your new rig, or 1 month payment on a new SRT-8

**Bertier** · 05-12-2007, 10:51 PM

FWIW - when i worked at a Honda dealership all the mechanics loved the 30/60/90/120k services because they got a lot of labor charges but barely had to do any work (a lot of minor labor charges add up). They would quote 2-3 hour times to make people feel good about spending $5-700, but it would only take 30-45 minutes if there were no problems.
Also, this was a very honest dealership... I never saw them recommend something that wasn't needed within a short period, but the mileage based checkups are all designed by corporate, so they do what the customer wants and the labor charges are all by the book.

**splat** · 05-12-2007, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by jfost

just trade it in and buy a new one when it needs a big service like that... that $1000 could be 2 months worth of payments on your new rig, or 1 month payment on a new SRT-8

BWAAAAA!!!

I assume you're talking to someone other than me.
I drive that bitch til ones of us dies.
I sold my Subaru to buy cores.
Now I'm stuck with that fukkin gas-guzzler.

IE · 05-12-2007, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by splat

BWAAAAA!!!

I assume you're talking to someone other than me.
I drive that bitch til ones of us dies.
I sold my Subaru to buy cores.
Now I'm stuck with that fukkin gas-guzzler.

I think he's talking to me, splat. And, yeah, I've thought about getting something else, with crazy gas prices and all, but I'm upside down on this thing - 90k miles for an '02 is alot, plus a major accident under its belt, so I'd have to shell out some major coinage to get into something that I'll like as much as I like this one.

**El Chupacabra** · 05-13-2007, 07:48 AM

You've probably found this already, but in case you haven't -- this site is a wealth of info for the 1999-2004 WJ Grand Cherokee:

www.wjjeeps.com

**jfost** · 05-13-2007, 05:14 PM

heh! I'm talkin to both of youse guys!!! j/k btw...

I've always thought it was funny how many "extras" there are in the stealerships' 30/60/90K service packages. If you just follow the manual, they tell you exactly what you should do, maybe $400 worth of stuff as mentioned above, if you get the dealer package, they add a bunch of crap like fuel & oil additives that make you spend more $$$.

As always, RTFM with car stuff!