Date sent:        Sat, 10 May 1997 10:58:28 +0000
Subject:          Re: FSJ buyers' guide
Priority:         normal

  ------------------------------
  Date:  Fri, 09 May 1997 08:19:56 -0700
  From: Gordon McKenzie 
  Subject: Re: Help the New Guy Time

 Question asked: 
  CARNES JASON A wrote:
    Hello! What types of problems are common to my type of FSJ that
    I should be on the look out for?

 Gord's FSJ Buyer's Guide, first round...
  Perhaps we could take this as an opportunity to create a buyers FAQ
  for the Web sites. From experience I will start with:

1. Poor gas mileage for the V8's. This appears inevitable and just
  must be lived with. 

2. Confused electrical systems. Translates into
   malfunctioning door locks and power windows. Takes  nothing but 
   time to track down and can usually be fixed with cleaning. 

3. Tempermental rear window controls. They will fail at some time. 

4. Frame problems next to the gas tank. This can be a killer if it has 
    gone too far.

5. Sagging rear springs. The truck should ride level from front to
   back. Most are higher in the front. 

6. Oil/Tranny/Transfer case leaks. these were standard equipment on all FSJ's. 

7. Floorboard rust. 

8. Difficulty in getting parts from parts stores. Lack of
   wrecked vehicles in junk yards. 

9. Likelihood of previous owner doing inadequate repairs and really 
   mucking things up. 

10. Shake/shimmy problems indicative of front end problems

  This is just a start.


  Gord

  ------------------------------

(ed - ...and all the FSJ owner's agreed...  
        but do you see any of us wanting to give up our FSJ's???)

(ed note:  the floorboard rust problem doesn't seem to be a problem
in the newer models.  All of the problems mentioned are usually repairable
withe simple tools by shade tree mechanics or folks willing to learn...)