I recently purchased a 1998 Jeep Cherokee Sport 6 Cylinder. with 182,000 miles. I had the heater core replaced by an auto shop. Driving about 5 miles after the repair, the Jeep “blew up”. Apparently the mechanic never reconnected the hose correctly and coolant drained out, causing the engine to overheat. Smoke and steam gushed out of the engine. The auto shop said they repaired the engine but it never ran well and had high gas consumption. I took it to another auto repair shop and they did a wet and dry compression test. Three of the cylinders were operating below the minimum compression rate. The 2nd mechanic told me I should get rid of the car because it would be a money pit or get the original repair shop to put in a rebuilt engine or an engine from a wrecking yard. The 1st repair shop said they would put in new rings into the three pistons. I have offered to pay $1,500 to remedy the problem. Should I accept the mechanic’s offer to replace rings or insist on a replacement engine?
How long has your 1998 Jeep Cherokee had this problem?
Replacement engine. There is no value in trying to throw parts at a 182,000 mile engine without doing a complete tear down and rebuild, which is quite cost prohibitive. A quality used engine from a reliable source is a good option. At first glance, it sounds as if the shop that made the error is liable.
RepairPal Certified shops can diagnose and repair your 1998 Jeep Cherokee. They provide transparent pricing with a minimum 12-month or 12,000-mile warranty on repairs and services.
