# 1997 Jeep Cherokee

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jeep-cherokee/50319>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** cherokee, jeep\
**Created:** [June 14, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jeep-cherokee/50319 "2010-06-14T17:37:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![alp7757](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@alp7757](https://community.cartalk.com/u/alp7757)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jeep-cherokee/50319/1 "2010-06-14T17:37:48Z")

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My 97 Jeep Cherokee seems to be showing its age. Two of my electric windows do not open/close, and the back liftgate doesn’t unlatch so that I can open it. as far as running: it sputters, coughs and backfires when it gets warm and Now a vibration has developed when driving a normal city speeds. The question that I have is whether it is worth putting enough money into bringing this into good running condition again. The body is in decent shape and the engine/transmission seems to be ok other than what I mentioned above. What would it cost to bring this into good working order and what kind of repair work will need to be done? I am not a mechanic and I don’t have any friends that are so I really am concerned about being taken to the cleans (as it seems I already was when I purchase it a year ago). Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jeep-cherokee/50319/2 "2010-06-14T22:47:40Z")

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There are three possibilities.

1. You fix your car and keep it.

2. You fix your car and sell it.

3. You junk the car.

#3 seems extreme and un necessary

#2 would be OK, but, why sell it if it is fixed?

#1 I suggest fixing it and keeping it. Cheapest in the long run.

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**Author:** ![alp7757](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@alp7757](https://community.cartalk.com/u/alp7757)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1997-jeep-cherokee/50319/3 "2010-06-15T16:29:33Z")

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Thank you for your response! My preference is also to repair and keep it. With what you know from what I have told you about what will need to be repaired, and the age of the vehicle, what would you say a good estimate for bringing the vehicle into good drivable condition would be? Problems: Sputtering when warm: (may be a problem with the oxygen sensor I’ve been told), window repairs, back hatch repair, blower fan switch only works on #4 setting, possibly catalytic converter replacement and finally, rearview mirror re-attched to the windsheild. I had the distributor replaced a few months ago and was told that the distributor on the vehicle was the original equipment. I don’t have any repair records so I don’t know exactly how committed to regular maintenance the previous owner(s) was/were.