If you have a Grand Cherokee you probably know that many of them suffer from the same problem. That is yellowed headlights. It manifests itself as a yellow haze that gets progressively worse and worse over time. If you have this problem you most likely think that you need to replace them but they can be fixed. Read on to learn more.
The cause of the yellowing is oxidation caused by UV exposure and wear and tear from normal driving. It can be only a minor haze or it can be enough to seemingly block all of the light from the bulb. The cure fr this problem is an inexpensive bottle of scratch remover. You can find it at just about any auto parts store for a few dollars. Once you have the scratch remover you will first start the repair process by thoroughly cleaning the headlight to remove any soil that could further scratch them. Then read the directions on the scratch remover and apply the polish to the light using a clean soft rag. Rub the scratch remover on the headlight for several minutes and then remove it with a clean rag. You might need to use some pressure so don’t be afraid to bear down a little but. You also might have to repeat the process several times to remove all of the damage. Repeat this process on the other headlight
In 1993, Jeep launched the fine-looking Grand Cherokee in response to the success of rivals Ford and their Explorer model. The Grand Cherokee saw Jeep produce a vehicle with their legendary off-road capability but with an improved highway ride and larger interior than the Cherokee.
Initially three models were offered: base model, Laredo and Limited. Jeep stole a march on competitors in the market place with the inclusion of driver’s side airbag and all round anti-lock brakes. Notable standard features included full instrument set, cloth interior and 5 speed manual transmission. In addition to this the Laredo came with body cladding, powered mirrors and cruise control. The Limited came with leather seats, Air Con, upgraded stereo system, 4 speed auto transmission and a host of powered parts.
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The Jeep Grand Cherokee has received some further facelifts from STARTECH, a Germany-based company that exclusively tunes up Chrysler and Jeep vehicle models. STARTECH specifically made their tuning program for the Jeep Grand Cherokee CRD model equipped with a 3.0-liter common rail turbo diesel engine.
According to the German tuning company, “The Jeep Grand Cherokee has arrived and STARTECH presents an exclusive refinement program for the SUV. The extensive product lineup is characterized not only by its professional engineering and innovative design: All components also offer exceptional quality. For the 3.0 CRD model with common-rail turbodiesel engine STARTECH offers the SD6 performance kit and a particulate filter.”
The bold and aggressive body styling of the Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 CRD model was enhanced by STARTECH exterior design cues, which include the STARTECH front apron with integrated design elements, STARTECH rear apron with cut-outs for the two oval chrome tailpipes in the STARTECH sport exhaust system, STARTECH side skirts with integrated entrance lights, and STARTECH chromium plated mirror covers. The sport exhaust system is made of pure stainless steel and available for all engine types for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
In addition, the five doors of the Jeep Grand Cherokee come with STARTECH door sills with integrated LED lights that can be activated by using the standard keyless-entry remote or with the door handles. The Jeep wheels have been replaced with the high-quality STARTECH Monostar IV 9Jx20 light-alloy wheels. It features five-spoke wheel design wrapped with Yokohama tires measuring 265/45 ZR 20 both in front and rear. This completes the exclusive exterior package of the STARTECH tuning program for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
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Call it MOPAR madness or call it sheer, ingenious automotive marketing and engineering, but whatever you decide to call the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, you must realize one thing: no production vehicle has effectively combined off road ruggedness with on road durability. Until the Grand Cherokee SRT8 came along that is. Yes, not since the GMC Typhoon has an SUV proven to be a highway dominator as well as an off road maven. However, the Jeep Cherokee SRT8 goes well beyond any 4×4 vehicle by delivering a versatile, pavement pounding, all-around SUV.
The folks at Chrysler’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) group could not leave well enough alone. From the Neon to the Viper and from the 300C to the Ram pickup truck, no model has been too sacred to receive a proper work over from the team. First it was a bevy of Dodge models, then it was the Chrysler 300C, but no Jeep model had yet been targeted for the group’s overhaul. The Grand Cherokee however was past due as fond memories of the GMC Typhoon likely played a part in the decision to inject “SRT steroids” into a widely acclaimed Jeep model. Indeed, the SRT group knew that 0 to 60 in five seconds with the Grand Cherokee would beat the Typhoon’s numbers by about four tenths of a second, easily making the Jeep model the all time leader on the road as it is already off the road.
Much like the full size SRT cars sold by Dodge and Chrysler, a 6.1L Hemi V8 was the engine of choice for the SRT team tasked with building the beefy Jeep. With 420 h.p. and 420 lb.-ft of torque, the burly Hemi would serve duty in the Grand Cherokee SRT8 along with 20 inch Goodyear performance tires, Bilstein shocks, four piston Brembo brakes, a Quadra-Trac On-Demand four wheel drive system, and a capable five speed automatic transmission. Indeed, when the project was completed, the SRT8 was paired against the Porsche Cayenne SUV and the Jeep won!
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Jeep Grand Cherokees are prone to having several common mechanical problems. The problem that we cover today is with noisy differentials (rear ends). While it is acceptable for Jeep differentials to make some noise, it’s not good to ignore noises that are more than moderate or if the noise is noticeably getting louder. Usually rear end whining noises from Jeeps are rated on a scale from 1-10, anything under a 5 is acceptable and would not merit a repair. If a roaring noise is heard this is another matter, roaring noises should be looked into right away. I’ve rebuilt hundreds of rear ends and out of those, approximately 80% of them have been in Jeeps. Also the Jeeps I’ve worked on were not driven off road or abused in any way that I could see. They were mainly driven as a regular family car would be, so this leads me to conclude that this is just a common problem due to design.
Jeep Grand Cherokee Noises – Roaring noises, are one of the most common sounds a Jeep Grand Cherokee makes from the rear end. As I mentioned before, if roaring noises are heard this should be addressed as soon as possible. Typically around 45 MPH is when sounds will start coming from the rear end. If roaring is heard at all speeds or at parking lot speeds, the problem has progressed. Roaring noises are from worn and pitted bearings. Carrier bearings (which are the side bearings) are the most common bearings to fail. Next are the pinion bearings, especially if a pinion seal has been replaced at some point and the bearing preload was excessive. This means the pinion nut was tightened too much. Over-tightening the pinion nut can cause an excessive load on the pinion bearings and can wear the bearings in a short period of time. If the bearing replacement is postponed too long, metal can travel through the differential oil and damage other moving parts in the differential. This can cause accelerated wear of the ring and pinion gears. So if they are caught early enough, the bearings can be replaced without replacing the ring and pinion gears.
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