2007 necessary mods/maintenance for reliability
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
The one I'm looking at is a manual, which I'm stoked about. Couldn't find one in Alaska when I purchased.
It's also stock which is nice. I sold my old one with some nice suspension mods for kbb value, so I took a hit on it big time. A part of me wanted to buy a modded jeep, but that adds a few variables that I can't quantify: who did the mods, how hard it's been wheeled, what cancer is waiting, etc. At least stock 07 (with like 20k miles, I'm still not sure how that's possible) gives me a platform to do what I wish I would have done with my previous JK. Basically a re-do.
I know some research can really help, and I would want to do it in stages. Reliability mods first, primary functionality mods, farkles, all that. So I can keep it forever. The one I'm looking at is so damn cheap that it has me worried, but if it's legit (it's through a certified USAA dealer, so that increases my chances I'd like to think) then I could buy it stock and take it down to Northridge 4x4 and get it modded proper.
It's also stock which is nice. I sold my old one with some nice suspension mods for kbb value, so I took a hit on it big time. A part of me wanted to buy a modded jeep, but that adds a few variables that I can't quantify: who did the mods, how hard it's been wheeled, what cancer is waiting, etc. At least stock 07 (with like 20k miles, I'm still not sure how that's possible) gives me a platform to do what I wish I would have done with my previous JK. Basically a re-do.
I know some research can really help, and I would want to do it in stages. Reliability mods first, primary functionality mods, farkles, all that. So I can keep it forever. The one I'm looking at is so damn cheap that it has me worried, but if it's legit (it's through a certified USAA dealer, so that increases my chances I'd like to think) then I could buy it stock and take it down to Northridge 4x4 and get it modded proper.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,236
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From: Pittsburgh, PA
I bought mine in Feb 2007 and now have 119,000 miles on it. No major issues to report.
Battery at 85k
Unjoints at 100k
Ball joints at 100k
Ignition coil at 119k
Beyond that, brakes, tires, and fluids.
Battery at 85k
Unjoints at 100k
Ball joints at 100k
Ignition coil at 119k
Beyond that, brakes, tires, and fluids.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 11,054
Likes: 85
From: Hendersonville, Tennessee
The first thing I would do is check the oil. A good number of 07's are oil burners. If the dipstick is low, I would keep looking. If you drive it, listen for spark knock and also keep an eye on coolant leakage or smell, as the water pumps tend to go out fairly early in these. Also, take it in some gravel or off road somewhere and check the transfer case in both 4 low and 4 high. If you do get it, I would just change all the fluids and run with it.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: front royal va
The first thing I would do is check the oil. A good number of 07's are oil burners. If the dipstick is low, I would keep looking. If you drive it, listen for spark knock and also keep an eye on coolant leakage or smell, as the water pumps tend to go out fairly early in these. Also, take it in some gravel or off road somewhere and check the transfer case in both 4 low and 4 high. If you do get it, I would just change all the fluids and run with it.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix
Other than the dipstick being a little low, is there any other way to tell in a visit to the dealer? One check isn't a large enough sample size to say one way or another, unfortunately.