Jeep Grand Cherokee is an offering by Jeep that has stayed on its product portfolio for a long time. It was introduced in 1992 and is still being offered for sale. Currently, the 5th generation of Jeep Grand Cherokee is on sale. The Grand Cherokee has established a fanbase that many other cars can enjoy with different engine sizes and features.
Grand Cherokee’s different generations were on sale at different periods along the way. The first generation of Grand Cherokee was offered from 1992 to 1998. Then comes the second generation, which was introduced in 1999 and stayed till 2004.
In 2005, the third generation was introduced, which got replaced in 2011 with the fourth generation. The fifth generation, however, was introduced in 2021. Due to different generations, we have tried to explore all available parts and accessories for Jeep Grand Cherokee sold by both Jeep and 3rd party part manufacturers.
The parts and Jeep Grand Cherokee accessories are categorized as:
- OEM Parts
- Aftermarket Parts
OEM
Original Equipment Manufactured parts are commonly known as OEM in short. These parts are made by the same manufacturers who supply parts to the automaker. So an OEM part is made to the automaker’s specification. An OEM headlight for Jeep Grand Cherokee is manufactured by the same company that supplied headlights to Jeep for Grand Cherokee.
A vehicle is fitted with OEM parts when it is being manufactured. In other words, when a car leaves the assembly line, it is equipped with OEM parts. The automakers provide specifications and diagrams, including CAD designs of parts with OEM part manufacturers. Then the parts makers manufacture them precisely according to the provided specs.
If a vehicle owner wants to stay strict with the original shape and specs of the car, the best bet is OEM parts. Because these are made to the automaker’s specs, there is hardly any fitment issue. OEM parts fit and work well.
Original Equipment is a term specific to only the parts installed on a vehicle at the time of manufacturing. It will be hard for the older generations of Jeep Grand Cherokee to find OEM parts. However, it isn’t the case for later generations. For older models, aftermarket parts and accessories are available.
Aftermarket
Aftermarket parts are manufactured by companies that are not the OEM supplier for an automaker. The quantity and quality of companies that manufacture aftermarket parts vary quite a bit. Some aftermarket accessories and parts makers are well known for their quality. But others might be cheaper and not high in quality but get the job done.
Aftermarket parts are mostly intended for performance and aesthetics modifications. There are various aftermarket parts on offer for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Some are focused on the vehicle’s performance. Others are merely bought to enhance the car’s interior and exterior appearance.
In a Nutshell
The OEM parts will be more expensive than aftermarket parts if the vehicle owner wants to retain the factory specs of the vehicle. Vehicle owners would even settle for paying more, even for used parts. Their main objective is to keep their vehicle as close to the stock condition as possible.
The aftermarket parts, however, are a different story. Aftermarket parts are comparatively more affordable than OEM parts. But one might face issues like the proper fitting of the parts, quality issues, etc. It entirely depends on the buyer’s choice. However, it is a good idea to keep the automaker’s specs in check when going for aftermarket parts.
Regular Maintenance And Normal Wear And Tear Items
Some parts and accessories are regular maintenance items like car-washing and car care accessories. We will go into a little detail about these now.
Cleaning And Detailing
The car’s overall look can be easily maintained by keeping the car clean. Some people take their cars to a nearby car wash to get the job done. Others prefer a more detailed cleaning process which we will discuss now.
Two Bucket Method
A two bucket method is pretty popular among car detailers. This process is unique in the sense that instead of one, two buckets are used. One is for soaking the wash mitt with soapy water. And once you are done applying the soap to the painted surface, the other bucket is for rinsing.
The reason for this method is fairly simple. The wash mitt accumulates dirt granules once you apply soap to the painted surface. After rinsing in the second bucket, the granules are left behind as residue in the second bucket. This method prevents the accumulated dirt granules from scratching the paint upon the second layer of soaping.
All detailers, from professionals to home detailers, use this method to prevent scratches. The added benefit of this process is a clean painted surface ready for waxing. After this method, you need to dry the car’s surface with a microfiber towel. It will ensure that all water droplets are picked up before polishing.
Wax And Polish
Waxing ensures the car’s paint gives a beautiful shine and wet look to the car. The added benefit of this process is water-beading and water-sheeting. A thoroughly clean and waxed surface will allow the water to form small orbs in rain and water exposure. It makes maintenance washes a breeze.
Usually, waxing and polishing are done with either hand application or polishers. There are various types of polishers available today. Some are simple rotary polishers that suit DIY-type situations. Professional detailers prefer to use dual-action polishers or DA polishers. These polishers offer more aggressive and detailed polishing.
Rupes is a very well-known brand in the DA polishers. These are a bit more expensive than simple rotary polishers. There are plenty of options available on Amazon.com for DA polishers. You can follow this link to see for yourself.
The rotary polishers are a bit inexpensive and do well for DIY scenarios. Black & Decker has very affordable options available in the rotary polishers line. They are the best seller on Amazon.com in the rotary action polishers market. This link will take you to the page for their best seller on Amazon.com.
A quick tip is to use at least a 7-inch pad or bigger since the Grand Cherokee is an SUV. Cleaning an SUV certainly takes more time than a car. Using a polishing pad with a bigger diameter will certainly help save time.
WD-40
WD-40 is acclaimed globally for its do-it-all type functionality. It is a lubricant that allows for reducing friction between moving parts. It is a multi-purpose aerosol spray and easy to apply. It is known for five qualities. It lubricates, penetrates, protects, removes, and displaces moisture from the sprayed area.
It is available in various sizes. The 16 ounces spray can is available on Amazon.com at this link that you can visit for purchasing.
Buying a Used Jeep Grand Cherokee
A standard used car buying tip is to go for a well-maintained car. Usually, if the car owner has kept the car clean, that’s half maintenance done. Cleaning and waxing your vehicle keeps it from rusting and corrosion. If a vehicle has been kept clean, chances are, it will be well maintained engine-wise.
Another area to look at is the factory weld points. If the weld points appear different from each other, it indicates the likelihood of an impact. The factory weld points are made in a standardized process. The car welds are perfect to the millimetric level. Weld points with different diametric sizes mean they were done during some repair.
For cars like Jeep Grand Cherokee, these can be easily identified. Simply take off the rubber on door frames to reveal weld points. This practice mainly holds for older generations of Jeep Grand Cherokee. Carsforsale.com has many of the Jeep Grand Cherokee cars on sale to choose from, and you might find the one you want.
Engine Oil
A regular engine oil change is essential for a vehicle’s maintenance. If the engine oil is changed regularly, the engine stays healthy. Engine oil accumulates metal residue while the engine is running. After a certain period, the residue becomes dense and can cause engine damage. However, regular engine oil changes can prevent this.
The optimal oil change interval is at or before 6000 miles for Jeep Grand Cherokee. It is suggested in Jeep Grand Cherokee’s owner manuals. Ideally, if the oil is changed at the right time, the engine stays in good shape. Jeep Grand Cherokee’s engine is designed to use full synthetic type oils.
The oil grade suggested by Jeep for Grand Cherokee is SAE 5W-20. It can be found on the owner’s manual of Jeep Grand Cherokee. You can follow this link to see different brands that offer SAE 5W-20 engine oil for Grand Cherokee.
Lubricants
A vehicle is a compound of moving parts. They need to be well lubricated to ensure a good driving experience. The lubricants range from gear oil to brake fluids to greasing various parts and so on. The lack of lubrication causes the car to make vibrations and squeaking noises.
All of the oils need to be changed at prescribed intervals. Gear oils usually last about 60 to 100 thousand miles. It is advisable to change gear oil within this range. CARiD has various products to offer in this line of lubricants. Here is a link.
Coolant
Coolants are known to maintain a temperature around 85 degrees celsius. It means they keep the engine from overheating. The added benefit is the antifreeze characteristic of coolants, which means coolants can help maintain a certain temperature in both winter and summer.
Coolants are used for the radiators with some dilution using water. Jeep suggests Mopar Antifreeze/Coolant in the owner’s manual for use with Jeep Grand Cherokee. You can follow this link to find out more.
Air Filters
An air filter does the job of preventing dust from entering the engine. These are installed to make sure no dirt enters the engine. There are various reasons why air filters are used. Not using one can cause quite a few problems for the vehicle. Below we have listed four of these.
- Bad fuel consumption
- Reduced engine performance
- Smoke from the exhaust pipe
- The smell of gas from the exhaust
OEM Air Filter
It is safe to go for OEM air filters when selecting one. Jeep suggests Mopar engine oil filters in the owner’s manual for Grand Cherokee. These are priced reasonably and can be bought directly from Mopar’s Website. They start at a very reasonable price of $ 9.64 each. Here is a link.
Better than OEM / K&N Filter
Usually, aftermarket air filter systems are opted for due to performance reasons. K&N is a well-known brand for aftermarket air filter systems. A cold air intake system from K&N helps boost vehicle performance by ensuring cold air is mixed with fuel. A standard air filter does not prevent hot air, usually due to engine heat.
K&N is a pioneer in this area. They offer cold air intake systems for a lot of vehicles. These are available on Amazon.com, but they cost more than OEM air filters. They start from around $ 379.99 for the full system. You can check more details about these cold air intake systems from this link.
Fuel
The fuel choice can significantly change a car’s performance. If a lower octane is opted for, it can cause some serious problems for the engine. Jeep Grand Cherokee’s owner’s manual suggests a minimum octane rating of 87; if the engine is the 3.6-liter V6 variant. In case you have the 5.7-liter variant, you should use fuel with a minimum octane rating of 89.
Jeep suggests against the use of E-85 fuel for Jeep Grand Cherokee. It further suggests that ethanol-based fuel can only be used in the vehicle if it is the 15% or less ethanol blend.
Brakes
Brake Fluid
Brake fluids work as a medium to transfer brake force to the brake pads. If the brake fluid isn’t optimal, it decreases brake performance. In the owner’s manual for Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep suggests OEM liquids for different purposes. It is advised to stay strict to the suggestions by Jeep to get a good driving experience.
For brake fluids, Jeep suggests using Mopar DOT 3 Brake Fluid. These are readily available online at Amazon.com and start at $ 15.78 for a 12 ounces bottle. You can follow this link to get more details.
Brake Pads
Brake pads are a crucial part of any car’s braking system. If the brake pads are worn out, they reduce braking efficiency. Jeep suggests checking the brake pads in regular intervals. Ideally, it should be done with every oil change. It is what they say in the owner’s manual for Grand Cherokee.
It is necessary to know the behavior of the car. Jeep Grand Cherokee is designed keeping towing in mind. As standard, it can tow up to 7500 pounds if you have the 5.7-liter variant. Towing can cause brake pads to wear out sooner. Therefore, it would be better to keep brake pads under check – in shorter intervals.
As soon as you feel any reduction in brake force, it is advised to check the brake pads. It is more than likely that the time to change brake pads has arrived. These can sometimes run out pretty soon. The good news is that these are available from Mopar’s online store. Here is the link. These are not suggested by Jeep but Mopar manufacturer them to automaker specs. Hence, fitment will also not be an issue.
Brake Rotors
Like brake pads, the brake rotors also wear out with time. It also depends on whether the vehicle is towing a trailer or not. Towing a trailer will also lead to sooner wearing out of brake rotors. This wear process depends on how hard a driver applies pressure to brake pedals.
If brake rotors are not replaced on time, the vehicle might experience wobbling and unequal brake force distribution. It is also good to change the brake pads when the brake rotors are changed. Jeep Grand Cherokee can be fitted with Mopar disc brake rotors both front and back.
The front disc rotors take most of the load. These can be seen at this link. For the rear brake rotors, please view this link.
Suspension
The suspension for Jeep Grand Cherokee can be maintained by both OEM and aftermarket parts. It is time for a suspension job when you start noticing a rattly ride or numb steering response. Both OEM suspension parts and aftermarket parts are available online for Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Suspension work can be done depending on what objective one wants to draw. There are various options available for different functions that the suspension can perform. There are performance modifications available for Jeep Grand Cherokee’s suspension. It all comes down to the owner’s objective.
A coil-over suspension kit can be installed on Jeep Grand Cherokee. The purpose is mainly to raise the ride height of the car. With Coilover kits, one can raise the vehicle ride height by up to 3 inches. It helps a lot when offroading and gives the vehicle an aggressive stance.
Bumpers
Bumpers take the most number of impacts during a car’s life. They are usually the first car part to receive damage in case of a crash. The likelihood of bumpers receiving scratches and dents is relatively high. It is while considering a driver’s driving style, no matter how careful it is.
It can be dealt with by using bumper guards. Some automakers offer bumper guards as standard, and some offer them as options. Even if these don’t come as standard, there are various options online. One may also look for aftermarket bumpers as that can come with added benefits.
Some bumpers come with light housings, hitch receivers, rear tire mounts, bicycle mounts, etc. Some also have spaces made for the installation of parking sensors. The bumpers can be both functional and aesthetic simultaneously. It is really up to the buyer what he wants to achieve here.
Offroading Modifications And Towing Accessories
Leveling Kits
Leveling kits are used to help increase the vehicle’s ride height. The core purpose here is to increase the offroad ability of a vehicle. Coilover suspension kits do the same but can raise the height more than leveling kits. Basically, these are only spacers that help increase the car’s ride height.
While a Coilover kit can raise the vehicle more than 3 inches, a leveling kit can do up to 2.5 inches. Amazon.com has various options for leveling kits available for Jeep Grand Cherokee. Here is a link where you can view these kits and find out more about how they will enhance the ride quality.
Leveling kits offer different benefits. These are both cosmetic and performance-related. For starters, a raised vehicle becomes more potent when offroading. A vehicle with raised height can perform better on off-road surfaces. Furthermore, it adds an aggressive stance to your vehicle while protecting the car’s underside.
Lift Kits
Lift kits are a type of leveling kit. These are essentially spacers that help increase the vehicle’s ride height. Using lift kits, the Jeep Grand Cherokee can be raised by up to 6 inches. It is a pretty decent increase in ground clearance as the Jeep Grand Cherokee will perform a lot better when offroading.
Aftermarket manufacturers mostly sell lift kits. There is quite a bit of variety available on Amazon.com for lift kits for Jeep Grand Cherokee. maXpeedingrods is one such manufacturer of aftermarket lift kits. They have kits for both front and rear available on Amazon.com. Here is a link to find out more.
Hitch Receiver and Hitch
Jeep Grand Cherokee is a multi-purpose SUV that can also be used for towing. Because it is offered with two engine sizes, it has different towing capacities for both engines. If you have the 3.6-liter V6, the maximum weight that can be towed is 6200 lbs. It is for the 4×4 version with HD cooling.
The towing capacity can go up to 7500 lbs if your vehicle has a 5.7-liter engine. It is a heavy load to carry and needs good quality hitch receivers. Jeep offers hitch receivers as an option as well, just in case you would like to be factory fitted to your vehicle. For vehicles without a hitch receiver, there are many options available.
Stehlen is a very dependable name among hitch receiver manufacturers. One of their models, called “Stehlen 733469488477,” is available on Amazon.com. It is a class 3 trailer tow hitch receiver with a 2-inch opening. It would easily fit the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Here is the link to learn more.
Aftermarket Bumper Covers
Aftermarket parts for Jeep Grand Cherokee are pretty easy to find. One of the reasons for this is the long production run from 1993 till today. There are a lot of aftermarket parts for bumpers that can be ordered for all generations of Jeep Grand Cherokee. “Bumpers That Deliver” is one such brand.
You can find both the front and the rear bumper covers from “Bumpers That Deliver” on Amazon.com for Jeep Grand Cherokee. You can find front bumpers at this link and rear bumpers here.
Skid Plates
Skid plates offer protection for the vehicle’s underside in case of an impact. These are usually made out of metal to enhance protection. These are also available as an aftermarket accessory for Jeep Grand Cherokee. Skid plates also come installed with light assemblies in some scenarios.
Amazon.com has quite a few products that will fit your budget for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. These skid plates are affordable and offer outstanding quality. Here is a link to get more information.
Tires
Tires are the most important part of the driving experience. A good quality tire can enhance driving pleasure, and a bad one can ruin it altogether. When it comes to SUVs, tires play an even more critical role since they need to be as good off-road as they are on the road. Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with a tire size of 245/70-17 as standard.
Tirerack.com has plenty of tires that would work with the Jeep Grand Cherokee on the standard rims. These range from as low as $ 132.38 and can go as high as $ 234.99 for each tire. You can see all options in the tires department on this link.
Appearance Modifications
The SUV parts market is filled with many options to go with the Jeep Grand Cherokee for appearance modifications. These can be both for interior and exterior looks. Let’s look at some of these options.
Lighting Modifications
For SUVs, aftermarket lights are available for all sides of the vehicle—front, rear, sides, interior, and so on. We will first start with the exterior lights.
Fog Lights
It is no less than a nightmare for drivers who have driven in foggy conditions. Fog makes it hard for drivers to get good visibility on standard headlights. Fog lights are the solution to this problem. The key feature of fog lights is to make nearby things more visible in foggy conditions. They don’t generally make long-distance visibility any better.
Some SUVs come standard with fog lights. Jeep Grand Cherokee isn’t offered with fog lights as standard. At least not for the base models. It motivates Grand Cherokee owners to look for suitable options to improve fog driving. Diode Dynamics has these for sale for Jeep Grand Cherokee. Here is a link to view more details.
DRLs
For the older models of Jeep Grand Cherokee, where Daytime Running Lamps didn’t come as standard, there are aftermarket parts available. The primary function of DRLs is to make the presence of your vehicle more visible using lights. It is a key feature for modern cars. The older generations of Jeep Grand Cherokee can be fitted with aftermarket headlights that come with DRLs built-in.
Amazon.com has quite a lot of options available for the Jeep Grand Cherokee. One such example can be seen at this link. It is an offering by Spyder for Jeep Grand Cherokee. It comes with DRLs and Projection lamps which allow for better lighting at night and in the evening.
Bar Lamps/LED Light Bars
Bar lamps or LED light bars have gained substantial popularity because of their improved visibility. These light bars come in various sizes and can be mounted on the roof and front bumpers. Rough Country is one brand that provides these bar lights for Jeep Grand Cherokee. These are available on Amazon.com at this link.
FAQs
Question: Are Jeep Grand Cherokee Parts Expensive?
Answer: The answer lies within the choice of OEM parts or aftermarket parts. The OEM parts are comparatively higher in price than their equivalent-function aftermarket parts. For instance, a bumper from an OEM manufacturer would be more expensive than an aftermarket option. On the other hand, if we look at performance parts, the aftermarket parts will be more expensive than the OEM parts.
In short, if higher performance parts are to be chosen, then the budget has to increase as well. And the same is true for OEM parts if similar functionality is the objective.
Question: Are Jeep Grand Cherokees Expensive To Maintain?
Answer: According to Repairpal data Jeep, Grand Cherokee is comparatively more expensive to maintain than other SUVs in the class. On average, the annual cost of maintaining a Jeep Grand Cherokee is $ 666 compared to the class average of $573 for mid-size SUVs. It is a figure heavily dependent on the use case scenario.
For Jeep Grand Cherokees owners that spend more time off-road, this price can go considerably higher. While on the other hand, if a Jeep Grand Cherokee is used in urban environments, the cost will be much lower than the $666 average.
Final Thoughts
Now let us look at the feasibility of owning a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Grand Cherokee has been on the road for close to 30 years. A lot of research has gone into the development of the vehicle over the five generations it has endured. It is fair to say, the existence of a model close to 30 years on the road is a certificate of resilience and longevity.
Looking at the availability of parts and the cost, it would be fair to say that the cost of running a Grand Cherokee and the driving pleasure is undoubtedly in direct proportion. The more money you spend on a Jeep Grand Cherokee, the higher the fun factor of driving and owning one. We will leave it at that.
References:
- Jeep Grand Cherokee Wikipedia
- Carssforsale.com
- Owner’s Manual Jeep Grand Cherokee 2004
- Owner’s Manual Jeep Grand Cherokee 2015
- Owner’s Manual Jeep Grand Cherokee 2021
- Air Filters for Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Engine oil for Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Lubricants for Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Antifreeze Coolant by Mopar for Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Cold Air Intake System K&N
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