A few weeks ago, I wrote a Jeep Wrangler YJ Buyer’s Guide that details what you need to know before shopping for this often-overlooked Wrangler generation.

Truth is, that article was pretty easy to put together, because I had just gone through the process when tracking down a Jeep Wrangler YJ project of my very own.

So, now that I’m driving my new-to-me YJ around town, I’ll outline some of the issues it had when I purchased it, along with some of the fixes and upgrades I’ve done to make the Jeep a fun, reliable driver.

But first…a little backstory.

Jeep YJ Wrangler in Garage
Like most car nuts, I couldn’t let a garage space go empty for long! (Image/Aaron Dolezal)

Around 2016, I briefly owned a 2014 Wrangler JK. I liked it, but not as a daily driver. So, I traded it in for a 2012 Volkswagen GTI, which I drove for several years and loved dearly. But I always said if I had the money and space to keep a Wrangler in the garage for nice days, I’d own another one.

Fast forward to 2025. We have a four-car garage and the money from a recently-sold 1991 Miata burning a hole in my pocket. I wanted something my girlfriend and I could haul our dog around in. The Miata was great, but I didn’t fit that well (I’m a little over 6 ft. tall) and our dog had to ride on my girlfriend’s lap.

A Wrangler immediately came to mind. I thought about another JK, but nice ones would require an auto loan; something that greatly reduces the fun of owning most vehicles.

I follow Hemmings Auctions, and this 1989 Wrangler YJ popped up. I swore I’d never buy another vehicle via auction, after my father got ripped off buying a 1966 Dodge Charger. But after texting with the Wrangler’s owner, I found myself in a bidding war.

Pretty soon after that, I owned a YJ.

We borrowed my uncle’s car trailer, ran out to Carlisle, Pennsylvania to pick it up, and hauled it back to Ohio. (Between the buyer’s fee, gas, and a hotel room, this wasn’t looking like so much of a bargain anymore!)

Jeep Wrangler YJ On a Car Trailer
The Wrangler, shortly after we picked it up in Carlisle, PA. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)

Assessing the New-to-Me Wrangler

Once I got home, a few drives and a bit of poking around revealed that my Wrangler wasn’t quite ready for top-down summer fun. Here’s what I discovered:

The Good

The Bad

  • Wow, are these things supposed to ride this poorly?
  • Bad respray, with clear coat coming off hood and front fenders (patina, right?)
  • Really hard to start, hot or cold
  • Engine runs a bit hot in 90°F weather
  • Tons of unnecessary wiring in the engine bay after the computer-controlled carburetor was removed
  • Burnt wiring and bad splices in engine wiring harness
  • Starter intermittently cranks slowly, shoddy battery cables/terminals get HOT
  • Reverse light switch wiring melted on exhaust
  • Various fluid leaks
  • Engine bogs when carburetor secondary opens
  • Brake pedal is really soft, front brakes barely work
  • No back seat
  • Shifter came off in my hand!
  • Turn signals work intermittently
  • Heater controls are mostly inoperative
  • Steering tight due to seized steering shaft U-joints
  • Door strikers out of adjustment, making doors rattle and difficult to close
  • Tailgate hinges worn out, causing tailgate to sag badly (common issue with OE hinges)
  • Oil pressure gauge intermittent, gas gauge needle bounces
  • A bunch of little things you’re just going to have to deal with when you buy a 36-year-old Jeep

While I addressed some of these issues casually, as time and budget allowed, others, like the hard starting, poor running, and cooked wiring, needed immediate attention.

Shortly after purchase, the Wrangler spent about a month in the back of the garage so I could correct its most serious problems.

Jeep YJ Wrangler on Jackstands
Early on, this is how the Wrangler spent a lot of its time with me. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)

Fixes So Far

I’ll outline some of the upgrades in greater detail in the photos below, but here’s what I’ve done so far.

The Verdict

Jeep YJ Wrangler Parked in Kent, Ohio
On a pre-work coffee stop in Kent, Ohio. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)

Am I glad I bought it? Yes.

I get great satisfaction out of making a vehicle better, and the YJ is really easy to work on.

There’s still plenty to play around with, but the Jeep has reached the point where it runs well, I trust it, and I can use it any time.

It’s a very mechanical, elemental driving experience. Not a daily driver, but that’s not what I bought it for.

Dog in the back seat of a YJ Jeep Wrangler
Indy enjoying the roomy (for a 36 lb. dog) Wrangler backseat. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)

What’s next? I’m probably going to try BDS two inch lift springs in an attempt to improve ride quality further, and there are a dozen other little jobs always in the back of my head.

I’m also considering a V8 swap. The 4.2L six’s immediate, off-idle torque is fun, it sounds nice, and power is fine around town, but it struggles as speeds increase. 13.6 mpg and 112 hp aren’t a great combination, but it’s nothing a small block Chevy won’t fix!

***

Jeep YJ Wrangler on trailer in gas station
A gas stop on the way back from Carlisle, PA. The 20 mph headwind didn’t slow our 2016 Ford Expedition tow vehicle down, but it sure made her thirsty! (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
bad electrical wire splice in a vehicle wiring harness
The YJ’s engine harness was full of these splices, and many were wrapped in duct tape. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
burnt, melted wire in a vehicle wiring harness
This was the ignition-on hot lead for the engine compartment. I’m fortunate I discovered it before it caused bigger problems. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
carburetor on a Jeep Wrangler YJ 258 engine
The cleaned-up and repaired engine harness wrapped in Techflex Flexo F6 braided sleeving. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
Old vehicle wiring harness discarded onto floor
The massive wad of unnecessary wiring and ignition components I removed from the Wrangler’s engine harness. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
Jeep YJ Wrangler Emissions Control Timer
Blast from the past! This electromechanical timer notified the owner when it was time for emissions maintenance, which included replacing the oxygen sensor and PCV valve. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
new wiring harness getting installed in a Jeep
Going through the engine harness was a bit overwhelming, but a combination of the factory wiring diagrams and patience made it fairly simple. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
Jeep YJ Wrangler Heater Control Mechanism
The heater control head was basically useless due to broken cable ends. Zip ties fixed it, though new cables are available from Omix-Ada. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
Distributor installed on a Jeep Wrangler YJ 258
This Summit Racing HEI distributor was one of the best improvements I made to the YJ. It starts easier, runs better, and installation required only two wires. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
interior with bestop seats in a YJ Jeep Wrangler
My Wrangler came with a nice set of Bestop seats. I added the Rugged Ridge cupholders. (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
Jeep YJ Wrangler Brake Master Cylinder
When bleeding and adjusting the rear drums didn’t fix the soft pedal and poor braking, I installed a new Dorman master cylinder. Voilà, good brakes! (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
Yellow Jeep YJ Wrangler, Side View
The World’s Speed Shop™ has parts for Jeeps, too! (Image/Aaron Dolezal)
Keywords
Jeep , Jeep YJ , Wrangler , YJ Wrangler
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Author: Aaron Dolezal

Aaron spent over 13 years as a Porsche and Audi technician before trading his wrenches for a keyboard to write for Summit Racing. Aaron enjoys being outdoorsy with his girlfriend and their dog, arguing with their two cats, and thinking about working on the 1989 Wrangler and old motorcycles in the garage.