01 Cherokee, bad head?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 813
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From: Lansing, MI
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: new iberia
Model: Cherokee
Trap true! Mine had right at 134000 miles when it blew I changed the head to the 96 and exhaust to 96 I got about 142000 and no problems yet! For really cheap plus I herd over time the 96 casting was a lot stronger but I didn't even know that till I got my Cherokee on the road and visited the cherokeeforum.com
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
Im Really worried about my Beloved 2001 SilverStone Metallics 4.0 gettin a Kracked Head! She only has 64,620 miles on her, but Some of those Miles were drivin Hard and She was put away Wet, er Dry. My parents Also have a 2001 Cherokee with 121,??? miles it its 4.0! I actually Do keep a Close eye on the Coolant Levels of both Cherokees. They both do Brown the Coolant quick, these two 2001 4.0s, though, compared to my 99s 140,??? miles 4.0, my 96s 249,??? mile 4.0 and my 87s 294,215 mile 4.0.
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 27
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From: Kansas City
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I own a '01 Cherokee and had coolant loss and wierd looking engine internals... maybe from the oil. I replaced the head with a Clearwater Cylinder Head that is a 100% new casting and everything bolted on as well like the coil packs and exhaust. I highly would recommend them as they are only $430 new and assembled. I've had no problems and noticed a huge difference between the new and old. Really, magnafluxing is the only for sure way to see a crack. Mine had no visible signs.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 242
Likes: 1
From: Fontana, CA.
Year: 1990/2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Thanks for all the replies. I was just wondering about the possibilities on a head swap before I run into trouble.Is there any newer heads I could use so I don't have to swap my exhaust? Right now I gotta go buy a scan tool cause my CEL came on and apparently California doesn't allow auto parts stores to check it for you anymore(gotta love Cali). 
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 281
Likes: 2
From: Garden Prairie
Year: 2000, (1957 Willys)
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Replaced my 0331 head on 00' sport with a head from Clearwater cylinder. They stopped remaning the 0331's due to so many issues with cracks forming between 3 and 4. Love the new head, and it bolted right on, no conversions. Cost me 400, and it's not just a new 0331, it's cast differently now.
As far as that heater core comment, Cherokee cores are like inline filters for coolant crap. If you don't backflush annually, you'll soon be enjoying the 'replace my heater core' thread
Just checking in today, haven't visited for awhile. Was thinking of you guys while I was pulling a transfer case that detonated off of my wife's suburban.
See ya,
As far as that heater core comment, Cherokee cores are like inline filters for coolant crap. If you don't backflush annually, you'll soon be enjoying the 'replace my heater core' thread
Just checking in today, haven't visited for awhile. Was thinking of you guys while I was pulling a transfer case that detonated off of my wife's suburban.
See ya,
Seasoned Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I just got my '00 about a month ago, how doni know if it needs flushing? The coolant is a good/fresh green color. Anything that I can look at to see if its time?
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,841
Likes: 117
From: In the middle of Minnesota!
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
But if this is a new-to-you vehicle, with coolant that is not brown, you could just drop what is in the radiator (drop lower hose) and refill with a 50-50 mix of conventional coolant (green) and distilled water. Can mix yourself or buy it premixed. Repeat every 30k and you'll be good to go.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 312
Likes: 0
From: Kentucky
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Shops use a dip strip. Measures coolant freeze point, boil point, reserve alkalinity and pH levels. You can buy these strips yourself if you want.
But if this is a new-to-you vehicle, with coolant that is not brown, you could just drop what is in the radiator (drop lower hose) and refill with a 50-50 mix of conventional coolant (green) and distilled water. Can mix yourself or buy it premixed. Repeat every 30k and you'll be good to go.
But if this is a new-to-you vehicle, with coolant that is not brown, you could just drop what is in the radiator (drop lower hose) and refill with a 50-50 mix of conventional coolant (green) and distilled water. Can mix yourself or buy it premixed. Repeat every 30k and you'll be good to go.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 281
Likes: 2
From: Garden Prairie
Year: 2000, (1957 Willys)
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Pull the hoses to the heater core, flush with a hose one way, than the other. Be sure to PULL BOTH hoses first. You will see what's sitting in the core. I do this every year. May be overkill, but I seem to make everything last years longer than would be normally expected.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 689
Likes: 2
From: Upstate N.Y
Year: 2000.1999,1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 689
Likes: 2
From: Upstate N.Y
Year: 2000.1999,1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
,If you read these post's you can really feel yourself get dumber.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 689
Likes: 2
From: Upstate N.Y
Year: 2000.1999,1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I bought by 01 Cherokee with a bad head I replaced it with a 96 head ran the 96 exausht with 2 new o2 sencer bungs and I have no problems she runs great! I didn't even make a coil pack bracket once the coils pressed on all of the spark plugs its not going anywheres it moves a lil but it's not a problem! In fact with the 01 intake and 96 exhaust it breaths a lot better because the way the 96s mAnafold is made! It was a lot cheaper but it was a good lil bit of work the easiest thing to do is order a 01 head. Lot less bull but I did do it to mine I have no problem from the 96 to 01 there exact matches except for the exhaust ports on the head coolest will flow find as well as everything else and make sure you get the exhaust drilled and everything for the o2s are it well throw a check engine and also another slit problem the exhaust mounts well not work on the transmission crossmember are anywhere you'll have to buy universal mounts at any local auto parts store! But I got a total of about 1000 in my 01 after I paid 750 for it it's a lot cheaper but more time taken to do it this way but I got the better head than a 01 comes with
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 600
Likes: 0
From: new iberia
Model: Cherokee
Also in 03 04 jeep realized they built a crappy head on the inline 6 so on the grand Cherokees they are exactly made the same but with a better casting that's another thing you could look into it would be an easy swap in a weekend are so new gaskets and a head out of a newer straight 6. I ran into all kinda problems trying to put a 96 head on my 01 it runs great but I added a lot of work to it