Morat

Hello,
having a mare right now!
Set off and noticed there was no heat and temp was starting to run higher than normal, when it got near the red I braked to stop and the temp fell to normal. Checked coolant level and the filler bottle was empty!! (It looked fine from the outside do to old staining).
Added water, parked nose up and the Jeep now holds it's temp at idle (my gauge is in Centigrade - it holds between half way and the next white mark up just below the red). Fans cut in fine.
There is still no heat from the heater, otherwise jeep seems OK. Radiator was new about 500 miles ago (fitted by good mechanic).

I've been running the jeep at idle with the rad cap off, the temp stays fine and a good amount of steam comes out of the cap. Some bubbles in the filler bottle.

Do I just need to do more of the same to bleed it? or is there a bigger problem? Oil looks fine on the dipstick. Coolant looks a bit grey but no mayo in there. Top rad hose is hot, feels like it has some air/some water in it. I'm guessing there's an air lock in the heater matrix (I hope it's just that) is there a trick to bleeding it?

Help!

ProudXjOwner

Sounds like there is still air some where in the system. Maybe try sqeezing the top radiator hose while running.

Morat

update:
Because it was holding temp I took it on a short trip around the village up and down hill on some bumpy roads. The heat came back but it was a bit on and off (between just warm and full hot). She held proper temp, dipping back down below 100degrees (C) on the middle line. She also took a bit of coolant from the filler tank.
I popped the cap off the radiator to try and top up again and she spat back quite a bit of brown muddy coolant

ProudXjOwner

Did you try to flush the system out? The heater core may be all gummed up.

freegdr

If itsreally bad gunked up a new thermostat would not hurt the procedure is in the repair manual

tjwalker

Brown muddy coolant is no good. Either the coolant needs to be replaced or you have coolant/oil mixed.

What is the history of "routine" cooling system maintenance? You may need a flush or two (use a flush additive for the first one) to help cleanse your cooling system.

While you are at it, install a new 195 degree F thermostat.

Morat

Good point!

Anyway, I've now found a leak.... with the rad cap off there's a steady flow from the bottom U of the bottom rad hose. It's hard to tell where the hole is with the fabric on there. I'll try and find/tape it and hope it is the hose and not a water pump gasket or something. The major pita right now is I don't have any level ground to jack her up!

freegdr

dont sound good the water pump has a weep hole and the water can run down the hose to where you say its leaking

tjwalker

Leaks can be tricky. Water pumps will start to leak coolant from the "weep hole" when they are starting to fail.

Regardless of what you find, replace the failing component and FLUSH that system! Gotta get to a point where your coolant stays GREEN.

Morat

Hmm, how big is this weep hole? The leak is a constant stream about 2-3mm in diameter.
My lower hose looks like THIS being a RHD one - of course it's twice the price :roll:
You can see why it looks like it is leaking from the bottom of the U. I think this Jeep needs to be up on a ramp with the front ripped off it....

freegdr

smaller than a pencil right on the bottom of the water pump collar

Morat

Well seeing as I have no mechanical ability at all, I got it as far as the garage, without it overheating

djb383

Hope u took it to a different shop/mechanic because it sounds like he re-filled a new rad with old cruddy coolant. This is what your coolant should look like, if not, flush it until it stays looking like this.