I have developed a small, inconsistant coolant leak. It seems to be coming from the radiator (passenger side, low on the tank, not near any hoses). Only seems to leak after the vehicle has stopped so assuming it's pressure-related. How big of a hassle to replace myself? It "looks" pretty straight forward and I'm fairly competent at the simple things. Am I gonna get 1/2-way thru the job and really regret having started?

 

It's easy, just drain the radiator, remove the header panel , disconect the radiator hoses, ( place a drip pan under the radiator where the tranny cooler lines are ( if its an automatic ) and disconect the lines.

slip the old rad out and install the new one.

hook everything back up reinstall header panel, reinstall all lines and hoses, add 50/50 water coolant mix, start jeep to bleed any air from radiator ( let it reach operating temp) while its at operating temp check the tranny fluid and add some as needed ( if auto equipped)


Hope that helps,
Matt

 

What he said. Remove the cross piece above the radiator and it will lift right out.

 

Yup, easy cheesy, I just did this a week ago. Can be done easily with a few hand tools. Good luck!

 

thanks, guys. think I'll do some shopping and take a crack at it.

 

Food for thought:

If it's a fairly small leak and you can track it down to one of the connections between the cross tubes and the vertical side tanks, I had a similar issue on mine.

I was able to clean the connection point really well and using JB Weld and an O-ring pick, I was able to pack the area well enough to seal off the leak. No other issues since doing that a few weeks ago.

Might give it a try before dropping a bunch of cash if the cooling is OK other than the leak.

 

i considered that as a possible option given the rather small amount of liquid it's losing, but I found the part online for $150 and if I'm going to have to pull it, might as well drop a new tank. Don't want to get back in the woods with dark falling and find out my 10 y/o radiator's given up the ghost. She's just at that age where the little things are gonna have to start being done.

Appreciate the follow-up.

 

I am proud of you for tackling the job yourself. I didn't feel I had the skill set to tackle the same task myself on my 2001 and ended up dropping $300 to get it done. The next thing that breaks I will not be defeated and fix it myself.