coolant issue
05-03-2013, 08:26 PM
#31
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Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
As a person with first hand experience with an '00 with a cracked head, an overheat almost always guarantees the head to crack. The real question is whether or not it was cracked before the overheat episode and more importantly how long has it been driven that way. 79K is on the low end of the spectrum for the crack to happen but based on the reported condition of the coolant, it is very likely. Its just a shame to see a motor with so much life left in it be doomed so early. Shame on you Chrysler for putting out such a piece of crap...
05-03-2013, 08:53 PM
#32
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Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
In reading between the lines I'm guessing this may be the OP's 1st car and is learning what can go wrong and maybe what to look for (signs of good maintenance or owner neglect) before buying their next used car. What's that old saying......once bitten, twice shy. Always a good idea to know what to look for but still not a 100% guarantee. Spending a little money on the XJ, or any 13 year old used vehicle's cooling system for that matter, is never money wasted nor is it ever a bad investment. Just about the same amount of money that buys 1 big tire will buy a complete new XJ cooling system. I'd think most folks, after only a week of XJ ownership and 1 (or was it 2) overheats, would suspect cooling system components 1st vs the head, no?
Once one learns how a automotive cooling system works, and the chain reaction of problems it can cause when it doesn't work, they begin to understand that spending a little money on routine maintenance always pays off in driving dividends.
A quote from Colin Powell:
“If it ain't broke, don't fix it' is the slogan of the complacent, the arrogant or the scared. It's an excuse for inaction......."
Once one learns how a automotive cooling system works, and the chain reaction of problems it can cause when it doesn't work, they begin to understand that spending a little money on routine maintenance always pays off in driving dividends.A quote from Colin Powell:
“If it ain't broke, don't fix it' is the slogan of the complacent, the arrogant or the scared. It's an excuse for inaction......."
05-03-2013, 09:19 PM
#33
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Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
All we know for sure is, he has a neglected '00 and is learning the XJ/used car ropes. Not all '00 heads have gone bad, not all will. For all we know, the head could have been replaced at some point in time prior to the OP buying it a week or so ago. All I'm saying is, a overheat is usually solved with cooling system maintenance/replacement. If cooling system maintenance/replacement doesn't solve the overheat, one continues to look elsewhere. So far, all I can see the OP has replaced is the rad cap. Since he's gone that far (and still overheating), replacing the head (before the stat, water pump and rad) would be next.
Peace bro.
Peace bro.
05-03-2013, 09:38 PM
#34
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Year: 2000
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im really hoping that my head isnt cracked because if it is i dont what i would do. what are some ways that i could see if the head is cracked, so i can hopefully rule this out. . im going to replace my fan clutch tomorrow and hope that fixes the issue.
Last edited by mcd58; 05-03-2013 at 10:02 PM.
05-03-2013, 10:24 PM
#35
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Go to Autozone & borrow their cooling system pressure tester. Fill up the cooling system, screw on the tester & pump it up to 16 psi, see if and or where the coolant flows (pull the oil fill cap & have a look at the top of the head). This is almost free, do it first before anything else.
05-03-2013, 10:34 PM
#36
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by mcd58
im really hoping that my head isnt cracked because if it is i dont what i would do. what are some ways that i could see if the head is cracked, so i can hopefully rule this out. . im going to replace my fan clutch tomorrow and hope that fixes the issue.
05-03-2013, 10:40 PM
#37
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i planned on replacing my t stat also. there is no smoke coming out my exhaust my xj is running perfect except for this issue.
05-04-2013, 05:46 AM
#39
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Year: 2001
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Originally Posted by mcd58
i planned on replacing my t stat also. there is no smoke coming out my exhaust my xj is running perfect except for this issue.
05-04-2013, 06:56 AM
#40
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Year: 2000
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If you want to "wait and see", put in a new t-stat, water pump and fresh coolant and oil. Then keep a close eye on the coolant reservoir level and see if it drops with no obvious leaks. If it stays full and the jeep does not overheat, then count your blessings. You may be the only proud owner of an 00-01 XJ that lived through a severe overheat episode and made it.
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