I just bought my first cherokee and it needs some cooling components so I just want to do it all. I would appreciate it if someone could someone tell me what all I will need to redo my whole cooling system and what will it cost? and where is a good place too get it all is the higher quality stuff from the parts store okay? and do they make a kit that has it all and you just buy it as one purchase?

 

We can help you better if we knew more information about your jeep. Year, engine, mileage etc

 

its a 94 4.0 auto 215,000 and 40,000 on the motor. the radiator looks to be original. heater core is by passed but will need to be hooked back up gotta have heat. how long will the process take can it be done in a day?

 

Well, that depends.
Do you have any service History of the XJ, anything been replaced already from the cooling system recently?

The system itself is pretty straight forward
radiator, radiator hoses, waterpump, thermostat, coolant, viscous fan, electric fans
Thats not including the heater core issue.

Have any DIY experience with working on cars? Do you have a FSM?

 

done quite a bit just never on these. i don't see that anything has been replace with what papers he gave he. he says its the head gasket but I don't think it is. I figure get the rest of the cooling system up to par and if I still have problems then add in the gasket. and I don't recall seeing an electric fan? where would it be? front or back of radiator? and what about fan shroud? I can add pictures of what I can see on the fan situation if I remember before work tomorrow.

 

All stock xj have viscous fans on passenger side of the radiator and electric fan on the driver side

 

The "viscous" or manual (belt-driven by the engine) fan is on the passenger side and there should be an electric fan on the drivers side that only comes on when needed. Also, and a lot of people forget this part, make sure that your fan shroud is there and in good shape.

 

If equipped with ac from factory.

 

few questions:
you never did tell that you had an issue (just you wanted to change the cooling components), and you mention the PO "thinks its the head gasket". What issue does the XJ have...overheating?coolant loss? milk shake coolant/oil?

And by the sound of it, you miss a fan shroud?
Pictures are ALWAYS welcome...

This is true (with AC) and in fact is the same in the RHD: viscous fan on the passenger side, e-fan on the other..

 

Coolant is nasty brown looking but not oily and it leaks out around the cap pretty bad. The oil is fine. No water not over full. It does have ac but no electric fan or fan shroud. I just was going to redo the whole system as a preventive maintenance because none of parts look new and I like dependable.

 

New doesn't always equal dependable.

I would also be prepared to replace the heater core. I believe you said it was by-passed? People generally don't do that unless they are having issues... generally... I did it in my '97 camaro.... why? cuz the dang thing was leaking and I didn't have the knowledge or the desire to replace it.

 

That's what I suspect also. Anyone know how fun a heater core is to replace.

 

Since the heater core is bypassed, is the coolant bypass loop still utilized? Heater core is not critical to proper motor warm-up/cooling, but the bypass loop is.

 

It sounds like your in for many flushes (with a good cleaner) and refills till everything comes out clean. Forget about the heater core itself but check the bypass for now. I would say its a given that the heater core is trashed and leaking inside the Jeep.

Once you get the block clean then start checking the head for a blown gasket before you start throwing money at it.

 

The heater core is bypassed just like the two hoses be hooked together. I know it definitely needs flushed. Has anyone ever been to the Jeep salvage yard in Vincennes Indiana.