So, the freeze plug at the back of the cylinder head on my 96 XJ is leaking. I need to change it, but I really don't have the dough on hand to pull the head, which will require new gaskets all around. I read somewhere at one point that you could pull the instrument cluster, and drill a hole in the firewall just behind the head and pull it out that way. Has anyone done this? What all is required to do it that way??? I've got a new set of plugs, I just need to get them on there.

Thanks!

 

I had one in my shop a few years ago. The guy was low on funds and it was his only vehicle. I raised the engine a little and removed the engine mounts. Then I lowered the engine down on to the crossmember. That gave me enough room room to drill a 1/4" hole in the plug and pry it out with a 8" long drift punch. I used a rubber emergency type of plug and explained to the guy that it will only last about a year or two. By that time he may have the money to fix it or sell it. He is still a regular customer and now, three years later is ready for us to pull the head and repair it. Mostly because now he has no compression in cylinder 4, but I'm sure you see my point.

 

Is there a pictoral-style guide somewhere to taking the head off of my 96 XJ? Just doing it alone with my haynes manual is intimdating.

 

Mine too has started leaking... bad... its the same jeep, same year, same motor and im invthe same boat as far as the "dough" is considered. What did you end up doing to fix the problem? What was the overall cost?

 

Go through the firewall! Come on think realistically here. By the time you went through all that labor you could have pulled the head and fixed it. Money wise the gasket set for a head is cheap plus you get a new head gasket!

 

I guess this is an oil leak, not a coolant leak?

 

freeze plugs usually =water,it freezes. not oil.
i doubt theres oil in that area of the head, coolant yes. i could be dead wrong!

 

X2, coolant, and thanks ****** for a $5 solution to a real nightmare.

Desert wolf, I didn't look in writeups, don't think there is one, but you will find plenty of threads with people getting solutions to problems.

 

when you clearly understand why the founding fathers went to great lengths to build in the e.c. you will appreciate it . they were not just tinkering and trying to mess up the process. it gives small states some balence, not completly left out an ruled by large states. it prevents a large # of radical splinter parties from grabing power with a big splitup of votes. a unique design.

 

The term freeze plug is a misnomer, plugs are not necessarily for expansion of frozen fluids. Welsh plug is what they are also known as. Holes are there as part of the casting process.

There are three plugs on rear of engine, lower is crankcase , middle is coolant, the top one on head I am not sure. From my experience it is the middle one that most often leaks. Coolant will drip from bell housing.
The only way to get the middle plug is to remove the transmission. Middle plug can be viewed to see if it is leaking. Remove inspection plates, use a strong light and may need a dental mirror.

 

There should be no POLITCAL POSTS in our forums no matter how you feel we have a new President.

 

X2

 

Could you explain a little more about how to get to this middle plug to view it?? Is it more so t the top of the engine block because I found 1 fairly close right behind my engine. I have the same issue sort of. Huge puddles of antifreeze I believe because my oil level has no dropped or moved. Leaking coming from trans BH and it’s all over the oil filter adapter and Starter and trans BH

 

As SteveMongr posted, "The only way to get the middle plug is to remove the transmission."

 

What year Cherokee? Large leaks on that side of the engine, I would be looking at the coolant lines to the heater core. Old Jeeps, have a failure prone surge tank and heater core valve over on that side as well.