Fill it full of water, leave the radiator cap off, carry a couple of gallons of water with you, and hope you don't hit too many stoplights.

If you do, turn off the engine while you are waiting for the green.

Roll the windows down and turn on the heater full hot, high fan. It will help keep the engine heat down.

Do it early in the morning while it is cooler.

 

youre off to a good start. 10 more years and 300 snafus to go. I admire your spirit, but question your motivation.

 

No bolt goes in center of pump. Looks like it goes to hold pump on.

 

Almost 200 posts in this thread and a jeep is on it's way to Firestone with a botched thermostat change that may result in replacing the head. I really hope this isn't your daily driver. Within the 1st 10 posts you were advised to change the fan clutch, which, once you learned where it was and what it looked like, would have been a simple and safe repair to attempt at your skill level. You erred by reading all the posts about overhauling the cooling system. Although many posters will say this is not a hard repair, you should not attempt such an invasive task as a novice on a 20 year old vehicle! This is an expensive lesson for you and I'm sorry you had to experience it.

A few elders unsubscribed to this post a while back. Wise move.

 

Ok

 

Will do it tomorrow morning. At work, off tomorrow morning. Borrowed a car

 

I won't stop until I'm an expert![/QUOTE]

You may not like this, and some of the Forum posters won't either, but: [U]More Power To Ya![/U]

The part you won't like is that this is all part of the learning curve. I broke the same bolt doing the same job you were doing on my '94 XJ. It happens. The next time you tackle a stuck bolt, before you put a wrench on it, use a stainless steel brush to clean the mating surfaces of the bolt and the housing. Get it clean! Become an investor in PB Blaster or better yet... Kroil (Find it on eBay). A third choice is a mixture of transmission oil and acetone. (I did the above steps and still broke the bolt). Again, **it happens.

Adversity builds character and none of the experts on this forum became experts without their fair share of adversity. What made them experts is that they didn't let the adversity discourage them.

I also strongly suggest you use the SEARCH function of this and other Jeep forums as well as Youtube to familiarize yourself with the procedure before you start your project. If you get into trouble, I'm sure the members of this forum will be glad to help you out of trouble, including when to fly the white flag. That happens too.

 

You may not like this, and some of the Forum posters won't either, but: [U]More Power To Ya! The part you won't like is that this is all part of the learning curve. I broke the same bolt doing the same job you were doing on my '94 XJ. It happens. The next time you tackle a stuck bolt, before you put a wrench on it, use a stainless steel brush to clean the mating surfaces of the bolt and the housing. Get it clean! Become an investor in PB Blaster or better yet... Kroil (Find it on eBay). A third choice is a mixture of transmission oil and acetone. (I did the above steps and still broke the bolt). Again, **it happens. Adversity builds character and none of the experts on this forum became experts without their fair share of adversity. What made them experts is that they didn't let the adversity discourage them. I also strongly suggest you use the SEARCH function of this and other Jeep forums as well as Youtube to familiarize yourself with the procedure before you start your project. If you get into trouble, I'm sure the members of this forum will be glad to help you out of trouble, including when to fly the white flag. That happens too.[/QUOTE]

Perhaps you should learn how to execute a QUOTE and use a KEYBOARD when you're giving your pep talk next time. Some ppl just shouldn't be messing with their rides due to lack of knowledge, resources and mechanical ability. You're at the mercy of a repair shop when you push, pull or drag your rig to them after botching a repair. There is no room to play around with a learning curve when you are messing with your daily driver. Sometimes you just have to be smart enough to know your limitations and shop wisely for a repair.

 

And sometimes, especially for a daily driver if it's the only vehicle you have, you have to shop wisely for something newer with less miles.

Even if you have to make payments. A car will always cost you one way or another.

You can't ride for free.

 

SOUTHSIDECATAC; You sound disappointed that I didn't pile on. BTW, I used a keyboard.

 

Actually, I was stating that you should LEARN to use a keyboard. But, as you said, adversity builds character. I'm sure you'll get better as you progress along the learning curve. Don't let adversity discourage you!

However! I still take issue with your little pep rally for the clueless and unskilled wannabe mechanics who sometimes come to forums like this and begin to think that anyone can make these repairs. There is a reason for high labor rates in repair shops. The competent places have trained mechanics with the right professional grade tools to get the job done. Ppl with a tool box containing a few cheap hand tools are ill equipped to do much on these rigs. Most of us who do work on our vehicles have accumulated better tools over many years as we progress to more complicated and heavy tasks. There is a cost/benefit risk analysis that needs to be stated to the uninformed. Otherwise you may end up hacking up your ride and towing it to the shop.

Piling on may be a better message than giving false hope.

 

Warning: I am not adding an assist to OP's endeavors, but since the thread has become so arduous I thought I'd comment on the "help" for *****s & giggles.

I'm guessing my knowledge/skill set is similar to OP's, but that I am more willing to accept advice and jump into the project (not judging- for all I know, I could have more time and $ to dispose than OP. Plus I have another DD at my disposal if I totally blow something on the xj). Kudos to the help though and patience. It might escape the attention of folks with advanced skill levels that sometimes us beginners need in-depth step by step instruxns to tackle stuff (arguably, those types of things can be googled to avoid questions that are prob annoying to CF). For instance, my own most recent was how to properly use a cotter pin -may sound goofy, but I wanted to get it right. My point, I guess, is a general thanks and (vicarious) appreciation for the patience in this thread. Special shout out to southsidecatac's pep talk. Sometimes that's just the little push that helps us dive in. So thanks
Ok, I'm done being a sappy nuisance. Carry on.

 

I started working on stuff way before there was Google.

I think that WNJE should have paid for a diagnosis at a true shop (NOT FIRESTONE!) before jumping in and tearing the whole front of the engine off, given her limited knowledge.

Start simple and easy. Then work your way up to the more involved stuff.

I still think it is cracked head or blown head gasket. She should have just fixed the fan clutch first, if that was what she thought was wrong with it, put it back together and test drove it.

 

I can't disagree with anything Firestorm500 just said. That would have been the best way to go but I can't say that I haven't been too ambitious and gotten in water over my head. If I got myself in a jamb I had to figure out how to get out of it. Sometimes that involved buying better tools to do that. I took care of those tools and still use them today. It was still cheaper than going to someplace like Firestone. I got ripped off by my dad's favorite mechanic on my first car repair (a broken exhaust man bolt) and never took a car into the shop again. That was 40 years ago.

Since WNJE broke a bolt trying to change the thermostat, I wonder what special tools SOUTHSIDECATAC would have recommended to change a thermostat? I can't think of a better "starter" job for a newbie than changing a thermostat.

I know WNJE frayed the nerves of a lot of CF contributors (myself included) but she already apologized for that. I also recommended she do more research before she tries her next project. I'm sure that if she does her homework, it will be a lot more pleasant for all involved.

To TRACYK: I don't think southsidecatac wants ANY credit for the pep talk.

 

One thing for sure, if you're going to work on anything mechanical, you're going to snap a bolt now and then. Even on a bicycle.

The older and more miles it has, the more likely it is to happen.

A lot of big car dealership shops won't work on anything more than 10 years old. Stuff just breaks and falls apart trying to get to what you are trying to repair. Then the owner blames them for messing up the car.