amberman62

Hi all I'm new to this forum and thanks in advance for any help. just been told that my jeep Cherokee 2000 has blown a head gasket and radiator , I'm based in the UK what I'm i looking at a cost to fix this ?
regards
rob

Snowcats95

Welcome to the forum, Rob!
I'm assuming you have the 4.0 engine. Head gaskets here in the states can run anywhere from $30-$50usd and aren't that hard to replace. I had to replace mine a while back and was afraid of tearing half my enginge part, but it was pretty straightforward. A Haynes repair maual is very helpful tool as well.
Radiators can be found almost anywhere and another simple part to replace. It usually depends on your price range and if you want to go the stock route or something a little more heavy duty. Stock Cherokee radiators are 1 or 2 row. I went with a 3 row from Radiatorbarn.com just for added peace of mind. Ebay has some good deals as well, ranging from $58 on up shipped. Good luck in your search!

5-90

I don't know what parts availability is like for you over there (haven't been to the UK since about 1993,) but if you can find a "Head Gasket Set" and a "Head Bolt Set," you'll have nearly all of the parts & materials you'll need to do the job. There will be some incidental fasteners and you'll need fluids, but that's to be expected (the thermostat housing fasteners are usually corroded beyond use - they're also usually threaded 5/16"-18. The manifold fasteners are typically 3/8"-16 - in either case, match the length under the head.)

Make sure you retain and reuse the bowl-shaped washers under the manifold screw heads. If a stud or two (for the manifold) is beyond reuse, new studs may be cut from 3/8"-16 threaded rod (but make sure you get new nuts for that as well - the OEM nuts are 3/8"-24 thread.) You will want at least two studs - one in each end - as they give you something to "hang" the exhaust manifold on and save you some serious wrestling with parts. Ideally, pull the head and manifolds as a unit and service the manifold gasket on the bench (NB: The entire assembly is a shade over two feet long and tips scales at somewhere around 100#/40-45kg all up, and it's very unwieldy. It's easier to service on the bench, but difficult to get there in one piece unless you're either a size extra-extra-large [like me] or have access to an engine crane. You Have Been Warned.)

The need for new cylinder head screws is because they're a modification of the Torque To Yield setup used in Diesel engines - they're good for exactly two full-torque cycles before they'll fail. If you're not sure (viz, you've had the vehicle since it was new and know the head has never been off!) replace them.

Also, if you email me off-list (5-90 AT naxja DOT org,) I can send you some documentation and such you may find useful. Please be sure to remind me it's for a 2000XJ.

I've done this job myself a few times on AMC/Jeep engines (and more than I'd really care to count in general, overall - on everything from one-cylinder lawnmower engines up to Class 6 & 7 Heavy Truck Diesels,) so feel free to ask if you have any other questions!

98 JeepJeep

perfect time to ditch the 0331 head......

Firestorm500

If you have access to Felpro head gasket set, get it. It is about $64 USD wholesale.

5-90

Don't know if the UK has the Air Police (vehicle smog checks - same as we have to deal with here in CA.)

If so, then you may want to consider trying to find a 2002-up 242ci cylinder head, which will come from a Wrangler/TJ or a Grand Cherokee/WJ or WK. It's the same head, but the casting was revised slightly (I don't know how...) to address a known issue with cracking in the upper castings of the 1999-2001 #0331 cylinder head.

The early #0331 heads were known to crack on top of the head casting, right between the #3 and #4 cylinder exhaust ports. Something was done (I don't know what as of yet) to revise the casting, and the problem can be considered "corrected" with the 2002-up castings.

I don't know what parts availability will be like for you over there, but it's something to think about. The 2002-up cylinder head is a direct swap for the 2000-2001XJ, with no modification necessary.

Reports from the field indicate that the early #0331 cylinder heads seem to let go as early as 80Kmiles, or as late as 150Kmiles.

98 JeepJeep

A over heating condition seem to almost be certain death for them......

Firestorm500

Yeah, my recently bought '92 Laredo had been run hot by the PO, probably on several occasions.

It caused all kinds of problems. Among them not the head gasket, but a cracked head at the top of #5 and #6 valve pockets.

5-90

1992? That's the #7120 head - and I could use one or two for research. With the cracks there, I doubt anyone would take it back as a core. Where are you? Any way we can get it to San Jose, CA?