CJG

My new-to-me Cherokee is a '90 base model. Manual tranny/4WD.

The radiator is full of rust and needs to be replaced. The overflow tub is cracked and also need replacement. And the whole cooling system needs to be flushed at least twice.

This is beyond the time and expertise I have so I was planning on having a reputable local wrench do it for me.

After reading about the overheating problems with Cherokees, I asked them to find me a heavy duty radiator but they said they couldn't find one from their suppliers.

So I went searching online and found one at TEAM CHEROKEE: http://www.teamgrandwagoneer.com/cgi...iter+1984-1990. It says it 's a dual core so I was pretty happy to have found it.

But when I called the repair shop they said since they can't buy it from one of their regular parts suppliers they won't guarantee their labor if something goes wrong with the radiator down the line. If the regular-duty radiator they were planning on installing craps out in 12 months or 12,000 miles they'll replace it free including their labor cost.

Plus, they want to charge me some sort of premium for the Heavy Duty radiator because they'd consider it "supplied by the customer." I couldn't get a straight answer out of them as to exactly how much that surcharge would be but they were busy and needed to get off the phone.

So here's my question: Is it worth the trouble getting the heavy duty radiator -- paying an up-charge plus risk paying the labor costs twice if it goes belly-up -- or is my base model gong to be perfectly fine with the regular, single core radiator they were planning on installing?

I live in Southern California where it can get blisteringly hot for a lot of the year but I don't use the 4WD nor do any off-roading. I do mostly in-town and freeway driving. (The Cherokee is used for transporting furniture for one of my businesses. Probably never more than 300lbs. of cargo.)

What advice do you have?

Thanks in advance,

CJ

partsguyct

Hunt around you might find a decent shop that will let you buy your own parts and still put some warranty on it or just run the stock replacement and if it does die out you get a free one plus install unless your willing to put some time in and learn the job yourself

djb383

Without regular routine maintenance, a heavy duty rad will get just as clogged with rust, just as quickly as a OE style rad. When either get clogged, they quit cooling. The OE single row cooled good when it was new/clean.

Marcucco

I agree with PartsguyCT,
Your shop isn't going to make anything on the radiator itself, so they're stabbing you on the installation. Check around for another shop, or take it to a radiator specialist.
Barring manufacturer's defects, it's the level of vehicle maintenance and the quality of the coolant used that determines the life of a radiator. Which is something your regular mechanic should be on top of that anyway, so I'd go to somebody else.

cruiser54

This would be an excellent time to convert to the open cooling system.

CJG

Thanks, guys. Much appreciated.

And CRUISER54 -- I'm going to read up on that. Always like to learn something new... when I'm not crushed w/ work, that is...

(Glad I decided to check back in on this thread... I hadn't received any email notices that anyone had posted a response and I have this thread set to "immediate." Weird.)

CJ

macgyver35

It is VERY common for shops to not warranty items that didn't come from their suppliers. Since they have no relationship with the part source, they have no leverage to get reimbursed if anything fails and costs them extra labor. To me, that's totally understandable. I have the same policy with my business (not automotive related, but home related).

Ian96XJ

I've found shops like to charge a premium if THEY supply the parts. I had a reputable shop tell me to go to a parts store and pick up a part, because if they did it, they'd have to add on another 50% to it when they charged me. Company policy. I liked their honesty.

macgyver35

You're absolutely correct. It's almost always cheaper to buy your own parts and save the mark-up. I was stating the case that it is difficult to get the shop to warranty any parts they don't get from one of their suppliers, regardless of who paid what for them.

Ian96XJ

Yep. They told me they couldn't warranty the parts, but that's okay, as I was having them install a used CL header I got and they told me to get a flange adapter to make it fit.

highmileage

you could look into the wrecking yards, normally a 90 day warranty (sometimes a 60 or 30) reasonably priced and can do the open system conversion for you with OE parts. With my dealings with wrecking yards if it last the 30 to 90 it will last as long as you need it to.

odgreen

FYI the rad team Cherokee listed is incorrect. The 4 banger radiator and 4.0 rad are different.
Do some searching and get yourself a rad out of a 95.

It will get rid of the pressure bottle that always fails.

CJG

Thanks again, guys...

I have to take the Cherokee on a longish trip on Monday so I didn't have time to research the open cooling system or drag my feet any longer. Had to get the old, rusted rad out of there. Went with the wrench's regular duty one. Working great and I don't have to worry about paying twice for install if the Team Cherokee one went belly-up.

Interesting, OD, that the HD radiator they told me was correct over the phone isn't. I would have been screwed for Monday if it had arrived and had to be sent back.

CJ