I just bought my 2001 XJ back in April and the P.O. had just replaced much of the cooling system including the radiator, water pump and thermostat. Since it was a new car to me I was checking the fluids regularly and it ran like a top for the first month. I went ahead and took it on a road trip and when I went into a grocery store to buy some baby asprin for my son who was in the car, I found out the hard way that the radiator cap was no good. From what I can tell the cap was new but since it had little flanges on it for tightening purposes, it scratched against the top of the radiator since it attaches to an elbow instead of the top of the radiator itself. This didn't allow it to seal properly. Make sure your cap is not like the one below or you too could be victim as well.

I was able to change out the head gasket this weekend and all is well now. $200 and a wasted weekend over a $5 radiator cap.

 

This is one of those threads that makes me paranoid as all hell. My cap (Has flanges) probably seals fine.

 

Did you just come on here saying that you left your son in your Jeep, running while you went into the store? If so you're lucky a blown head gasket is the worst thing that happened.

Sent from my HTC EVO running CM7 using Cherokee Forum

 

x2

 

So I have an 89 and I've never seen the top of radiator or my radiator cap?? Were is it located? I know it's a newb question

 

you have a clossed cooling system this is where your cap is (in black)

Brandon

 

Wife was in the car with baby so no need to call CPS

 

I thought the remedy was gonna be putting baby aspirin in my cooling system. Hell I've seen weirder.

 

Awww, his coolant system has a headache!

 

The cap you show is for a Honda CRF450R motorcycle. If that's the cap the PO put on the XJ how weird is that?!?!

 

Yes I have that but thought he was talking about something else...so if this cap is not very tight it's not a good thing?