Hey all, my first cherokee and trying to figure out all the bits that need repairing.

What's this pipe? And why is it leaking?

 

That's one of your main coolant pipes. It could be the waterpump leaking and running down the pipe. If it is your pump, it'd be worth replacing the pipes while you're at it, especially if they feel stiff or crunch when squeezed.

 

Joy, that sounds like a big job. Only had her 24 hours, ha.

​​​How hard is the water pump to replace?

 

It depends on how much experience you have as to how long it'll take. There's nothing complex involved, just a number of parts to unbolt and reattach.

 

I'm comfortable with simply removing bolts etc. But if it came to bleeding or pressuring stuff. Electricals or any timing things I wouldn't know where to start.

On the land rovers everything's very basic, so I'd be happy to switch anything on them. With this, is it a case or replacing the whole water pump? Any better upgrade options while I'm at it

 

After a waterpump you would need to make sure the system is bled but I've never had an issue with it.

What year XJ is it?

For the most part though, a water pump is just a lot of removing bolts, cleaning the mating surface properly, fitting, refitting bolts and bleeding the system.

When I did mine, the radiator did not have to come out, I think I unbolted the front cross piece that runs above the radiator to allow it to move a little bit, and get the e-fan and mechanical fan shroud out of the way. I'm going to guess you have a LHD so some bits may be different for you than my job was. There's plenty of videos out there showing the job, just watch a few and see if you're up to the task. I won't link any as without watching though a load myself, I may link a bad one.

 

Jeep cherokee xj 4.0 1998. RHD.
It does look like a job I'd be able to do. Any tips before I start?

 

Yeah, make sure it's not just the hose leaking. I wouldn't go as far as replacing the water pump if it's not leaking....yet! Of course the leak may be the shaft bearing weep hole running down the hose, but you'll have to clean everything off and check first. It could just be a loose clamp on the hose. Then you could get out of trouble with just tightening the clamp or getting a new one. A lot of people will tell you to do everything and fix it right, but you should not jump into it just yet. Get to know your jeep first. The best thing you can do is just really look it over and judge how to go about things before you start ripping things apart. That's just my opinion.

 

To add to Dave, while inspecting the leak, if it looks like it is the pipe and you try to tighten the clamp or put a new one on, that pipe will drop a whole lot of coolant. Have a bucket or similar ready.

If you are doing the pump, while the water system is open, flush it through with a hose.

 

Also being a RHD, do you have the auto belt tensioner on the top left?

If so, it'd be easy to release the tension on the belt and give the WP pulley a wiggle. My one had a lot of play and noise when span. Thats a sure sign it's bad. It'd be easier with 2 people, the second person keeping light tension on the belt to stop it falling off of every other pulley. Or just note the route.

 

Absolutely! That lower hose will drain almost the entire system! Good catch Boxburn!

 

@dave1123 @boxburn

Thanks for coming back to me guys, appreciate it. This morning yet another issue, if either of you have a second can you take a gander at my newest post, she's now really struggling to start and idle is really really rough. Think I was sold a dud.

 

No, you were just sold a poorly maintained one.

 

Been living on a farm for the last 5 years so think it has been neglected. It's also got 140k miles on the clock.

 

Heck, I got 252K miles on my WJ before she cracked a piston! Hard working girl too, delivering newspapers in any kind of weather and daily driver too. About 20K a year. New engine and good to go!