So this weekend I went to buy a new XJ.

It's a 99, with only 140k. First thing I did after buying it was flush the radiator because it was full of rusty water. No coolant whatsoever. Also did the basics such as oil change, new filter, and a new air filter.

Now, while driving home on the freeway, Check Gauges comes on, temperature jumps to 260. I pulled over and some water was coming out of the reservoir, but nothing crazy. Continued to drive for about 3 hours.

Then, out of nowhere, Check Gauges comes on again, 260 temp, so I pull over. Pop the hood and coolant is pouring out from what seems like everywhere on the passenger side. I let it sit for about 30 minutes in hopes of it cooling, since I was close to home.

Start it up, start driving again, I hear a pretty loud ticking noise, and with the pedal all the way to the floor, I'm at about 3.5k rpm, and going nowhere. No response at all. Pull over, AGAIN, and smoke is coming out from everywhere, including around the valve cover gasket. Did this for about an hour.

Ended up having to just tow it home. But now it cranks, but won't actually turn on. There is plenty of gas in it. Anybody have any ideas? Sorry for the long story.

 

Sounds like you blew the engine. How long after your bought it did this start happening.

Maybe PO just bandaided it to sell it to you.

 

Ok so Check your dipstick and see if you have coolant in the oil. I suspect Headgasket issues right off the bat now.

 

Sounds like a blown head gasket/warped/ cracked head. Look for oil in coolant, coolant in oil or, exhaust coming out of coolant.

 

x2. you should have steered clear when you saw all the rusty coolant. and towed it after it overheated.

 

I'd be looking into your states lemon laws pronto...

First mistake was driving it 3 hours while it was running hot. If it's hot enough to push coolant out of the overflow it's too hot to drive...

 

After the first stop, temp went down below 210. I checked it periodically, and it was running just fine.


It started happening about three days after. It was running just fine.

 

You speed problem was probably because of boiling transmission fluid... so you may have destroyed your trans too. May be time to cut your losses and part it out.

 

If the body and frame are still good, I sure wouldn't. Granted, he dropped some money on this vehicle, hopefully not too much, but I would just pick up another motor and tranny. The I-6 motor and auto tranny are reasonable priced locally, you just have to look! By going this route, you can definitely save a lot of money, instead of parting this one out and considering on buying another one down the road that is held together with super glue and duct tape.

Not sure if the OP was just getting back into the XJ again or just looking for a second one to toy around. Just my 2¢!

V/r,
awsgrayrd.

 

This is my 4th XJ, but the only one I own at the moment. I spent $3250 on the Jeep, and then $1300 on tires the day after. So if this can be fixed at home, and driven, then that's what I'd like to do. I'd hate to get rid of it.

 

Whew, that's a chunk of change.

Have you checked the fluids yet?

 

Yeah definitely wasn't cheap. But the coolant reservoir is full, with what looks like water and rust again. It was just flushed with coolant on Saturday. I'll run and check the dipstick for coolant right now though.

 

if you don't see any I would still drain the oil and check it out too.

 

x2, especially for something that could have been good enough to park for a few more months. OP, are you mechanically inclined, or have friends that are?...just hate to see someone get screwed, especially when it could have been prevented.

It obviously shows you love XJ's, I would hold on to it like I mentioned! Keep it to the side, start tearing it down, and buying stuff for it. Do it the way you want to do it.

V/r,
awsgrayrd.

 

at a bare minimum you popped the head gasket. however, these extended drive overheating sessions are a great way to fracture piston rings as well. if you do just a HG change i would absolutely bring each cylinder to TDC and inspect the top ring for fracturing and inspect the bores for scuffing. it's still touchy since the deck of the block could be warped and the head almost certainly is. if you get really lucky and only need to mill the head and use a new HG that solves the engine problem

the transmission is something else entirely. now boiling fluid won't pressurize which could be the reason you were going no where, or, you could have cooked it. you really won't know until that engine is going again and you can test it.

dropping the pan and doing a visual inspection for shavings would be smart, and, if you're going to attempt a tranny save you need to change the fluid after that kind of heat anyway.