Sep 21, 2015, 03:49 PM
Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:
Browse all: General Overview
- Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ 1999 to 2004 Crash Test and Safety Ratings
Important Information to help you understand your Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Browse all: General Overview
XJ Ask the Question Thread
Moderator of Jeeps
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 21,029
Likes: 3
From: Frederick, MD from Cleveland, OH
Year: 1993 YJ Wrangler
Engine: 4.0 I6
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, Tn
Year: Different Years (I have several XJ's)
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
Last question for the day.
I'm having to replace my cylinder head on my 95. Anything else I should do while I have this all off?
Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 486
Likes: 2
From: Long Island, New York
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6 (The best engine ever made)
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: W. Central Florida
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
So anyway, I got it back from the shop. Close to $800 - they also replaced the radiator, a couple of hoses, rad cap, thermostat, and a sensor that it is sort of behind the head near the firewall.
The good news: it runs great and isn't leaking, and there's no coolant smell or anything. The bad news - the temp light comes on. He tried to tell me it's some issue with the fit of the new sensor. But then he got distracted and I wasn't able to finish getting the explanation. It doesn't come on real bright - you can only see it if it's dark. But obviously that does bother me.
The next thing is now, after this repair, the heater doesn't work. At all.
It did work before.
So I have to take it back and at least get good explanations for these things.
But it does run great now.
The good news: it runs great and isn't leaking, and there's no coolant smell or anything. The bad news - the temp light comes on. He tried to tell me it's some issue with the fit of the new sensor. But then he got distracted and I wasn't able to finish getting the explanation. It doesn't come on real bright - you can only see it if it's dark. But obviously that does bother me.
The next thing is now, after this repair, the heater doesn't work. At all.
It did work before.
So I have to take it back and at least get good explanations for these things.
But it does run great now.
So I had posted a few weeks ago about my 95 4.0 CHerokee. It had a cooling system problem, and it turned out to be a freeze plug, which the mechanics were able to get at pretty easily to replace it. Easy-peasy - $60.
So now, a few weeks later I came out of the dentist's office and see a big green puddle under the Jeep, along with the usual "smell". And if I started it, water gushed from underneath, wayyyyyyyyyyy back towards the back.
So again I get it towed, to the same mechs. This time, not so lucky. They have to pull the head to get at it. Again, a freeze plug.
What I'm wondering, how many more freeze plugs are there on this engine? If they all start going bad every few weeks, what needs to happen? the whole engine be pulled to get at them? or? I can't understand the mechanics very well, because they really only speak Spanish and my Spanish is minimal.
So, say they pull the head and replace this plug, should I feel pretty secure about it then? or am I looking at having more plugs that would likely also be fixin' to fail due to age?
thx
So now, a few weeks later I came out of the dentist's office and see a big green puddle under the Jeep, along with the usual "smell". And if I started it, water gushed from underneath, wayyyyyyyyyyy back towards the back.
So again I get it towed, to the same mechs. This time, not so lucky. They have to pull the head to get at it. Again, a freeze plug.
What I'm wondering, how many more freeze plugs are there on this engine? If they all start going bad every few weeks, what needs to happen? the whole engine be pulled to get at them? or? I can't understand the mechanics very well, because they really only speak Spanish and my Spanish is minimal.
So, say they pull the head and replace this plug, should I feel pretty secure about it then? or am I looking at having more plugs that would likely also be fixin' to fail due to age?
thx
Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 486
Likes: 2
From: Long Island, New York
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6 (The best engine ever made)
First. $800 was way too much. I'd do that work in 2-3 hours for you for $300
Second. There scamming you about pulling the head.
Second. There scamming you about pulling the head.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
From: Huntsville, Tn
Year: Different Years (I have several XJ's)
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO
For that much you would've been better off going to a junk yard and getting another motor for it. I can get any year motor all day long here in Tennessee for $250 in great shape.
Moderator of Jeeps
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 21,029
Likes: 3
From: Frederick, MD from Cleveland, OH
Year: 1993 YJ Wrangler
Engine: 4.0 I6
So anyway, I got it back from the shop. Close to $800 - they also replaced the radiator, a couple of hoses, rad cap, thermostat, and a sensor that it is sort of behind the head near the firewall.
The good news: it runs great and isn't leaking, and there's no coolant smell or anything. The bad news - the temp light comes on. He tried to tell me it's some issue with the fit of the new sensor. But then he got distracted and I wasn't able to finish getting the explanation. It doesn't come on real bright - you can only see it if it's dark. But obviously that does bother me.
The next thing is now, after this repair, the heater doesn't work. At all.
It did work before.
So I have to take it back and at least get good explanations for these things.
But it does run great now.
The good news: it runs great and isn't leaking, and there's no coolant smell or anything. The bad news - the temp light comes on. He tried to tell me it's some issue with the fit of the new sensor. But then he got distracted and I wasn't able to finish getting the explanation. It doesn't come on real bright - you can only see it if it's dark. But obviously that does bother me.
The next thing is now, after this repair, the heater doesn't work. At all.
It did work before.
So I have to take it back and at least get good explanations for these things.
But it does run great now.
Yep
Last edited by NewKindOfClown; Feb 12, 2014 at 06:18 AM.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: W. Central Florida
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
wow. They really did pull the head (I saw the gasket). The labor was about $350 - $85 was radiator replacement labor, the rest of that amt was pulling the head and replacing that ($9) freeze plug.
The rest of the cost was parts. Radiator, hoses, cap, thermostat, etc. Coolant.
I think I will start taking it by a shop that seems to specialize in Jeeps.
Thanks guys.
I'm getting to the point in life where I really appreciate the services of a good mechanic, rather than doing stuff myself, but I like to research stuff and try to learn what I'm looking at.
So you think they actually didn't even pull the head at all? or just "scamming" in charging too much?
I guess I need to find a new "Daddy" (mech.) for the Jeep. When it's running good, it's soooooo nice to drive.
The rest of the cost was parts. Radiator, hoses, cap, thermostat, etc. Coolant.
I think I will start taking it by a shop that seems to specialize in Jeeps.
Thanks guys.
I'm getting to the point in life where I really appreciate the services of a good mechanic, rather than doing stuff myself, but I like to research stuff and try to learn what I'm looking at.
So you think they actually didn't even pull the head at all? or just "scamming" in charging too much?
I guess I need to find a new "Daddy" (mech.) for the Jeep. When it's running good, it's soooooo nice to drive.