Radiator help

Pxxcmd

New member
Hi i took my jeep for a 5 minute drive and when i parked it, i looked under the hood the engine was so hot i dropped the hood because it was fuming with heat. Tried again slowly and looked around the block just fuming. Even the hosed were as hot as heck. Do i need a new water pump, radiator fan thanks
 

Is the radiator leaking anything? If not it could possibly be clogged, the thermostat could be bad and stuck closed, or the water pump. Usually the water pump will leak if it gos bad, there should be a tiny hole in the water pump housing (weep hole) and when the pump gos bad fluid usually comes out the hole and the pump makes a noise. If not leaks and the water pump isnt making any kind of nois, I would start with the thermostat and my guess is that is what it is if nothing is leaking.
 
We'll need more info before we can help.


  • Do you have any coolant in the radiator?
  • Does the fan spin when you start the engine?
  • Any play in the fan (if you grab the fan and wiggle it)?
 

Are you able to wiggle the fan (meaning is the water pump shaft loose).
 

Hmmm the pumps mechanical isn't it? Meaning it just has a impeller spinning around a housing, right?. It seems they usually seize up or leak, right? Can the Impeller fall off internally (no flow). If it siezes it would burn or throw the belt right? What about the thermostat sticking shut. That can cause over heating pretty quick. Not sure if it will allow you to run it with the radiatior cap off? If so, watch the rad fluid, it should be still, then when the thermostat opens the fluid should start flowing, no flow, might be not opening. You can also remove the thermostat, put it in a pot, heat on stove and check it with a thermometer. If its a 210 it should open at 210. Also could possibly be a blown head gasket, cracked head or block. Any water in oil, or oil in the water? Oh, plugged radiator? Rad shop can pressure test it.
 
No, the water pump isnt hard to replace. loosen your alternator so you can take off the belt, I have changed water pumps with the fan on, but it can be tough. Its easyist to take the fan off, then the water pump. Use Rtv on the new gaskets when you put the new pump on.
 

The hardest part will be taking the belt off and getting your hand in there to take out the fan bolts, the rest of it should be a peice of cake.
 
I was thinking about putting in a electric fan behind the radiator to increase the flow of air to cool the coolent more better. Is that possible????
 
I was thinking about putting in a electric fan behind the radiator to increase the flow of air to cool the coolent more better. Is that possible????

This is a common upgrade. Lots of guys with 4 bangers add an electric fan to help with horsepower, as well as adding more cooling. A common swap is to add the fan from a Ford Taurus (get it at a junk yard for $50 or so).
Here are a couple of threads:
http://www.jeepz.com/forum/cj-yj-tj-jk/39239-taurus-fan-upgrade.html
http://www.jeepz.com/forum/cj-yj-tj-jk/39380-e-fan-controller-wrecking-yard.html
http://www.jeepz.com/forum/jeep-per...el-ford-taurus-fan-did-you-use-your-jeep.html
 
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