Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: Dodster on October 30, 2011, 05:09:44 PM

Title: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: Dodster on October 30, 2011, 05:09:44 PM
A couple of weeks ago afetr blasting up down the motorway on a few trips the rad on my Grand decided to dump its load when I got to work, filled it and limped home, checked the Rad and it was toast, and I mean rotten.
Changed the rad and put a new stat in it,filled it up, ok for a couple of days then one day on the way to work, takes ages for temp gauge to move, no heat, check coolant and its lost some, only a couple of litres. Thought it could be air lock so fill it up again, on my travels again, same thing happens, lost coolant, only intermittent heat, temp gauge up and down. Lots of gurgling noises from the system and the reservoir, put the old stat back in just in case it was that, check the heater pipes are not full of air. Refill and watch it on the drive.

As it warmed up, top hose getting hot and starting to expand, heater pipes cold, then it seems the pressures buliding built up so high that coolant is pissing out of the rad cap and also blasting into the reservoir together with loads of bubbles, turn it off still loads of coolant together with bubbles going into the reservoir until the pressure drops.
Change the cap, still no heat, top and bottom hoses hot but heater hoses cold and coolant blasting into the reservoir.
Now I think maybe the pump is toast although I changed it about 2-3 years ago, its as if there is a blockage somewhere could be the pump I thought.

Changed the pump this morning as I had one spare, old one looked ok, started up and now still some pressure although the heater hose (in) was hot the heater hose (out) was cold, still no heat but temp gauge reading hot. The pressure went down when the bottom hose started to leak but still bubble city in the reservoir..

So it seems the old rad probably blew due to the pressure and the new rad has just pushed the problem elsewhere..

Does this sound like the head or head gasket has gone? would that explain the pressure build up and bubbles in the reservoir..? Could there be a blockage somewhere?

Sorry for the long post and thanks for reading but while I like messing and having a go this is now doing my freakin head.. :010:

Any help as usual gratefully received.. :greggmo:
Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: daggie on October 30, 2011, 06:54:49 PM
take the thermostat out, to eliminate that
Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: Bishops Finger on October 31, 2011, 01:40:48 AM
Dodster sir..no pin prick holes on pipes?
Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: Dodster on October 31, 2011, 07:40:11 PM
cheers for the replies..
ive tried two stats and fairly sure they are opening but will give it a try before condemning it..
No pricks Stew but there was an arsehole in it last week..  :003:

Hmmm I think I detect a shimmer of oil in the coolant..not good, loads of people with similar probs on the net.. :010:

Could be time for a change.. :icon_sad:
Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: Bubba on October 31, 2011, 07:41:49 PM
get one of the dye testers you will know for certain then
Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: Dave69 on October 31, 2011, 07:46:48 PM
reverse flush the heater matrix to remove any crud and potential airlock
Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: wildrover on October 31, 2011, 10:21:48 PM
Put some steel seal in the rad...

Cured my Jeep cracked head...then i drove it from UK to Poland...

Its been to Ukraine twice since then....soon its off to Moscow...

Not a hint of overheating since i did it...well , apart from when the water pump fell to bits...
Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: daggie on November 01, 2011, 08:16:47 AM
replace the headgasket, its not to bad a job :icon_winkle:
Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: Dodster on November 03, 2011, 07:06:50 PM
replace the headgasket, its not to bad a job :icon_winkle:
Daggie, before I joined here I would ahve larfed at that idea.. but these days I wouldnt be afraid to have a go..but Im not going to.. :003:
Anyway, backflushed the heater matrix, took the stat out still no joy although it did do ok for one day..

My last chance is the steel seal although I'm not going to Ukraine to test it.. :icon_eek:

If that dont work I will be posting on the 'fuck it' thread and deciding what to get to replace the POS.. :jpshakehead:



Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: Bubba on November 03, 2011, 07:57:21 PM
give ya £23.50 for it    really i might want some parts


are you SURE its not worth a head gasket job ???
Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: Bishops Finger on November 04, 2011, 12:35:13 AM
Try something like steel seal ya got nowt to loose Phil..
Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: Dodster on November 04, 2011, 06:25:15 PM
I'll do your head gasket for £23.50..    really i might want some parts
are you SURE its not worth a head gasket job ???

Thanks for the offer Kev... :003: but I havent got the time to sort it, If i end up getting rid I will shout up first in case you want anything off it.. :greggmo:

Title: Re: 97 GC 4.0 cooling probs (tale of woe)
Post by: wildrover on November 04, 2011, 07:01:28 PM
Try something like steel seal ya got nowt to loose Phil..


It worked for me....