2000 TJ Radiator Problem
 

I was just wondering if anybody else has had this problem. I started smelling
coolant after I got out of my Jeep. So I started looking for leaks of anykind
and could not find any. Since I am a stdent at Wyo Tech right now I was able to
pressure test the radiator cap. It was bad so I replaced it. A couple of days
later I still could smell it and checked again and found a small leak around
the thermostat housing. I replaced that and the thermostat. I still had the
smell. Now I found a small leak where the PLASTIC top tank is cracking where it
is connected to the METAL core. I am from CA and in school in WY. I was told by
a couple of people that due to the somewhat extreme cold here (had a couple of
nights at -36) that due to the cold and all that is was the cause of the crack.
My Jeep is 4 years old with just over 31K miles I got the 3year 36K do you
think the dealer will replace it for free or will I have too? I was quoted at a
local radiator shop to replace it about $250 with an all brass radiator. So
what do you guys think?

Thanks in advance

Scott

Re: 2000 TJ Radiator Problem
 

This is a common problem with the TJ plastic radiators. Since you are one
year over your warranty period, the dealer will not replace it free.

Tom

"WYTEKER51" <wyteker51@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040419210656.22188.00000092@mb-m22.aol.com...
> I was just wondering if anybody else has had this problem. I started
smelling
> coolant after I got out of my Jeep. So I started looking for leaks of
anykind
> and could not find any. Since I am a stdent at Wyo Tech right now I was
able to
> pressure test the radiator cap. It was bad so I replaced it. A couple of
days
> later I still could smell it and checked again and found a small leak
around
> the thermostat housing. I replaced that and the thermostat. I still had
the
> smell. Now I found a small leak where the PLASTIC top tank is cracking
where it
> is connected to the METAL core. I am from CA and in school in WY. I was
told by
> a couple of people that due to the somewhat extreme cold here (had a
couple of
> nights at -36) that due to the cold and all that is was the cause of the
crack.
> My Jeep is 4 years old with just over 31K miles I got the 3year 36K do you
> think the dealer will replace it for free or will I have too? I was quoted
at a
> local radiator shop to replace it about $250 with an all brass radiator.
So
> what do you guys think?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Scott

Re: 2000 TJ Radiator Problem
 

This is a common problem with the TJ plastic radiators. Since you are one
year over your warranty period, the dealer will not replace it free.

Tom

"WYTEKER51" <wyteker51@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040419210656.22188.00000092@mb-m22.aol.com...
> I was just wondering if anybody else has had this problem. I started
smelling
> coolant after I got out of my Jeep. So I started looking for leaks of
anykind
> and could not find any. Since I am a stdent at Wyo Tech right now I was
able to
> pressure test the radiator cap. It was bad so I replaced it. A couple of
days
> later I still could smell it and checked again and found a small leak
around
> the thermostat housing. I replaced that and the thermostat. I still had
the
> smell. Now I found a small leak where the PLASTIC top tank is cracking
where it
> is connected to the METAL core. I am from CA and in school in WY. I was
told by
> a couple of people that due to the somewhat extreme cold here (had a
couple of
> nights at -36) that due to the cold and all that is was the cause of the
crack.
> My Jeep is 4 years old with just over 31K miles I got the 3year 36K do you
> think the dealer will replace it for free or will I have too? I was quoted
at a
> local radiator shop to replace it about $250 with an all brass radiator.
So
> what do you guys think?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Scott

Re: 2000 TJ Radiator Problem
 

This is a common problem with the TJ plastic radiators. Since you are one
year over your warranty period, the dealer will not replace it free.

Tom

"WYTEKER51" <wyteker51@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040419210656.22188.00000092@mb-m22.aol.com...
> I was just wondering if anybody else has had this problem. I started
smelling
> coolant after I got out of my Jeep. So I started looking for leaks of
anykind
> and could not find any. Since I am a stdent at Wyo Tech right now I was
able to
> pressure test the radiator cap. It was bad so I replaced it. A couple of
days
> later I still could smell it and checked again and found a small leak
around
> the thermostat housing. I replaced that and the thermostat. I still had
the
> smell. Now I found a small leak where the PLASTIC top tank is cracking
where it
> is connected to the METAL core. I am from CA and in school in WY. I was
told by
> a couple of people that due to the somewhat extreme cold here (had a
couple of
> nights at -36) that due to the cold and all that is was the cause of the
crack.
> My Jeep is 4 years old with just over 31K miles I got the 3year 36K do you
> think the dealer will replace it for free or will I have too? I was quoted
at a
> local radiator shop to replace it about $250 with an all brass radiator.
So
> what do you guys think?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Scott

Re: 2000 TJ Radiator Problem
 

This is a common problem with the TJ plastic radiators. Since you are one
year over your warranty period, the dealer will not replace it free.

Tom

"WYTEKER51" <wyteker51@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040419210656.22188.00000092@mb-m22.aol.com...
> I was just wondering if anybody else has had this problem. I started
smelling
> coolant after I got out of my Jeep. So I started looking for leaks of
anykind
> and could not find any. Since I am a stdent at Wyo Tech right now I was
able to
> pressure test the radiator cap. It was bad so I replaced it. A couple of
days
> later I still could smell it and checked again and found a small leak
around
> the thermostat housing. I replaced that and the thermostat. I still had
the
> smell. Now I found a small leak where the PLASTIC top tank is cracking
where it
> is connected to the METAL core. I am from CA and in school in WY. I was
told by
> a couple of people that due to the somewhat extreme cold here (had a
couple of
> nights at -36) that due to the cold and all that is was the cause of the
crack.
> My Jeep is 4 years old with just over 31K miles I got the 3year 36K do you
> think the dealer will replace it for free or will I have too? I was quoted
at a
> local radiator shop to replace it about $250 with an all brass radiator.
So
> what do you guys think?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Scott

Re: 2000 TJ Radiator Problem
 

One other thing to keep in mind. When you have a radiator with the plastic
tanks, it is imparitive to make sure all of the air is out of your cooling
system. My friend was told this when he was at the AC Delco training
facility for A/C and cooling systems. The reason for this is that when the
coolant gets to operating temp., any air bubble can become a steam pocket
and rapidly expand, causing an explosion for lack of a better word. This
causes undo stress on the plastic which can and will eventually start a
crack. This was confirmed by a Toyota forklift techinician who frequently
has my friend repair radiators. Take it for what it's worth.

Chris


"mabar" <mabar@NoSpammmgbronline.com> wrote in message
news:8JSdnRAEiNUhjhjdRVn-vA@gbronline.com...
> This is a common problem with the TJ plastic radiators. Since you are one
> year over your warranty period, the dealer will not replace it free.
>
> Tom
>
> "WYTEKER51" <wyteker51@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20040419210656.22188.00000092@mb-m22.aol.com...
> > I was just wondering if anybody else has had this problem. I started
> smelling
> > coolant after I got out of my Jeep. So I started looking for leaks of
> anykind
> > and could not find any. Since I am a stdent at Wyo Tech right now I was
> able to
> > pressure test the radiator cap. It was bad so I replaced it. A couple of
> days
> > later I still could smell it and checked again and found a small leak
> around
> > the thermostat housing. I replaced that and the thermostat. I still had
> the
> > smell. Now I found a small leak where the PLASTIC top tank is cracking
> where it
> > is connected to the METAL core. I am from CA and in school in WY. I was
> told by
> > a couple of people that due to the somewhat extreme cold here (had a
> couple of
> > nights at -36) that due to the cold and all that is was the cause of the
> crack.
> > My Jeep is 4 years old with just over 31K miles I got the 3year 36K do
you
> > think the dealer will replace it for free or will I have too? I was
quoted
> at a
> > local radiator shop to replace it about $250 with an all brass radiator.
> So
> > what do you guys think?
> >
> > Thanks in advance
> >
> > Scott
>
>

Re: 2000 TJ Radiator Problem
 

One other thing to keep in mind. When you have a radiator with the plastic
tanks, it is imparitive to make sure all of the air is out of your cooling
system. My friend was told this when he was at the AC Delco training
facility for A/C and cooling systems. The reason for this is that when the
coolant gets to operating temp., any air bubble can become a steam pocket
and rapidly expand, causing an explosion for lack of a better word. This
causes undo stress on the plastic which can and will eventually start a
crack. This was confirmed by a Toyota forklift techinician who frequently
has my friend repair radiators. Take it for what it's worth.

Chris


"mabar" <mabar@NoSpammmgbronline.com> wrote in message
news:8JSdnRAEiNUhjhjdRVn-vA@gbronline.com...
> This is a common problem with the TJ plastic radiators. Since you are one
> year over your warranty period, the dealer will not replace it free.
>
> Tom
>
> "WYTEKER51" <wyteker51@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20040419210656.22188.00000092@mb-m22.aol.com...
> > I was just wondering if anybody else has had this problem. I started
> smelling
> > coolant after I got out of my Jeep. So I started looking for leaks of
> anykind
> > and could not find any. Since I am a stdent at Wyo Tech right now I was
> able to
> > pressure test the radiator cap. It was bad so I replaced it. A couple of
> days
> > later I still could smell it and checked again and found a small leak
> around
> > the thermostat housing. I replaced that and the thermostat. I still had
> the
> > smell. Now I found a small leak where the PLASTIC top tank is cracking
> where it
> > is connected to the METAL core. I am from CA and in school in WY. I was
> told by
> > a couple of people that due to the somewhat extreme cold here (had a
> couple of
> > nights at -36) that due to the cold and all that is was the cause of the
> crack.
> > My Jeep is 4 years old with just over 31K miles I got the 3year 36K do
you
> > think the dealer will replace it for free or will I have too? I was
quoted
> at a
> > local radiator shop to replace it about $250 with an all brass radiator.
> So
> > what do you guys think?
> >
> > Thanks in advance
> >
> > Scott
>
>

Re: 2000 TJ Radiator Problem
 

One other thing to keep in mind. When you have a radiator with the plastic
tanks, it is imparitive to make sure all of the air is out of your cooling
system. My friend was told this when he was at the AC Delco training
facility for A/C and cooling systems. The reason for this is that when the
coolant gets to operating temp., any air bubble can become a steam pocket
and rapidly expand, causing an explosion for lack of a better word. This
causes undo stress on the plastic which can and will eventually start a
crack. This was confirmed by a Toyota forklift techinician who frequently
has my friend repair radiators. Take it for what it's worth.

Chris


"mabar" <mabar@NoSpammmgbronline.com> wrote in message
news:8JSdnRAEiNUhjhjdRVn-vA@gbronline.com...
> This is a common problem with the TJ plastic radiators. Since you are one
> year over your warranty period, the dealer will not replace it free.
>
> Tom
>
> "WYTEKER51" <wyteker51@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20040419210656.22188.00000092@mb-m22.aol.com...
> > I was just wondering if anybody else has had this problem. I started
> smelling
> > coolant after I got out of my Jeep. So I started looking for leaks of
> anykind
> > and could not find any. Since I am a stdent at Wyo Tech right now I was
> able to
> > pressure test the radiator cap. It was bad so I replaced it. A couple of
> days
> > later I still could smell it and checked again and found a small leak
> around
> > the thermostat housing. I replaced that and the thermostat. I still had
> the
> > smell. Now I found a small leak where the PLASTIC top tank is cracking
> where it
> > is connected to the METAL core. I am from CA and in school in WY. I was
> told by
> > a couple of people that due to the somewhat extreme cold here (had a
> couple of
> > nights at -36) that due to the cold and all that is was the cause of the
> crack.
> > My Jeep is 4 years old with just over 31K miles I got the 3year 36K do
you
> > think the dealer will replace it for free or will I have too? I was
quoted
> at a
> > local radiator shop to replace it about $250 with an all brass radiator.
> So
> > what do you guys think?
> >
> > Thanks in advance
> >
> > Scott
>
>

Re: 2000 TJ Radiator Problem
 

One other thing to keep in mind. When you have a radiator with the plastic
tanks, it is imparitive to make sure all of the air is out of your cooling
system. My friend was told this when he was at the AC Delco training
facility for A/C and cooling systems. The reason for this is that when the
coolant gets to operating temp., any air bubble can become a steam pocket
and rapidly expand, causing an explosion for lack of a better word. This
causes undo stress on the plastic which can and will eventually start a
crack. This was confirmed by a Toyota forklift techinician who frequently
has my friend repair radiators. Take it for what it's worth.

Chris


"mabar" <mabar@NoSpammmgbronline.com> wrote in message
news:8JSdnRAEiNUhjhjdRVn-vA@gbronline.com...
> This is a common problem with the TJ plastic radiators. Since you are one
> year over your warranty period, the dealer will not replace it free.
>
> Tom
>
> "WYTEKER51" <wyteker51@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:20040419210656.22188.00000092@mb-m22.aol.com...
> > I was just wondering if anybody else has had this problem. I started
> smelling
> > coolant after I got out of my Jeep. So I started looking for leaks of
> anykind
> > and could not find any. Since I am a stdent at Wyo Tech right now I was
> able to
> > pressure test the radiator cap. It was bad so I replaced it. A couple of
> days
> > later I still could smell it and checked again and found a small leak
> around
> > the thermostat housing. I replaced that and the thermostat. I still had
> the
> > smell. Now I found a small leak where the PLASTIC top tank is cracking
> where it
> > is connected to the METAL core. I am from CA and in school in WY. I was
> told by
> > a couple of people that due to the somewhat extreme cold here (had a
> couple of
> > nights at -36) that due to the cold and all that is was the cause of the
> crack.
> > My Jeep is 4 years old with just over 31K miles I got the 3year 36K do
you
> > think the dealer will replace it for free or will I have too? I was
quoted
> at a
> > local radiator shop to replace it about $250 with an all brass radiator.
> So
> > what do you guys think?
> >
> > Thanks in advance
> >
> > Scott
>
>

Re: 2000 TJ Radiator Problem
 

To me, this has warranty written all over it. You paid for the
warranty, so use it ;-)

Seriously, though, usually warranties are only limited on things like
hoses, belts, tires, etc. that are meant to wear out over time.
Radiator housings are not one of these sorts of items.

I think it is known that the TJs have weak radiators, and I've had
friends who had cracks develop in their radiators as well. I expect
mine will one day soon. If you weren't in your warranty period still,
I'd suggest upgrading to a larger capacity radiator (3 core?).
However, since you're still in the warranty period, were I in your
shoes, I would just take it to get fixed at the dealer and be done
with it.

I wish I still had a warranty on my jeep...would've made some of the
things I've had to fix much less annoying (infamous exhaust manifold
crack, leaking/crunching steering gear, alternator, etc, etc,
etc...they all add up $$$!)

/Bob


wyteker51@aol.com (WYTEKER51) wrote in message news:<20040419210656.22188.00000092@mb-m22.aol.com>...
> I was just wondering if anybody else has had this problem. I started smelling
> coolant after I got out of my Jeep. So I started looking for leaks of anykind
> and could not find any. Since I am a stdent at Wyo Tech right now I was able to
> pressure test the radiator cap. It was bad so I replaced it. A couple of days
> later I still could smell it and checked again and found a small leak around
> the thermostat housing. I replaced that and the thermostat. I still had the
> smell. Now I found a small leak where the PLASTIC top tank is cracking where it
> is connected to the METAL core. I am from CA and in school in WY. I was told by
> a couple of people that due to the somewhat extreme cold here (had a couple of
> nights at -36) that due to the cold and all that is was the cause of the crack.
> My Jeep is 4 years old with just over 31K miles I got the 3year 36K do you
> think the dealer will replace it for free or will I have too? I was quoted at a
> local radiator shop to replace it about $250 with an all brass radiator. So
> what do you guys think?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Scott