I critically need to fix this asap. Wife has driving test on Friday. I just replaced the radiator last night. Now it wants to keep dying out. It sputters and dies out unless I keep giving it gas in which case it runs fine.

Plugs cap rotor wires fuel pump lines and filter all practically brand new.

About to check schrader valve and spray out the cap with wd40. Fortunately, its pouring freezing rain now. Yay.

Suggestions needed badly.

Literally never did this before until after changing this rad. Left it running for about 10-15 idle a few times with cap off to burp it last night. Happened twice last night. Now it happens every time I have it running.

I'm thinking it's the goddamn fuel pump even though I just did it (bosch).

 

Update -

So the schrader seems to be getting great pressure when running, just had it idling for awhile no problem, runs like a top....

BUT...got her on the road just swinging around the parking lot - temperature gauge light (I don't have a gauge, just the dash light) came on immediately and stayed on....so.....

Is there any certain way this radiator (all metal) needs to be grounded? Is it possible the (reused) temp sensor is bad? It is the 2 wire type. It's gotta be something with the sensor or grounding, since this literally ONLY STARTED HAPPENING AFTER RADIATOR WAS REPLACED LAST NIGHT.

I'm puzzled...soaked....and freezing.

Edit: another small detail - I am not using the Trans cooler lines. Left them capped with the rubber caps they came with when I bought it (Spectra radiator at autozone) - I have the lines run to a B&M in the front.

 

Ok another update -

I'm pretty sure I just needed coolant....ya....I'm an idiot.

I'm not 100% sure this is what it was, but I'm thinking idling and burping wasn't working worth a ****, and driving it around the block a bit was getting more and more sucked into the system, and I've repeated the process 3 times now, light hasn't come back on - and she's runnin like a top.

Will update if anything else comes up.

Ugh....

Can't blame me for being freaked out though, wife has the road test on friday - 2 hours and 45 minutes away since it was the closest place we could schedule before may 27th and I start my new job soon and we can't carpool. Talk about pressure/stress.

I hope the jeep makes it there and back, and that this is situated over these next 2 days... eeeekkkk

 

Ya I'm just stupid....

Just drove it like I stole it, runs perfectly fine. Thing sucks down coolant like a bum locked in a liquor store ONCE YOU DRIVE IT.....shut it off, fill, repeat.

The whole idling with the cap off thing? Doesn't work worth a $hit, in case anyone is reading this and wondering about burping a renix.

 

*DELETE*

 

Glad you got it worked out.

 

Yeah, um, if you're using that much coolant........there's your problem!

 

Ya drove it work just fine today.

I'm not sure how to delete a thread completely? Would have deleted it last night.

Also it took about 2 Gallons to fill before it stopped sucking it down, now it's finally sitting at the full line after running, and sitting cold. Checked the oil - looks perfectly fine, checked for leaks everywhere - none. 2 gallons seems about right from what I've read.

When it was sputtering/dying, less than a gallon had been sucked down, since the whole idling with the cap off letting the coolant get into the system thing wasn't working - seems like you need to actually drive it to get the water pump really kickin.

 

From the FSM:

Check this out from the FSM

This system does not have a radiator pressure cap. Instead the pressure cap is mounted on the coolant pressure bottle. System coolant flows directly through a fully pressurized Hot-Type expansion bottle. Coolant flows through the pressure bottle at all times during engine operation whether the engine is cold or at normal operating temperatures.

Larger coolant volume caused by thermal expansion during engine operation is absorbed by the expansion chamber in the bottle. Air trapped in the system is purged through the pressure cap vent valve during maximum coolant expansion..