well this morning my belt came off and it was due to a bad harmonic balancer and the shop says thats what could of been my issue the whole time because it was "slipping" and not turning the water pump fast enough, my alternator reading was also low this whole time so it kinda makes sense. but we'll see.

 

About 5 years after I bought it, my 98 overheated in about 4 minutes during a SD winter. I tried everything; no dice. Finally I figured I'd replace the water pump. When I took it off, it had no blades. None. they'd desintegrated. The jeep parts dept said it happens sometimes if you don't use distilled water.

 

That's a good one.....I'd be turning around and running away from that Jeep parts dept as fast as I could.

Distilled water, used by itself, will rust/corrode/disintegrate cooling system components (including the water pump) just as fast as tap water will (used by itself). U've got to have a sufficient amount of anti-rust/corrosion inhibitors (that's contained in antifreeze/coolant) mixed with water to protect cooling system components. Anti-rust/corrosion inhibitors won't disappear overnight, but they likely will after 5 years of neglect.

 

I can't run; closest other parts place is in Sioux Falls.

I didn't bother to explain to him about the water. And it wasn't the mechanic that said it; it was the cashier guy.

I'm not sure there were 5 years of neglect. Maybe 3, tops. At that point, I'd replaced the thermostat, radiator, flushed twice... I didn't use distilled water (and the water I DID use was pretty hard), but I sure used antifreeze (not to would've been a bad choice in SD).
I think it was just one of those things that happens. Usually to me!

 

One thing for sure, enough neglect to eat up a pump.