jeepnut24

First off i've searched here and on another jeep forum. I've found a lot of good info but want some direct answers on my own case instead of all the info being spread around on different threads that some what relate to my problem. I'm sure there is some thread out there pretty much identical to this one but not going to search for days. Thanks in advance heres the problems.

I have a 1989 Cherokee limited with 216k. There was a snow storm and i didnt think i had enough gas to make it to the gas station for my other jeep. So i took the 89. At this point there was a small amount of coolant and water in the cooling system. Why? I cant remember this was some time ago. But i figured hell its 28 degrees out and the gas station is less than a mile away. I get there and its completely packed as the storm just hit and everyone was filling up. Finally was able to just pay a guy waiting in line to fill up my gas can and when i get back in the jeep shes real hot. about 240 degrees. Praying i make it home without it over heating I was on my way. I turn on my street about to shut her down and bomb she shuts off the The small amount of coolant that was left in there went all over. After this the jeep wouldnt start so i figured the engine was gone. Let the jeep sit for about 6 months and completely neglected it. Figured the engine was seized. Bought another parts jeep. Completely forgot that on the older vehicals you could climb under and hook up a big wrench and try to turn the engine. She turns so at this point i bought the parts jeep for no reason. Then decide to replace the battery fill it with coolant see what happens. Nothing happned. So jumped the starter and she fired right up like nothing ever happened. Took it for a ride and felt like it wasnt neglected at all for 6 months trans shifts great so on and so on. Finally on my way back home and the jeep starts getting very hot. I shut her down and the expansion tank cap flew off and all the boiling coolant and water went all over. From this point on I didnt really care about the jeep anymore and would only start it from time to time to let the fluids run through until i decided to fix it. One day decided to take it out for a ride see what would happen. The jeep would get very hot then cool down again and would repeat this process. All the hoses got warm so i figured its not a bad thermostat. I dont know what the problem is and finally want to get it fixed for winter. Radiator maybe? Idk. Second problem is transfer case pin pops out every time you shift it into 4wd or back to 2wd so you have to keep getting under and pop it back in. It does engage into 4wd just pops back out. Third problem is lights dont work nor do the blinkers sometimes. The driving lights light up and break lights work. Thats it. On the dash the bright light symbol is lit up and so are the blinker symbols. I did have some piaa off road lights on it at one point. Maybe caused a wiring problem? Sorry for the giant post thanks for reading!

freegdr

what yera is the parts jeep you need to get rid of the ****ty cooling system with the pressure bottle search renix rad upgrade there must be aclip missing on the linkage did you drop the tc and not the shift linkage

jeepnut24

the parts jeep was a 96 cherokee i just sold it about 2 months ago actually. Dont understand what you ment by drop the tc and not the shift linkage. I'll be sure to search the renix rad right now. Thanks for the reply.

freegdr

do you have a lift on the xj and if so has the transfercase been dropped down from the frame to help with angles

tjwalker

You need to figure out the root cause of the overheating. It is possible that the overheat you had toasted a cylinder head gasket or cracked the cylinder head.

Personally with an engine in question, the first thing I do is a compression test on all cylinders. A great "snapshot in time" on the internal condition of the engine. With the 4.0, you are looking for 120-150 psi, with no more than a 30 psi variation between cylinders. And if you have low pressure on two adjacent cylinders, that indicates a blown head gasket.

I would start there.

jeepnut24

yeah it has a lift but no i didnt drop the tcase. It's only a 3in lift didnt feel the need.

jeepnut24

If the compression test comes out clean and no damaged head gasket do you suggest going to an open system? And what kinda of price am i looking to do this?

freegdr

mine was 150.00 complete i went all new used parts maybe junk yard donor xj

jeepnut24

today went to start the jeep to bring it and get the compression test done. About a high of 26 degrees here daily way to cold rather pay someone a hundred bucks, anyway NSS is bad so did the normal when i start it. Hooked jumper cables up let the fuel run through the lines went to turn the key while in neutral and nothing no click nothing. Tryed to start it by, bypassing the started and again nothing... any clue wtf is going on? any more tricks?