Hello everyone,

I have had my 99 Cherokee Classic 4x4 (110k miles) for over roughly a year now. Previous owner treated it fairly decent. Everything was running fine until I ran into the dreaded radiator/heating system. I replaced my radiator because it was leaking on top where the cap is. Did numerous flushes because the heat would not stay hot but now doesn't get hot at all. Replaced a few hoses that started leaking from the cracked rubber. When I initially did any work to the radiator, the fluids were a ummm orangy rust looking color, and I noticed that no matter how many times I flushed to wait for the water to clear, and top it off with fresh new freeze, the color becomes that very same orange rust. Oh, there's a hint of burning smell of anitfreeze. Temp gauge randomly jumps to max then back to normal after 2 mins.

Today my wife took the jeep to work, I get a call 10 mins later, she's broken down. Symptoms stated by her was : white smoke from the exhaust, white smoke from the hood when she finally stopped. Did not want to start, when started back up, very rough idle and felt as though it had little power. I come to the rescue, check the coolant......NONE! I buy 2 jugs and pour it in to get home. Felt as though it wanted to die at every stop but made it home.

What MAY be wrong:
1.bad water pump
2.head gasket leak

Lists of things that have been done to the jeep:
1.new radiator (august)
2.new hoses (sept)
3.new plugs and oil changed (sept)
4.flushes done to the car (june, august, oct)
5.new engine temp sensor.

There are a few other things, if I think about it, I will update and edit.
Thanks
jb

**** EDITED****
Just went out to start the car and received a CEL. The code is p0301. Guess cylinder 1 is misfiring.

 

From what you say (white smoke out the tailpipe) There is a good chance that the head gasket is blown. First thing I would do is a compression test and leak down test of all 6 cylinders. Take off the raditaor cap and look for bubbles when you pressurize each cylinder.

 

I was afraid someone was going to say it was the HG. How much are they normally to fix?

Went back out and checked the car, started it up, cleared the code, and no smoke coming from the exhaust, went out and put my hand to the exhaust and no smell of oil or coolant. :shrugs:

I was thinking of selling the jeep as is for like 1500 dollars or something just to not have to deal with the problems.

 

Where are you? I could use another jeep. I have a good engine sitting in a body thats on the way to the wreckers.

 

Well, you're in luck, I'm located in Rochester NY, so not too far from you, if your location is what it says it is in under your avatar.

 

i also have a 99 and my heat stopped working, the local shop said i needed a new heater coil, but i took it elsewhere for another idea... i got my system flushed multiple times and my water pump replaced and now everything works fine

 

If you still have it in the new year, I`d be interested. Need that long to warn customs that it`s coming over. Not ours, yours. They need apointments when you want to export a vehicle out of the states now.

 

That's retarded! Sure, if I don't get the problems fixed and still have it taking up space in my garage then hit me up, we can work something out.

 

I think my pump is dead and perhaps my gasket has gone bad also, if it's a cheap fix for the pump, I will def try that first and keep you guys updated.

 

If you end up doing the pump, i would also swap out the thermostat....cheap and youre right there anyways

 

OK, so I took apart the water pump and sure enough, it was the problem, the was no fins left on the propeller to cause it not to move water around the cooling system.

So I replaced the water pump and went ahead and replaced the plugs, dist cap, rotor and wires, now the thing doesn't want to start. It will crank over but it sounds like the timing is off. I know replacing the water pump has nothing to do with the timing, but it DID start when I pulled it into the garage to work on it.

Anyone have any suggestions on what it MAY be? I'm getting good pressure from my fuel line so it's not the fuel pump.

If anyone wants to buy it, give me an offer on it, it's yours! I need it out of my garage. I would like to get like 900 for it. It's better than having the junk yard come get it for 400. There is no rust on the car, the car is in great shape except for the 2 cuts I had to make on the hood when the latches seized up.

 

Make sure the plug wires are all ran in the right order. Even switching two will make you think something crazy is wrong with your vehicle.

make sure the rotor and cap are on tight....umm....also that the plug wires are tight on the plugs...

sounds like something related to the ignition tune up to me....recheck it!

 

Id give you 900 for it if youd bring it to Kansas! No kidding.

 

I would take that deal if I wasn't about 1,100 miles from you, you can have the car shipped for like 300 bucks though.

 

I did. I took everything back out and started over again because I was thinking that I put the plugs in the wrong order. It wasn't the case, this is one of the very few times that I have been stumped on fixing something.