1995 Jeep Cherokee, coolant leak Help!

4.0L I6, I have a substantial coolant leak coming from right above
where the lower radiator hose connects to the engine. It is not either
of the large radiator hoses and seems to be worst when I turn the
engine off. Does anyone have any ideas what this could be? Maybe a
ballpark figure for the repair cost?

I had the radiator in my 95 Cherokee country replaced a year or so ago, cost
for parts was about $130 and it took me about 2 hours to replace. I had just
had the bake rotor replaced and the very next day alas, the radiator is
gushing coolant from a seam on the side. I do most of my own maintenance
now. just can't trust any of these local garages. 50% of the time I have
taken my car to get oil or someother minor thing I drive away with big
problems.


"pyite724" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> 4.0L I6, I have a substantial coolant leak coming from right above
> where the lower radiator hose connects to the engine. It is not either
> of the large radiator hoses and seems to be worst when I turn the
> engine off. Does anyone have any ideas what this could be? Maybe a
> ballpark figure for the repair cost?
>

Are you sure it is not from the water pump? There is a small hole in the
pump from which coolant will flow when the pump is failing, and when the
engine is off as in ... park the vehicle ... look under ... nothing ... come
back in a while ... puddle of coolant. Happened to me ... here's a link to
the most excellent jeepin.com fyi ...
http://jeepin.com/features/waterpump/index.asp And in my case, I also had to
replace that metal tube that's mentioned ... it was just not reusable.

"pyite724" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> 4.0L I6, I have a substantial coolant leak coming from right above
> where the lower radiator hose connects to the engine. It is not either
> of the large radiator hoses and seems to be worst when I turn the
> engine off. Does anyone have any ideas what this could be? Maybe a
> ballpark figure for the repair cost?
>

It could be from the water pump but I cannot see exactly where it is
coming from. I wiped the coolant off and ran the engine for a little
bit. After I shut it off, it started to leak from somewhere right
above where the hose connects.

Maybe use a (spray) degreaser/cleaner on the pump and area, then take a
second look next day ... the pics at jeepin.com should help ... it's -30C
here tonight, I'm not about to go take any pics of mine to post anytime soon
:-). And my jeep's Krown treated yearly so everything underneath is oily
lookin as in ... geez ... where's it leakin from anyway. But it does sound
to me like the waterpump.

pyite724 proclaimed:

> It could be from the water pump but I cannot see exactly where it is
> coming from. I wiped the coolant off and ran the engine for a little
> bit. After I shut it off, it started to leak from somewhere right
> above where the hose connects.
>
The water pump may seep a bit from the bottom, but unless it is pretty
much toast you shouldn't get visible water. Is no big deal to change
out. As likely is the radiator itself and the fluid running along the
hose.

Yup, that sure sounds like a dead waterpump.

You can get your hand under the pump with the engine off and feel along
the bottom of the nose of it. If your fingers come up wet, you have
nailed the problem.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

pyite724 wrote:
>
> It could be from the water pump but I cannot see exactly where it is
> coming from. I wiped the coolant off and ran the engine for a little
> bit. After I shut it off, it started to leak from somewhere right
> above where the hose connects.

I turned the engine off and got underneath it with a flashlight and saw
the coolant dripping right off the water pump. Damn! Thanks for the
help everyone.

pyite724 proclaimed:

> I turned the engine off and got underneath it with a flashlight and saw
> the coolant dripping right off the water pump. Damn! Thanks for the
> help everyone.
>
If you have another vehicle, take the old one with you to the parts
store. Some of the jeep waterpumps come in two different directions
of drive, and putting in the wrong one will make it overheat.
If you have the serpentine, might as well swap on a new one while
you are under there.