Cooling System Issue

Raggs · 04-01-2008, 01:00 PM

I bought a 2002 Liberty Sport 2 weeks ago. Stupid me declined the extended warranty. I always fix my own vehicles anyway. Well a few days after I got it the coolant level keeps dropping. No puddles on the ground, it's not the head gasket, there's no coolant leaking into the oil and it's not coming out the exhaust. It's pooling up into the back of the engine and evaporating when the engine gets warm. I need to order a repair manual because I can't find one in any store. So Jeep engines are new to me. I can't see most of the engine. I'm hoping it's just a hose that's cracked. Can anyone tell me where the water pump is located?

jeepjeepster · 04-01-2008, 05:48 PM

Water pump is in the same place as it is on every engine, right on the front where the mechanical engine fan would go. If you have the HD cooling package then the fan will be attached to the pully on the water pump.

The plastic sides on the radiator are kinda prone to cracking and leaking. Water pumps are also known to go bad(not just on libertys).

Raggs · 04-01-2008, 06:11 PM

Thanks.. I'm gonna have to look again, because I swear I didn't see it. But then I was in a hurry. The leak is in the back of the engine so I know it's not the radiator. That's why I'm thinking probably just a hose. But then I can't see half the engine (I haven't crawled under the car yet). I don't know if there's anything different on this engine. Like I said, I'm new to Jeeps.. lol...

Busch2fan · 04-01-2008, 06:45 PM

Has the coolant ever been changed? I've been told that the enviornmental stuff they use (peach colored) has a tendancy to get thick and clog things up if it is not flushed every few years.

jeepjeepster · 04-01-2008, 08:00 PM

^Thats mostly the crap that GM uses.

Im not sure where coolant could be coming from at the back of the engine. If I had to guess its leaking up front then blowing back there.

Only thing thats on the back of the engine is freeze plugs(on the sides). The lower hose comes off the passenger side on the bottom(tstat is there also) and into the rad. The top hose is easy to see.

Busch2fan · 04-02-2008, 09:12 AM

My wifes 2003 Liberty had that crap too, so GM is not the only one using it. After 3 years I had it flushed out. It took a few times but I finally got rid of it.

jeepjeepster · 04-02-2008, 12:04 PM

Every year model Jeep uses G-05 coolant. This coolant will not 'sludge up' like the Dexcool that GM uses. It should, however, be changed out at least every 60,000 miles. If the coolant in your Jeep did gel up then someone put the wrong stuff in it at some point.

Raggs · 04-02-2008, 08:13 PM

I don't know when it was last changed. But seeing as it only holds 4 gallons or something like that and I've already put in 8 gallons since I've had it I doubt somethings clogged. Plus I can smell the coolant when I get out of my car.

I feel stupid.. LOL.. I've never had an issue with the cooling system before other than replacing a hose. I'm still learning.. he he I'm a mechanics daughter. I was always taught how to fix or replace something. But when the water pump or radiator broke my dad, and my ex would always take it to the shop to be fixed.

At least I still have my Camaro to drive.

04-01-2008, 05:48 PM	#2
jeepjeepster Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,511 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Water pump is in the same place as it is on every engine, right on the front where the mechanical engine fan would go. If you have the HD cooling package then the fan will be attached to the pully on the water pump. The plastic sides on the radiator are kinda prone to cracking and leaking. Water pumps are also known to go bad(not just on libertys).

04-01-2008, 06:11 PM	#3
Raggs Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 4 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Thanks.. I'm gonna have to look again, because I swear I didn't see it. But then I was in a hurry. The leak is in the back of the engine so I know it's not the radiator. That's why I'm thinking probably just a hose. But then I can't see half the engine (I haven't crawled under the car yet). I don't know if there's anything different on this engine. Like I said, I'm new to Jeeps.. lol...

04-01-2008, 08:00 PM	#5
jeepjeepster Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,511 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	^Thats mostly the crap that GM uses. Im not sure where coolant could be coming from at the back of the engine. If I had to guess its leaking up front then blowing back there. Only thing thats on the back of the engine is freeze plugs(on the sides). The lower hose comes off the passenger side on the bottom(tstat is there also) and into the rad. The top hose is easy to see.

04-02-2008, 12:04 PM	#7
jeepjeepster Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,511 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Every year model Jeep uses G-05 coolant. This coolant will not 'sludge up' like the Dexcool that GM uses. It should, however, be changed out at least every 60,000 miles. If the coolant in your Jeep did gel up then someone put the wrong stuff in it at some point.

04-02-2008, 08:13 PM	#8
Raggs Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 4 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I don't know when it was last changed. But seeing as it only holds 4 gallons or something like that and I've already put in 8 gallons since I've had it I doubt somethings clogged. Plus I can smell the coolant when I get out of my car. I feel stupid.. LOL.. I've never had an issue with the cooling system before other than replacing a hose. I'm still learning.. he he I'm a mechanics daughter. I was always taught how to fix or replace something. But when the water pump or radiator broke my dad, and my ex would always take it to the shop to be fixed. At least I still have my Camaro to drive.