Author Topic: Cracked Radiator in the KJ  (Read 2449 times)

Offline kirksjeep

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Cracked Radiator in the KJ
« on: May 13, 2009, 04:05:01 AM »
When Jess pull up in the drive way I noticed that sweet smell of hot antifreeze.  When I popped the hood I saw the problem.  The top of the plastic end, had a hair line crack and was pissing out antifreeze.  The crack is small enough that when the system was no longer pressurized  I had to look really hard to even see the crack. 

I managed to get a replacement radiator from autozone, and a lower hose from advance, but I have to wait 2 days for the upper hose.  To swap the radiator out, was a PITA.  The KJ has A/C, a transmission cooler and a power steering cooler, all of which had to me moved or removed.  The grill and the grill support also had to come out, as well as the electric fan.  A lot of bolts, but that's what air tools are for.  The hardest part was getting the new lower hose back on, there isn't a lot of room for the spring clamps.  When the new upper hose gets here, I'll swap it on, but for now it is fixed.

I also changed the spark plugs with the Autolite Double Platinum's that all the guys on the Lost KJ's sight recommend.  The ones that were in there had been these since 45-50K miles and now it has 120K so they had been in there for a while.  The Autolite's that were in there showed very little wear, and only one didn't have the recommended gap.  I also cleaned the intake and now it has the get up and go like it was new. 


1992 YJ Sahara, 4.5 Rubicon Express ED Lift, 35" BFG MT, Custom Bumpers, SYE/CV Drive Shaft, OBA, Ford 8.8 rear, 4.10 gears, tie rod flip, 1"MML/BL
2002 KJ Liberty, 2" Lift, 31" tires/DD
2002 F-150 Harley Davidson 5.4L SC
2013 Explorer Sport
2006 Harley Road King Classic
1988 Honda Hawk GT

PaulW

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Re: Cracked Radiator in the KJ
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2009, 08:42:15 PM »
nice running like new is always good. 

Offline kirksjeep

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Re: Cracked Radiator in the KJ
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2012, 03:16:09 AM »
I know this has been a while, but the KJ has a cracked radiator again.  It has been 3 1/2 years since I did this last, and I will find out tomorrow if autozone will warranty the part.  I don't have a receipt, so I hope it is in their system.  I had to look this post up just to find out where I bought the part.  Good thing I am a post whore ;).
1992 YJ Sahara, 4.5 Rubicon Express ED Lift, 35" BFG MT, Custom Bumpers, SYE/CV Drive Shaft, OBA, Ford 8.8 rear, 4.10 gears, tie rod flip, 1"MML/BL
2002 KJ Liberty, 2" Lift, 31" tires/DD
2002 F-150 Harley Davidson 5.4L SC
2013 Explorer Sport
2006 Harley Road King Classic
1988 Honda Hawk GT

Offline Mayhem

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Re: Cracked Radiator in the KJ
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2012, 03:42:24 AM »
That sucks.   Plastic does not belong on a radiator. Good luck with the warranty. 
Greg
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Offline kirksjeep

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Re: Cracked Radiator in the KJ
« Reply #4 on: November 22, 2012, 02:05:11 AM »
Radiator fixed!  I pulled it out and autozone replaced it under a Lifetime warranty.  I bought new upper and lower hoses and some new anti-freeze, so the whole job was a little under $50.  The new radiator had a little different mount for the AC condenser so I had to trim a little rubber on each side.  The Liberty now has 207K and still runs good, hopefully I can keep it that way.
1992 YJ Sahara, 4.5 Rubicon Express ED Lift, 35" BFG MT, Custom Bumpers, SYE/CV Drive Shaft, OBA, Ford 8.8 rear, 4.10 gears, tie rod flip, 1"MML/BL
2002 KJ Liberty, 2" Lift, 31" tires/DD
2002 F-150 Harley Davidson 5.4L SC
2013 Explorer Sport
2006 Harley Road King Classic
1988 Honda Hawk GT

Offline kirksjeep

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Re: Cracked Radiator in the KJ
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2012, 12:35:58 AM »
It has been one week since the Liberty became my daily driver and today then water pump started leaking.  It only took 10 minutes to pull the old one out and the bearing sure bad.  Picked up a new (not remanufactured) water pump for $43 and hopefully the new one goes in just as easy as the old one came out. 
1992 YJ Sahara, 4.5 Rubicon Express ED Lift, 35" BFG MT, Custom Bumpers, SYE/CV Drive Shaft, OBA, Ford 8.8 rear, 4.10 gears, tie rod flip, 1"MML/BL
2002 KJ Liberty, 2" Lift, 31" tires/DD
2002 F-150 Harley Davidson 5.4L SC
2013 Explorer Sport
2006 Harley Road King Classic
1988 Honda Hawk GT

Offline Mr Rock

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Re: Cracked Radiator in the KJ
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2012, 05:47:45 PM »
Do you think you should have sold the KJ and kept the XJ????lol
'89, 4.2, NUTTERED, Team Rush, 4" Lift, 1" BL, 1" MML & HD shackles , Flat Belly Skid, SYE, 36 x 13.50s
XRC8, 150w KC's, Herculined, Tauras Elec Fan, Dual Batteries, Aussie in front, 8.8, TJ flares & Spool in rear, topless all of the time!

Offline kirksjeep

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Re: Cracked Radiator in the KJ
« Reply #7 on: December 16, 2012, 05:21:43 AM »
Do you think you should have sold the KJ and kept the XJ????lol

YES!  If Jess wouldn't have sunk 3K in repairs to it while I was deployed it would be gone. 
1992 YJ Sahara, 4.5 Rubicon Express ED Lift, 35" BFG MT, Custom Bumpers, SYE/CV Drive Shaft, OBA, Ford 8.8 rear, 4.10 gears, tie rod flip, 1"MML/BL
2002 KJ Liberty, 2" Lift, 31" tires/DD
2002 F-150 Harley Davidson 5.4L SC
2013 Explorer Sport
2006 Harley Road King Classic
1988 Honda Hawk GT