How to: Install/Replace 3.7l Waterpump.

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uss2defiant

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i think the gasket is keyed not the thermostat.
some gaskets have a key some do not like the new mopar ones.
 

metalmoto

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Well, I ran the jeep for almost an hour, with the radiator cap off. The temp never went above halfway. Hopefully I have gotten all the air out of the system now!
I won't know if it still overheats, until I drive it to work and back home tomorrow.
It's 21 degrees outside here now. Still thawing my hands out, from being outside...

It's going to snow here on Saturday. This will be my first time to drive the Jeep in the snow...

I want to thank "EVERYONE" for all their help and suggestions, with my problem.

I will be back soon, trying to figure out my alternator and power steering problems...
 

ltd02

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You sure the Tstat is working? Is the lower hose hot? Was it a Mopar. If unsure you could put the old one back in since it was working and see if things change.
 

teeje

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You sure the Tstat is working? Is the lower hose hot? Was it a Mopar. If unsure you could put the old one back in since it was working and see if things change.


X2 on that. But in this case, if it is not a Mopar one, I'd definitely just buy one. 22$ part (with Chrysler discount) vs a 3-4000$ engine by our choice. Not sure if it makes a difference but ever since my new engine was installed it has always taken 50/50 coolant. Not HOAT but again not that cheap stuff. Bought the best that I could from my auto store near me and worked great.


2002 Jeep Liberty 3.7L with brand new engine ;)
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metalmoto

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Installed backwards

i think the gasket is keyed not the thermostat.
some gaskets have a key some do not like the new mopar ones.

I was just thinking. Could the thermostat be installed backwards? It is an aftermarket thermostat, a Fail-Safe Thermostat made by MotoRad.

If so, what would happen? The upper radiator hose gets hot, and I do get heat inside the cabin. It's just the aftermarket thermostat was different looking. And I read somewhere, that some of these could be installed backwards...

Today, it overheated a tiny bit going to work. And after I got out of work today, I noticed a small puddle of coolant under the front drivers side of the Jeep.
When I opened the hood, it looks like coolant was sprayed onto the hood the underneath.
Now I'm thinking the radiator is cracked!

It was fine before I did all this. As I used a pressure tester on on it.
I found the plastic overflow tank to be cracked, and replaced it month's ago.

All was good until the water pump starting making a horrible noise.
Then I replaced the water pump, and thermostat.

Could I have been so stupid, to have put the thermostat in backwards?

I am going to do a pressure check as soon as the jeep cools down.
Then I guess I'll take out the thermostat, to see if I installed it backwards...
I don't think I did...

But I might need a new radiator now!

Please help!

Thank You in advance.
 

teeje

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I would play it safe and take that thermostat out and put a Mopar one in. Drain the coolant and fill it back up then run it with the heat on full blast and let it warm up while you top the fluid off. When it's warmed up rev the engine and hold it for a couple seconds so the coolant circulates. That's what the jiggle pin is for, to help bleed the system. And make sure you keep topping off the fluid while you rev it up


2002 Jeep Liberty 3.7L with brand new engine ;)
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uss2defiant

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1. the aftermarket thermostat may open at a different temperature than the OE thermostat.
2. the pointy end of the thermostat points forward and the air bleeder needs to be at the 12 oclock position as there's no key on the thermostat but just on the gasket.
3. definitely pressure test your system again.
4. the radiator is known to crack at its plastic sides.
 

metalmoto

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:Stupid Me: Yes, I deserve this, :buttkick: I installed the thermostat in backwards:slap::nutkick: I've been fixing cars since I was a teenager.:Stupid Me::idiot: How could I be so stupid? I guess because it was 2AM, and have to get up at 5AM for work...so I was rushing to "get her done. And didn't want to drive the wife's car to work:blah: No matter what a nice car she has...
You know your comfortable in your own car, no matter the problems it has, and what it looks like...

Anyway, She all fixed now. Just have to put her back together, refill with new coolant and run her until she burps.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!
 

profdlp

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:Stupid Me: Yes, I deserve this, :buttkick: I installed the thermostat in backwards:slap::nutkick: ...
A buttkick and a nutkick in the same post! SHOCKED.gif Don't be so ******* yourself, man. We all make mistakes. :D

My dad was a math teacher at the HS I went to. One day he let the guys in auto shop class flush his radiator and replace the thermostat. Their instructor said it would be good practice for them. We leave school and get about four blocks down the road when everything disappears behind a huge cloud of white smoke from under the hood. My dad nearly drove into a parked car.

He makes me run back to the school and we collect three or four big guys to push us back into the parking lot. The auto shop teacher comes out, then starts cussing under his breath. You guessed it - thermostat the wrong way around. Back in those days I didn't know that teachers ever used those sorts of words. :happy175:

I'm glad you took care of it. :waytogo:
 

metalmoto

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Thanks to everyone, I've had no other problems with the overheating. Except I had to replace the radiator shortly afterwords. Found a crack on the plastic side, right below where the upper radiator hose connects. That was a 2 day job for me, as I also replaced the upper, lower hoses, they were swollen quite bad. I had to replace the hose clamps too.
Because they would not clamp tightly around the new hoses. I used the worm gear type clamps. And after 2 weeks they all came loose, and I was loosing coolant again! So I tightened them, and put blue locktight on them. Hopefully that will keep them from coming loose again! Only time will tell...
 

ScamSurvivor

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I'm replacing the radiator and waterpump on a 2006 sport, delighted to find this post, thank you!

With regard to the radiator, I've read enough comments on the reliability of generic radiators to opt for an OE radiator, which my local dealer has price matched for me so makes it an easy decision.

For the water pump, there are 3 options:

Generic pump (<$50)
Mopar pump ($140 best online price)
Updated Mopar pump ($212 best dealer price).

I haven't been able to find any reviews on waterpumps. I like to only do things once and would rather spend an extra $150 than replace it 3 times, but if I'm only paying for the label in this instance it would be nice to save the $150 ;).

Any reviews or experiences that anyone could share? I would be very grateful.
 

HoosierJeeper

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I put in a remanned Napa one for $50, probably 3 years old and almost 50k miles old. So far so good. Knock on wood.
 

mvnesq

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The water pump on my Liberty went bad back in March. I knew the bearings were going bad, just do to looking at it. I pushed my luck and it eventually went.

The info here was very much appreciated. Thanks to all who contributed.

I have the "heavy duty" cooling system and didn't have the necessary tools to to removed the fan. I bought 2 tools on Amazon to do the job; a Lisle fan clutch tool and a combination 36/48mm wrench. 36mm is the size you need to use for the job. Links below to the tools.

http://http://amzn.to/2q3gXfE Lisle fan clutch spanner wrench

http://http://amzn.to/2qo2k9A CTA fan clutch wrench
 
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mvnesq

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My local AutoZone didn't have the proper tools for the job. Also, after spending 10 years wrenching and now doing it on the side, I like having the tools in my own box rather than borrowing them from people or parts stores.
 

Kaden

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Fan clutch

Hi I have my pump off with the fan clutch still attached. How do I take the fan clutch off now that the whole assemble is out of the engine bay?
 

HoosierJeeper

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That's an interesting one for sure...I don't even see how you could get it out like that!

I'd put the 36mm wrench on it and pound the wrench with a BFH (big fawking hammer). That's how I get mine off when it's still in the Jeep. If you can keep the WP still, it should work the same with it out of the Jeep.
 

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