Water leak- How hard to fix?

[2003jeepKJ]

Hi all!

2003 Liberty 3.7-
Found water spots on the driveway, when I looked underneath I saw drips coming from an object that the 2 heater hoses and lower radiator hose goes to. Is that the water pump? It seems to drip from in between the alum. and black plastic.

How hard to fix, How costly???

Thank you for all your help!!

 

[Luke]

This will show you where your water pump is ... if that is your problem .. on a scale of 1-10 ... it's a 1

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/f202/how-install-replace-3-7l-waterpump-44066/

 

[2003jeepKJ]

Luke- Thanks for the feedback, but it's not the water pump. Say that the water pump is in the middle of the picture. The part I'm talking about is at 7 o'clock (to the left and bottom of the waterpump). I've replaced many waterpumps on V-8's but the 3.7 is a different animal.

 

[2003jeepKJ]

I think I may of found the answer- I believe its leaking inbetween the plastic section of the Thermostat Housing.Liberty.

 

[Luke]

I believe you are correct

the most difficult part is draining the coolant

 

[2003jeepKJ]

Why is it hard to drain the coolant. Any tips or just open the thermostat housing and let it flow!

 

[Luke]

see the...

I was kidding


the "How To" I linked should get you through it ... Good Luck

 

[JeepJeepster]

Replacing the water pump on the 3.7 is very easy. More so if you don't have the fan mounted on the water pump pulley.

Thermostat is easy too. But the thermostat itself is way too expensive. $30 at napa.

 

[2003jeepKJ]

I've read a few articles saying that if your replacing the thermostat you should also replace the plastic housing since they have a tendency to develop a tiny split.

What do you think?

Also, I've read ( I know too much reading) not to drain the coolant at the petcock, it seem sthat they never seat themselves after being open.
Then how do you drain the coolant besides making a Niagra Fall of everything?

 

[Luke]

Never too much reading


Your call .. if you've got the $ why not?

Just a wide tub under the hose was plenty .. it's not like there is gallons and gallons of coolant in there ... it wont empty completely.

Tip : I measured what came out so that I knew how much distilled water and coolant to mix up. You can of course reuse your coolant if it is relatively fresh, but again, since your there might as well add new coolant.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Never heard about the housing splitting. Can't hurt to replace it.

You can take the clamp off the lower hose and slowly pull it off and let it drain. I also never use the petcocks.

 

[2003jeepKJ]

Well I purchase the thermostat & housing from Autozone today (approx. $36.00) and made the repairs.
All it involved was removing the top & bottom bolt off of the Thermostat Housing, the hardest part is getting your hand in there. The Thermostat spring end goes into the block side. There is a tab on built-in rubber gasket on the thermostat that lines up with the housing. It is not needed but I did use a little Black RTV placed around the block side of the housing. I sprung for upper and lower Rad hoses, installed the same and everythiong is running in good shape.