Jeep Cherokee Coolant Leak

Hello All,

Quick question – I have a 95 5.2L Jeep Grand Cherokee, car has been
amazing - 210K and very little has gone wrong (other than new rotors
far too often!). I give it a good bashing off road once in a while and
after the most recent session it has developed a coolant leak.

I have been having leaks in the past, mostly the occasional leak from
the header tank that I put down to an intermittent blockage in the
system, and a full flush seemed to solve the problem.

However this time it seems different, the leak ONLY occurs when the
engine is switched off after a period of running (hence the system de
pressurized) and then it throws out at a fair rate – about a liter of
coolant. It appears to be coming from around the water pump but it is
difficult to see exactly where the leak is from. I drove 150 miles
yesterday on the freeway and it never looses any coolant when the
engine is running.

Also it only chucks out coolant when the engine is stopped about 60 %
of the time.

I am guessing due to the fact that it is only leaking when the system
is de pressurized that this might be a water pump seal problem? Hoses
look fine.

I would tackle this myself but unfortunately had all my tools stolen
some time ago, and now also lack the space to work on the car – so
will have to take it to some back street shop – so wanted to get a
decent idea of what it might be, before they start trying to sell me a
new back axle etc…

Any knowledge, ideas etc.. would be most greatly appreciated.

Thanks to all

"Ankors" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello All,
>
> Quick question - I have a 95 5.2L Jeep Grand Cherokee, car has been
> amazing - 210K and very little has gone wrong (other than new rotors
> far too often!). I give it a good bashing off road once in a while and
> after the most recent session it has developed a coolant leak.
>
> I have been having leaks in the past, mostly the occasional leak from
> the header tank that I put down to an intermittent blockage in the
> system, and a full flush seemed to solve the problem.
>
> However this time it seems different, the leak ONLY occurs when the
> engine is switched off after a period of running (hence the system de
> pressurized) and then it throws out at a fair rate - about a liter of
> coolant. It appears to be coming from around the water pump but it is
> difficult to see exactly where the leak is from. I drove 150 miles
> yesterday on the freeway and it never looses any coolant when the
> engine is running.
>
> Also it only chucks out coolant when the engine is stopped about 60 %
> of the time.
>
> I am guessing due to the fact that it is only leaking when the system
> is de pressurized that this might be a water pump seal problem? Hoses
> look fine.
>
> I would tackle this myself but unfortunately had all my tools stolen
> some time ago, and now also lack the space to work on the car - so
> will have to take it to some back street shop - so wanted to get a
> decent idea of what it might be, before they start trying to sell me a
> new back axle etc.
>
> Any knowledge, ideas etc.. would be most greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks to all

Sounds just like my sisters Jeep, which the local Jeep dealer diagnosed as a
bad water pump.

She just traded it in for a new Grand Cherokee rather than fix it though.

There is (on the 4.0 engine) a (very) small drain hole in the water pump ...
if fluid is coming outta there then the pump is toast. And on the 4.0 litre
there's a metal tube associated with the pump. It's that's the case with
your 5.2 litre (which it probably is) I suggest get a new one of those too
while you're down at the parts counter ... rather than making a second trip
:-)

"Ankors" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello All,
>
> Quick question - I have a 95 5.2L Jeep Grand Cherokee, car has been
> amazing - 210K and very little has gone wrong (other than new rotors
> far too often!). I give it a good bashing off road once in a while and
> after the most recent session it has developed a coolant leak.
>
> I have been having leaks in the past, mostly the occasional leak from
> the header tank that I put down to an intermittent blockage in the
> system, and a full flush seemed to solve the problem.
>
> However this time it seems different, the leak ONLY occurs when the
> engine is switched off after a period of running (hence the system de
> pressurized) and then it throws out at a fair rate - about a liter of
> coolant. It appears to be coming from around the water pump but it is
> difficult to see exactly where the leak is from. I drove 150 miles
> yesterday on the freeway and it never looses any coolant when the
> engine is running.
>
> Also it only chucks out coolant when the engine is stopped about 60 %
> of the time.
>
> I am guessing due to the fact that it is only leaking when the system
> is de pressurized that this might be a water pump seal problem? Hoses
> look fine.
>
> I would tackle this myself but unfortunately had all my tools stolen
> some time ago, and now also lack the space to work on the car - so
> will have to take it to some back street shop - so wanted to get a
> decent idea of what it might be, before they start trying to sell me a
> new back axle etc.
>
> Any knowledge, ideas etc.. would be most greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks to all

Any idea if the head would also go out in the car because of this? I"m
having the same problem (coolant leak) on my 98 Grand Charokee Laredo
and my blower is working, but no heat is coming out for a good 1/2
after the car has been driving.. and when it comes out - it's only for
a minute then blows cold air for a few minutes - then warm for a minute
-t hen back to cold..