732K Miles ....... !!!! Need HELP !!!!

[GPN 05]

My name is Corey Evans, I live in Virginia and I'm 18. I have a Maroon 1987 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer Laredo, Automatic 4.0L, 242M Selec-Trac, 4 Door, with A/C.

My dad bought this Jeep new in 87 for 27,500. It came with twoing package, Dana 30 Front, and 44 Rear. It came with air assisted rear end ( Automatic Load Leveling System), and a system sentry. The Jeep has never been wrecked and has everything stock and original except for a CD player, CB Radio, 2 Way Radio for My Fire Dept., and new Speakers, and some off road lights here and there.

The Jeep has 732K miles right now. It originally had the Idiot Gas Guage Cluster which I recently replaced with the New Tach Cluster. On the cluster now is 2000 Miles and the speedometer was unhooked for 70,000 Miles. Now the Jeep that sets in my driveway has 732,000 Original Miles. As you probably have guessed she has encountered many problems. My dad gave me this Jeep for my 16th b-day. Exterior and Interior is in fairly great shape with exception of headliner, and a sunspotted hood that I primered. When I recieved the vehicle, I had to repair and replace a lot on the engine. I have grown up and know most of what I'm doing when it comes to cars. I had to replaced pads and rotors, and bleed brakes, replace a bad water pump, and change the oil. Once I got her running things were a little rough at first as you might imagine. The Jeep Had sat for 3 years before I ever got a hold of it. After breathing life back into her and "Reopening My Ranch" as my friend puts it... she was doing good. She's really dependable. I started running into problems as you would with any vehicle this old and certainly with this many miles on it. I have really bad cooling problems. I have replaced the thermostat and 50/50 mix. She is still running hot and boils over after every drive. I think I might have a small hole in the side of the coolant box closest to the firewall, I'm getting ready to replace that next paycheck along with some stuff for the rear windshield wiper. I also have gone ahead an put a manual switch on the aux. fan that is also hooked up with my front fog lights. Only thing I could come up with at the time. I am really worried about the noise coming from the fan when it's on though, it's really bad... like a really really deep rumble but it's extremly loud. I think I'm going to go ahead and get a new fan, but why exacly is it doing this. As far as overheating goes I think I might be the victim of a clogged system. How do I fix that ? How do I "flush" the system.

Another problem I have run into is the A/C. I recently went to convert and charge the old R-12 system. I went ahead and converted and charged. Guess I had never really noticed my clutch never cuts on... well I started fooling around with it and ended up accidently finding something... I had pliers in my hand and I had unplugged the only plug ontop of the drier. I had drop the pliers almost right on it and when they connected everything came to life. I have a bad presure cut-off switch I'm guessin, which is only 9.99 at Autozone. As far as weather or not I got cold air or not was a different story. I have never been able to get any cold air out of my system and I found out why. My vents blow no air at all... my cowl works great but as far as any other vents... I'm going to have to say no. I have looked at the 690pg shop manual I have and traced it down to a blend door... how to fix if thats it ? If you have any other suggestions... they would help. My blower works and the fuse is good. I have no a/c fuse to check though.

Also wondering what the sphere shaped object with hoses attached to it is in the right underside of the front bumper......

For a Jeep that has 732,000 Miles.... I'm just happy she's running. If your wondering about engine problems... Besides overheating and no a/c... I am suffering from really really worn out main bearings... and cork guides. When I start her she starts up dry... with no oil... it's all in the oil pan. As far as mainbearings... yea it's bad, but I don't have money to cherry pick her and then take her apart.

Only mechanical problems I have is a bad wheel u-joint in the right front tire and a weak emergency brake. Other than that and 732,000 miles... she does all right by me... and I have her in the woods every weekend.

I know I'm asking a lot of questions but 732,000 Miles Deserves it.... I have recently sent an email asking Chysler to do something for me seeing as I'm the original owner and it's gone 732K miles but still no responce Guess they never figured a Jeep would make it this far.....

CoReY

[MagicRat]

At 732 K you deserve the Golden Odometer award.
Chrysler may not be too impressed because I have heard of several Cherokees at 550K.
Also your Jeep is a product of AMC/Jeep/Renault, as Chrysler had not bought them at that time.
However, if you make it to an even million, it might just be a Jeep (at least XJ) record, and Chrysler may take notice.

[gtmud]

Corey,

Thats really impressive (milage). As far as your cooling problem, yes you may very well be another victim of the clogged coolant system. I would recommend taking your radiator out and have it professionally flushed, or better yet, just replace it (if its original). Then look at your fan clutch, is it working? My 00' Xj clogged up at a mear 21k, replaced EVERYTHING, and now at 86k, still running great. Unfortunaly there is now flush kit on the consumer market that will clean a clogged system, I've tried, need to be done professionaly. As far as your oil issue, I would recommend getting some LUCAS Oil Stabilizer, and add a quart to your evisting oil. This will help to protect on initial start-up, or look into a Syn-blend oil such as Castrol. Good luck.

[soudorio]

Wow! 732k miles is really a feat! I had a 2.5 XJ that I just sold with 133k and about two and a half years ago, I had the radiator recored.
My suggestion to you as far as your cooling problems, is as gtmud said before, remove your radiator and take it to a radiator shop and either have it cleaned, where they disassemble the radiator, boil the core and tanks, and clean all the tubes by sticking a rod through them, then reassemble and pressure check them. If your radiator has no corrosion problems, it will cost you somewhere around $50; if your core is corroded (or your tanks), then your looking at somewhere between $150 to $300 for a new core, or new radiator. I'm assuming you will remove it yourself, it is an easy job. As you are at it, I highly recommend new hoses and belts, if you haven't done them yet.
As far as the noise / vibration on your fan, it is most likely your fan clutch, another easy job, the part however will cost you another $50.
I know, it adds up! But it is a lot less expensive than having to haul your disabled truck from the woods... And your Jeep will love ya for taking good care of it.

[GPN 05]

Well I have updates.....

Tones went off for two structure fires this morning, left the house in a big hury to get to the station. I reached temps of 275F and above.... engine smoking like a frieght train.

It ran and I let it cool off so I could get it home... Having a lot of problems though electrical wise and engine cooling wise..

The noise from the electric fan is a bad bearing which needs to be replaced.

Keep questions and comments coming, I'm sure that within the next few months there will be some interesting posts on my part.

[GMez12]

That round pod behind the right side of the bumper has to do with vacuum lines. Make sure all the vacuum lines going to and from that pod are in good shape. I have a '94 XJ and I had a battery crack and spill its acid out. It ate through a vacuum line. I washed out all the acid and did not think to much about the line, until air stopped coming through the vents but it came through the defrost. The doors to open the vents are operated on vacuums. That line leading to that pod my XJ is responsible for that. I would make sure the pod is in good shape and replace any vacuum lines that need to be replaced. If it was not for this forurm I would still be riding around covered in sweat.