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Jeep is overheating and smoking
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JoJoC24
New User
May 12, 2013, 8:56 PM
Post #1 of 16
(3461 views)
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Jeep is overheating and smoking
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My 2002 Jeep Liberty is in bad shape but I was hoping not to have to get a new vehicle yet. The odometer doesn't work but I estimate 180,000 miles. The speedometer doesn't work and the check engine light has been on forever. A few months ago, I began needing to add antifreeze at least once a month. (It was still winter.) The mechanic could not find a leak when I brought it in.
Yesterday I added antifreeze and had to add more today. For the first time, it overheated and smoked. (It was 50 degrees out and normal driving.)
I don't think it is worth investing any more money in. If I did, what would a ballpark figure be? What do you think?
I'm pretty frustrated.
Thank you.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 12, 2013, 11:15 PM
Post #2 of 16
(3440 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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Quote ">>check engine light has been on forever.<<"
How much for ignoring a warning with all those symptoms? Price out a new engine and probably cat converter, speed sensors, O2 sensors and more.
A mechanic checking it out in person couldn't find a leak but now that it has smoking overheated you may have really hurt it, can't say for sure. Prices to fix will be somewhat local to you.
If you don't want to take care of problems along the way with a vehicle just get a new one every few years,
T
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JoJoC24
New User
May 14, 2013, 2:21 AM
Post #3 of 16
(3405 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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Wow. Thank you for the verbal tongue lashing. I am a single mother working two jobs to put food on the table. Choosing to "ignore" these problems was not by choice. I can't afford to go to a mechanic. If I had the luxury of buying a new car every 4 years, I wouldn't be driving an 11 year old vehicle.
I came to your site out of desperation. I appreciate the service you're doing but please don't judge people. You may have thought your comments were helpful, but they were mostly hurtful.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 14, 2013, 3:46 AM
Post #4 of 16
(3398 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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No, not trying to hurt you. A vehicle doesn't care what or how it's treated or where it can strand someone or how much it costs. They are high on anyone's budget. The troubles is like many things that ignoring problems usually just makes the fix much more expensive.
Surprise issues can happen to anything or anyone even with new vehicles or very well cared for ones.
Now let's see what we can do on a slim budget: I'd get this diagnosed out as to what it would take so at least you know actual $ amount of what it would cost vs a change in vehicles. Age of them isn't' the whole story, the care along the way is. A problem lately is that the good used anythings are gone in a flash and prices are high on the used market too. There's risk in anything used and new as well but at least new you get some time of warranty but new costs a fortune too.
I'm sorry for your situation and can't just reach thru a screen and make it all right. If at all possible just spring for a diagnosis of what it would take to make this vehicle at least dependable as possible so you know how to approach the cost issues,
Tom
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MarineGrunt
Enthusiast
May 16, 2013, 11:59 AM
Post #5 of 16
(3370 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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Sorry to hear about our troubles. For future reference, if the check engine light ever comes on, you can go to a parts store such as Auto Zone, Advanced Auto Parts, Oreilly's, or Carquest and they can hook up a scanner to scan for trouble codes. They do this free of charge. The check engine light warns you that something is malfunctioning and needs to be addressed right away. This is to prevent even more damage which could end up costing quite a bit more to repair.
Not sure how mechanically inclined you are but we can try and walk you through some troubleshooting. Most parts stores have a tool loaner program. I know at Auto Zone you put down a deposit on the tool that is returned to you when you return the tool. My local Carquest doesn't require a deposit. The first thing you need to do is pressure test the cooling system in order to check for leaks. The pressure tester can be borrowed from a parts store. It's pretty much a hand pump, adapter, and gauge that you use to add air pressure to the system. You then visually inspect for leaks.
It's impossible for us to give a ballpark estimate without knowing exactly what is wrong. If it's just hose you're not looking at much. If it's something like a head gasket you're then looking at a hefty junk of change. I think in my area a head gasket would run around a grand, possibly more. If the engine was ran hot for a long time it could've possibly cracked the head and a new heads aren't cheap either.
Your best bet is probably taking to a shop and paying for a diagnosis. My local GM dealership charges $45 for a diagnosis. That's just to tell me what's wrong. A non dealership will more than likely be cheaper.
I don't know if I'd go back to the same shop you visited the first time. If you were having to add antifreeze that means it was leaking somewhere. A competent mechanic would've be able to find the problem.
I can understand being on a tight budget. I think we've all probably been there before. We went through a stint ourselves right when I got out of the Marine Corps. I was in college, working part time, and my wife had only been teaching for a couple years. Our son was born with a neurological disorder and some other medical issues. Just about everything we had went to medical bills and therapy. I know it can be almost impossible at times but, if you vehicle has a mechanical issue and you don't have the funds to fix it, you really need to park it until you can fix it. Sometimes a small problem that would only cost $75 to repair can turn into needing a whole new engine. The best thing you can do for a vehicle is change the oil at the recommended interval. Also check the owner's manual and change the other fluids when recommended. I've always said that every high school should make it mandatory to take a class on basic care of a vehicle. It would save people a lot of money in the long run. I'm not saying the problems you're having is your fault. There are so many mechanical and electrical parts on cars nowadays anything can go wrong at anytime. Plus, parts just get old and fail.
If you don't think you can pressure test your cooling system on your own your best bet is to take it to a shop and just pay for a diagnosis. Once you get that diagnosis come back here and let us know what they said. Maybe we can walk you through the repair if you are at all mechanically inclined and if it's a hose or something. If not, that shop might refund the diagnosis charge if you take it back to them to fix. Be sure to find a reputable shop in your area and stay away from those quick lube places that claim to be mechanics too. Ask around or look at reviews online.
Hopefully we can get this figured out for you.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 16, 2013, 3:05 PM
Post #7 of 16
(3359 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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JoJoC24 : Again, sorry for coming on hard - that's not like me or my intention.
MG + HT - prices floor me place by place. Almost nothing new built anywhere near me for repair places. The costs are insane like once and probably still a MILLION bucks a stall! Places still at it are existing places 99% that just haven't given up. If you can't get one of those you better be busy and about have to charge if only the rent or payments for such new places.
Near all older (some were great) gas station garages gave in to donut shops, banks, fast food something can make it vs car work or other things that make a mess.
Of course people think the pricing is way too high but that isn't in a tech's pocket...........
T
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ash
New User
May 26, 2013, 5:02 AM
Post #8 of 16
(3311 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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Hi
If your mechanic cant find any external leakage in the car , it might be internal leakage (big problem) .Also It is worth checking the colour of the gases coming out of the exhaust ( when the car engine is at normal temperature,usually after been driven for 30-40 minutes at least) . If the exhaust is having colour less gases that is good , but if you see any black/blue smoke coming out , than you have to see a mechanic straight.
Hope it may help you.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 26, 2013, 6:35 AM
Post #9 of 16
(3301 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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Ash - your comments are of no use if you read the thread. She isn't diagnosing this and a mechanic failed already. No funding for it even to know if it's worth fixing or not yet. It's also now getting old and she probably has picked a better plan of attack for the problem with suggestions already supplied,
T
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JoJoC24
New User
May 26, 2013, 8:13 AM
Post #10 of 16
(3286 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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Thank you all for your suggestions. Tom, thank you for letting me know you were just trying to help and meant no disrespect. I do appreciate all of your help.
As of now, I took it to a mechanic. He found a crack in my radiator and because he knew $ was an issue, he sealed it. (Of course, he also replaced the fluids. My oil was down also.) He only charged me $50. So far, it has not been leaking and is also not overheatting. I just know this is a quick fix and won't last forever. I'm not sure what to do from here other than wait for the inevitable! (Or the lottery jackpot!)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 26, 2013, 8:17 AM
Post #11 of 16
(3283 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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That will not work. You cannot repair a plastic radiator tank as it expands and contracts while under pressure and it will get you when you need it least.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 26, 2013, 9:16 AM
Post #12 of 16
(3274 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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JoJo: Know that we regulars are an assorted crew of 100% volunteers with zero to gain. If you have at least a temporary (you know that I think) fix then at least you can watch it like a hawk, carry some spare coolant and whatever it takes avoid any overheating. That can only make matters worse.
Understand having a child or children thing but only watch in awe seeing too often a single Mom handling kids, car, and just try to get something done all at once with short to no bucks. I hear and see your situation and almost always stop when I see a broken down car with kids, change out tires or what I can do on the spot and free to many - still will and long done with this stuff.
Said earlier that dang cars just don't care who gets hurt, annoyed or how much it costs - no conscience from a hunk of metal and could be dangerously cold, hot or vehicle in a dangerous spot broken down.
Back. Try to plan and be ready as best you can. Avoid making it worse,
Tom
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
May 28, 2013, 3:45 PM
Post #13 of 16
(3255 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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Please tell me he didn't dump a leak stop fluid into this. With HT, any repair won't last. Even a salvage yard radiator is a better bet. The newer type plastic/ aluminum radiators were made to be replaced, not repaired like the copper and brass units of old. If he poured in a leak sealer like Bars Leak into the coolant, it may seal it for now but is sure to gum up the entire cooling system and clog the heater core so you won't have heat when fall comes around.
I know how it is trying to take care of kids on a budget. Tom pointed out the obvious, your car doesn't care how much money you have, how many kids you have or if their dad pays child support. Things that move, are under pressure, or that are exposed to heat or cold will all eventually break. Its the nature of the beast for them to do so. I'm a mechanic yet I have to rebuild the transmission in my truck. There was nothing I could do to keep that from happening, the moving parts wore out.
I'd recommend dating a mechanic. My girlfriend says its worked out pretty good for her, aside from the part of having to say she's with me anyhow.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 28, 2013, 4:03 PM
Post #14 of 16
(3252 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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From what i gathered here, it sounds like they tried to epoxy the plastic tank. That never works long.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 7, 2013, 11:02 AM
Post #16 of 16
(3111 views)
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Re: Jeep is overheating and smoking
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Albert - Please quit hitting up on inactive threads. These are done even though just a few months old it's over with. Posting on dead threads just sends anyone a notice that a reply was made and fills in boxes. Please stick to current issues. Locked to prevent this........
T
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Aug 7, 2013, 11:04 AM)
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