DonQuiXJote
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Western North Carolina
Hi gang, I'll try to be brief. My partner and I made the (debatably wise) choice to take my 2000 (4.0, 4WD, ~155k odo) from western North Carolina all the way to Anchorage AK and back this summer. Miraculously, we only had one issue along the way: out in BC the temp "gauge" (I'm stuck with the instrument panel that just has the light that comes on instead of an actual gauge) cut on. Figured out it was the radiator overflow hose which had basically disconnected from the neck and spilled all our coolant. Turns out the previous owner snapped off that little plastic tube on the radiator neck that the hose is supposed to slide onto, leaving only a little nub under the cap. Instead of putting a new radiator in, they stuck a bigger hose onto that busted nub and hose clamped it, then put a plastic adapter on the other end to get it to feed into the regular hose that runs to the overflow tank. We had it running for several hours basically nonstop in super hot weather at high speeds with the AC cranked, so I'm assuming it just got to be too much pressure for that little clamp (the original point of failure). At the time (this was August 10) I just stuck a new hose clamp on and it basically ran a slow leak out of where it connects with the neck until I put in all new hoses, adapter, and clamps this weekend. Kept the coolant topped off via the resivoir the whole time, no more leaks and no more overheating since.
I've got a couple worries. The first is that the coolant thats been slipping out got on something it shouldn't have got on. I'm not worried about the airbox or the hoses or the side of the power steering resivoir, mainly the pulley and belt and all that. I don't know enough about any of that to judge whether or not I should worry. There was an issue where I'd get a SUPER loud bird-chirping type squeaking from the front end on startup, but (especially because it got better when it was cold, worse when hot outside) I figured it was because the belt was too loose. Tightened it past the typical reccomended deflection and its 90% resolved, might have to tighten it a bit more. Should I be worried?
The other thing I'm worried about is that any air got into the cooling system. It was always up to the top of the cap and I've just been topping it off in the overflow, but I don't know enough to say whether any air could've gotten in. What's the best way to check for corrosion aside from taking the whole thing apart? If I find indications of corrosion what can be done to locate/clean it without taking the whole thing apart?
Any help much appreciated!!
I've got a couple worries. The first is that the coolant thats been slipping out got on something it shouldn't have got on. I'm not worried about the airbox or the hoses or the side of the power steering resivoir, mainly the pulley and belt and all that. I don't know enough about any of that to judge whether or not I should worry. There was an issue where I'd get a SUPER loud bird-chirping type squeaking from the front end on startup, but (especially because it got better when it was cold, worse when hot outside) I figured it was because the belt was too loose. Tightened it past the typical reccomended deflection and its 90% resolved, might have to tighten it a bit more. Should I be worried?
The other thing I'm worried about is that any air got into the cooling system. It was always up to the top of the cap and I've just been topping it off in the overflow, but I don't know enough to say whether any air could've gotten in. What's the best way to check for corrosion aside from taking the whole thing apart? If I find indications of corrosion what can be done to locate/clean it without taking the whole thing apart?
Any help much appreciated!!
