2002 Liberty overheating

[cangooner]

Hi all,

My 2002 Liberty (3.7l) overheated on the way home from work the other day. I assumed thermostat and so replaced that. Didn't help.

Now, the temp will rise to normal and stay there for a while - about 10-15 minutes or so - and then spike rapidly up. When I got home from my test drive last night, my radiator fan was not on when it clearly should have been. I gave it a whack on the motor with a wrench and it started up.

As for the coolant system itself, I don't think it is a pump issue as coolant is flowing through the system (the coolant bleed valve was bubbling up nicely with hot coolant).

So, I'm thinking job 1 is likely to swap out my fan.

But I'm looking for other suggestions. Where would you start? Bad relay? Bad temp sensor? Blocked radiator?



Thanks,
Kris

 

[ftaa]

since you live in opttawa i'd start with the fan first but make ure just get it to heat up then bring it hom and see how many tmes (if all) it turn on

 

[twowings]

If you have the electric fan, check connections...sometimes a little contact cleaner and dialectric grease works wonders....

 

[ftaa]

If you have the electric fan, check connections...sometimes a little contact cleaner and dialectric grease works wonders....

im thinking somethign similar cuz of the salt they ue in the winter.

 

[cangooner]

Thanks folks!

If it is the fan, any advice re swapping out the fan motor vs changing the whole fan assembly for an after-market assembly?

 

[cangooner]

Two updates:

1) putting 12v directly to the fan's leads started it up right away. But it did sound a bit rough and i don't like that it took a whack to get it going yesterday, so will probably swap it out regardless.

2) on closer inspection, I have a leaky rad. So it looks like I'll be replacing the rad and the fan (or just the fan motor). Might get a new relay while I'm at it too.

Does that make sense?

 

[dude1116]

Indeed it does! Make sure to replace with an OEM rad and not a cheap aftermarket one!

 

[ftaa]

and use HOAT fluid only .. they all pring leak in the ame place.

 

[twowings]

Do it! You'll be money ahead and ready for summer! These engines love to stay cool...

 

[CzarKJ]

And you could upgrade to HD cooling if you have to buy a fan anyways

 

[ltd02]

Check the fan relay too. The 02 had a crappy one and the replacement (Mopar) would be an upgrade.

2004 jeep liberty 3.7 sport radiator fan control relay location - JeepForum.com

 

[boboborino]

I just went through this! I went with a dorman single speed(non HD) as it was local and I needed it ASAP. I was going to go with a mopar, I called dealership parts and the guy said ~$329, I kept calm and had tjkj in my head saying " buy mopar" so I was going to bite the bullet, and then when I got to the counter they said $549. I SNAPPED! Well not really but I did say eff that and called my local piston ring and they had the dorman for about $130 (don't forget I am in Canada!) But I did get the mopar relay, all is good now, no more overheating at idle.

Bert

 

[uss2defiant]

use avondalewholesaleparts.com for mopar parts to order.
Free shipping as well.

 

[joey dot]

check the fan control relay front left body rail its a square relay on the rail under the battery

 

[LibertyFever]

Check the voltages at the rad fan.
When I first bought my 04 Liberty it overheated a lot on long hills and while on the trails too.
It has a two speed fan (three wires) and I discovered the motor was shot.
I've rebuilt it a couple of times and it's improved the cooling a lot.
I bought replacement rad fans from wrecking yards but it was hit or miss whether or not I'd get a working motor.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[cangooner]

Thanks for all the replies!

I swapped out the rad and fan on the weekend, and will also replace the relay once I can find a decent price on one. It seems to be working now (at least the system as a whole is working properly) but since it is a known potential failure point and since it looks like it has been squirted with coolant on a fairly regular basis, I figure it's worth changing as a preventative measure.

But long story short, it's cooling perfectly now.