Your knowledge required please

[FishermanAllen]

My 2002 liberty 3.7 4x4 auto has a seized thermostat. I have just ordered the new genuine one from Mopar , problem is I live in a remote area and it looks like a 2 week wait until it gets delivered to me.
Can I remove the jammed thermostat & drive the vehicle without the thermostat in at all.
My wife needs to take kids to school & back each day, about 20 km away, our daily temperatures here never go below 12 degrees Celsius or above 30 degrees Celsius.
We love our little Jeep & don’t want to risk it if it will be a problem to drive it without a thermostat for a couple of weeks.

Regards
FishermanAllen

 

[hadtomer]

hello from Israel- how are things down under? the answer is yes you can. of course you will probably experience some strange stuff like engine not reaching working temp-but it is not that bad. I would not do it for a long period- of course the thermostat is there for a reason.

 

[FishermanAllen]

Gday Hadtomer
Down under is just fine & we are enjoying our wet season.

Thank you for your answer to my question, I suspected it would be ok temporarily to drive it & nurse it until the new thermostat arrives. I just needed some reassurance, so thank you once again.

Regards
FishermanAllen

 

[uss2defiant]

yes you can but most likely your engine wont reach normal operating temperature.

 

[FishermanAllen]

yes you can but most likely your engine wont reach normal operating temperature.

Thank you for that & what issues can be caused from the engine not reaching ( normal operating temperature) ....??

Regards
FishermanAllen

 

[klc]

Thank you for that & what issues can be caused from the engine not reaching ( normal operating temperature) ....??

Regards
FishermanAllen

The engine might perform poorly. Long ago I had to drive a Toyota Celica with a broken thermostat during the winter. It had trouble accelerating, and ran pretty rough.

I also understand it’s not good for the oil.

 

[uss2defiant]

I think it might throw a CEL. I think that was what happened to me last when I was trying to flush out all the coolant with multiple days of drain and fill with distilled water.

I don't remember what else but it certainly didn't run rough.

 

[FishermanAllen]

I think it might throw a CEL. I think that was what happened to me last when I was trying to flush out all the coolant with multiple days of drain and fill with distilled water.

I don't remember what else but it certainly didn't run rough.

Might throw a cell ???? Can you enlighten me on what this means.
regards

FishermanAllen

 

[lfhoward]

Check Engine Light

 

[JeepJeepster]

It will be fine until you can put in the new thermostat. It may use more fuel than normal and wont have very good heat. And yes, the check engine light will most likely come on since it isnt reaching normal temps.

 

[Billwill]

Have you joined the www.ausjeepoffroad.com Forum?
lots of clever people there and they have Jeeps with the steering wheel on the "Right" side as well as other slight differances to the USA models!

 

[FishermanAllen]

Have you joined the www.ausjeepoffroad.com Forum?
lots of clever people there and they have Jeeps with the steering wheel on the "Right" side as well as other slight differances to the USA models!

Great advise , I originally searched Google & all they showed was your Forum, which by the way has been great . I will now join the the Aussie Forum as well & keep my membership here to.
Thank you for your post & advise.

regards
FishermanAllen

 

[Billwill]

ausjeepoffroad is generally pretty quiet these days as regards the KJs but very useful to get to know the local owners who can help you out with spares etc. and there are some differences between the USA and Export models!

 

[FishermanAllen]

ausjeepoffroad is generally pretty quiet these days as regards the KJs but very useful to get to know the local owners who can help you out with spares etc. and there are some differences between the USA and Export models!

Thank you once again

 

[LibertyTC]

See attached images for correct orientation of New Mopar thermostat.
Also the Jeep has a steel block with aluminum heads & does require the use of Mopar HOAT coolant or Zerex G-05 ONLY !!

 

[FishermanAllen]

See attached images for correct orientation of New Mopar thermostat.
Also the Jeep has a steel block with aluminum heads & does require the use of Mopar HOAT coolant or Zerex G-05 ONLY !!

Thank you
you are of great help

 

[KJ_Liverpool]

The bolts that hold the cover on
often get corroded and are hard
to get out, or worse, snap off.

I just bought new ones to be safe.
They are expensive for what they
are, but I was lucky to get the
original ones off the first time and
I don't like to take chances. Also a
dab of anti-seize should stop any
problems taking them off in the
future.

The bolt part number is 6505502AA
and they were $5.16 each in 2016.