2003 Jeep Liberty - 3.7L Hole in Head

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ricmorin
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2003 Jeep Liberty - 3.7L Hole in Head

Post by ricmorin »

Hello ForumFolk,

We have this vehicle in from another shop. It overheated from a loss of coolant. The other shop thought it was a bad intake gasket so they pulled the intake. Once apart, they found the real cause. There is a hole about 8-10 mm in size in the RH head. It appears to be close to the sealing end and towards the rear. It's obviously a coolant port and I can see the headgasket with a restrictor port through the hole. I've checked TSB's, recalls and pattern failures to no avail. At first blush it appears to be a casting issue. Has anyone seen anything like this before?
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by Tim Martin »

Do you have any way of posting a picture of it? Initially I am of the opinion it may be a casting issue as I have seen a few casting problems through the years.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by brianp87 »

Never seen this issue but inclined to agree with you from past experience.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by ricmorin »

Hole in the Head
Hole in the Head
DSC_0062.JPG (1.89 MiB) Viewed 12359 times
Sorry it's a big picture. Took it with my Nikon D3200. Use the scroll bars and you'll get a REAL good view.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by Tim Martin »

After seeing the picture I am all the more of the opinion that it is a casting defect.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by ricmorin »

That was my first thought, but I don't want to overlook something that may cause a repeat failure.

Now the next question. Anyone have a good source for reman heads? Dealer has none in this area and I am skeptical on used in this application. Rather get a good reman.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by brianp87 »

Ive had good luck with napa
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by ricmorin »

brianp87 wrote:Ive had good luck with napa
I'll give them a call. Thanks.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by brianp87 »

I like to stick with my main vendors if for nothing more the (hopefully not needed) option of parts and labor being covered under warranty.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by ricmorin »

True that!

I've posted more pics at my Motorcar facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 393&type=1
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by ricmorin »

Update: We have the head off. Looks like corrosion was the cause. Several other ports had the beginnings of erosion. We also noted the wrong coolant installed (green, takes long life). We had done a coolant flush for poor ph 2 1/2 years ago. Now it has green coolant in it. Not from us. oops. You can also see weird calcification around the affected ports. Looks like this one was preventable.

We had done a few oil changes on this since, but this customer lives out of town so we only see her for major work. The coolant bottle is heavily discolored so it was not easy to tell the wrong coolant was in there, nor do we know for how long.

I'll load the new pics to our facebook site.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by brianp87 »

wow crazy. Was the ph way off on this coolant? How are you checking ph on non green coolants. (I want to know how.)
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by ricmorin »

Yes, ph was off. We use the strips that are designed for both regular and long life coolant. The strips have 3 pads on them.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by brianp87 »

Ive got them but they say not for red or orange coolant. Was looking for a way to check those types.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty 3.7 Hole in Head

Post by ricmorin »

Interesting. Mine make no mention of any exclusions. It simply says Long Life Coolants.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty - 3.7L Hole in Head

Post by brianp87 »

hmm I now see you said three pads mine only have 2? What brand are your test strips?
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty - 3.7L Hole in Head

Post by ricmorin »

Acustrip.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty - 3.7L Hole in Head

Post by brianp87 »

hmm thanks ill have to get wiht my supplier bg gives me these ill ask for those.
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Re: 2003 Jeep Liberty - 3.7L Hole in Head

Post by asample »

I get all of my reman heads from Clearwater Cylinder Heads in Clearwater, Florida. Had excellent luck with them. Takes about 3-5 days depending where you are. They charge shipping one way and supply call tag for core return. Less money than any I can get locally.

5100 ULMERTON RD SUITE 2
Clearwater, FL 33760
800-572-1963
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Greeley, CO 80631
970-352-5598
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