Just bought my nicely detailed '05 CRD. CARFAX said it was a good deal so I jumped on it. i called the nice folks at Rocky Road Outfitters and $3,000+ later I was on my way to a great set of wheels.
CARFAX can tell you if bad stuff has been reported not if good stuff has been accomplished. I finally tracked down the dealer of record and NO, THE TIMING BELT WAS NEVER REPLACED. The dealer also reported that the water pump was leaking. It has 165,000mi. OK , I ordered the kit with the specialized tools, they should be here Monday.
I have decided to tempt fate and drive a few (10) miles a day in the mean time. I put a cup or two of zerex G 05 in every day to keep the radiator topped off. I know the water pump is leaking so that's to be expected. A new development is INTERMITTENT WHITE SMOKE coming from the tail pipe. It doesn't happen all the time but when it does you can't ignore it. A friend suggested it might be the intercooler. What do you all think?

Thanks,
Brad Rath
San Antonio, TX

Hmmm' losing coolant, white smoke, sounds like the head gasket me.
Better check your oil and get a leak down test done.

Losing coolant -- not good
165k and no timing belt replacement -- pretty friggin bad (though you don't know for sure this was never done)
White smoke --- very bad

In my very recent engine failure and rebuild. I would suggest you return the vehicle promptly or immediately stop driving and do timing belt, head gasket, and replace cylinder head bolts with ARP studs. I can't tell you much about the ARP's studs because I am just about to get my CRD back tomorrow for the second time but anything must be better than OEM.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=65524

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=74477

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2006 Liberty CRD Sport Black
EHM, ORM, FUMOTO, SAMCO HOSES, SKYJACKER
REBUILT @ 105K
ARP HEAD STUDS
GDE HOT TUNE
FLORIDA TORQUE CONVERTER
WEEKS KIT
JBA UCA’s
Etecno 5v Glow Plugs
Updated Fuel Filter Head

I guess I will order a head gasket kit. The ARP studs look like a descent upgrade but $320 for 18 bolts? Wow! That's what I would expect for Boeing parts.

TXriverrat, Do you have a local source for those parts (both studs and gasket) in Houston?
Regardless, what sources did you use?

I have had a '03 2wd KJ for 6 years now without a lick of trouble. Has anyone jerked that magnificent torque master out and replaced it with the 3.7 gas? Does it just bolt up?

Brad Rath
San Antonio, TX

Get studs. Not hard to do, read the ARP stud thread and PM me w questions.

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Grid power- the one true essential

2005 Liberty CRD- ARP studs, Fumoto, Hayden FC, inline Tstat, ETechno 7v GP, Platinum P1, in-tank lift pump.
1983 Volvo D24T
1981 Volvo D24
Dodge Cummins TD
Case 580B
Mitsubishi MT180 diesel
Kubota BX25 diesel

Before you spend money on parts get a pro to test it.

Blown head gasket or cracked head. Tear it down and send the head for inspection. Plan on rockers. Lots of parts. But they don't cost what Boeing wants. I pad over $250 for a clamp last month from Boeing.

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05 Liberty CRD Sport with Leather 115k
GDE ECO, No EGR, no FCV, (system gone)
Oil Drain plug P/N 090-039
K&N Air Filter, 2nd gen Fuel filter head
NEW Rockers & lifters
Mobil 1 0w-40
Stant 13519 195 deg inline Thermostat.
0 281 002 845 MAP
Etecno GX3123 7v Glow Plugs
Advance Gold 800CCA Battery
Traded it for a Quality VW TDI

wow, 165,000 miles on the original timing belt is WAAYYYY overdue. And driving it 10 miles is really tempting fate big time.

Since there is NO connection between the intercooler and the engine cooling system, there is a also no way a malfunctioning/damaged intercooler can transfer engine coolant to the intake system.

It is possible you have other coolant leaks, but the white smoke one suggests a blown head gasket, and the fact that it is significant white smoke from time to time suggests the leak might be large enough to hydrolock the engine, which would cause major damage.

If you got a "super clean" vehicle for only about $3000 or a little more, it appears what you bought was a good body in need of some extensive engine work. Still possibly a good deal, but maybe not as good as it at first appeared.

Naturist,

I agree with you completely. I paid $6,200 for a car that CARFAX rated as being worth $825 OVER Blue Book. I bought it partly as an interesting toy that could take me to the remote reaches of Big Bend. I am going to go forward with this repair with that goal in mind. I am trying to digest all the procedures, part numbers, kits, suppliers and advice from the various TB and head bolt threads and will post a proposed course of action for comment soon.

I can't find the tab on the intake side of the block that codes what thickness head gasket to order. Anyone have a picture with landmarks? I'm probably looking in the wrong place. Without that, I'll probably order the middle value. How much can + or - 0.1mm matter?

Brad Rath
San Antonio, TX

So are you guys saying, you got a leaky head gasket, put in ARP studs and no more failure?

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2006 LTD Bright Silver loaded with all the needed mods, CCV intact.
Proudly supporting CRD vendors, and their development of quality parts and accessories.
Equipped with HDS thermostat, plenty of heat, faster warm-ups, increased fuel mileage.

I don't think that is what they were suggesting, rather, when you change the head gasket, put in the studs.

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2005 Liberty Limited CRD; Air Filter Monitor; Samco Hoses; GDE HOT Tune; RL037142AA TC; KJ Interior Rack from All J Products; JBA Adjust-a-strut lift and A-Arms; 245/75R16 Firestone Destination ATs on Moabs; ARB Bumper; ASFIR Skids; FS-2500 Bypass Filter; ARP studs.
2016 Grand Cherokee Overland CRD.

Right, the guy with the Dale logo mentioned he did it to his Jetta TDI but I guess his gasket was still good?

_________________
2006 LTD Bright Silver loaded with all the needed mods, CCV intact.
Proudly supporting CRD vendors, and their development of quality parts and accessories.
Equipped with HDS thermostat, plenty of heat, faster warm-ups, increased fuel mileage.

ARP suggests replacing the gasket when a HG leak is present, the tech said that more often than not the leak returns when it is not replaced.

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2006 Liberty Limited CRD, Deep Beryl Green, Yeti tune, Arp studs, new cams, rockers, lifters, TB. "Green Monster"
2005 Liberty Sport CRD, Deep Beryl Green, GDE Hot Tune, ARP studs. "Rocket"
1982 Fiat 124 Spider Convertible. "Fiona"