Well, I finially decided the issue with the tranny not engaging after sitting and now a coolant loss issue had gone on long enough so it was time to put the tractor in the shop. I don't know if the water pump is going or if it will be something else, as my back is too bad to crawl around and search it out. The loss is a slow loss, and there is no water spotting on the driveway, other than the air conditioner condensate. If it is the water pump, I'm wondering if now is the time to replace the timing belt, ect., or just push her up to 100,000 miles and then do it. She's got 77,000 on the clock now.
I do have the shop giving me a quote on doing it, but......
Your opinions would be appreciated here.
Thanks

_________________
2005 CRD Sport
2003 Honda Valkyrie

Do you have the space and tools to do a T-Belt change? I'm at about the same mileage and am located in the Golden Triangle. Maybe if you could push it out to 100K we could do a T-Belt party.

To my knowledge the water pump doesn't have an external "leak" to show you it's going out like a traditional water pump, though. Maybe see what the shop says. My vote would be a leak at the EGR cooler on the driver's side of the block.

The tranny not engaging is most likely a pump issue and can be solved with a fluid/ filter change and installing a Transgo shift kit.

_________________
In this war of lines, so many have been crossed. Where will it all stop?

2006 Deep Beryl Green CRD Sport *SOLD 1/22/12*
Provent, V6 Airbox, Fumoto, Samcos, GDE ECO & TCM Tune, Euro JK TC, Magnaflow Catback
245/70/16 Destination A/T's
Boiler's Radiator Skid Plate
Jeepin' By Al 2.5 inch Adjust-A-Strut Lift, JBA Gen 4.5 UCA's (6/5/10)

So far the shop says they can't find the leak. I've had to add distilled water several times now recently, but haven't quite used up a gallon yet. I'll talk to them tomorrow about the EGR cooler. They're into the transmission now, however I have not heard what is going on with that yet. Maybe tomorrow.
As far as the timing belt goes, I've got plenty of space (not covered), and alot of tools, but don't have any specialty tools if needed. We could make it a party though. I'm in the Conroe area...not to far from you. I'll probably push it out to 100,000 or so.
I'm hoping for a new TC this time around, as future plans call for a GDE tune.

_________________
2005 CRD Sport
2003 Honda Valkyrie

If they don't find your coolant leak, it may be time for a bit of experimentation on you part. If it's not an actual line or heat exchanger somewhere, it could be as simple as the cap on the coolant resevoir being bad.

You could get one of those antifreeze testers. These work by density. Since water and antifreeze have different densities, "it knows" the composition of you coolant mixture. Take and record measurements over time. If the temperature range the tester reads remains constant, i.e. density is constant, you have a fluid leak...worst case a seeping head gasket. If that reading changes over time, it would suggest you're boiling off the more volatile fraction of your coolant...water boil-off will be proportionally faster than the ethylene glycol.

If your garage is any good, they can pressurize the cooling system. If it leaks you can see the pressure drop on the tools gauge. The same tool can pressure test the cap.

If there is a leak and you cannot find it: let the KJ sit pressurized overnight with a bunch of newspapers under the engine/tranny. There should be a drop here or there.

_________________
Cherokee 2,5 CRD: sold - Wrangler TJ 2.5: gone - Touareg V10 TDI: new toy

Solo Liberty en Español: Jeepliberty.es

Transmissions not engaging after sitting awhile have been traced back to anti-drainback valves leaking, and this can often be attributed to the spin on filter or its seal. If the transmission engages fine after a thirty second idle then its probably the anti-drainback valve.

As far as the timing belt is concerned, in Export Model owners manuals the requirement is to change the timing belt at 100,000kms which is just over 60,000 miles. There have been a few break here in Oz before 100,000kms. Its an expensive fix if it breaks, change it.

Good ole Stealership strikes again. Can't find the coolant leak, even though they've put dye in the system and left it pressurized. Also couldn't duplicate the Transmission issue. I'm having them try a little harder on that issue...drive it 5 miles or so, park it and let it sit half the day. It never fails for me, except for 1st thing in the morning, where it seems to work ok. I've checked the fluid level several times, and its fine. My driveway is on a little bit of an incline...thats the only difference.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Thanks to all of you for your input. Looks like I may have to try some of your suggestions...or find another mechanic!!

_________________
2005 CRD Sport
2003 Honda Valkyrie

Have you brought the transmission issue up previously? Is it in their system? I approached my dealer by laying the facts out. I've been mentioning this problem since my very first visit. I know you can't duplicate it but neither can I. It does it when it wants too.
After they got into it the problem was obvious with torque converter clutch material in the pan and plugging up the trans cooler.

_________________
Atlantic Blue 06 CRD Limited (his)
Joined by a 2000 XJ Classic (hers)

No Joe, I haven't...and thats a good point. They've still got it, and I haven't received an update today but will check on it this PM. It could be they did find something after I talked over the symptoms furthur with them yesterday. I'll find that out, and at least get started building up the history if I drive away with no results.
Your right...it does it when it wants too, but I can always seem to count on it at noon when I leave the job for lunch, and alot of times in the pm leaving for the day.
I know this has been hashed around quite a lot off and on...so I know what the fix for it at least should be, (or at least I think I do) however this is the first trip to the shop in over a year, so no complaint history has been built up on this issue.

Thats one of the many good things about this forum...it helps keep us impatient guys from getting to far out of line.

Thanks for your reply.

_________________
2005 CRD Sport
2003 Honda Valkyrie

My similar transmission issue started after I changed the fluid/filters. Are the anti-drainback valves mentioned in previous post on the filters? If so, possible bad filter? I think the flat filter has some sort of check valve built into it but the spin-on shouldn't.

_________________
Solar Yellow 2001 TJ Sport 4.0 auto 4X4
White 2006 Liberty Limited 2.8 CRD 4X4...SOLD 4-21-2012

I got it out of the shop today. They never did get it to slow engage like I have been experiencing. I had them go ahead with changing the tranny oil and filters, hoping that will solve the problem. The pan was clean...no gunk at all.
At least I've got a history started on this issue now.

_________________
2005 CRD Sport
2003 Honda Valkyrie

Take it anywhere but a dealership, fetched mine from them before they screwed more up. $3,000 quote for what was probably if everything stays good the copper washer on an injector. I ended up installing a refurb injector anyways because i had ordered it and didnt figure out it was the washer until I tore the other injector apart.

_________________
06 CRD "Smogger" Dark Khaki, Sport, 22C, tow package, hitch, 6 disc and slightly addictive SIRIUS sat radio.
82 CJ-8 04 Light Khaki, rebuilt 4.0L w/FI on the stand and ready to go in.

Hope the tranny service does it for ya.
At 77,000 the oil and filters can't be that good.



What was wrong with your copper washer?I just removed my injectors today and see no sign of wear on the washer which appear to be pressed on to the injector good.Cant seem to budge them.
3000 dollar quotes are why I work on my CRD and not the dealer.It sucks to get quoted 3 gran when you can probably buy a new engine for round 4ish.

_________________
Bub
06 Inop Edition CRD Silver
06 Inop Edition CRD Green

The tranny was previously serviced at 5k for the shudder, then again at 16k for F37. That was a little over 2 years ago. Didn't have a hint of problems with the tranny after that til about 60k or so when I first noticed the delayed engagement. Its gradually gotton worse with time. Decided it was bad enough now to have it looked at, even though some say it doesn't hurt anything to run it like that. I don't know if it hurts anything or not...its just annoying.

I was looking at the tech. certification plaques on the wall at the dealership while I was there the other day. Their Diesel Tech. has been certified for 2 years Hardly enough to know much past history of CRD's mechanical issues.

_________________
2005 CRD Sport
2003 Honda Valkyrie