I'll try to make this as short as I can so please bare with me.

I just bought a 2011 Liberty Limited Jet with only 38k not even 2 months ago. It came without warranty but I pad extra for an extended warranty.

Thursday I was driving home when the car became harder to maneuver on the freeway, figured may be a power steering issue, minute later my battery light came on. So I then figured it was my serpentine belt. Then 2 minutes or so later the car started to heat up just over 3/4, I got to a safe spot on the freeway and pulled over, belt was shredded. Let it cool down a bit and got it to an auto parts store were I inspected further. Then noticed the mechanical fan(heavy duty cooling) was able to move in all directions. So I bought a new pump and belt.

Thursday morning, I pull the battery, shroud, fan/clutch off and get the pump off. The fan had 2 small pieces missing on 2 fins and broke the wiring connector for the electrical fan but was still useable. I installed the new pump and reinstalled everything else along with the broken fan, the dealer wanted $80 for one and online they are only $40 so I would wait a week or so and replace the fan then. Truck started no problem, attempted to bleed as I read online. Seemed to be fine and I left the house, moments later it started to run hot so I turned around and checked the water and it looked fine. So I let it cool down and tried to start it. It would crank and try to start but wouldn't sounded like no spark or fuel. Grabbed some new plugs and installed them, old plugs were trashed. Gapped new ones to .035 as what autozone computer said. Started first try with zero issues. I parked the jeep with the front end up high and began to bleed again, cap off and let the truck run and add water as necessary. Bagen to run hot again and stopped for the day.

Today I changed the thermostat, and refilled again with a clean 50/50 mix. filled it up as I had before and was the same as it had been the previous times, I decided to pop open the bleeder valve even though I read on a thread here that it wasn't useful. The second i opened it the engine pulled all the water down and I added nearly a gallon. and then some. Left the plug open until little to no more air came out. Closed it and added more water to top off the radiator.

All looked good and didn't get it over half while I was there at idle. Took it for a drive and not but a quarter mile down the road and it got too 3/4, due to construction I had to drive a bit further to get to a safe spot. It didn't seem to go over 3/4, finally got it home and left it.

Now I was in a rush to install the thermostat, I never checked to see if I put it upside down/ or sideways for that matter. Not backwards, it will only install one way. But the small nipple that is supposed to be positioned at 12 o clock. Is it possible that would cause it to run hotter? As I said it seemed like it was satyign at 3/4 but in all honesty I tried to get it home and off asap to keep from really overheating it.

Also I do have the extended warranty with a $50 deductible, I am worried that if I take it now rather than when it happened they will say that the damage happened after I changed the pump. Not sure how the company works, should cover it though from what's stated on my paperwork.


Any thoughts?

Spark plugs are to be gapped at .043, not what the auto shop said. Also I believe you're the first person to have their temperature needle go over 1/2. I've got the overheating dashboard light and the needle stayed just under the 1/2 way mark. Some refer to it as a "dummy gauge" because of this.

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Is the electric fan kicking on?

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Double check the thermostat and also what coolant did you use, hopefully HOAT

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Well I got it figured out today, when I put in the thermostat I was tired and rushing so I decided to recheck that.

Turns out I put the thermostat backwards, I am fairly new to working on domestics, imports there is usually only one way to put them in and impossible to do backwards. So I put it in and it fit, I should have thought it thru though. Well anyway I put it in, bled the system again and all is well. Truck runs beautifully.

I had my Bluetooth obd2 adapter on and was using the torque app, temp got up to 250 or so when it was at 3/4 on the dash. Should I be worried of any damage from those temps?

Repeatedly then yes I'd worry,later down the road expect a valve seat to drop or head gasket issues.This can take 1 week or 2 years.I had my cooling fan relay die on the trail while I was away from Jeep and it badly overheated.Took 2 years for that valve seat to finally drop,at least I was fairly close to home and still drove it there.Engine was trashed anyways so another mile wasn't going to hurt anything any more then what was already done.


Just remember that ECT is high in the cooling system and can read very incorrectly with air trapped in the system.A few more degrees and that needle would be at the red zone of the temp gauge.

I run the same app...you should be running about 200*F for coolant...250*F is on the higher end of that.

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Custom Bumper & Rock Rails-JBA 4.5" Lift-Custom 4.5" HD Springs-16x8 M13 Rims-265/75 Pro Comp MT2s-Yukon 4.56s-Front DTT-Rear OX Air Locker