Yay new problems

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:58 am

took some family to the beach the other day at fort fisher NC, after driving about 2 miles in 4 low, we stoped and got out and had our day... took some nice pics of the wife on the jeep (soon to be posted!) after we had our fill of the sun, we jumped in the libby and .... it didn't start! I did the usual run through to see if I could figure out what the problem was, sounded like a dying battery. Hooked my portable charger up to the battery, it started but very slow & rough. After that it worked fine.

Later that night, my son woke up and wouldn't stop crying, so I threw him in his car seat and drove him around the block a few times. It was a little chilly so I turned the heat on... No heat came out, I then noticed the temp was climbing like crazy. I started to head home when the heat finally kicked in after about 15 minutes of driving and the car temp dropped back down to normal.

I am due for a new battery. maybe the alternators shot?
Liberty is an 04' with 27,000 oil was changed 2 weeks ago.

Thank you for your input!

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:15 am

If you jumpstart the vehicle and it runs fine than the alternator isn't the problem. The alternator will supply enough power to get you around without the battery. But if you are noticing slow blinkers or items in your KJ that are not working when it's running - than the alternator could be on the fritz.

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:06 am

sleeve84028 wrote:

If you jumpstart the vehicle and it runs fine than the alternator isn't the problem. The alternator will supply enough power to get you around without the battery. But if you are noticing slow blinkers or items in your KJ that are not working when it's running - than the alternator could be on the fritz.

well first I did notice the lights were dimming last night when I was driving, and when the car did start it fought to get started. It took about 5 minutes of having it running before I could go on. It would start for a minute then cut off.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:17 am

Check your blinker speed and other electronic devices the next time you get it started. (I'm leaning towards your alternator being bum)

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:35 am

sleeve84028 wrote:

Check your blinker speed and other electronic devices the next time you get it started. (I'm leaning towards your alternator being bum)

yea I was going to swap the bat out this weekend anyway, any thoughts on a high quality, decently priced alternator? I mean i'm going to have to get one eventually, might as well go for it now. $150-200 +/- range

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:45 am

Did air blow out and it just wasnt hot? The temp was climbing over the normal operating temp?

Check the anti-freeze, you may have a small leak somewhere(cracked rad?).

About the starting problem, if it started at your house after you had boosted it at the beach Im doubting its a bad battery. It could be a weak battery but why would it just die out on th beach? Any corrosion on the terminals? If you had the headlights on at night with the blower for the heat that wasnt working, I would say the alternator would have to be working if the battery was already low since it hardly cranked.

Just throwing out thoughts.

riptricket · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:18 pm

dang you have a small amount of mileage for an 04!
i have an 05 with 50K+

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:03 pm

Check the fluid level in your coolant reservoir. There's no reason that if the fan was blowing, there wasn't hot air due to a battery.

your alternator is probably fine, just change the battery ASAP. Mine died in the summer of '06...more than 3 years on your OEM battery in any car, you're living on borrowed time and ya gotta pay it back somehow:)

For your cooling issues, I'm banking on a radiator with a cracked endtank. I just replaced mine earlier this year.

KJNick · **Joined:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:00 pm **Posts:** 56

I second the battery issue. When my battery died, it wouldn't idle. Also, when the battery died, it quit suddenly, just like what happened to you. Went on a picnic with it running fine, then wouldn't start when I went to leave.

With the heat, make sure the coolant level is fine, then suspect the thermostat. Either the coolant level was low enough that it took a while for the thermostat to get up to temp or the thermostat stuck for a while before opening.

Xodius · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:27 pm

Yeap, Battery issue. I have gone through way way way too many. Last year I burned through 3, lol. The year before 2. I have had my alt checked and a few other things but everyone just says it is the batt. THe one I am on now is at nearly 1 year old. The first battery I had was in there for 3 years, lol. I am thinking my next will be one of those Optima Red Tops...but not positive yet.

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 4:44 pm

Well today was an adventure, first let me say that I am stumped.

Driving around with the A/C on all day.

Car started fine this morning, a little rough with the idling, but no problems.

Thermostat would rise when the car was in drive and idling, when the thermostat got over 3/4 the a/c would shut off, and the turn signals would skitz out. Then when it reached about full it would jump down to normal and everything would work fine.

Went to walmart to get a new battery, didn't get it though. Talked my wife into getting a more premium bat. The whole ride home I had no issue what so ever.

I've also been getting killer mpg for some reason... I drove around all day, probally covered a good 75 miles and only used 1/8th tank of gas... normally I would go through 1/4 or more with that much driving.

I have nothing leaking out of the car, everything looks solid. I'm going to get under the hood and check all the fluids in a minute.

any suggestions?

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:00 pm

ramlebliberty wrote:

Well today was an adventure, first let me say that I am stumped.

Driving around with the A/C on all day.

Car started fine this morning, a little rough with the idling, but no problems.

Thermostat would rise when the car was in drive and idling, when the thermostat got over 3/4 the a/c would shut off, and the turn signals would skitz out. Then when it reached about full it would jump down to normal and everything would work fine.

Went to walmart to get a new battery, didn't get it though. Talked my wife into getting a more premium bat. The whole ride home I had no issue what so ever.

I've also been getting killer mpg for some reason... I drove around all day, probally covered a good 75 miles and only used 1/8th tank of gas... normally I would go through 1/4 or more with that much driving.

I have nothing leaking out of the car, everything looks solid. I'm going to get under the hood and check all the fluids in a minute.

any suggestions?

My guess is your tank gauge is off :-P

DryBones · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:52 pm

electrical issues will have all sorts of odd symptoms. start with the battery ASAP and go from there.

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:56 pm

DryBones wrote:

electrical issues will have all sorts of odd symptoms. start with the battery ASAP and go from there.

Yea I'm low on coolant too, but theres no leaks... I had so much dirt on it I couldn't read it... after some cleaning, its in need. However we do need a new battery thats for sure I am going to start there and add some coolant. After that if there still is a issue I will post everyone and see what kinda answers there are.

Guest · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:22 pm

if you're low on coolant, there IS a leak. You can't be low on coolant and NOT have a leak. it's impossible.

Scratch · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:52 pm

Yep - even if the coolant is leaking into the head or block - it's still a leak - just no fluid on the ground. It will be seeping out the head gasket, or the tailpipe...

Steam leaks will surreptitiously drop fluid too - without 'visible' leakage over time.

ohv_kj · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:16 pm

ramlebliberty wrote:

took some family to the beach the other day at fort fisher NC, after driving about 2 miles in 4 low, we stoped and got out and had our day... took some nice pics of the wife on the jeep (soon to be posted!) after we had our fill of the sun, we jumped in the libby and .... it didn't start! I did the usual run through to see if I could figure out what the problem was, sounded like a dying battery. Hooked my portable charger up to the battery, it started but very slow & rough. After that it worked fine.

Later that night, my son woke up and wouldn't stop crying, so I threw him in his car seat and drove him around the block a few times. It was a little chilly so I turned the heat on... No heat came out, I then noticed the temp was climbing like crazy. I started to head home when the heat finally kicked in after about 15 minutes of driving and the car temp dropped back down to normal.

I am due for a new battery. maybe the alternators shot?
Liberty is an 04' with 27,000 oil was changed 2 weeks ago.

Thank you for your input!

hey come bye at my work and i can get everything you need...the advance auto on market closest to kerr...ask for james...i'll be there from 8-2 tomarrow

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:36 pm

thermostat sticking and just needing replaced,
for such low miles my thoughts are you dont drive it near enough :lol:

For an 04 you should have at least 100,000 on it! :wink:

KJ04 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:52 pm

tommudd wrote:

thermostat sticking and just needing replaced,
for such low miles my thoughts are you dont drive it near enough :lol:

For an 04 you should have at least 100,000 on it! :wink:

I don't think my 04 will ever reach 100,000 in my lifetime. August 6th. will be 5 yrs. ( yeah, I got it Aug. 6th. of 03 ) and I've now racked up 27,789 miles, mostly to go wheelin. I do have to drive 1/2 mile per day to get to work and back. :lol:

ramlebliberty · **Posted:** Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:22 pm

Scratch wrote:

Yep - even if the coolant is leaking into the head or block - it's still a leak - just no fluid on the ground. It will be seeping out the head gasket, or the tailpipe...

Steam leaks will surreptitiously drop fluid too - without 'visible' leakage over time.

well if something like thats the case, whats the best method of fixing. I looked all over and couldn't find anything that resembled a leak. So my guess is that its internal which to my knowledge is not a good thing. For now I'm going to throw some of that radiator sealer into it and watch it. Don't have money to throw at a mechanic right now. Sons birthday is in 3 days and I went a lil overboard

Yay new problems

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