SEIZED JEEP 4.0 MOTOR - CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, I thought for sure that's what was awaiting me three weeks ago. I got home late and the wife told me the 2004 WJ 4.0 just hitting 99800 miles was acting up a bit as she was coming home from Walmart. At Walmart parking lot there was a huge amount of fluid under the Jeep when she got out, but decided that only being 5 minutes away from home, she would just drive the short distance. Hot weather and a stoplight later she was home. When I heard I ran to the car crawled under and found the bottom coolant hose had separated from the radiator. Clamp failure somehow? My heart skipped a few beats, tears emerging. Next day,my hair now grey, got it back together filled with fluid and prayed as I turned the key. It started, I didn't feel or hear anything unusual. Shut it down and proceeded to change the oil expecting to see shiny things in the oil, but it looked normal. Three weeks+ it's still running, but I wonder for how long.
My 02 Overland died recently too and I'm taking what I can to put on my new to me 01 Laredo with a 4.0. I wish I could keep the armor, hooks, and Vari-locks, but don't have the resources.
Awesome videos Dan, I loved my 04' Grand Cherokee til' my 4.0 ate a piston on Sunrise hwy near Lindenhurst. Funny thing was I thought the noise was coming from an 18 wheeler that was next to me at the light...lol. Don't know if I'll fix it or not...
@Project Dan H. Hi Dan, what does that grease zerk go to, which is located on the floor under the front of the Drivers Seat, on my 1993 XJ Country. My son's borrowing my Jeep & texted me yesterday asking me, but I forgot what it's for.. Thanks, Dan
I’m in the process of replacing my engine due to the same issue. Haven’t tried cranking it manually but what’s the reasoning behind cranking it In order to remove it?
Dan; have you ever had issues with serpentine belts on any of your XJ’s?? I have a 1998 love it! So ever since I had to replace the a/c compressor on my XJ; I’ve gone thru about 2 mopar belts, I just got a mopar idler pulley and a new idler pulley tensioner, waiting on a new power steering pulley cause I’ve noticed that pulley has a few gashes on the back side on like 3 groove lines… and belt has ripened or shredded on back part, hopefully that’s the cause of my belts? Any input or advice?? Anything and all helps thanks bud!
@@ProjectDanH thx.. really appreciate you've taken the time to give your insights. I've read a lot of praise on the 4.0 engine but also some detrimental comments for the later versions /installed on WJs. Is that a real 'thing' or not something to be concerned about? (assuming being well maintained /not neglected) - maybe an interesting topic for a future video?? 😜
I'm a fool because I loved my 4.7 it ran perfectly but the sub frame didn't love me lol I put 1/4 plate steel in the rear for the trailing arm mounts but the front started to develop holes so I sold it .
Hey dan i have a 2002 jeep grand Cherokee limited 4.7 ho ok i smoke tested the biatch found a couple of cracked hoses ok no I'm pretty sure the noise I here sounds like a turbo when I rev up the throttle the turbo noise goes away
That back piston hole is probably jamed up against the Cylinder wall. Probably only thing you can do is pull the engine out and pop the oil pan off so you can try to un jam the crankshaft.
I have a jeep wrangler Sahara it’s brand new 5k miles on it and it has what appears to be a “ spark knock” from what I’ve been seeing on others videos. It make a metal rattling sound when in low rpm’s under 35 mph does it the worst when going uphill. Sounds horrible…Any experience with this? Why it happened, why did it start already at 5k miles, how to fix it etc… i have an appointment soon at the dealership but I’m very disappointed with my new $50k wrangler 😢
I did an engine rebuild on my sons WJ . Its more of a butt pain Then the XJ . And I wish the heads between the 2 were the same. Why did they have to change the style.🙄
I'm getting a 95 zj back that me and my siblings all learned to drive in. This jeep was purchased in 99 with 20k miles pristine condition. Since then it's been on 2 wheels on an off ramp 3 ditches 4 small accidents and has sat in a field for 9 years and now has 300k miles. My 9 yr old wants it so we are going to restore it. Thanks for your channel going to use a lot of your videos and Haynes manual lol.
I feel way better about mine. The crankshaft was seized it was really hard to turn. I don’t know what I am looking for so I might just get another engine.
@@brentfellers9632 I’m cheap and would rather fix it myself. Ended up with a ahead stud broken off down in the block and sold the car for scrap. Not a lot of XJ6 parts in eastern NC. And good insurance paid for the surgery a year later.
I am willing to bet all that was caused from the melted wiring harness putting fuel in when it shouldn't and had a severe Detonation when the valve was open which caused it to slam shut Snap the head off of it and grenade the piston
Those manifold bolts are soo tricky. Ratchet spanners are very useful.
You're the man Dan.. I'm learning a lot from you.
Thanks for the great videos yoo.. Vancouver Canada.
Just bought my first WJ. I've had XJ's forever but so glad to have thus gem
SEIZED JEEP 4.0 MOTOR - CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, I thought for sure that's what was awaiting me three weeks ago. I got home late and the wife told me the 2004 WJ 4.0 just hitting 99800 miles was acting up a bit as she was coming home from Walmart. At Walmart parking lot there was a huge amount of fluid under the Jeep when she got out, but decided that only being 5 minutes away from home, she would just drive the short distance. Hot weather and a stoplight later she was home. When I heard I ran to the car crawled under and found the bottom coolant hose had separated from the radiator. Clamp failure somehow? My heart skipped a few beats, tears emerging. Next day,my hair now grey, got it back together filled with fluid and prayed as I turned the key. It started, I didn't feel or hear anything unusual. Shut it down and proceeded to change the oil expecting to see shiny things in the oil, but it looked normal. Three weeks+ it's still running, but I wonder for how long.
I think shel be ok... You can always pop a new engine in
My 02 Overland died recently too and I'm taking what I can to put on my new to me 01 Laredo with a 4.0. I wish I could keep the armor, hooks, and Vari-locks, but don't have the resources.
Awesome videos Dan, I loved my 04' Grand Cherokee til' my 4.0 ate a piston on Sunrise hwy near Lindenhurst. Funny thing was I thought the noise was coming from an 18 wheeler that was next to me at the light...lol. Don't know if I'll fix it or not...
what a cool video, bro - always inspiring ! And: hard work deserves a Corona - yeah !
I have the same cylinder on my 4.0 the piston skirt shattered not as bad as that I also replaced the engine
That is cool! How do you know when you’re at top dead center?
@Project Dan H. Hi Dan, what does that grease zerk go to, which is located on the floor under the front of the Drivers Seat, on my 1993 XJ Country. My son's borrowing my Jeep & texted me yesterday asking me, but I forgot what it's for.. Thanks, Dan
Maybe use a 7/8 tuning wrench 🔧 on that Sensor that way you won't to need to use a torch on that sensor.
Don't have one..
@ProjectDanH well I just looked at my text to you and found I missed spelled it was supposed to be tubing wrench 🔧
I’m in the process of replacing my engine due to the same issue. Haven’t tried cranking it manually but what’s the reasoning behind cranking it In order to remove it?
Gotta spin the crank to get to the torque converter bolts to separate the flex plate from the torque converter.
Dan; have you ever had issues with serpentine belts on any of your XJ’s?? I have a 1998 love it! So ever since I had to replace the a/c compressor on my XJ; I’ve gone thru about 2 mopar belts, I just got a mopar idler pulley and a new idler pulley tensioner, waiting on a new power steering pulley cause I’ve noticed that pulley has a few gashes on the back side on like 3 groove lines… and belt has ripened or shredded on back part, hopefully that’s the cause of my belts? Any input or advice?? Anything and all helps thanks bud!
He this is besides the video on the jeep xj is there different drag links
XJs all have the same drag links
I definately learned something. These things are funny if it's someone else's Jeep. :D
having a 5.2 ZJ, I'm the market to add a WJ to the fleet... what's the best engine to choose. (either gas or diesel) Cheers.
4.0 all the way. Just don't neglect it. Lol
@@ProjectDanH thx.. really appreciate you've taken the time to give your insights. I've read a lot of praise on the 4.0 engine but also some detrimental comments for the later versions /installed on WJs. Is that a real 'thing' or not something to be concerned about? (assuming being well maintained /not neglected) - maybe an interesting topic for a future video?? 😜
I'm a fool because I loved my 4.7 it ran perfectly but the sub frame didn't love me lol I put 1/4 plate steel in the rear for the trailing arm mounts but the front started to develop holes so I sold it .
Hey dan i have a 2002 jeep grand Cherokee limited 4.7 ho ok i smoke tested the biatch found a couple of cracked hoses ok no I'm pretty sure the noise I here sounds like a turbo when I rev up the throttle the turbo noise goes away
That back piston hole is probably jamed up against the Cylinder wall. Probably only thing you can do is pull the engine out and pop the oil pan off so you can try to un jam the crankshaft.
Did it!
You ever mess with or build a 4.7 stroker. Is that the right way to go with a seized 4.0 or just build another 4.0
I have a jeep wrangler Sahara it’s brand new 5k miles on it and it has what appears to be a “ spark knock” from what I’ve been seeing on others videos. It make a metal rattling sound when in low rpm’s under 35 mph does it the worst when going uphill. Sounds horrible…Any experience with this? Why it happened, why did it start already at 5k miles, how to fix it etc… i have an appointment soon at the dealership but I’m very disappointed with my new $50k wrangler 😢
wow. not that im a mechanic or anything but dang I've never seen that happen to a block like that. on the 4.0 anyway
I did an engine rebuild on my sons WJ . Its more of a butt pain Then the XJ . And I wish the heads between the 2 were the same. Why did they have to change the style.🙄
Chrysler ruined the later 4.0 engines. Cracked pistons are common on later 4.0l. 98-up have issues. The AMC / renix pistons are better.
I know the connecting rods in older 4.0s are thicker. The ones in 2000+ are more tapered
I have a 97 in a ZJ. Is it one of the blessed ones?
Why didn’t you just pull the whole drive train?
@@simonolofsson7488 probably, my 96 has 252,836 original miles. 98 and up 4.0ls are not that great.
I'm getting a 95 zj back that me and my siblings all learned to drive in. This jeep was purchased in 99 with 20k miles pristine condition. Since then it's been on 2 wheels on an off ramp 3 ditches 4 small accidents and has sat in a field for 9 years and now has 300k miles. My 9 yr old wants it so we are going to restore it. Thanks for your channel going to use a lot of your videos and Haynes manual lol.
I would have pulled the torque converter with the block
Then removed it out of the jeep
I feel way better about mine. The crankshaft was seized it was really hard to turn. I don’t know what I am looking for so I might just get another engine.
Yeah I learn don't let your Pistons ever get like that
I herniated myself pulling the head off a 4.2 XJ Jag
Noice, if you're in the States, it would have been cheaper to go to the shop instead of the hospital 😅
@@brentfellers9632 I’m cheap and would rather fix it myself. Ended up with a ahead stud broken off down in the block and sold the car for scrap. Not a lot of XJ6 parts in eastern NC. And good insurance paid for the surgery a year later.
🤣🤣🤣
I'm strong AF
@@ProjectDanH not forever ...
I am willing to bet all that was caused from the melted wiring harness putting fuel in when it shouldn't and had a severe Detonation when the valve was open which caused it to slam shut Snap the head off of it and grenade the piston