Okay, so let me start by saying I don't know much about fixing cars, but consider myself handy and want to learn more about fixing them, and having a 4x4 is fun. Two weeks ago I picked up a 5-speed 1999 Jeep Wrangler with a 4.0L 6 cylinder engine with the intent to work on it. The previous owner bought it at an auction sight unseen with a similar purpose, and overheated the engine b/c upon driving it realized (afterwards) the radiator hoses weren't even connected. He pulled the engine himself to work on it and realized how much of a job it was, so he took it to a shop and had the engine rebuilt, then re-installed it. He videotaped the whole process so I felt okay about it. I drove the thing roughly 200 miles without a problem from where I bought it, and have been driving it around town a little. I did realize that it's running really cool, like, no where near 210 degF, maybe at 150 degF. I checked this with an ODB2 reader and noted that the engine block is not very hot. A friend recommended the thermostat might be bad although the previous owner did say he replaced it. So, I pulled the thermostat out to take a look and it looks cockeyed/damaged, and I'm pretty sure it was always open, so the engine is always cooling. I also have no heat in the cabin at all, or rather, just luke-warm air.
When I pulled the thermostat housing and hoses coolant went everywhere...I don't know why I didn't think to drain it first. Anyway, I replaced the thermostat with a quality one and asked a friend if I should bother cranking it to see if there was any affect, even though I knew there was low coolant (but definitely still some) I was hoping to see the temp come up some. He said it shouldn't be a problem if I ran it only for a very short while. Well, I cranked it and ran it for a maybe a minute, maybe less when I heard a horrible repetitive squealing sound, it sounded like metal on metal scraping. I shutoff the engine immediately. I took a towel and cracked the radiator cap a little and heard air escaping, so I know that some heat at least pressurized something. I also felt the engine block and it was pretty cool to the touch, though the exhaust manifold I accidentally touched was very hot. There were no other weird sounds besides the squealing, and there was no smoke. The temp gauge moved a little bit when it was on, but just barely; I'm not sure there was enough coolant in the system for the sensor to read it (but I'm not sure). I called said friend and described what happened and he said I probably heard the belts squealing/slipping because they're covered in coolant. I'm really hoping he's right. I plan on cranking it again after I get more coolant (I decided to flush the whole system first). When I flushed the system there was still maybe 2 gallons of coolant that came out, maybe a little more. I wanted to see if anyone had an opinion here. Do you think I damaged anything permanently? Did I warp something or blow a head gasket? Thanks!
When I pulled the thermostat housing and hoses coolant went everywhere...I don't know why I didn't think to drain it first. Anyway, I replaced the thermostat with a quality one and asked a friend if I should bother cranking it to see if there was any affect, even though I knew there was low coolant (but definitely still some) I was hoping to see the temp come up some. He said it shouldn't be a problem if I ran it only for a very short while. Well, I cranked it and ran it for a maybe a minute, maybe less when I heard a horrible repetitive squealing sound, it sounded like metal on metal scraping. I shutoff the engine immediately. I took a towel and cracked the radiator cap a little and heard air escaping, so I know that some heat at least pressurized something. I also felt the engine block and it was pretty cool to the touch, though the exhaust manifold I accidentally touched was very hot. There were no other weird sounds besides the squealing, and there was no smoke. The temp gauge moved a little bit when it was on, but just barely; I'm not sure there was enough coolant in the system for the sensor to read it (but I'm not sure). I called said friend and described what happened and he said I probably heard the belts squealing/slipping because they're covered in coolant. I'm really hoping he's right. I plan on cranking it again after I get more coolant (I decided to flush the whole system first). When I flushed the system there was still maybe 2 gallons of coolant that came out, maybe a little more. I wanted to see if anyone had an opinion here. Do you think I damaged anything permanently? Did I warp something or blow a head gasket? Thanks!
