What's it worth?

[RockMonkey]

I might be buying a TJ... It's a 1997, four cylinder, manual. Stock, but with 30" Sahara wheels and tires. Hard top. Something like 60,000 miles. It runs well, but here's the catch, it has a massive coolant leak. I haven't looked at it, but I think it is either a head gasket or a freeze plug (if anyone can shed light on this that would be great too). They say to make them an offer, they want to get rid of it. What is it worth?

 

[Hickey]

4,000

 

[James K]

I would say 3,000 tops

 

[Caleb]

in good shape a 97 4 cyl would be around 6-7K...given the coolant issue I think Hickey is in the right ball park, around $4k...could also be a warped head if it was overheated...I would atleast have the head checked to make sure its not warped cause if its leaking coolant real badly then they probably found out about it when it overheated...

if you decide to pass on it let me know as I am supposed to start looking for a Wrangler for my bro, so he has one when he gets back form his mission...

 

[RockMonkey]

Keep em coming, I want more opinions before I make my offer. Am I probably correct in assuming the coolant leak is probably a head gasket or freeze plug? Any chance it is a major problem? The engine runs smooth, just gets hot quick and spews fluid from somewhere.

 

[RockMonkey]

in good shape a 97 4 cyl would be around 6-7K...given the coolant issue I think Hickey is in the right ball park, around $4k...could also be a warped head if it was overheated...I would atleast have the head checked to make sure its not warped cause if its leaking coolant real badly then they probably found out about it when it overheated...

if you decide to pass on it let me know as I am supposed to start looking for a Wrangler for my bro, so he has one when he gets back form his mission...

How can I check for a warped head? I guess the first step here is to determine where the coolant is coming from, huh? I think we had a similar problem with an I-6 4.0 once, and it was just that a freeze plug had popped off the back of the engine.

 

[Hickey]

Keep em coming, I want more opinions before I make my offer. Am I probably correct in assuming the coolant leak is probably a head gasket or freeze plug? Any chance it is a major problem? The engine runs smooth, just gets hot quick and spews fluid from somewhere.

Hell, it could be just a cracked thermostat housing.

 

[Caleb]

yeah, determine where the coolant is coming from, you are likely right, its probably a freeze plug...BUT, I would have the head checked anyways, I dont know how to do it on your own, I would jsut take it to a machine shop and have them do it...with it heating up to the point that coolant starts spewing out can warp a head real quick, I know on my dads S-10 it blew a head gasket we pulled over right away and had it towed to our machanic and the head was warped already (this was on a 95 4.3L)...just something to think about...

 

[RockMonkey]

Hell, it could be just a cracked thermostat housing.

Hmm... Even an engine-tard like me should be able to diagnose that one, eh?

 

[Caleb]

another thing is check the oil, if there is any water in the oil then it will be a head problem...there is a bunch of things it could be, best thing to do is look for the trail of coolant on the engine and find out where its coming form...

 

[Hickey]

Hmm... Even an engine-tard like me should be able to diagnose that one, eh?

You would be surprised. My neighbor had a sweet CJ7 that ran really rough. He had a new engine installed for 2 grand. I told him it was just the crappy carb he had on it. Guess what he had to replace while the guys were changing his engine? Yup, the carb. Point is, some people know that it is really bad when fluid comes out of your engine, but that is ALL they know. It is easier to buy a new one, than attempt to fix the old one.

 

[RockMonkey]

another thing is check the oil, if there is any water in the oil then it will be a head problem...there is a bunch of things it could be, best thing to do is look for the trail of coolant on the engine and find out where its coming form...

Any reason I can't just start it, have someone watch the temp gauge to make sure it doesn't overheat, and watch where the geiser comes from?

 

[Hickey]

Any reason I can't just start it, have someone watch the temp gauge to make sure it doesn't overheat, and watch where the geiser comes from?

Yeah, but I would check the oil first. No water in the oil would be a good sign, but if there were water in it, then you know it will be a head problem.

 

[James K]

............... some people know that it is really bad when fluid comes out of your engine, but that is ALL they know. It is easier to buy a new one, than attempt to fix the old one.

that is so true

 

[Caleb]

Any reason I can't just start it, have someone watch the temp gauge to make sure it doesn't overheat, and watch where the geiser comes from?

sure you can do that, but majority of the time the coolant will leave a nice deffined trail where its coing from...pop the hood and see, if its not obvious then do your methind...

 

[RockMonkey]

Yeah, but I would check the oil first. No water in the oil would be a good sign, but if there were water in it, then you know it will be a head problem.

Good point, I'll check the oil first. I should be able to see water on the dipstick, right? I don't have to drain it or anything... Will a blown head gasket put water into the oil?

 

[Hickey]

Good point, I'll check the oil first. I should be able to see water on the dipstick, right? I don't have to drain it or anything... Will a blown head gasket put water into the oil?

depending on how long it has run with water, it should look like milk, or milky.

 

[Cody]

when my waterpump died it was spewing coolant. If I remember right, it cracked when it died.

so maybe take a looksie at that too.

Cody

 

[Hickey]

when my waterpump died it was spewing coolant. If I remember right, it cracked when it died.

so maybe take a looksie at that too.

Cody

That would be too hard to fix, better just buy a new rig.

 

[Caleb]

when my waterpump died it was spewing coolant. If I remember right, it cracked when it died.

so maybe take a looksie at that too.

Cody

yep, water pumps usually have a little pore that will weap when the pump is bad...some mechanical fuel pumps will do the same...