Best place to find radiator for 01 Sahara 5-speed?

[JackStraw77]

I'll cut to the chase at the top and ask if anyone has a good lead on ideally a Mopar radiator or at least best alternative out there. From what I gather during research some people seem to trust Denso. If I go that route does anyone know of a genuine seller of them they like?
This is my daily driver and I'm willing to spend whatever I need to for the best I can get even if that's upwards of $300.

More detail if interested in telling me how screwed my engine might be:
Last week I noticed my temp gauge run up when I got off the highway. Shut down immediately and let cool and added water and limped home making sure the temp stayed level. Bypassed the heater core and topped off the water to try to get home. On the way home I was halfway across a long bridge in slow traffic and while the engine temp looked fine I started noticing a smell as if something was running hot. Just as I was getting to the first exit off the bridge it started knocking and the engine cut out just before I could make it off the offramp. It would turn over slowly but not start, I dared not try it again. I got a tow home fearing the worst and the next morning when it was fully cooled I found that it started right up as if nothing happened. The radiator was however empty and I filled it and found it leaking profusely. So what I'm guessing happened is the radiator blew out, and there wasn't enough water to get a temp reading and overheated. If the engine died due to overheating is it likely that the headgasket blew? Again it does start and sounds normal for the brief amount of time I let it run. I will be getting it tested after replacing the radiator but curious if based on people's experience what might be waiting for me and what to check first.

 

[macleanflood]

As easy as a head gasket is on a 4.0, I'd certainly be doing it.

Might want to do a compression and leak down test first.

I'm going to say Denso for radiator replacement. Rock Auto. Yes, they suck. They appear to suck less than the others and they're around $100. There are pages and pages of arguments...most notably that the don't cool adequately in hot climates. It'll be fine for San Francisco (I grew up in Foster City.)

-Mac

 

[BathiasRei]

I've been running a Denso for a bit over year now after my Jeep ran really hot on the 101 back up from Santa Barbara... No complaints, but dido Mac on compression and leak down.

 

[Moglocker]

I'll cut to the chase at the top and ask if anyone has a good lead on ideally a Mopar radiator or at least best alternative out there. From what I gather during research some people seem to trust Denso. If I go that route does anyone know of a genuine seller of them they like?

More detail if interested in telling me how screwed my engine might be:
Last week I noticed my temp gauge run up when I got off the highway. Shut down immediately and let cool and added water and limped home making sure the temp stayed level. Bypassed the heater core and topped off the water to try to get home. On the way home I was halfway across a long bridge in slow traffic and while the engine temp looked fine I started noticing a smell as if something was running hot. Just as I was getting to the first exit off the bridge it started knocking and the engine cut out just before I could make it off the offramp. It would turn over slowly but not start, I dared not try it again. I got a tow home fearing the worst and the next morning when it was fully cooled I found that it started right up as if nothing happened. The radiator was however empty and I filled it and found it leaking profusely. So what I'm guessing happened is the radiator blew out, and there wasn't enough water to get a temp reading and overheated. If the engine died due to overheating is it likely that the headgasket blew? Again it does start and sounds normal for the brief amount of time I let it run. I will be getting it tested after replacing the radiator but curious if based on people's experience what might be waiting for me and what to check first.

With that 2001 head,I would definitely be finding a tupy or Clearwater head to replace it.

 

[BathiasRei]

I'll cut to the chase at the top and ask if anyone has a good lead on ideally a Mopar radiator or at least best alternative out there. From what I gather during research some people seem to trust Denso. If I go that route does anyone know of a genuine seller of them they like?

Since you are pretty close to me and if you end up needing a headgasket and/or a new head, I have a spare from a 94 XJ I'd be willing to pass along for cheap as well

 

[JackStraw77]

As easy as a head gasket is on a 4.0, I'd certainly be doing it.

Might want to do a compression and leak down test first.

I'm going to say Denso for radiator replacement. Rock Auto. Yes, they suck. They appear to suck less than the others and they're around $100. There are pages and pages of arguments...most notably that the don't cool adequately in hot climates. It'll be fine for San Francisco (I grew up in Foster City.)

-Mac

Thanks. When you say do a compression and leakdown first you're talking about before going straight into the headgasket right, not before replacing the leaky radiator? Being able to see any bubbling in the radiator would be handy for a headgasket leak right?

As far as poor hot climate cooling, it does spook me a bit since I do a lot of driving across the central valley, I have friends in Truckee and dad in Auburn so it will spend quite a few days in blazing heat. But most of it's daily driving is around the bay area. Would that spook you at all or still say Denso is the best bet (of what's available)?

 

[macleanflood]

Compression and leak down test first yes because it'll tell you a lot about what's going on and if you need to do anything further.

If you do replace the head gasket then at least you'll have benchmark numbers.

Do check the stamping on your head... should be able to see it through the oil fill cap. Highly likely you're going to want to replace that head...also very possible it was done previously.

Felpro makes a good comprehensive head gasket kit. You're going to need thread sealant.

Factory Service Manuals in the resources section have an exact and easy procedure to follow.

-Mac

 

[Zorba]

FWIW, I installed a CSF 3 or 4 years back - back when THAT was the forum rec. No problems with cooling in the Florida heat.

 

[CharlesHS]

Before purchasing the aftermarket radiator; do a quick search for an hour or so and you might be surprised.
While the Mopar OEM radiators are getting difficult to find; they are not impossible to locate.
I was able to locate a Mopar OEM radiator a while back as a spare.
This radiator was in stock and sold by an online dealership in Southern Florida.

 

[KennethS]

If the engine died due to overheating is it likely that the headgasket blew?

Mine had a similar situation where the factory radiator exploded on the interstate, and the engine overheated to the point that it died. I replaced the radiator and all has been well for the past 50,000 or so miles.

Based on this, I would not be concerned about the head gasket, but my '98 has a different head than your '01, and the head itself would be the concern as others have noted above.

 

[Moglocker]

Mine had a similar situation where the factory radiator exploded on the interstate, and the engine overheated to the point that it died. I replaced the radiator and all has been well for the past 50,000 or so miles.

Based on this, I would not be concerned about the head gasket, but my '98 has a different head than your '01, and the head itself would be the concern as others have noted above.

Yep,don’t spend a dime on that head,but ya,I would do a combustion gas test and if it’s good,send it.

 

[Link]

Rock auto. Denso. All you need

 

[OHFIVETJ]

 

[Cossa]

FWIW, I recently spent a good bit of time looking for an NOS OEM radiator with no success. I settled on a Koyorad A2102 from Rockauto. It seems to work well in the Mississippi heat. Might as well pick up a fan clutch and radiator cap while you're at it.

 

[Zorba]

FWIW, I recently spent a good bit of time looking for an NOS OEM radiator with no success. I settled on a Koyorad A2102 from Rockauto. It seems to work well in the Mississippi heat. Might as well pick up a fan clutch and radiator cap while you're at it.

And if you haven't changed the water pump, thermostat, hoses or serpentine belt within recorded history, you might as well replace those too. They all seem to fail at about the same time.

 

[KennethS]

And if you haven't changed the water pump, thermostat, hoses or serpentine belt within recorded history, you might as well replace those too. They all seem to fail at about the same time.

As long as you're doing all that, replace the idler pulleys as well.

 

[Zorba]

As long as you're doing all that, replace the idler pulleys as well.

You know, that's the one thing I didn't do - I need to at least look at them and see if they even look like they've ever been replaced.

 

[GoldenGorilla]

My original radiator failed just before the NOS Mopar stock ran out. I should get 5 or so more years out of it, but you never know. I saw a well researched post on the Koyorad specs and decided to keep one on hand. Inspected on arrival, and I've gotta say it looks to be better quality than the Mopar all around and in the same style.

And do all the other stuff too.

 

[KennethS]

You know, that's the one thing I didn't do - I need to at least look at them and see if they even look like they've ever been replaced.

I checked mine while replacing the belt. Gave it a spin and it had a slightly rough sound, so replaced it for around $15. New one spun quietly and longer than the old one.

 

[Zorba]

I checked mine while replacing the belt. Gave it a spin and it had a slightly rough sound, so replaced it for around $15. New one spun quietly and longer than the old one.

Yea, I'll check mine at least. The belt was replaced 4 months before I bought it, so I didn't look at it. Its literally the only thing cooling system related that hasn't been replaced. I replaced the hoses, preemptively, but everything else failed within a year or so of each other.