Wrangler TJ Radiator Replacement

[94c2500]

What's the temp difference?

The TJ now indicates thermostat temperature, no matter what my driving pattern happens to be whether on road, in traffic, or off road. The original radiator saw a +15 degree increase at times, while the temp with the new radiator is very stable. I have yet to see a high side deviation from the thermostat installed. I see this via the dash temp gauge, as well as drive cycle monitoring with my scan tool.

 

[JP13]

The TJ now indicates thermostat temperature, no matter what my driving pattern happens to be whether on road, in traffic, or off road. The original radiator saw a +15 degree increase at times, while the temp with the new radiator is very stable. I have yet to see a high side deviation from the thermostat installed. I see this via the dash temp gauge, as well as drive cycle monitoring with my scan tool.

With the Mopar radiator your temp would run from 210 to 225?

 

[StG58]

Does it say where it's made? I'm curious!

Checked it when I got home tonight. Made in USA on the Mopar label. It's interesting that the coolant passages are the full depth of the radiator. They aren't very wide, maybe 3/32nd of an inch but the cooling fins are actually between them and not around them.

 

[Chris]

Checked it when I got home tonight. Made in USA on the Mopar label. It's interesting that the coolant passages are the full depth of the radiator. They aren't very wide, maybe 3/32nd of an inch but the cooling fins are actually between them and not around them.

Ah, well that says a lot right there.

All of those AutoZone (and other local auto part store) radiators are made somewhere in China (or similar).

 

[tony'sgfhasajeep]

Not as hard as you'd initially think!

hey chris what are the two smaller hoses attached to the bottom of the radiator? how do i remove them?

 

[tony'sgfhasajeep]

update, these two smaller 1/4 lines are trans, they are piped into the radiator, after removing two small plastic white sleeves, ty the he pipes can be removed after finessing a shamrock looking c-clip from the groove. does the oem radiator have these same nipples or am i removing them from the radiator i just took out? by the way i went with oem mopar radiator.

 

[Chris]

hey chris what are the two smaller hoses attached to the bottom of the radiator? how do i remove them?

Those are the two transmission lines that cool the transmission fluid (you must have an automatic). They should have two small clamps on them (similar to the other hose clamps, just smaller). They should come right off with a pair of pliers.

 

[tony'sgfhasajeep]

Those are the two transmission lines that cool the transmission fluid (you must have an automatic). They should have two small clamps on them (similar to the other hose clamps, just smaller). They should come right off with a pair of pliers.

update, these two smaller 1/4 lines are trans, they are piped into the radiator, after removing two small plastic white sleeves, ty the he pipes can be removed after finessing a shamrock looking c-clip from the groove. does the oem radiator have these same nipples or am i removing them from the radiator i just took out? by the way i went with oem mopar radiator.

 

[Chris]

update, these two smaller 1/4 lines are trans, they are piped into the radiator, after removing two small plastic white sleeves, ty the he pipes can be removed after finessing a shamrock looking c-clip from the groove. does the oem radiator have these same nipples or am i removing them from the radiator i just took out? by the way i went with oem mopar radiator.

I honestly can't really off the top of my head. I'm not anywhere near my TJ right now either, so I can't look.

If anyone might know off the top of their head, it's probably @Jerry Bransford, hopefully he chimes in.

 

[94c2500]

update, these two smaller 1/4 lines are trans, they are piped into the radiator, after removing two small plastic white sleeves, ty the he pipes can be removed after finessing a shamrock looking c-clip from the groove. does the oem radiator have these same nipples or am i removing them from the radiator i just took out? by the way i went with oem mopar radiator.

I don't believe the new MOPAR Radiator will come equipped with the male fittings, so you'll need to reuse the originals.

 

[tony'sgfhasajeep]

I don't believe the new MOPAR Radiator will come equipped with the fittings, so you'll need to reuse the originals.

hey thanks for the reply, the mopar radiators have the original female ends already installed.

 

[94c2500]

hey thanks for the reply, the mopar radiators have the original female ends already installed.

Yeah, your original male fittings will screw right into those.

 

[Kyle_W]

This happened tonight; absolutely hilarious in my opinion because two months ago I was worried about those cracks in the top of my radiator:

Loctite weld from Kroger:

Kroger parking lot:

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[Kiwi TJ]

This happened tonight; absolutely hilarious in my opinion because two months ago I was worried about those cracks in the top of my radiator:View attachment 17023
Loctite weld from Kroger:
View attachment 17024
Kroger parking lot:
View attachment 17025


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At least it was in a well lit place...happened to me on a dark country road.(and we all know how bright the under bonnet lights are) lol
Well done on a great repair job too.

 

[Kyle_W]

At least it was in a well lit place...happened to me on a dark country road.(and we all know how bright the under bonnet lights are) lol
Well done on a great repair job too.

Oh man that's gotta suck! What did you do to fix it?

And thanks! His names escapes me, but I got the idea from another forum member!

 

[Kiwi TJ]

Oh man that's gotta suck! What did you do to fix it?

And thanks! His names escapes me, but I got the idea from another forum member!

I saw I would be needing a new radiator at some stage and had some cracks like you did.... So I bought a tube of Selleys Autofix –Knead it. It’s like a play-doe type of thing you mix in your hand with a hardener. It was a long wait in darkness while it cooled down enough to work on. Lol... It got me home and to work for about a week until I had to buy a new Radiator.

I always make sure I have my torch in the glove box now though

 

[Slepnir]

It's this a norm? My i just replaced my wife's radiator because it cracked at the top seam and now my buddy has the same problem. I had a cuss fest with the transcool lines and ended up cutting them off and just putting brand new ones. They did not want to come off. Might as well so the thermostat while everything is out.

 

[Kyle_W]

I saw I would be needing a new radiator at some stage and had some cracks like you did.... So I bought a tube of Selleys Autofix –Knead it. It’s like a play-doe type of thing you mix in your hand with a hardener. It was a long wait in darkness while it cooled down enough to work on. Lol... It got me home and to work for about a week until I had to buy a new Radiator.

I always make sure I have my torch in the glove box now though

Well at least it worked for a week! yea man get one of these. Work great for those occasions.

It's this a norm? My i just replaced my wife's radiator because it cracked at the top seam and now my buddy has the same problem. I had a cuss fest with the transcool lines and ended up cutting them off and just putting brand new ones. They did not want to come off. Might as well so the thermostat while everything is out.

Haha seems like it!


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[Kyle_W]

Maybe I should have roughed up the plastic with some sandpaper first, or waited for hours instead of 30 minutes before I started to head home:

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[Chris]

Maybe I should have roughed up the plastic with some sandpaper first, or waited for hours instead of 30 minutes before I started to head home:View attachment 17039


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Haha, yep... You probably should have.

Time for a new radiator, that's for sure.