Need help with a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo

soldiergirl1327 · 10-28-2009, 06:57 PM

Back in May, my Jeep's radiator went out. My hubby took it out and took it up to a radiator shop and the guy told us that the Jeep had electrolysis. I called my dad, my brother, and a few other guys that I know that are car saavy and none had heard of it. Not even the car dealership where I bought the Jeep from. Well, we fixed the radiator and everything was fine. I made 2 trips from Georgia, one to Indiana and one to Oklahoma, no problems. A week after we got back, it started in again. Took it back up to the radiator guy and he said that it was the same problem as before. Well, my father-in-law was taking the radiator out today and noticed that the second fan with the connector on it was not plugged in nor could we find the wire that is suppose to go into the fan.

My question is...could this be causing the radiator to crack by not having the fan to turn on to cool off the engine?

Any input is GREATLY appreciated!!

**octaneman** · 10-29-2009, 05:26 AM

Hi soldiergirl1327

If the radiator is not cooled off properly, the answer is definitely yes. Coolant temperature will rise which will cause the engine to overheat. In aluminum radiators, heat is fatal. The heat will damage the radiator causing it to warp or leak.

To answer the next part of your question... what is electrolysis ? Electrolysis is when the coolant ( anti-freeze) in the radiator decomposes and becomes acidic. The acid build up will eat away at the aluminum core that the radiator is made of. The color of the anti freeze will be brownish because of the metal particles it picks up from the engine block. That process of coolant decomposition takes a while ( approx 5 years) it doesn't happen over night. To fix it, the engine has to undergo a complete system flush.

Given the information that you posted, IMO your radiator simply overheated because of the fan not being connected. It was not from electrolysis.

**Midnight Tech** · 10-29-2009, 07:57 AM

Welcome soldiergirl!
Check the link below for a little more info on electrolysis...it not only attacks the radiator, but the hoses as well. Seen quite a few radiator hoses eaten up from the inside out because of this.
Link

soldiergirl1327 · 10-29-2009, 01:50 PM

Thanks! My next question is the electrical current that was going through the radiator was in the .983. Does that make a difference as well with the electrolysis?

**octaneman** · 10-30-2009, 08:54 AM

soldiergirl1327

The higher the current, the faster the coolant decomposes.

10-28-2009, 06:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
soldiergirl1327 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Vista	Need help with a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Back in May, my Jeep's radiator went out. My hubby took it out and took it up to a radiator shop and the guy told us that the Jeep had electrolysis. I called my dad, my brother, and a few other guys that I know that are car saavy and none had heard of it. Not even the car dealership where I bought the Jeep from. Well, we fixed the radiator and everything was fine. I made 2 trips from Georgia, one to Indiana and one to Oklahoma, no problems. A week after we got back, it started in again. Took it back up to the radiator guy and he said that it was the same problem as before. Well, my father-in-law was taking the radiator out today and noticed that the second fan with the connector on it was not plugged in nor could we find the wire that is suppose to go into the fan. My question is...could this be causing the radiator to crack by not having the fan to turn on to cool off the engine? Any input is GREATLY appreciated!!

10-29-2009, 05:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
octaneman Mentor Home Support, Gearhead Automotive Center Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 541 OS: WINXP	Re: Need help with a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Hi soldiergirl1327 If the radiator is not cooled off properly, the answer is definitely yes. Coolant temperature will rise which will cause the engine to overheat. In aluminum radiators, heat is fatal. The heat will damage the radiator causing it to warp or leak. To answer the next part of your question... what is electrolysis ? Electrolysis is when the coolant ( anti-freeze) in the radiator decomposes and becomes acidic. The acid build up will eat away at the aluminum core that the radiator is made of. The color of the anti freeze will be brownish because of the metal particles it picks up from the engine block. That process of coolant decomposition takes a while ( approx 5 years) it doesn't happen over night. To fix it, the engine has to undergo a complete system flush. Given the information that you posted, IMO your radiator simply overheated because of the fan not being connected. It was not from electrolysis. Last edited by octaneman; 10-29-2009 at 05:38 AM.

10-29-2009, 07:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
Midnight Tech Admin/Head GreaseMonkey/Igor's alter ego/Grand Exalted PoohBah Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: SC Posts: 2,915 OS: Windows XP Home/Pro SP3/Windows 98SE/Fedora Core 6/RH 7.2 with Autopoint/TAMS II	Re: Need help with a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Welcome soldiergirl! Check the link below for a little more info on electrolysis...it not only attacks the radiator, but the hoses as well. Seen quite a few radiator hoses eaten up from the inside out because of this. Link __________________ Please post all questions in the appropriate forum. Questions sent by email or PM will not be answered. Sharing my life...with my Imzadi! Interested in Trek gaming? Check out the Dynaverse! Proud supporter of the Carolinas Aviation Museum. If we have helped you in any way, please donate to keep TSF up and running!

10-29-2009, 01:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
soldiergirl1327 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Vista	Re: Need help with a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Thanks! My next question is the electrical current that was going through the radiator was in the .983. Does that make a difference as well with the electrolysis?

10-30-2009, 08:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
octaneman Mentor Home Support, Gearhead Automotive Center Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 541 OS: WINXP	Re: Need help with a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo soldiergirl1327 The higher the current, the faster the coolant decomposes.