Don't you just hate it when....

[O No 3.0!]

It could be worse.

Imagine needing to remove the entirety of your IRS just to change brake rotors, or needing to remove your motor to change headgaskets.

Thank you jaguar...

 

[dvdswan]

So, I finally got off my rear and tore the front cover off. Thankfully it wasn't cracked. Got everything cleanup and put back together. I don't think most of the parts had been off before or it has been a long while. Damn engineer that designed the a/c compressor mounting bracket should be punished. There is like no room to get access to the bolts and you only get about 1/8 to 1/4 turn on them. Stupid crazy. Overall it took me about 3 hours to do but I did spend looking for the damn motor mount nut for 20 minutes and had to run to the parts store for a damn 21mm socket for the crank bolt. So that was another 40 minutes or so.

Good news, I let it run for 45 minutes and the gauge didn't go over 3/8. So the overheating issue I had was more than the fan clutch, a friggin' pin hole leak in the timing cover gasket. Happy to be driving the Ranger again.

 

[dvdswan]

Well, I'm assuming this is a "when it rains, it pours" moment.

The heater core just started leaking on my floor mat. I guess everything is original and it's due for replacement. So, I picked up new heater core and I'm installing it tomorrow.

 

[Uncle Gump]

It's most likely the easiest heater core you'll ever have to do... so there is that going for ya.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Parts failures come in three's, so you only have one more to go.

 

[mikkelstuff]

Replace the timing case cover! Those aluminum covers corrode and then leak. I've had to replace two - 3.0L in my 2002 Ranger and the 460 in my '75 Ranchero.

After the Ranger replacement, I bought an electronic ph tester to be sure my coolant does not go acidic.

 

[dvdswan]

Parts failures come in three's, so you only have one more to go.

Don't you put that hex on me Ricky Bobby.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Imagine needing to remove the entirety of your IRS just to change brake rotors, or needing to remove your motor to change headgaskets.

That brake crap was a Jaguar thing for many years. They had "inboard" rear brake rotors, meaning the rotors were placed near the differential instead of by the wheels. Race car design (Formula 1), don't you know. Except that's stupid and makes no difference in brake performance in a street car.

Unfortunately, I understand a bad head gasket on a Ranger 4.0 SOHC could require removing the engine. Plenty of people have said if a 4.0 SOHC overheats, you will crack a head or the block, and then guess what... So I make sure I take care of the cooling system in mine.