# Tell me the bad news **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** commander, jeep\ **Created:** [June 7, 2023, 6:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tell-me-the-bad-news/191033 "2023-06-07T06:54:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mike505](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mike505/32/34637_2.png) [@Mike505](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mike505)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 6:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tell-me-the-bad-news/191033/1 "2023-06-07T06:54:38Z")
![PXL_20230607_062736581](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/a/5/a55530531889b728c9de8bcf99cd1b0e9f29b5a9.jpeg) Jeep was overhearing, could hear the fan working overtime. Parked it and there was a bit of smoke, and the leak pictured. Any guesses as to what I should be expecting in repair cost? ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 11:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tell-me-the-bad-news/191033/2 "2023-06-07T11:47:48Z")
Hi Mike: It would help us if you provided the: - year of the Jeep - engine size - mileage on the Jeep - how long you drove it while it was overheating (e.g. while the temp light was on). - where there any other symptoms, like engine noises, or is the engine frozen now? And any other relevant information would be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 12:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tell-me-the-bad-news/191033/3 "2023-06-07T12:19:31Z")
Yep could need a hose or a new engine. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 1:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tell-me-the-bad-news/191033/4 "2023-06-07T13:05:09Z")
> [@Mike505](#): > > Any guesses as to what I should be expecting in repair cost? Not without doing a proper inspection of the vehicle/cooling system etc… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 1:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tell-me-the-bad-news/191033/5 "2023-06-07T13:09:14Z")
When the OP first realized that his engine was **overheating** , did he continue to drive it for… 5 seconds, or 5 minutes, or 15 minutes, or… ? It makes a _huge_ amount of difference. ---
**Author:** ![Mike505](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mike505/32/34637_2.png) [@Mike505](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mike505)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tell-me-the-bad-news/191033/6 "2023-06-07T17:26:54Z")
Less than 5 minutes ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 7:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tell-me-the-bad-news/191033/7 "2023-06-07T19:11:10Z")
Cracked radiator. $875 maybe ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tell-me-the-bad-news/191033/8 "2023-06-07T19:55:05Z")
Bad news: it’s broke. Good news: fixing it will be cheaper than a new jeep. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tell-me-the-bad-news/191033/9 "2023-06-07T20:12:07Z")
The A/C condenser and radiator appear to be coated with oil. Have the transmission hoses been leaking for a long time or is the result of your engine failure? Mopar red coolant won’t leave a thick coating like that. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tell-me-the-bad-news/191033/10 "2023-06-07T22:50:44Z")
No idea what’s causing the leak, but a mechanic’s visual inspection, shouldn’t take much time to determine. My guess is the radiator has sprung a leak. > [@Mike505](#): > > hat I should be expecting in repair cost? I diy’er replaced the radiator on my Corolla a few years ago, $100 for the replacement and took a little less than an hour to do the job. Corolla doesn’t have A/C, with A/C labor hours will be a little more. * * * In the manner of misery loves company One of the truck’s featured in last nights “America’s Truck Night” (tv show), the owner got a little too aggressive, too much gas pedal, not enough brake. The truck flew through the air after a bump, landed very hard, frame broke in half, transmission broke in half, rear differential gears destroyed, oh, and the engine moved forward, driving fan through the radiator … lol … so put things in perspective, most likely a minor problem, things could be much worse!