Jeep Repair: 2000 Jeep Cherokke Sport Leaking, jeep cherokee sport, jeep cherokke

Question
QUESTION: 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4X2, 4 L V6, 96,000 mi. Engine Started to make a hissing sound that came from inside engine compartment. About 10 minutes later what looked like rusy water started to leake down to the ground through the engine compartment. I traced the source of the leake to what appears to be the rear of the engine right around the head. It appears as though this rusty looking water is being discharged under pressure toward the fire wall closest to the engine. While the engine is running, oil pres, temp appear to be fine. Any ideas?

ANSWER: I bet u have never replaced your coolant have u? The brown is teh coolant once green  now is a mud red and is eating away at teh engine parts inside.  U more then likely have a freeze plug that is rusted out  or a head gasket or head.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: You bet right. Should I purge it and clean it first, or try to find and fix the effected area? Where is the freez plug located? Looked it up in the repair manual and can find it. Does it go by another name? If its the head or head gasket, how long would it take a garage to fix? How about do-it-yourself for the first time? Appreciate all your help.

Answer
clean out the system is a must to get rid of the coolant in there that is now an acid  but only after u repair what is leaking because u will haft to just put new stuff in once u repair the leak.  If u are looking at the engine in front of u  u see a leak on the passenger side? if yes  then it be more then likely a head,block or head gasket leaking  if u see it on the driver side  the freeze plugs are over there under the exhaust manifold.