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It could be one of two things:
1) The hose clamps is worn out or not seated properly, I just went out and checked my 4.0, we have the pinch style hose clamps, when these get old and you remove them, they tend not to go back on 100% as tight as they should be…
2) Your water pump or water pump seal is bad, a more expensive part then a new hose clamp, but not really common as far as I am aware the 4.0 are rock solid. for the pump to leak down the hose it would almost have to leak from the top down, which would mean the top of the pump would be wet, it could be leaking through the pump pully, but then it would most likely make sounds, like ticking, knocking or squealing…
Were you overheating? Are you losing much coolant? How many miles on your Jeep?
Could it be a bad hose or clamp or water pump? Sure. Could it be some other things, absolutely.
The sure-fire way to check for cooling system leaks is to top off your radiator then pressure test your cooling system and cap. If you don’t have a pressure tester, rent or borrow one from your local parts store. While its under pressure, systematically inspect your engine from the top of the radiator to the back of the block. Pay particular attention to fittings like the filler neck, hoses, drips from cooling fins, water pump shaft and weep hole, etc., until you find the exact location of the drip(s).
Sometimes the bearings in a pump rattle before total failure. Other times a seal goes out or gaskets can fail.
It might not be your hose although of course, it’s a strong possibility. Other areas to look at are your radiator overflow bucket and tubing; check your washer fluid bucket and hoses for leaks too. Water, like electricity, follows the path of least resistance. You could have a leak somewhere at the top of the block or any other hose for that matter and it becomes more visible in puddles on the ground.
And if you have trouble getting a radiator hose to fit snugly, try putting a little silicone on the neck of the radiator or on the inside of the end of the hose to give it some slippage and be sure not to clamp it right at the very end but mid-way on the radiator fitting.
MarkAlso if you live in a area of high moisture in the air then that can build up on the lower part of the frame and engine and look like a leak, yeah do a proper coolant leak test. I live in Oregon here you can not go by eye alone to check for leaks there is more water in the air half the time then on the ground.LOL
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