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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/1998 Cherokee cooling.

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Expert: - 7/17/2005


Question
A few weeks ago I was in utah.  I was in some mountains on the freeway and whenever I would go up a hill the temp would rise... then if it got just above 210 the gauge would jump up to 260 or whatever the max is then as I continued to drive it would drop right back down to 210.  It wouldn't gradually rise but it would jump from one to the other.  No in between.  I put a new temp sensor in it but I haven't been in that kind of country yet so I don't know if it made a difference.  What do you think?

Thanks!

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Followup To
Question -
You may not have the answer to this but I can't find anyone else.  How do I make sure there are no air pockets in my cooling system?  It runs at 210 all the time and I wonder if there is a air pocket.

Thanks,
Dan
Answer -
Dan,

This is common on most of the newer Jeeps.  I have a 94 Wrangler, and 2000 Grand Cherokee, and (according to the gauge), they both run at 210.  If you had a cooling problem, the temperature would not hold at a steady temperature, and if overheating, you should notice fluid blowing out of the overflow tube.

Carl

Answer
Dan,

I think that you found the problem.  Normally, when a vehicle is overheating, you will see the temperature rise slowly when under a heavy pull, or when running the engine at high RPM's for extended periods of time.  When this occurs, the engine should cool down fairly fast when you go back to level ground, or head downhill.  The rapid meter movement is an indication of an electrical problem, such as the sensor, or a faulty connection in the gauge itself.

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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