staticrevolution
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Beaverton, OR
Ok I've done many extensive searches and have found many many useful tips and plenty of advice but I am still having a problem.
It's a 96 Jeep cherokee with the AW4, 231, 4.0 yadayada. When I got it a year ago I had some slight cooling issues nothing big, I knew that cherokees are notorious for having cooling issues so the goal was to replace everything anyways. Jump ahead to last September and this is what is new.
Water Pump
Fan Clutch
Radiator
Thermostat
At this point it runs perfect and has not gone over the middle line even once. So I think problem solved. Now jump ahead to about a month ago.
I was out with some buddies in their large "back field" when the jeep overheated alllllll the way and it blew a hose off the radiator to warn me sense I was oblivious to the gauge. It refused to cool at idle and even when we wetted the radiator. Reluctantly I had to turn off the engine to let it cool down. After letting it sit we started it up and it ran bad, really really bad. I thought it was toast. We put water back in it and let it run for a while but it kept overheating slightly. The check engine light came on at this time and later I found that the electric fan would not turn on. At this point it started to run fine again? Also there is no coolant in the oil nor is there visible oil in the coolant. I checked the relay and it seemed fine. No resistance when it clicked over. I ended up hard wiring the fan with an inline fuse just to be able to drive the jeep. This solved the at idle overheating problem but the thing still overheats anytime I run at more than 2000RPM on the highway or when I am cruising up hills. Had the check engine light tested and it said the EGR valve had some problem.
So yesterday I bought a new fan switch/sensor the temp sensor on the T-stat housing. I had to buy one for a 2000 jeep as the ones for 96-99 did not have the right connector? Put that in and the fan still doenst work. It does come on with the AC. Also the check engine light went off. Then I took my jeep to a buddies shop and we checked the radiator for exhaust gasses and it tested positive. So I guess my question is: Is my overheating problem caused by a small head gasket leak or am I missing something simple. Any ideas? Thanks!
It's a 96 Jeep cherokee with the AW4, 231, 4.0 yadayada. When I got it a year ago I had some slight cooling issues nothing big, I knew that cherokees are notorious for having cooling issues so the goal was to replace everything anyways. Jump ahead to last September and this is what is new.
Water Pump
Fan Clutch
Radiator
Thermostat
At this point it runs perfect and has not gone over the middle line even once. So I think problem solved. Now jump ahead to about a month ago.
I was out with some buddies in their large "back field" when the jeep overheated alllllll the way and it blew a hose off the radiator to warn me sense I was oblivious to the gauge. It refused to cool at idle and even when we wetted the radiator. Reluctantly I had to turn off the engine to let it cool down. After letting it sit we started it up and it ran bad, really really bad. I thought it was toast. We put water back in it and let it run for a while but it kept overheating slightly. The check engine light came on at this time and later I found that the electric fan would not turn on. At this point it started to run fine again? Also there is no coolant in the oil nor is there visible oil in the coolant. I checked the relay and it seemed fine. No resistance when it clicked over. I ended up hard wiring the fan with an inline fuse just to be able to drive the jeep. This solved the at idle overheating problem but the thing still overheats anytime I run at more than 2000RPM on the highway or when I am cruising up hills. Had the check engine light tested and it said the EGR valve had some problem.
So yesterday I bought a new fan switch/sensor the temp sensor on the T-stat housing. I had to buy one for a 2000 jeep as the ones for 96-99 did not have the right connector? Put that in and the fan still doenst work. It does come on with the AC. Also the check engine light went off. Then I took my jeep to a buddies shop and we checked the radiator for exhaust gasses and it tested positive. So I guess my question is: Is my overheating problem caused by a small head gasket leak or am I missing something simple. Any ideas? Thanks!