Hello Folks,
Have several dilemnas. I am a novice to Cherokees but not to Wanglers.
My 1990 Sport 4.0L Cherokee has 79,000 certified miles. Used to be a mom and pop vehicle. This was a steal. However tookmy suv to a mechanic, it's been acting up. It has overheated on me 3 times. The clutch, the fan, the pumps, the resevoir, and the thermostat (had to take the dash board out for this), were replaced. I have paid big money for to these rip offs to continue to have the problem plus additional.
Well the temp here in South Florida has cooled off, I have noticed that since I don't need to turn on the air conditioner, the temp gauge is not showing overheating. I have driven within a 5 mile radius and sat in traffic for 20 minutes and no overheating...keeping an eye on the gauge at all times. What's the corollation between the radiator/cooling system and the air conditioning? Besides when these so called mechanics put back the dashboard they must have damaged or let something loose. There is an annoying buzzing sound underneath my dashboard that only stops when I apply the breaks and returns after the breaks are released. The needle on the speedometer also vibrates at 45mph. My moms' advise was to get a newjeepsince with the amount of money and headaches I paid to get my jeep fixed it could saved me time, aggravation, and money to get a new one. Even by having AAA refer me one of their trusted mechanics didn't help. Any advise on trusted mechanics in the aventura/northmiambeach/north miami area anyone can recommend too?
Thanks

 

I'm sorry... did you just say they told you they had to take the dash apart to get to the thermostat?

And the A/C doesn't have anything to do with the cooling system... but it does have to do with the amount of load on the engine. Not seeing that as causing it to overheat though...

 

Sorry to disagree with you...but the A/C has a direct effect on the cooling system.
When the A/C circuit is engaged, the AUX electric fan turns on...thusly keeping the temps down.

You need to see if the PCM/ECU is cycling the AUX fan the way it should.
Open Hood.
Turn motor on. (No talking dirty to it, unless that floats your boat)
Allow the engine to get up to temp.
The normal AVERAGE running temp of a 4.0L is around 210* (straight up)

USUALLY, the next gauge-line up is when the AUX electric is supposed to kick in, and it shuts off AROUND the 210* mark.

IF it doesn't then I believe the fan is your culprit.
Then you will have to check to see if its getting electric or if the fan is messed up.


BUT I WILL AGREE with the remark: "did you just say they told you they had to take the dash apart to get to the thermostat?"

 

sounds like you got worked over by the mechanic to me.. i would check your radiator.. My buddies 93 didnt have ANY fins on his radiator..Over time the fins wil break or fall off.. thats the only other part you havent got installed, unless your got worked over really bad and they didnt install some items..

 

You are all right. I just don't have the time and the so called trusted mechanic is either a thief or I need to send it to a Jeep Dealer who knows how to repair a 1990 Jeep Cherokee.
It's been six months since my Jeep Cherokee was in the shop and now it does not drive smoothly straight on any road or highway after turning several sharp lefts. Trying to drive straight felt difficult. I had to steer a little to the right in order to drive straight smoothly. Finally parked my Jeep to do some errands at a mall, came back to find there was a pool of antifreeze. Opened the hood and found it had spewed from the reservoir (this is new part). However the pressure gauge never showed in the red. Had it towed home on a flatbed by AAA. Once in the parking space, motor oil began to leak. It only leaked very little.
I need my car desperately. Can't seem to find what's ailing and my only alternative is to tow it to a Jeep Dealer. Can anyone tell me if I am going to have to pay my arm and leg to get my Jeep Cherokee fixed properly at a Jeep Service Dept. It seems like a regular mechanic really does not know how to repair a 1990 vintage. Maybe it's time to give it up since it's costing me $$$ and with all this $$$ it would be best in invest in certified jeep. It hurts because my car is in excellent shape inside but seems as it only took someone to tear it up outside.

Thanks.

 

It's a real shame some technicians will take advantage of people like this. First of all the cooling system on a 90 it is common to have cooling problems. Its a closed pressurized system and some say a bad design. The coolant leaking or shooting out of the overflow tank is common. Most times the tank threads and cap go bad. There are some ways to fix this, but if your taking your car in for service the best bet is to get a overflow tank from the dealer, it's gonna be yur best bet for a over flow tank, the after market ones are just useless. Also the entire cooling system most times just needs a good servicing which should not cost a fortune...A fluid flush and fill, new thermostat , hoses, clamps, water pump, and maybe fan clutch (which can be purchased for about 100 to 150$ total) should solve your probs.

BTW There is no reason they should have taken your dash part for any of this.

As far as your steering you need to do things like check your tire pressure, make sure your tires are in good shape, look into an alignment. If that doesn't solve your problems take a look at your sway bar bushings and end links.

If your going to be going to a shop to get your work done always ask for recommendations, you can even ask for good shops on this board and people might have recommendations.

 

On my chevy, if I turned the AC on, it would make it hard for the serpentine belt to go through the system because the bearings in the shaft of the AC were worn. It caused the waterpump to not work correctly, therefore making it overheat.

 

Again thanks for all the feedback.
I constantly check the air in my tires and the alignment is fine. Not the problem.
All parts that pertain to the cooling system has been replaced. Now the cap may be the cause but seems as the air conditioner along with the steering are factors. My Jeep was driving fine after the shop but it only took several months till the problem returned. My driving is locally. No long distance. Can't imagine driving my truck far with this problem.
In reference to my dashboard....yelled at the shop for doing this. Why..because the mechanic just doesn't know how to repair a 1990 Cherokee. That cost me my patience.
I can confess that I am not familiar with a Cherokee and that of 1990. I do know what comprises the Jeep and it's mechanics. Used to own a 1986 Wrangler and it never gave me these problems. But then it was brand new. This 1990 Jeep Cherokee is in mint condition at a certified 77,000 miles and it doesn't seem like a good vehicle.
On recommendations....need one but haven't received any from the forum. Triple A has and it has been a disaster. My only alternative is to have it towed to a Jeep Dealer and hopefully it will get done.
Thanks

 

They prolly changed the heater core.

 

Not only, the main effect on the engine cooling system is as simple as water..
What do you have infront of the radiator?? Another radiator! The AC heat exchanger realeases heat right in front of the engine radiator, hence the cooling ability is significantly reduced.

 

It is not a bad design, it only needs a little maintenance. There is no overflow bottle on a '90 ckee. The overflow bottle is the one on the post '91 jeeps, with the open circuit. The bottle in the pre '91 is the reservoir with the filling cap and is pressurized.

 

20 years old ckee? Your problem is prolly a clogged radiator. If it is the one with the metal ends it can be serviced, a good radiatorist should be able to unweld one end and check water flow through the elements. If some (almost all) are clogged he should use a long wiper blade stick to free the elements. I did this my own and it runs like a champ, and mine is 22 years old.

 

I like the old renix cherokee's, But the cooling sysytem in them was junk. in my opinion. If it was me I would swap in the newer radiator with a cap on it, non pressurized coolent overflow bottle, t-stat housing and fan switch from a newer xj.

 

The radiator....had two replacements. Overheating blew two radiators.
Two radiators? No only one with no cap to it. Only way to add antifreeze solution has to be through the resevoir tank.
Cooling system has been flushed. Maybe the mechanic didn't bleed the air bubble out.
And yes it was the heater core from dashboard...but it didn't make a difference. Taking dashboard out added a new set of problems....an annoying faint buzz that only is stopped when applying the brakes and the speedometer at 45 mph vibrates.

 

you forgot to mention that in your first post....
so what has been changed?
radiator
thermostat??
water pump
heater core
electric fan
mechanical fan clutch
what else?