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Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go hereXJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.
So after reading this forum through Google over the last week of owning the Jeep, I’ve decided to join for various reasons. But I’ll cut to the chase...
I Bought. 97 Jeep Cherokee Sport, approx 174K Original Miles. Yesterday I pulled into get a DOT Physical, was on the phone for 10 minutes or so idling and get out to see there is Coolant leaking, pop the hood and see it’s coming out from where the Cap and Tube seat together. I instantly check for a crack in the tube, nothing. I hear a bubbling noise coming from the overflow tank check it and the level seems normal.
I go into my appointment come out an hour later check everything, all is well. Fast forward 80-90 Miles later and I’ve had no problems.
I decide after a quick search, I’ll pay $7 and grab a new Radiator Cap, upon explaining all of this to the local guy at Autozone he proceeds to tell me, pretty adamantly that my head-gasket is shot and was ready to send me out the door with $120 worth of stuff. I’m not convinced, and decide to do a little research. I check the dipstick and there is no creamy residue insuiting any sort of foreign liquid ie water in the oil. I haven’t totally ruled this could be the case, but I’m still skeptical. I then decide to check the overflow tank again, it’s bone dry, but I take notice of a mustard yellow sludge at the bottom. Keep in mind his Jeep has not been a DD for at least 3-4 Years, fair to say probably less then 5k has been registered in this time period. I buy some Antifreeze fill it about halfway between full and empty and go one my way.
I get home, again on the phone for 30 minutes and at idle, I notice some steam, and the temp gauge has risen slightly. I pop the hood and see there has been some leaking from the cap, not nearly the amount but the reservoir is now maxed out. Frustrated I start doing some research. About and hour later I go back down to re-evaluate and the reservoir is empty again and the level in the radiator seems a little low. I add and burp to the best of my ability's, I decide to clean the sludge from the reservoir with clean water and reinstall. I opt not to fill again as the overfill I had witnessed prior gave me a scare. I decide at this point I’ll do a little trial and error and see what happens.
I take the jeep for a drive down the highway all is well, I’m feeling good. I let it idle and the temp creeps up again. However no bubbling and no leaking. Again today, same deal, rises but no leaks, fluid levels seem good.
At at the end of all of this I can tell you this, the water pump had been replaced 10 years ago, the radiator back in 2012 and again doesn’t have much for mileage on it, very clean all around.
I guess my my question is, where do I start, I don’t want to buy copious amounts of parts for no reason. I plan to flush the system and clean it due to the sludge I witnessed. I’ve read everything from, relays for the E-Fan, Temp Sensors, Fan Clutch, Water Pump, New Radiator, New E-Fan, I could go on.
Any help for a new guy on this topic would be very helpful, thanks for any insight in advance.
Attached is a photo showing the temp at its highest point, or the normal idling temp just for reference.
Your temp is fine. Oil psi is a bit low. When was the last time you changed the oil? Bubbling reservoir is also a bad sign. Could very well be a blown head gasket or cracked head. Next step I would do is get an exhaust tester for the coolant.
I'd pick up a water pump, thermostat, and hoses. Pull the water pump off and see how eroded/corroded it is and if there's any play, replace regardless. You can flush the rad and block with the hoses off.
Don't buy the cheapest tsat possible. Don't get anything other than the OE temperature either.
You can check the fan clutch for play and drag also. And verify the electric fan (If equipped) actually comes on, often they don't. Neither should be necessary to keep it cool at speed unless ambient temperatures are truly insane.
Edit, and I don't trust your temperature gauge. But you might want to just get the coolant checked for combustion byproducts before spending any other money on it.
Your temp is fine. Oil psi is a bit low. When was the last time you changed the oil? Bubbling reservoir is also a bad sign. Could very well be a blown head gasket or cracked head. Next step I would do is get an exhaust tester for the coolant.
I just bought the Jeep on Saturday, Oil was changed approx 2k Miles ago, and was changed regularly every 4-5k since Beand New in 97. I was made aware of the Oil Gauge being slightly wonky and fluctuates depending on its current mood minute to minute. The guy at Auto Zone, who originally mentioned the head gasket or cracked head, both I’ve now read are notorious, wanted to rent me a tube I’d put over the Radiator cap tube and I’d add a fluid to the radiator which would emit a color in the tube letting me know what was going on.
However, and I apologize for not including this in my later findings, when I checked the oil and there was no signs of any foreign substances he seemed to back off of the idea of. Blown gasket or cracked head as well as a buddy I spoke to about the matter. Not saying this couldn’t be the case, but I’m looking/hoping that is worse case scenario at this point
I'd pick up a water pump, thermostat, and hoses. Pull the water pump off and see how eroded/corroded it is and if there's any play, replace regardless. You can flush the rad and block with the hoses off.
Don't buy the cheapest tsat possible. Don't get anything other than the OE temperature either.
You can check the fan clutch for play and drag also. And verify the electric fan (If equipped) actually comes on, often they don't. Neither should be necessary to keep it cool at speed unless ambient temperatures are truly insane.
Edit, and I don't trust your temperature gauge. But you might want to just get the coolant checked for combustion byproducts before spending any other money on it.
So my initial idea this weekend was to do the following prior to reaching out and asking for a better starting point, Get a new Thermostat, flush and clean system and refill per OEM spec. I toyed with the idea of changing the fan clutch, but I want to check it for play/wear before ordering one.
I did read about the E-Fan,and at the time I snapped the photo of the temp, I also checked the fan and it had not engaged. I have not tried to see if it would engage with the A/C unit on or the Heat, the current radiator seems to have 2 different “sections” there is a smaller radiator up front, Black in color and a standard Silver colored one in the back, I was told this was an upgrade from the OEM one that would have come standard.
Im still learning, I’m mechanically sound and have wrenched on a few vehicles over the years, but keeps are new to me, im not afraid to try anything at this point, just want to get it sound before I do or cause any damage to bigger and more costly components
So my initial idea this weekend was to do the following prior to reaching out and asking for a better starting point, Get a new Thermostat, flush and clean system and refill per OEM spec. I toyed with the idea of changing the fan clutch, but I want to check it for play/wear before ordering one.
I did read about the E-Fan,and at the time I snapped the photo of the temp, I also checked the fan and it had not engaged. I have not tried to see if it would engage with the A/C unit on or the Heat, the current radiator seems to have 2 different “sections” there is a smaller radiator up front, Black in color and a standard Silver colored one in the back, I was told this was an upgrade from the OEM one that would have come standard.
Im still learning, I’m mechanically sound and have wrenched on a few vehicles over the years, but keeps are new to me, im not afraid to try anything at this point, just want to get it sound before I do or cause any damage to bigger and more costly components
Your plan sounds fine to me. If you stop by the parts store you might want to rent/borrow the coolant tester to see if there is any combustion byproducts in it. Head gasket failures are rare, but they do happen, and it could have got a lot hotter than the gauge indicates because they're normally junk.
The problematic head (O331 casting) doesn't show up until about 2000 on the XJ, there's a slight chance some very late 99s might have it, but either way yours should not. 0331 heads have a 100% failure rate (some just haven't done it yet but they will) and they will always wind up leaking coolant into the oil, giving you the nasty brown milkshake.
The smaller 'radiator' in front of the main radiator is your A/C condenser, or perhaps the factory AUX tranny cooler (if you have A/C there will be a condenser there, the AUX tranny cooler goes in front of it IIRC but you don't see them often).
Personally, a fan clutch is about $40 with a lifetime warranty and pretty easy to change. If I have to question the fan clutch, it's time for a new one.
I had slight overheating, very similar to yours and replacing the t-stat cured the problem. I put a new fan clutch on as well since the old one was definitely bad, but the root cause for me was a bad t-stat.
Personally, a fan clutch is about $40 with a lifetime warranty and pretty easy to change. If I have to question the fan clutch, it's time for a new one.
I had slight overheating, very similar to yours and replacing the t-stat cured the problem. I put a new fan clutch on as well since the old one was definitely bad, but the root cause for me was a bad t-stat.
The Thermostat and Water Pump will happen this weekend as I verified both are in stock locally. I’ll do the system flush and replace all hoses as well. I am however having a hard time locating the tube that comes off the water pump, I know I could use the old, but feel it best to replace if I’m going to do it right. Any suggestions on where I could get one for a sat/sun install?
I also noticed after trying both A/C and Heat the e-fan does not come on. Do I say the fan is shot, or are the fuses/relays I should check or replace before going that route. Further I noticed, PO, at some point, removed the Fan shroud and I have to believe, although not a cure all, it should help direct the air in a more focused direction.
The fuse for the auxiliary fan is in a black box under the hood on the passenger side. Just remove the lid. If it's ok unplug the coolant temp sensor on the thermostat housing and see if the fan comes on. If it doesn't come on leave it unplugged and apply 12v to the fan plug and see if it comes on.
97 Noob Temp Scare
