Eletric fan
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 8,172
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From: The Republic of TEXAS
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Again, I'm just puzzled why (in 50 degree weather) your engine gets hot enough for the efan to turn on (218F). In 50 degree weather, are u still maybe running the heater a little (which cools the motor even more)?????
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 238
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From: Idaho Falls,ID
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L, 242 AMC
Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 238
Likes: 2
From: Idaho Falls,ID
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L, 242 AMC
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 948
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Let's give this a little thought.....the book says the ECU turns on the efan at 218F coolant temp. Why would coolant temp be reaching 218 in 5 minutes of idling when your ambient temp is a nice COOL 65 degrees.........because your XJ is black and doesn't have hood vents?????......I don't think so.
How old are cooling system components? A broken fan shroud is a weak link in the cooling system chain as well as the fan clutch could be weak, the rad could be clogged (inside & out), could be bad water pump, sticking t-stat, some combos, etc., etc. Electric fans and hood vents aren't going to solve your problem, especially in cool 65 degree weather.
How old are cooling system components? A broken fan shroud is a weak link in the cooling system chain as well as the fan clutch could be weak, the rad could be clogged (inside & out), could be bad water pump, sticking t-stat, some combos, etc., etc. Electric fans and hood vents aren't going to solve your problem, especially in cool 65 degree weather.
The OP had asked about it running in warmer weather as well. Letting him know that the Black color will attract more heat during warmer weather. Which is true. Go outside when it's hot and put black pants on. Tell me how hot your a$$ gets.
The idea with the hoodvents I explained. No coolant temp drop from it but is good to have the engine bay temps lowered to avoid other issues. Why not have heat escape faster to allow the fans to cool the motor a little faster?
These may not be his sole problem solvers, but I've seen too many guys run XJ's, do all kinds of mods to the cooling systems, multi-core raditors, high flow water pumps ect.. and it's all for nothing. You need somewhere for the heat to escape.
And not for nothing, he didn't say he was overheating, just that the fan was kicking on early. His defroster could be on!
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I have heard of guys with desert vehicles just running 2 stock AC fans next to each other with no problems. I might try that in the future because they run quieter.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 8,172
Likes: 17
From: The Republic of TEXAS
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
The OP had asked about it running in warmer weather as well. Letting him know that the Black color will attract more heat during warmer weather. Which is true. Go outside when it's hot and put black pants on. Tell me how hot your a$$ gets.
The idea with the hoodvents I explained. No coolant temp drop from it but is good to have the engine bay temps lowered to avoid other issues. Why not have heat escape faster to allow the fans to cool the motor a little faster?
These may not be his sole problem solvers, but I've seen too many guys run XJ's, do all kinds of mods to the cooling systems, multi-core raditors, high flow water pumps ect.. and it's all for nothing. You need somewhere for the heat to escape.
And not for nothing, he didn't say he was overheating, just that the fan was kicking on early. His defroster could be on!
The idea with the hoodvents I explained. No coolant temp drop from it but is good to have the engine bay temps lowered to avoid other issues. Why not have heat escape faster to allow the fans to cool the motor a little faster?
These may not be his sole problem solvers, but I've seen too many guys run XJ's, do all kinds of mods to the cooling systems, multi-core raditors, high flow water pumps ect.. and it's all for nothing. You need somewhere for the heat to escape.
And not for nothing, he didn't say he was overheating, just that the fan was kicking on early. His defroster could be on!
Dark clothing makes ones skin feel warmer in direct sunlight.....not sure a motor/cooling system can tell if it's under a dark colored hood??????
How about removing the rubber gasket (at the rear of the hood on the firewall) to let more engine compartment heat escape?
The OP needs to verify temp (maybe use a infrared point-n-shoot temp gun). I still can't imagine coolant temp reaching 218F in 65F ambient and all else is normal/functioning correctly......ours doesn't and glad of it.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 517
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From: Apollo, PA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I'd like to put my two cents in. I'm reading the back and forth conversation about heating up to operating temp quickly on 50 degree weather. I'm in western pa...close to Pittsburgh. So right now we are having some 50 degree days and some a bit hotter. If I start my 96 XJ and let it idle it would take longer then 5 min to heat up for my one fan to kick on at the 218 degree mark. Thats 50-60 degrees. I have a new water pump thermostat and new coolant. Radiator coming when I get the money. But everything else is original to the cheap.150k on it almost. So I agree that your XJ is warming up too fast. Could be a clogged up rad. I flushed my rad 2 times before putting all new coolant in. Thought mine could have been clogged a bit. It helped. Only on the hot days....60-70+ days does my XJ run over 210 idling. I really don't know what exact temp its at of course but it will get a hair above the 210 mark at idle. But once its moving it goes back down. So I agree you could have a problem.
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Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Ohio
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
When I said 5 mins. That is already warm not a cold start . Everything in cooling system has been replaced except the fan clutch and it seems tight at temp. Air gun will not stop it while it's running. I put on a shroud to day seems fine but is cooler today .
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From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
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Joined: Jan 2011
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Why not try replacing the fan shroud, the fan clutch and see how things go in 65F ambient temp. I thought it had been posted that '00 up XJ efans only engaged at 218F coolant temp and not when the compressor engaged, like '99 down do.
Now that the OP has told us this is not a cold start condition, this changes the rules a little bit. I agree with with the fan shroud theory, but on a cold start I don't think this would be a problem.
Dark clothing makes ones skin feel warmer in direct sunlight.....not sure a motor/cooling system can tell if it's under a dark colored hood??????
Every person I've met with a Black XJ has always had a problem with cooling. My father in law has a black one. Lifted with tires ect... We had to put hood vents in it. We go out on the trails, we have basically the same set up on our Jeeps. We both stop, my hood you can touch, his you can't I actually scalded my hand on his hood trying to hook a tow strap to his recovery point. And no the hook wasn't attached to the hood.
How about removing the rubber gasket (at the rear of the hood on the firewall) to let more engine compartment heat escape?
This is an interesting thought. I never tried or heard of anyone trying this. It's similar to the spacer trick under the hood hinges. IDK how that would work. Try this and let us know!
The OP needs to verify temp (maybe use a infrared point-n-shoot temp gun). I still can't imagine coolant temp reaching 218F in 65F ambient and all else is normal/functioning correctly......ours doesn't and glad of it.
Now that the OP has told us this is not a cold start condition, this changes the rules a little bit. I agree with with the fan shroud theory, but on a cold start I don't think this would be a problem.
Dark clothing makes ones skin feel warmer in direct sunlight.....not sure a motor/cooling system can tell if it's under a dark colored hood??????
Every person I've met with a Black XJ has always had a problem with cooling. My father in law has a black one. Lifted with tires ect... We had to put hood vents in it. We go out on the trails, we have basically the same set up on our Jeeps. We both stop, my hood you can touch, his you can't I actually scalded my hand on his hood trying to hook a tow strap to his recovery point. And no the hook wasn't attached to the hood.
How about removing the rubber gasket (at the rear of the hood on the firewall) to let more engine compartment heat escape?
This is an interesting thought. I never tried or heard of anyone trying this. It's similar to the spacer trick under the hood hinges. IDK how that would work. Try this and let us know!
The OP needs to verify temp (maybe use a infrared point-n-shoot temp gun). I still can't imagine coolant temp reaching 218F in 65F ambient and all else is normal/functioning correctly......ours doesn't and glad of it.