Well I got my first 2 repairs done. Sway bar links changed and a transmission cooler line leak fixed. Got the quick connects gone while I was at it. Feels pretty good too have them done with relatively little problem.

I do have a cooling question though. On the initial warm up my temp gauge will almost reach the white line right before red (235ish?) before cooling back off to 210 where it will pretty well stay. It only does this on the first warm up after the engine has completely cooled. Very consistent on this. Should I be looking at changing the thermostat or is this pretty normal? 1996 cherokee 4.0. All the cooling system is original from what I can tell.

 

"1996 cherokee 4.0. All the cooling system is original from what I can tell."

Everything is 17 years old?(!)

I can safely say replace it all.

 

What I mean is everything seems to be OEM. No upgraded radiator or extra coolers stuff like that. I am sure some stuff has been changed at some point (but kept OEM or equivalent) but as far as when I'm not sure. Sorry I didn't clarify.

 

Pop your rad cap. What do you see? Overflow coolant bottle? What's the coolant look like in there? Muddy or nice and green?

 

Also I am planning on upgrading the whole system at some point but it will be probably next spring unless something drastic happens.

 

"but as far as when I'm not sure."

Start from scratch, it's cheap enough when compared to the cost & hassle of replacing an engine.

 

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Looks green to me. Couldn't get a good pic into the overflow bottle but this is what I saw in the rad cap. Overflow looks the same.

 

Try and see a part number/logo on that radiator.

 

I scoured over it. No identifying marks I can see. There is a sticker on the bottom of the radiator but I can only see the corner of it. Don't see a way of getting to it without pulling the radiator out. There's probably a way but I don't know of it.

 

Probably not the original then.

Factory thermostat 83501426 and a good coolant flush is a good starting point.

 

Kind of what I was thinking. Come to think of it I have also never seen the electric fan work either. It doesn't get driven in town much but today I was sitting at a light and it started to creep up. I will test it tomorrow. Right now I think the girlfriend is kind of annoyed. I have spent the last 2 days for the most part working on and researching this thing. Thanks guys. I'll let you know what I figure out tomorrow.

 

Might as well learn right now, Jeeps come first.

 

I know it's an old thread now but I got the thermostat changed out. Fixed the issue. Also found out the wasn't kicking on for high coolant temp. Replaced the sending unit and now all is right in the cooling system world.

 

Good to hear. I'm about to do a whole cooling system replacement in the next month or so.