my 96 xj hasnt really been able to get up to the 210 mark since i replaced the radiator in the middle of the summer. i didnt think much of it but michigan winters are never easy. my xj never gets to operating temp unless i put cardboard infront of the radiator but the heat out the vents is pitiful. with the cardboard the jep actually starts to overheat. i dont know what to do... i installed a failsafe thermostat at the beginning of summer. could that be a prob? but what about the shameful heat. its not hot and it dosent come out all that fast. wont heat the cabin like it did last year.

(i know i should of searched the form but i need help asap. its at 20* and is only gettin worse.)

 

Theres a bunch of things that could be wrong..

Check for vaccum leaks

Blend door inside could be busted

Heater core could be clogged

Heater controll valve could be screwey...

Try unclogging and back flushing the core VIA the two coolant lines running in to the firewall

The more info you tell us the better...

 

use less card board should stop the overheating

 

LOL

 

how cold are you talking??? it would have to SERIOUSLY be cold cold cold like alaska in the winter cold to not completely warn up your engine.

maybe your thermostat is stuck partially open?

 

what it works like the truckers do ,

 

not coming out that fast are you refering to the air i had a similar prob of air flow i took out the blower motor resistor and noticed there was all kinds of dust fromn being a 89 on the coils took a garned hose and sprayed in the hole with a turkey pan on passenger floor board to collect excess that did not go out drain hole flow improved greatly

 

This. My brother's POS-10 blazer has a stuck open thermostat, which he bought brand new. He can let his engine run for 30 minutes and the gauge will be a few mm above 100.
My 96 XJ on the other hand, even when 15 degrees outside, run it for 5-7 minutes and its at 210.

 

I agree with the bad thermostat. Just because a part is new, doesn't mean it's good.

It's possible to test your thermostat. I've tested them on the kitchen stove in a pan of water. Put the stat in a pan of water with a meat thermometer in it. Turn on the heat and see if the stat opens when it's supposed to.

 

well the thermostat is a failsafe meaning in the summer if it goes it'll stay open.. But even in the summer it never got to 210 maybe 150. The cardboard trick works wonders. But it starts to overheat like it works to great. I only partially blocked the radiator. But it's like 25-30* out now and it still refuses to warm up. I'm going to replace the thermostat and do a back flush with clr. But like I said even when it does heat up even over heats with the cardboard the heat dosent come out like it used to. And when the car is overheated and I only turn the car to accesories and turn the heat on it's ice cold. I dunno if that pertains to anything but I figured it's extra info on my prob.

please help. I'm going up north the day after xmas and I'd like a decent ride up.

 

Truckers don't use spark plugs either

Heater core

 

the cardboard has helped...
deffinently goin to flush the core sunday.