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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.
-No check engine light or other indication lights are on.
-Always has been reliable and has always started.
Problems:
-Coolant pressurize and spraying out of hood.
-Jeep overheating with temps beyond red zone
-5/31/21 check engine light went on for a couple hours reading “P0118 Engine coolant temperature circuit high input”. This has happened once before 2 years ago with the same reading and the light went off after a couple hours. We didn’t look into it because the light went away.
What happened with the Jeep recently:
-running smooth until jul 19 when it stopped starting. Died completely. We replaced the alternator and 3 belts.
-then ran smooth again until aug 9 when I parked it at 15 seconds later got coolant sprayed and “exploded” out of the hood. Checked it out and their was a clamp broken off the front of the hose. Replaced the one clamp and filled it back up with coolant/water. Coolant was giving off a “boiling” effect in the reservoir.
-ran good again until Aug 15 when parked and 10 seconds later coolant sprayed again. This time nothing seemed broken and the coolant sprayed from the passengers side instead of the drivers side. We filled up the coolant and tried to make it back home but 3 min later the Jeep started to rumble and drive funny, the temperature was in the red zone. We pulled off. And turned the car off and the coolant came out again. This time the Jeep started to seize up and their was lots of steam where the engine oil is. Coolant was giving off a “boiling” effect in the reservoir. We towed it home from there.
-we replaced radiator cap when we got home and filled coolant reservoir with water.
-Aug 16 we started it and it stated fine. Once I turned it off and tried to start it again, the engine cranked and didn’t start. After 6 long cranks I tired again and it started right away no hesitation. I decided to leave it sitting.
Ideas on what the problem is:
-blown or cracked head gasket
-stuck closed or bad thermostat
-bad water pump
-shot coolant sensor
-bad hoses
-air pocket trapped in cooling system (coolant shouldn’t “boil”)
-the correct coolant/antifreeze for my specific Jeep
-radiator may need to be flushed and cleaned
-coolant could have gotten on air filter or wires which could be a reason my jeep was cranking and not starting
these are my personal notes. If anyone has any ideas or anything to add it would help me lots!
-No check engine light or other indication lights are on.
-Always has been reliable and has always started.
Problems:
-Coolant pressurize and spraying out of hood.
-Jeep overheating with temps beyond red zone
-5/31/21 check engine light went on for a couple hours reading “P0118 Engine coolant temperature circuit high input”. This has happened once before 2 years ago with the same reading and the light went off after a couple hours. We didn’t look into it because the light went away.
What happened with the Jeep recently:
-running smooth until jul 19 when it stopped starting. Died completely. We replaced the alternator and 3 belts. Three belts? You gone thru three of them, is pulleys not aligned? Your jeep has the single serpentine belt, right? if so something is very wrong, three belts, yikes!
-then ran smooth again until aug 9 when I parked it at 15 seconds later got coolant sprayed and “exploded” out of the hood. Checked it out and their was a clamp broken off the front of the hose. Replaced the one clamp and filled it back up with coolant/water. Coolant was giving off a “boiling” effect in the reservoir. Either clamp was bad, or pressure cap failed to vent when it should, plus something may have or may not have caused an overheat. If clamp was very weak, even at normal temps it might have failed.
-ran good again until Aug 15 when parked and 10 seconds later coolant sprayed again. This time nothing seemed broken and the coolant sprayed from the passengers side instead of the drivers side. We filled up the coolant and tried to make it back home but 3 min later the Jeep started to rumble and drive funny, the temperature was in the red zone. We pulled off. And turned the car off and the coolant came out again. This time the Jeep started to seize up and their was lots of steam where the engine oil is. Coolant was giving off a “boiling” effect in the reservoir. We towed it home from there.
-we replaced radiator cap when we got home and filled coolant reservoir with water. you need fill more than only the overflow reservoir, you must also fill the radiator!, also if you use too much water, not enough antifreeze, that can cause boil over, antifreeze decreases freezing point and also increases the boil over point.
-Aug 16 we started it and it stated fine. Once I turned it off and tried to start it again, the engine cranked and didn’t start. After 6 long cranks I tired again and it started right away no hesitation. I decided to leave it sitting.
Ideas on what the problem is:
-blown or cracked head gasket Yea, if you got coolant in oil. also can have bad gasket that does not get in oil, rather into the exhaust, or both. Run coolant system pressure test, Check for oil in coolant, coolant in oil, exhaust gas residues in coolant, excess steam and coolant smell in exhaust.
-stuck closed or bad thermostat yeah, that can cause overheat, which can kill a head gasket too. Easy to remove and test on a stove top with a thermometer and pot of water. Have a new one handy, get the correct temperature set point thermostat.
-bad water pump
Yes, pump can be cause of overheat, deteriorated blades, slipping belt reduces flow, or a seal leak. Look carefully around seal for leak, check belts, if system was not maintained well, blades maybe corroded away, remove pump to check, you will need new pump gasket for install. You may run a coolant system pressure test to test pump seal
-shot coolant sensor That wont cause an over heat directly, a bad sensor may cause engine to not run bery well, stay is cold running enrichment mode, or run in operating temp enrichment when icy cold, but this wont cause an over heat unless of course the sensor springs a coolant leak. An ohm meter can be used to test sensor.
-bad hoses
Yeah, if they are real soft they are at end of reliable life, compare feel to a new one at your local autoparts store, but the hose has to either leak or the hose become restricted to "fail". Coolant system pressure test for leaks, and /or observe when running for leaks.
-air pocket trapped in cooling system (coolant shouldn’t “boil”)
Low coolant level will cause hot air pockets, low coolant level from a leak, or vented loss do to getting too hot, or failed cap that vents below proper pressure, insure correct level at all times
-the correct coolant/antifreeze for my specific Jeep
Nothing special with the XJ, a 50 50 mix usually is just fine, a bit more antifreeze if extreme cold weather, I use regular green Prestone. Other will work. However mixing of different types can in some cases cause the coolant to sludge up, so stick to one type.
-radiator may need to be flushed and cleaned
Well yeah, they get blocked, a flush and fill on the whole system including heater and engine will give you an idea of how dirty it is maybe. The radiator cleaners sold at parts stores can be used if real bad, Does the radiator get hot unevenly? Uneven hot spots can be a sign of clogs
-coolant could have gotten on air filter or wires which could be a reason my jeep was cranking and not starting
Certainly check the aircleaner filter, replace if it got wet, just get rid of it, once wet they often are ruined. let electric stuff dry, try again.
these are my personal notes. If anyone has any ideas or anything to add it would help me lots!
PLEASE TRY TO PIN POINT THE LEAKS, DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE IS TOO VAGUE.
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Rob, please try to learn the quote function properly. If you copy and paste [ Q U O T E ] and [ / Q U O T E ] (without the spaces) around his words, then his words will be quoted, like this:
his words
And yours will not be included inside his quote, like it is in your post.
You can do the same thing by highlighting his words and hitting the " sign in the editing bar.
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by cherryredcherokee
Problems:
-Coolant pressurize and spraying out of hood.
-Jeep overheating with temps beyond red zone
-5/31/21 check engine light went on for a couple hours reading “P0118 Engine coolant temperature circuit high input”. This has happened once before 2 years ago with the same reading and the light went off after a couple hours. We didn’t look into it because the light went away.
Jeep Cherokee exploding coolant
