Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

overheating...catalytic converter related?

Old 05-06-2012, 02:20 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
markbradleyf1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Glastonbury, United Kingdom
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 ho
Default overheating...catalytic converter related?

Hello all! My 96 4.0 is running too hot and Ive flushed the coolant out, flushed the heater matrix and replaced the t-stat; so I was wondering before I replace the pump and fan clutch (which seem to be ok) could the catalytic converter cause the engine to run hot if its partially blocked? I know that Im going to need one soon; its looking rather ropey and rattles!
Any advice/ideas much apreciated!
Old 05-06-2012, 02:33 PM
  #2  
Junior Member
 
JeepKitty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1993 and 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO(Both)
Default

Do you have an electric cooling fan in addition to the belt driven one?
Old 05-06-2012, 02:41 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
markbradleyf1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Glastonbury, United Kingdom
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 ho
Default

yes; it kicks in when the engine has got really hot
Old 05-06-2012, 03:42 PM
  #4  
CF Veteran
 
ZINGGG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Seal Beach, CA
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO Straight Six
Default

No it is not likely that a broken catalytic converter is causing your engine to get hot. More than likely, the problem lies elsewhere. It is a good idea to do the water pump and fan clutch. I'd also do the radiator at the same time since you will already have the coolant drained.
Old 05-06-2012, 03:47 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
markbradleyf1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Glastonbury, United Kingdom
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 ho
Default

Originally Posted by 1996sportXJ
No it is not likely that a broken catalytic converter is causing your engine to get hot. More than likely, the problem lies elsewhere. It is a good idea to do the water pump and fan clutch. I'd also do the radiator at the same time since you will already have the coolant drained.
ok thanks! just thought I'd check; I'll probably do the fan clutch next
Old 05-06-2012, 04:09 PM
  #6  
CF Veteran
 
djb383's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: The Republic of TEXAS
Posts: 8,172
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 14 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Default

Any idea how old the rad is? Almost bet u'll be asking yourself why didn't I replace the rad while it was drained and apart.
Old 05-06-2012, 04:11 PM
  #7  
CF Veteran
 
Firestorm500's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Default

I hate to bring this up, but a bad head and/or head gasket will cause overheating too.
Old 05-06-2012, 04:15 PM
  #8  
CF Veteran
 
freegdr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Broward County Fl.
Posts: 47,923
Likes: 0
Received 22 Likes on 22 Posts
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
Default

is the exhaust flowing freely with norestriction ?
Old 05-06-2012, 04:41 PM
  #9  
CF Veteran
 
djb383's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: The Republic of TEXAS
Posts: 8,172
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 14 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Default

Was it tj that recently said "the devil's in the details"......it's almost like 20 questions without details.
Old 05-06-2012, 04:44 PM
  #10  
Newbie
 
menikmatty's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Indiana
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Straight 6
Default same problem

well i am having the same problem, and can not figure it out. with mine it isn't the cat converter or the rad which i just recently replaced. and the water pump is fairly new. so could it be some sensor?
Old 05-06-2012, 05:12 PM
  #11  
CF Veteran
 
Firestorm500's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Default

Originally Posted by menikmatty
well i am having the same problem, and can not figure it out. with mine it isn't the cat converter or the rad which i just recently replaced. and the water pump is fairly new. so could it be some sensor?
See post #7.
Old 05-06-2012, 05:52 PM
  #12  
CF Veteran
 
ZINGGG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Seal Beach, CA
Posts: 4,440
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 HO Straight Six
Default

Originally Posted by menikmatty
well i am having the same problem, and can not figure it out. with mine it isn't the cat converter or the rad which i just recently replaced. and the water pump is fairly new. so could it be some sensor?
I wish people would clarify if the coolant actually boils over or if they are basing their "overheating" solely off the gauge. You need to verify with an infrared temperature gun that your gauge is reading correctly. If it is reading incorrectly, then yes, the fix could be as simple as a sensor.
Old 05-06-2012, 08:00 PM
  #13  
CF Veteran
 
Firestorm500's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 4,734
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 9 Posts
Year: 2015, 2012
Model: Grand Cherokee (WK2)
Engine: 3.6L
Default

He did say the the electric cooling fan kicks in when it gets "really hot". That's about 213 degrees at least, isn't it?
Old 05-06-2012, 08:37 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Jarrett's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Raleigh,NC
Posts: 823
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1992
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO
Default

If you say your converter rattles, I would go ahead and replace it. They'll start rattling sometimes when starting to get plugged.
Old 05-06-2012, 09:24 PM
  #15  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
markbradleyf1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Glastonbury, United Kingdom
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 ho
Default

Originally Posted by freegdr
is the exhaust flowing freely with norestriction ?
Hard to tell really; but it doesnt seem too restricted; just abit rattly!

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: overheating...catalytic converter related?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:04 PM.