Turbo X_J

It's about $200 to replace everything that is 15 years old anyways, it's silly to piece it out.

Bocefus

Exactly. Especially true with the marginal cooling system in these XJs. If it was a lot more money and labor I would understand if he wanted to piece it out. Best to replace it all for $200 and drive on with a refreshed cooling system that should be good to go for many more miles. Otherwise next month it might be the radiator, water pump, etc etc and he'll have to dig into it all over again. Ask me how I know.

BlueRidgeMark

Most of the time I'd agree with you 100%. I hate spray-n-pray.

When it comes to Cherokee cooling problems, I'm not so sure. As some have mentioned, something like $200 bucks gets it ALL done at once. Since this is something that can trash your engine, it sounds like a good move to me.

Yes, you probably won't know the root cause, but you'll get the root cause, and you can move on with your life.

When you consider the efficiency of time gained by doing the whole thing at once, this is one place where I agree with the "just replace it all" school of thought.

Something to consider....

Of course, if it's just a lying sensor, that's another matter.

synergy58

Thanks!

synergy58

Thank you!

synergy58

Thanks. I can handle the $, just want to do it right the first time and make sure my jeep is good to go. I need this thing bad, LOVE IT! Makes me feel like I'm in a humvee running in the desert!

synergy58

Hey, I appreciate it!
I'm not worried about an over opinionated, pushy, smiley face...shot many of them in the sand box! Been publicly humiliated too, not big deal. Had my *** stripped naked and swabbed up by numerous times by nurses, doctors, etc. in front of numerous people; they don't care, and I didn't care. So, this is a minor thing, for real.

Anyway, glad to get ALL the advise and suggestions. Bottom line for me...just do it and get it done! Thanks!

synergy58

Been lied to before, on so many occasions...not concerned with that. It's all about integrity, that's what counts. Anyway, your dialogue is appreciated, even your !

My dad always told me, "it takes all kinds to make this world go around, some you put up with, the rest you shoot".

BlueRidgeMark

I'm not sure I communicated clearly what I intended to say. Backing up a bit, a poster suggested that maybe you didn't overheat at all, and that your sensor is simply giving bad readings. I agree with him. I'm suggesting changing (or testing) the sensor before throwing anything else at it.

I just had that with my oil pressure sensor. It was screaming, "Doom, defeat, and despair, rebuild your engine and don't drive this thing until you have!"

My idle readings were pretty much zero, and about 10 or 15 at 1600 RPM.

But none of the other symptoms matched.

Tested it with a mechanical gauge, and I'm getting 40 at idle and 60 at 1600.

All that to say, your sensor may be bad. That's what I'd look at next.

2heapjeeps

Much respect for your service to our country. Not sure if you solved the issue, or if you made it back home. If you are still on the road and cant do an entire system replacement yet. I've killed an engine from overheating. It had no visual loss of fluid because it was running through the system. It sounds highly like a bad sensor, but you said when you popped the hood it was HOT. But that could have been due to the 101 degree weather while doing 60-70 down the hwy. However if it is actually getting too hot, my advice is don't put cold or even luke warm water in unless the engine is actually cold. Hot water in a hot engine will lessen the chance of cracking your block. Feel the radiator hoses. If the top is hot but the bottom is not, your thermostat isn't working. (might have that backwards) if you can figure out which relay powers to the electric fan un plugging and re plugging should turn it on, if it doesn't the relay could be junk. If you never saw steam coming out at all and the jeep drove for many miles with no noticeable issues, it likely is a bad sensor. Seems like far more knowledgeable people already chimed in. Just thought id mention a couple. When desperate urinating into the radiator can make all the difference.

synergy58

Much appreciate your added words, 2heepjeeps. I listen to what people have to say, as this is how I learn. I did in fact park the Cherokee in the garage for a rest. I am about 3-4 weeks from being able to dissect the cause of my problems, although I feel that it might have been a sticking thermostat. In any case, as my friendly forum buds have indicated (), it' more than beneficial for me, at this stage in my battered life, to simply replace all the old and install with as much new. So, I will begin my replacement dissection soon. I feel that after 15 years and 135,000 miles of service on the road, the Cherokee deserves a new coolant system, and I deserve a safe and secure ride!

I'm going to start buying up the parts today! A few parts each week and I'll be ready in less than a month. Then I have to get some help to put it together.

Thanks for your input!

synergy58

Thanks, but given all the hoopla about my condition, and what may or may not have happened, be occurring, and given that it is HOT almost everywhere these days, I think I'm a gonna start replacing the cooling system; it's never been done and it looks tired. Besides, then it will be "one less thing"...

BlueRidgeMark

That ain't a bad plan.