For the past 2 days i been noticing my temp guage creeping up and down from like 200-210, then sometimes a few clicks above that then back down gradually. It first started the other day when i got the font end stuck in water almost up to the headlights, since i had to get on the gas some wile being pulled out it was blowin alot of white smoke out the exhaust. Could that come from water getting in the exhaust itself if there are holes becuse my exhaust needs replaced? It got up to like 230 after this then SLOWLY went back down once i was driving it around the trails and got it back on the highway. I dont see any signs of a head gasket, it doesnt smoke really at all now and no water in the oil. My electic fan seems to come on so i dont think thats a problem. I did notice my clutch fan when the motor is up to temp doesnt look like its spinning real fast and if i shut the motor off i can spin the fan fairly easy, but once its cooled down its got a little drag to it. Sorry this is so long but its bugging me i dont like when temps on my cars jump around haha. By the way its a 1995 cherokee.

 

it could be yur thermostat going bad.. on my jeep i have another fan hooked to a toggle.. so when i wheel/drive the jeep runs at a cool 150. that would be my guess.. cuz when it goes out you will no and thats how you blow head gaskets

 

I have experienced increasing temp before and its caused by the cooling that is not working... I just changed the fan motor and everything goes fine...

 

I thought this was normal. There are times at idle when my temp will rise just above 210 and the fan will kick on and cool it down right away. I have read posts from other members who claim to have the same cooling cycle as well. Before my temp sensor went bad it seemed to heat up and cool down a lot more often though. Once I replaced the sensor the temp seemed to settle a little more but I still watch it heat up just above 210 when sitting idle at a stop light but it takes a lot longer for that to happen and usually only after short stop and go driving. I would say try replacing the temp sensor first since they are cheap and easy and see if that helps you at all.

 

Yea i guess i could try that. I did the newspaper thing with the clutch fan it seems to not wanna stop when cold, but when up to temp i cant stop it and hold it then with my hand for as long as i want. I dont know if thats a problem or not?

 

I'm pretty sure that my fan doesn't kick on in the cold weather we have these days in in Ohio (or PA). I'd put my money on the thermostat.

 

Yea thats what some friends told me too becuase it jumps around alot. Then it will be fine, then go hot and stay there, then come down some like the thermostat is sticking.

 

if you do go with the thermostats route theres one that i cant think the name to save my life..... but when it starts to get hot it will open up but if that doesnt cool it down it will trip a sensor and open up fully and cool it down as much as possible.. then when it hits a cool temp it will close and act like a reg. thermostat again.. just an idea

 

Just to add some of my experience, I had a bad cluth fan cause the same symptom. Not saying that is your problem but you might want to try replacing it with one from a JY (to stay on the cheap side). If the problem goes away you could then buy a new one or replace with an electic fan if you feel up to it.

When it heats up does it seem random or could it be related to driving conditons (going up a hill, slow/stop and go traffic)? What the condition of the anitfreez, does it test okay?

 

I think its called a failsafe thermostat. And the guage goes up and down randomly i was just driving it and it didnt seem to do it much. lastnight in the snow though it went up more then usual. I can watch it creep over 210 then drop down to like 190ish like the thermostat keeps opening and closing constantly.

 

yea, thats exactly what mine was doing too.

 

I'll probably do a clutch fan and a thermostat. I can wiggle my fan like its got some play in it not sure if thats normal or not.

 

Well tonight i was hangin out with a few friends in this parking lot and had the jeep idleing for like 45 mins with the heat on. It went up to around 220 then once i started drivin on the main road it went down to 200 and stayed there till i got in my neighborhood then went back up a littl over 210. It looks like it gets a little hotter when the heat is off too but im not sure.