Weird overheating issue

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Jun 11, 2018 | 12:53 AM

Zdk89

Thread Starter

Newbie

Joined: Jun 2018

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

Model: Cherokee (XJ)

Weird overheating issue

Hey guys I’m new to the forum. I just bought a 1997 Xj sport. Drove it about 300 miles across the state with the ac on the entire trip and it ran great with no overheating. I get to the mountains and I’m driving up the trailhead and I stop and turn the Jeep off to take a picture. When I turned it back on it said check gauges and read that it was overheating. I turned the key off for maybe 30 seconds and back on and it read normal around 210. It did that about 4 times when I would turn it off. The next day I drove it back 300 miles with ac on and it never got over 210. Anyone know what might cause that to happen?

Jun 12, 2018 | 12:13 PM

robertj

CF Veteran

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 1,077

Likes: 23

From: Herndon, VA

Year: 1996

Model: Cherokee

Engine: 4.0

Heat soak or an electrical glitch. I wouldn't worry too much about it if it's not actually overheating.

Jun 12, 2018 | 12:29 PM

PatHenry

CF Veteran

Joined: Nov 2017

Posts: 3,700

Likes: 238

From: Groton, MA

Year: 1995

Model: Cherokee(XJ)

Engine: I6 4.0L

Definitely an electrical glitch. 97+ gauge clusters tend to have issues with corrosion (there was a recall even IIRC). You can pull the gauge cluster and clean the connectors with alcohol and put some di-electric grease on them and that may prevent this from recurring. If it doesn't, you can get an ODB2 reader that can give you live data and see if the computer thinks the temp is off. If it does, then your problem is somewhere with the CTS in the t-stat housing, if doesn't then you have a wiring issue or gauge itself that's flaky.