I just bought a 2000 cherokee with a over heating issue. I checked the oil( clean no milky look) ran it for about 15 minutes and it over heated and poured out the water pump so I assumed it was just a bad water pump so I went ahead and bought it. Owner just put in new heater core, radiator,t-stat, water pump ( a year ago) and it was still over heating so I figured I would take a chance and get it. Well drove it home about 10 minutes away and as some as I got to the driveway temp shot up to the red line and the water pump started flowing. I shut it down and went and bought new water pump, t stat, and resivoir tank( since it was clogged. Flushed the block out really good and installed everything. Let it sit over night and started it the next day. The temp climbed very fast after starting in less then 10 minutes it was at 210 and the hoses had a lot of pressure in them. So took it down the road and seemed fine but after about a ten minute ride brought it back to the house and again temp shot up to the red. No leaks and oil looks good any ideas as to what could be causing this.

 

Does the bottom rad hose have the spring in it?

 

My '95 XJ has never had an overheating problem, even now, in the summer and with a busted-up radiator. Makes me worry, what if it actually does and I just don't know it? It has no temperature gauge. Only an indicator light which I've yet to see come on, but it could be broken I suppose. Any other indicators to tell when your engine is overheating?

 

My 2001 runs at 210 all the time, and I don't have any issues. What temp does yours sore to?

 

My 2001 runs great on 210 as well.

 

x3

 

Well, yesterday we made sure the system was full of coolant and we got all the air out of the system. So started it up and let it run for awhile and the temp went up just before 210 which was a good sign seeing how the day before after all the work it would go just above 210 before red lining. Any way took it for a drive and went about 5 miles and the temp gauge stayed just before 210 so I stopped by he place I bought it and thought I had fixed the problem so I let it sit for about 15 minutes while I talked to them ( it wasn't running during that time) so left there and to my surprise the temp started creeping past 210 so I drove it back home about 5 miles and let it run for another 5 minutes and again it redlined and check gauges. Coolant started flowing to the resivoir and overflowed the resivoir but it looked as though there was allot of air pushing through as well. So with that said I called a shop a will be dropping it off there today to see if they can diagnose it an I'm starting to think head gasket which I did see ny of the tell tell signs but just can't see what else would cause it.

A list of everything new put on so far
Water pump ( by me)
T-stat ( by me)
New resivoir (by me)
Heater core ( previous owner)
Freeze plugs (previous owner) owner said the back one blow out so they replaced all of them
Radiator ( previous owner)

So if anyone has any idea what else could cause it please let me know and as for the head gasket since there not any white smoke, or no mix of oil and antifreeze
Is it possible that it is a head gasket.

 

It could be a head gasket and/or cracked head, ouch. A simple coolant pressure tester would indicate an internal leak. Sometimes you can pull the spark plugs and find one (or two) with a greenish (antifreeze) residue in it. Also sometimes you'll see bubbles in your coolant.

I have seen bad clutch fans cause overheat probs..and check your elect fan as well.

I have seen brand new t-stats that don't work properly.

Make double-double-absolute sure that you bled all the air of the coolant system.

Good luck!

 

A little back story on this jeep. I bought it knowing it over heated and the owners said that the back freeze plug blow out so they had them all replaced and put in new heater core and radiator t-stat and so on.They just got to a point where they couldn't put any more money into it. This was all done in the past few months. I totaled my jeep over a week ago and wanted to get another one because the straight 6 is a tough motor and being in the mountains it just makes sense to have it. I bought this one for 1500 and I got 4300 for mine so I felt like worst case I still might end up to the good because this one only has 116000 on it and body and interior are in great shape. So I should know something by tomorrow if it is indeed a head gasket or not and they said If so they would send the head off to be checked for any cracks in it. So as soon as I find out I will post what they com up with.

 

Definitely let us know!

 

my 99 runs great right at 210 but ive had the same issues mines drinking anitfreeze like crazy

 

Picked the jeep up from the shop and they confirmed it is a head gasket at the least but say it may possible be a cracked head also. So with the price they gave me of 1700 I looked around and found someone that can do it for 900 for head if needed and gasket. So I went with him and they will start on it Friday so I should know definitely if it is a cracked head or just the gasket and hopefully nothing worse.

 

Yea when my head gasket went. It was like $950 to get fixed at a shop. They checked it for cracks and defects, and replaced my thermostat and radiator cap also. So around $900 seems about right.

 

As I said I dropped the jeep off but haven't heard anything yet since it was the 4th maybe Monday. But if they have to change the head what are the chances that the bottom half of the motor has issues. I bought it a little over a week ago and haven't drove it more then 15 min before it got hot and I would shut it down to prevent damaging anything else. But when I did drive it, it ran very smooth and like I said there was no mixing of oil and antifreeze yet. But I don't know if the previous owner was smart enough to shut it down or kept on driving after it got hot. I just hope I don't run into anymore problems after all this work is done. So with it running as smooth as it did is likely that after that head gasket and/or head are replaced that it will be fine.