There HAS to be a solution for the Cherokee overheat issue
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 124
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
With as many people on here who are experienced mechanics and long-term Cherokee owners, there HAS to be a definitive solution for these endless Cherokee cooling problems. With as many aftermarket hot rod radiator manufacturers as there are, I simply cannot believe that SOMEBODY has not figured out how to get around Jeep's stupid design flaw. (What kind of idiot would design a 4-wheel-drive vehicle that overheats when it is driven slowly off-road? Or, if it requires an electric fan to help cool it, doesn't have a manual fan switch as OE from the FACTORY?)
A larger-cooling-capacity aluminum double-row radiator with three cooling fans can't cool off an inline six? Give me a break. There has to be a bolt-on solution. Anybody?
A larger-cooling-capacity aluminum double-row radiator with three cooling fans can't cool off an inline six? Give me a break. There has to be a bolt-on solution. Anybody?
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 15,016
Likes: 11
From: +34° 25' 35.67", -81° 21' 12.04"
Year: 1993
Engine: 4.0
With as many people on here who are experienced mechanics and long-term Cherokee owners, there HAS to be a definitive solution for these endless Cherokee cooling problems. With as many aftermarket hot rod radiator manufacturers as there are, I simply cannot believe that SOMEBODY has not figured out how to get around Jeep's stupid design flaw. (What kind of idiot would design a 4-wheel-drive vehicle that overheats when it is driven slowly off-road? Or, if it requires an electric fan to help cool it, doesn't have a manual fan switch as OE from the FACTORY?)
A larger-cooling-capacity aluminum double-row radiator with three cooling fans can't cool off an inline six? Give me a break. There has to be a bolt-on solution. Anybody?
A larger-cooling-capacity aluminum double-row radiator with three cooling fans can't cool off an inline six? Give me a break. There has to be a bolt-on solution. Anybody?
I could drive all three up and down a mountain all day long at 2mph and none of them would overheat...
I've had renix XJ's. When they're working correctly they do just fine as well, though the closed cooling system isn't exactly desirable, IMO.
Something is wrong with your cooling system. Band-aids aren't going to fix it.
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 1
From: Edmonton
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
my renix has never overheated in the time i've owned it. my renix mj never did either. proper maintenance is key. troubleshooting a cooling system problem can be a pain since there are so many things that contribute to its overall function and efficiency, but patience and persistence pays off eventually. good luck.
Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 204
Likes: 1
From: British Columbia, CANADA
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
If your XJ is overheating your cooling system is faulty. It's that simple.
Which means it's less about "idiot" automotive engineers and more about lack of maintenance on the part of owners.
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,579
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
With as many people on here who are experienced mechanics and long-term Cherokee owners, there HAS to be a definitive solution for these endless Cherokee cooling problems. With as many aftermarket hot rod radiator manufacturers as there are, I simply cannot believe that SOMEBODY has not figured out how to get around Jeep's stupid design flaw. (What kind of idiot would design a 4-wheel-drive vehicle that overheats when it is driven slowly off-road? Or, if it requires an electric fan to help cool it, doesn't have a manual fan switch as OE from the FACTORY?)
A larger-cooling-capacity aluminum double-row radiator with three cooling fans can't cool off an inline six? Give me a break. There has to be a bolt-on solution. Anybody?
A larger-cooling-capacity aluminum double-row radiator with three cooling fans can't cool off an inline six? Give me a break. There has to be a bolt-on solution. Anybody?
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my solution was to.. oh wait still throwing parts at it LOL.. I did t-stat sensors and fan. coolant looked good but it's getting a good flush now.. and other "stuff" ??? Idk I gave in and took it to the shop (at the dealers expense since he's a cool guy and and having it fixed for me)
With as many people on here who are experienced mechanics and long-term Cherokee owners, there HAS to be a definitive solution for these endless Cherokee cooling problems. With as many aftermarket hot rod radiator manufacturers as there are, I simply cannot believe that SOMEBODY has not figured out how to get around Jeep's stupid design flaw. (What kind of idiot would design a 4-wheel-drive vehicle that overheats when it is driven slowly off-road? Or, if it requires an electric fan to help cool it, doesn't have a manual fan switch as OE from the FACTORY?)
A larger-cooling-capacity aluminum double-row radiator with three cooling fans can't cool off an inline six? Give me a break. There has to be a bolt-on solution. Anybody?
A larger-cooling-capacity aluminum double-row radiator with three cooling fans can't cool off an inline six? Give me a break. There has to be a bolt-on solution. Anybody?
A cherokee with a cooling system that is not up to par will overheat.
I am sorry for you that jeep did not design a system that would cool properly with only half of the system working.
I must admit that this would be handy for a lot of people
Seasoned Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 322
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Make sure the elec. fan kicks on. If you unplug the sensor by the thermostat water neck and start the engine it should kick on. Mine never kicks on but I replaced a leaky thermostat gasket and forgot to plug the sensor back in. The fan kicked on. Or wire the fan to a switch? Run it direct so it's always on? Other than that make sure the rad fins are free of debris and check everything. My cherokee never goes over 210. Ever. Hot or cold runs the same. It's a 98
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 2
From: Bentonville, AR
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
Idk. Maybe designing a cooling system for us? With several manually operated auxiliary fans at various temperatures?
Anyway, I had my Renix radiator crack on me and cause overheating. But it was around -15 and probably the original radiator. If so, 22 years seems pretty reliable by my standards. Left it as a closed system since I needed it on the road ASAP.
Anyway, I had my Renix radiator crack on me and cause overheating. But it was around -15 and probably the original radiator. If so, 22 years seems pretty reliable by my standards. Left it as a closed system since I needed it on the road ASAP.
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,579
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0


