2001 Jeep GC overheated (or close to it)

[Donald]

the Jeep has a reman engine in it with about 1K miles. The radiator was replaced in October 2010. Reasonably certain the thermostat was replaced when the reman engine was done a few weeks ago. After cooling off, the radiator was full of coolant.

When it overheated, the A/C was on and it was say 85F out.

With the A/C off, the engine gets hotter than I remember, but stays just below mid point, which is 240.

I have not checked futher yet beyond the coolant in the radiator.

Ideas?

 

[MarkM66]

Does it get hot at idle, highway speed, or both?

 

[Donald]

both

 

[Eddie]

MIDPOINT IS 240F? The engine runs at less than midpoint? That is a weird system to me. Maybe it is not overheating. Can you check it with another guage or get a IR temp at the radiator?

 

[qdeezie]

Does it have a fan clutch? Might want to replace that if it has one on it.

 

[SEMI_287]

Sounds like a water pump to me.

 

[MarkM66]

Originally Posted By: qdeezie
Does it have a fan clutch? Might want to replace that if it has one on it.


Getting hot at highway speed eliminates fan issues.

 

[SuperDave456]

+1 For Water Pump!

That would be what I put money on.

 

[spasm3]

i would test the thermostat first or just replace it. I have had bad ones right out of the box. If that does not fix it then i would look at the water pump and make sure the vanes are not worn down/off.

 

[Donald]

The Jeep went to almost the red area of the temp gauge yesterday when it was hot out and the A/C was on. With the A/C off, the temp went back down, but not all the way to the normal area. When I turned the engine off after it almost overheated the engine gurgled for several minutes.

So the gauge is accurate or close enough.

The A/C was run a few days ago when it was even hotter outside with no problems.

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: MarkM66
Originally Posted By: qdeezie
Does it have a fan clutch? Might want to replace that if it has one on it.


Getting hot at highway speed eliminates fan issues.


Oh, not necessarily. It makes it LESS suspect, but I've had vehicles run hotter than normal at highway speed due to bad fan clutches before.

But I wouldn't even believe its overheating at all until confirmed with a standalone gauge rather than the factory sender/dash display.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: MarkM66
Originally Posted By: qdeezie
Does it have a fan clutch? Might want to replace that if it has one on it.


Getting hot at highway speed eliminates fan issues.


Oh, not necessarily. It makes it LESS suspect, but I've had vehicles run hotter than normal at highway speed due to bad fan clutches before.

But I wouldn't even believe its overheating at all until confirmed with a standalone gauge rather than the factory sender/dash display.



Agreed. Verification, step numeral uno....

 

[Donald]

When the gauge says very close to overheat and one turns off the engine and you hear a gurgle in the radiator area that is not normal, the engine was very hot. The gurgle confirms the reading of the gauge.

The fan is electric. It does not go on even when gauge shows close to overheat. Fuse tested good with meter.

I am not positive the engine is running hotter than normal when driving, but when the vehicle is stopped and the A/C is switched on the engine heads toward overheat.

The fan does spin by hand, not seized. I wonder where the temp sensor is for the fan? Could it have not been connected when the reman engine was installed?

 

[Donald]

OK, I am confused, the RockAuto catalog lists a fan motor, fan clutch and a fan assembly (motor, blade). Unsure what the clutch is for. I assume when the engine gets hot, 12V is given to the fan motor and it spins? So clutch does what? The assembly does not mention one.

 

[The_Eric]

The fan clutch is for the mechanical fan. It is typically heat (thermostatically) controlled. The electric fan up front is likely to aid the A/C efficiency during low speed driving and possibly to aid in cooling.

Does the fan spin freely - as if there was no resistance, or can you notice some drag?

 

[RH+G]

Can u take a pic of what u have?

Also is ur electric fan getting 12v when ur engine is hot?

 

[Slick17601]

It's the fan relay...my 2001 Jeep in on the 3rd one. It's rare they last more than a few years.

 

[Donald]

OK, I am confused, the RockAuto catalog lists a fan motor, fan clutch and a fan assembly (motor, blade). Unsure what the clutch is for. I assume when the engine gets hot, 12V is given to the fan motor and it spins? So clutch does what? The assembly does not mention one.

 

[Donald]

I do not see a mechanical fan, only an electric one? Do they have both?

Where is the electric fan relay?

 

[Donald]

I am half looking for something missed when the reman engine was installed.