heating problem

hello all
I have read about 20 pages tonite trying to find out what could be wrong.here is the deal my 90 laredo 4.0l temp gauge reads around 210 when driving normally.This morning I checked temp at t stat housing with my infered temp thermomiter and it read 160 the one heater hose read 160 and the other one read 120.I have warm heat inside but not hot.do these jeeps run about 210 on gauge?and is it true the elec fan sender does not kick it on until 230 degrees?Do i have air in system or is my heater core plugged up? still need some advice on elec door locks not working.thanks wayne

I'm sorry to invad on your post but, If I am sitting in idle running, the engine gets really hot like the +210deg mark and the heat gets cold, If i rev on the engine a bit the temp goes down and the heat warms up some not hot but, warm

I'm sorry to invad on your post but, If I am sitting in idle running, the engine gets really hot like the +210deg mark and the heat gets cold, If i rev on the engine a bit the temp goes down and the heat warms up some not hot but, warm


That is the same problem I am having with my 1990 Cherokee Laredo. It heats up when it idles to about 210 and when I'm driving, it cools. I was told that it may be a bad clutch fan, but I'm not sure if that is it, because the fan seems to be funtioning. I wonder if this is a common Cherokee problem.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Glassman your fine. You gauge reads good. You have good heat and she is running fine. I say face East and throw that whatyoumacall it as fare as you can.(IMO)

You with the warm water but cold heater. Air is what you got and lots of it. Put some cardboard in front of the rad (this time of year) read how to bleed that air and take you time. The CB will help keep t-stat open and you got to keep it open to get the air out. MAYBE pick the revs up just a little.
Your is one of them closed system right.
2: Maybe bad water pump but that's a 1 in a 500 shot.

1990 Cherokee Laredo: Is the electric fan running all the time. How stiff is the clutch fan she should turn easy with engine off 3 to 5 LB of push. How cold is it there. At around 0 deg F mine gets a little cold not bad heater still works. Luck to all of you.

I think the lack of heat when idle, is due to a bad water pump. I had a simular problem on an 88 4.0. Water pump fixed the problem, along with a new T-stat (190) and a good flushing. To ge the air out of your system, fill the engine block and radiator by means of the upper rad. hose. Fill it till the coolant starts coming out of the t-stat housing. reconnect your hoses, continue filling the resevor bottle, run engine with the cap off( don't fill the res. full, leave enough to see the coolant flowing out of the upper hose going to the top of the res.) This will allow the W/P to move the air out witht he fluid. Once you have a solid flow of coolant, cap the resivor and let it run for a while with the ehater on HOT.

[QUOTE=badron]Glassman your fine. You gauge reads good. You have good heat and she is running fine. I say face East and throw that whatyoumacall it as fare as you can.(IMO)

Now tell me Badron. You seem to know your stuff. Both my Cherokees one when brand new, the other when 4 years old ran at 210 in stop and go in the summer. My 2000 since new has had backflushes and thermostats and new antifreeze since day one. I live in Orange County California. Do you think California XJs are set up to run at a higher temp? Or is it just a coincidence that my '94 with the 4.0L, my spanking new 2000 with the 4.0L and that fresh new XJ "Freedom" that I used as a loaner one day all overheat at 210-220 in traffic? Really, I would like to know and I'm not being sarcastic.

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You seem to know your stuff-
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THX pulling a big trailer will teach you a lot bout overheating

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. Do you think California XJs are set up to run at a higher temp?
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No, It's been a long time sense CA got different cars/engine but check with your local Jeep dealer to be sure. Ohio is a long way from CA to keep up your stuff.

You are saying 3 Cherokee all overheated at no higher then 220? Are you filling with Anti freeze only pure anti boils at 250 I think. Have you had the rad cap checked not just replaced but checked. I have seen many new cap be 2 LB or more off. If you at any altitude you can knock off 1 more pound.

The 94 is getting a little old may need a new rad. That a closed system right get the air out of that baby. fill with Anti only. Check rad cap. Maybe water pump but I say that's a long shot.

2000 go with rad cap. anti only. Then pump.

The loaner, not your problem.

tbalck, I also live in OC and have an '88 with an I6. For a variety of different reasones, I have changed the rad, wp, coolant bottle (w/cap) and elec fan sensor switch over the years. I still run the closed system. At idle, I'll hit about 210 on the gage. Any higher and the fan kicks in and brings it right back down again. A few seconds high idle does the same. Haven't had an overheat condition since the bottle blew a year ago.

You are saying 3 Cherokee all overheated at no higher then 220?

Sorry about that. Actually none of them overheated. What I am asking is is 210-220 degrees on the temp gauge an indication that the engine is overheating or getting close to it? In an earlier thread, I said it wasn't an overheat at that temp because none of my Cherokees ever overheated and they both run between 210 and 220 in LA and OC traffic, but I thought someone responded that they shouldn't run higher than 192. If that's the case, I don't want to cause any damage to the 2000's mill and will look into a heavier duty radiator or another electric fan. I plan to give the newer one to my daughter when she gets her driver's license next year and want her to have a good 2000 XJ. The '94 I don't care about. It will still be running when the earth consumes itself in fire.
tb

Haven't had an overheat condition since the bottle blew a year ago.

Cool! That helps. Ay 210 my fan fires up too. Thanks much neighbor!
tb