Cooling mods for a 98. Any ideas?

[Yow_wee]

Once again I am a Chevy guy new to the Jeep seen. I just bought a 98 with a 4.0. So far so good. But I do not like the temp guage reading 210-215.

I found a relay mod on ebay that will allow the electric fan to run whenever you want but I might try to make one myself.

Anyone experiment with a lower temp thermostat? I was thinking 180 or 195.

Anyone ever replace the belt driven fan with an electric fan? If so what size did you get to fit?

[IdahoJeeper]

I FEEL YOUR PAIN! I too am working on getting my XJ to run cooler.

I started off with a coolant flush, which after all of the previous owners stop leak was washed out, resulted in a new water pump. It did drop my operating temp down to around 190 on flat roads, 200 when climbing a hill.

I am about 60% through wiring in my own fan override like the one you saw (I saw it too). I went and bought an automotive relay, ran a piece of multiconductor cable into the cab. The relay is out by the relay/fuse box, where I spliced into the leads going to the fan itself. I tried using the relay that was there, but had trouble determining the control wiring and decided to add a relay rather than risk melting down the computer. All I have left is wiring the switch inside.

I do wonder if there is some retrofit switch out there that can replace the existing fan switch and turn the fan on at 200 rather than 230...then all this would be unneeded...

Here is an article about doing the electric fan/belt driven fan swap:

http://www.off-road.com/jeep/cheroke.../cooling1.html

I am planning this one and also (when my radiator pukes) I am going to replace with a three core radiator I saw here:

http://www.extremeradiator.com/Produ...spx?sku=1193-3

God Speed!

[gtmud]

I too am wanting to upgrade my cooling by removing the factory, belt driven fan and install an electric. I have a 14" low-profile(skinny) fan that will fit between the grill and the condensor. Would this work, and just wire the fan into a relay/switch combination, then remove the fan and bolt the pulley back on? Also on an 00' XJ with "idiot" lights, any ideas how or were I could plug in a "real time temp" sensor and run to an auxilary temp guage. I know that the current temp sensor has to stay because of the computer.

[IdahoJeeper]

Hey there GT,
I say give it a try! The Flex-A-Lite installation in that link above utilizes an independent sensor and relay to control the fan, surely something exists that we could use to do the same.

Check out this stuff at the Flex-A-Lite site:
http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html...cessories.html
and here's their fan set up:
http://www.flex-a-lite.com/auto/html...-electric.html

This is probably the direction I'll eventually go, I'm frustrated with running 190-200 even though it's now 40 deg outside. I'm about to replace my stat, it alomost acts like I have a high temp stat in there...

[IdahoJeeper]

Just finished my switch over-ride for the fan last Friday, works great. Realized I was running hot quite a bit and noticed funny things on the gauge, so I did what that little voice in my head has been telling me for 2 months: I changed the thermostat. Should have done that first! now running right at 190-195 (it calls for a 195 deg stat). Only went up to just under 210 and then only when I was slow climbing a long steep hill. I feel like an idiot, but I do like having the fan override just in case...

[gtmud]

IdahoJeeper,
Any ideas how to put in a secondary temp guage. My XJ came with the dreaded "idiot" lights. Because of the computer, I don't even want to think about changing sensors and harnesses, is there a way to slip the temp sensor say into the upper rad hose. I have a location picked out for the guage, but before i go cutting a hole, I want to be sure I will be able to hook it up.

[Xendrea Jasper]

gt
try using a thermalcouple in the top hose and a hand held "k-type" digital display. Works great for a temporary solution but long term use tends to deform the upper rad hose.

[IdahoJeeper]

The temp switch kit that comes with the Flex-a-Lite fans says its sensor installs in the upper hose right at the radiator... I thought that was strange, but maybe they have something figured out. I also wonder if you could install it in one of the block drain or freeze plug holes. "Dammit Jim, I'm an electrician, not an auto mechanic!" (sorry)
I wonder if a person could pick up a gauge and the appropriate sensor if it could be installed somewhere else on the block that has access to coolant. You'll need 12V noncontinuous (on with ignition) power.
Jasper brings up an intriguing idea, albeit overkill for a permanent install-they do make a 12V panel mounted temp meter for industrial applications (I'd have to research it) which uses the thermocouple to give you a readout. I suppose one of those could be installed... I'll see what I can find!