Help!!! Overheating problem.

[shortycaliboy]

I have a 89 cherokee that is having all kinds of overheating problems. About a month ago my brother barrowed my car and it overheated on him. Come to find out that the radtiator cracked. So I bet a replacement radiator off ebay, it is slighlty used, but in really good condition and is only 3 years old. So I replaced the radiator and the thermostat trying to help prevent future problems. So after that is all said and done, find out that it was still overheating. Happened to be that the headgasket bled the same time the radiator cracked and I got water in the oil. So had to replace the headgasket and got new oil and oil filter to get rid of the water problem. Hoping that all was fixed, I noticed that the water pump was leaking so replaced that hoping that was the last of my cooling problems. But there still is overheating problems. So I don't know what left I have to fix that is causing my overheating problem. So if anyone has any ideas I really would appreciate it. I really need some help.

[wwwildman]

I would begin by flushing the whole cooling system. The radiator could have sludge in it along with the block.

I would also check fan clutch, my 90 did the dame thing until I replaced it.

[dave92cherokee]

Run a cleaner through the cleaning system and drain it then refill it and then run a flush through the system and flush the entire system until the water runs clear. Once it runs clear drain about a gallon out of the system and fill with antifreeze to get close to required percentages then go to auto parts store and buy a bottle of water wetter it's a pink liquid. I'm running that and just straight water and my temp never gets over half way no matter how long the engine sits in traffic where as before it would be almost redlining.

[rockwerks]

Originally Posted by shortycaliboy

I have a 89 cherokee that is having all kinds of overheating problems. About a month ago my brother barrowed my car and it overheated on him. Come to find out that the radtiator cracked. So I bet a replacement radiator off ebay, it is slighlty used, but in really good condition and is only 3 years old. So I replaced the radiator and the thermostat trying to help prevent future problems. So after that is all said and done, find out that it was still overheating. Happened to be that the headgasket bled the same time the radiator cracked and I got water in the oil. So had to replace the headgasket and got new oil and oil filter to get rid of the water problem. Hoping that all was fixed, I noticed that the water pump was leaking so replaced that hoping that was the last of my cooling problems. But there still is overheating problems. So I don't know what left I have to fix that is causing my overheating problem. So if anyone has any ideas I really would appreciate it. I really need some help.

There are several things you need check but it never hurts to do a complete cooling system flush

Things to check:

does the motor driven fan clutch spin freely when moved by hand? IF not replace it.

is the electric fan coming on? youcan either wait till the eingine gets to 220* to see or you can turn on the A/C to see if the aux fan is coming on. If its not you need to track down that problem

[longfellow]

1) Bad thermostat (it may stick and not allow the engine to cool)
2) Bad electric fan motor or sensor (this should kick on once the vehicle reaches 220 degrees, if it doesn't…it's bad)
3) Bad clutch fan (this is designed to spin on a clutch system, if it fails you will overheat in the city very quick)
4) Bad radiator (plugged or broken fins will cause an XJ to overheat)
5) Plugged coolant passages in the engine block. (typically manifested by highway overheating.

[IrishChef]

You need to get rid of the POS vacuum bottle. Rip it out, kick into the weeds. Buy a filler neck and pressure cap, splice it into your upper radiator hose. Run a hose from the filler neck to a catch can. Buy a new heater valve, and new hoses. Install. Fill with 50/50 mix coolant. Burp the system for the last time. Enjoy your new open cooling system.