Upcoming Weekend Projects - '98

[wrightz28]

Hey,

So a few more things to work on our 98 Limited we got last month.

Yes Fred, I did a search but came up inconclusive on issue #1:

A/C secondary cooling fan - When detailing the truck, I used a 12V plug in wet dry vac. As to not run the battery down, I occasionally started the engine and let the alternator keep charge on the battery.

Now, the truck sat in a field for a year and some change, so it had that "field" odor (mice) to it, so I put the vent slector on recycle to pull th eclean smell of upholstry cleaner through the system and remove the rodent smell. Shortly after I noticed a electrical burning smell that I thought was my cheap wet/dry vac, but looked up and saw smoke from under the hood and it was the secondary fan and for the first time the water temp broke 200.

When I made light joke of it later to my brother in law who has owned his own jeeps, but also knew the former owner, he said this is the second or third fan the truck has burned up that he's known of Common problem area here?


Second, and they are minor issues all pertain to the keyless entry system and alarm. Where is the control module located? "Need to know" as the previous owner cut the wiring to the horn which I'd kind of like to hook back up. Also, I find it hard to believe that with the system having "auto" up windows when the key fob is used to lock the doors, that the system does not have auto-doorlocking capability when put in gear? I'm assuming with the previous owner being in pizza delivery, this was also hacked out? So if anybody knows the wire colors for these two I'd appreciate it.

[fredjacksonsan]

I'm thinking the burned up fan might be caused by the relay sticking and the fan being on all the time. If it runs as soon as the vehicle is started, that could be the case (or it was just hard wired). Lots of replacement options, new fan and relay, new temperature sensor, or put in an old fashioned engine driven fan.

Auto locking doors...on my 04 there's an option in the overhead computer to do that, or lock them at 14mph or something. I think on the 98 it's the "message center" maybe? But if you go in there you might see the option to change it.

Alarm and wiring? Not me, but someone should be along soon....

[wrightz28]

Thanks,

On the fan, no it wasn't running at all times, maybe when the A/C was called upon, but not when the engine starts. The only time it had been called on in the last month was when the defroster was selected and it didn't have any problems then. Since it's the 3rd fan in a few years I'm just going to have to sleuth it out. Was just checking if this might be a common issue.

On the auto locks, I helped add in an overhead concole a few years back on this truck for the previous owner. But it's a basic with trip, economy, compass/temp. Forgive my ignorance but "message center"? I don't think this puppy's got one?

[fredjacksonsan]

Message center was something on the older Dodge Trucks, I thought Jeeps had it 1 or 2 years, obviously I was wrong.

As far as the fan, the actual fan isn't an issue, from what I recall; just the relay.

If you have the 2 fan setup, then one is for normal cooling, and the other cuts in when the AC comes on.

I'm not anywhere near to an electrical guy, but you might want to check the voltage to the fan, see if it's off.

[wrightz28]

Yeah, it runs a mechanical fan for normal cooling which is always fine at 200.

The secondary fan either ran full time, shoudln't of burnt the motor up but, or more likely it's getting too much amperage. I'll get on it soon enough and finger it out.

The message center, I remember seeing in a Grand Cherokee many years back.