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1999 Jeep Cherokee coolant bubble / overheating?

Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 176,535 MILES
My "check gauges" light came on yesterday & when I pulled over and popped the hood I saw the coolant "boiling" in the resevoir & spilling out all over the inside of the car (I only lost about 1/4 of it) as well as steam coming out of where the engine filter (?) Is located.

This happened a few years ago & the dealer said it was a bad switch on an internal fan, so the engine wasn't getting cooled off (?), Anyway it's not the 1st time it's happened. I was able to drive (i kep the heat on), the engine ran between 210-220 degrees and the problem hasn't resurfaced. I have been told it could be a bad radiator cap, among other things.

Any help, guidance, etc. Would be appreciated!
Thanks!
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Saturday, March 29th, 2008 AT 11:37 AM

11 Replies

Tiny
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So the fan is still not working? Or that was repaired a few years ago and the need to diagnose the overheating is present again?
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Saturday, March 29th, 2008 AT 11:59 AM
Tiny
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The fan was repaired - I do not know if the problem has come back or what, but I drove the car this morning & it seems ok other than smelling like burnt coolant (from the overflow). Engine running at normal temp.
Need to diagnose current problem.
Thanks!
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Saturday, March 29th, 2008 AT 12:05 PM
Tiny
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Okay I'm with you.

Make sure the coolant is full again. Make sure you are using a 50/50 mix of coolant/water.

IS there a radiator cap on that one, I can't see it from here :wink: If there is, leave it off when yopu start it and top the rad after starting, replace cap.

Start the engine, and let it come to temperature, watch the gauge so it doesn't get into the red zone.

Does the cooling fan come on before it hits that point?

Is there a leak happening seen while your waiting for the temp to rise?
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Saturday, March 29th, 2008 AT 12:10 PM
Tiny
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Thanks - radiator cap? Do you mean the clear/white -plastic resevoir where the coolant goes? This is where the "boiling" was occuring & the coolant was pouring out of the runoff (?) Hose that comes out of this.
There's what I thought was a radiator cap (it says "hot! Do not remove!) - Is this what I should remove before I start the enging instead?
Lastly - I wasn't diluting the coolant when adding all along. Oops.
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Saturday, March 29th, 2008 AT 12:25 PM
Tiny
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That system just has you fill it straight from the reservior and there is no cap for the rad then.

In that case just fill it where it should be with the 50/50, cap it and start it.

Look for leaks and keep an eye on the gauge.

You mentioned something about engine filter location steaming? Can you clarify that and or post a pic?
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Saturday, March 29th, 2008 AT 12:37 PM
Tiny
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The air filter I was referring to is the engine filter - it's fairly clean, considering it hasn't been replaced in at least 6 months.
I ran the engine for a while & it got very hot to the point of overheating, but the fan did not turn on, so this must be the problem. I was unable to determine which fuse controls the fan - owners manual lists a descript of all fuses & what they control but the fan isn't there - what else might cause the fan to "not work"?
Thanks again,
Tom

ps: I can take some pics if that will help, let me know
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Saturday, March 29th, 2008 AT 1:49 PM
Tiny
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Hey Tom,

Yeah cooling fan is where we need to go. I subscribe to a tech software to be able to do this, so let me look it up and I'll post back.
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Saturday, March 29th, 2008 AT 4:37 PM
Tiny
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https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/30961_j1_1.jpg



Well Let's start here.
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Saturday, March 29th, 2008 AT 4:43 PM
Tiny
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Is this @ the fuse box or somewhere else (i.E. What's a kick panel?) - The fuse box lists fuses 5, 10 as the radio & spare.
Thanks
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Sunday, March 30th, 2008 AT 8:35 AM
Tiny
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Nevermind I found the relay box
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Sunday, March 30th, 2008 AT 8:38 AM
Tiny
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I replaced the fan fuse (it was "popped up" which I assume means it was blown), but this did not fix the problem. I ran the engine for 15 minutes, the temp got above 225 and small traces of smoke began to come from the radiator cap but the fan did not kick on.
Could there be another problem I am missing?
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Sunday, March 30th, 2008 AT 10:03 AM

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