1996 Jeep Cherokee Jeep temp light

JEEPERS

MEMBER
1996 JEEP CHEROKEE
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
144,000 MILES

My 1996 Jeep Cherokee temperature light comes on after 1 hour of driving in the summer. Light stays off if I drive fast on the highway, but will come on it I get stuck in traffic after 1 hour of driving. Can get the light to go off if I turn on the heater and blast it (no fun on a summer day.) Light will also go off if I get back up to speed. No sign of any leaks.

thoughts?

fan clutch?
thermostat?
radiator clog?
old coolant? (Yes, it's 12 years old.)

3 Replies

MARKYZ

MEMBER
39 POSTS

TWELVE YEARS?

The longest you should run your coolant is 5 years, and that is only if it's rated as "extended life". Usually its only TWO years.

Have your cooling systems serviced including the replacement of the thermostat and a flush of the system.

After you start your engine pop your hood and look at your fan, if it's spinning, it's working :)

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Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008 AT 9:53 PM

JEEPERS

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Ok - I broke down and changed the coolant and thermostat - light still comes on - with the engine running and the light on, I popped the hood. The belt driven radiator fan on the left (as you look into the hood) is turning away, but the electric fan on the right is not.

Where is the fuse located, and where is the fan relay
(and any other suggestions?)

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Wednesday, July 9th, 2008 AT 10:08 AM

TV8BIRD

MEMBER
10 POSTS

This is going to sound really stupid, but before you go pulling relays and fuses, try this:

Thump the fan shroud with your hand and see if it kicks back on.

A lot of times, the electric fan just stops working. I had this problem with my girlfriend's '98, and I've read other forums on other websites where people have done the same thing.

Of course, hitting it isn't a fix. You'll have to replace the fan.

J ust
E mpty
E very
P ocket

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Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 AT 6:58 AM