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Overheating when towing

Tiny
BFOX197
  • MEMBER
  • 2006 JEEP COMMANDER
  • 4.7L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 127,000 MILES
Engine begins to overheat when towing only when A/C is on. Engine is fine with A/C on when not towing.
Saturday, July 27th, 2019 AT 4:55 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

When your vehicle's Air Conditioning comes on it puts an added load on your engine via the Air Conditioning compressor that is run off of the serpentine belt. Then when you're towing on top of that it is adding even more a load to the engine, and that is why your vehicle is overheating. Have you checked to ensure that your coolant level isn't low? Also, when your vehicle's Air Conditioning comes on does the engine cooling fan kick on at the same time? Please get back to us with the answers to the questions and we can go from there.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Saturday, July 27th, 2019 AT 1:28 PM
Tiny
BFOX197
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hi Alex, I understand the extra load put on the engine. It didn't do this in the past. The coolant level is fine and I had a mechanic check the fan, fuses, relays, sensors and all else are fine. Everyone is at a loss.
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Saturday, July 27th, 2019 AT 1:55 PM
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello again,

A way to possibly combat your overheating issue might be to install a new thermostat in your vehicle with a lower opening temperature. The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) thermostat has a 195 degree opening temperature. You might want to try a thermostat with a 185 or 175 degree opening temperature. Another option might be to get a better radiator. There are performance 2 and 3 row radiators that offer greatly improved cooling performance than the OEM radiators do. Maybe a combination of both? Let us know how things are progressing, please.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Saturday, July 27th, 2019 AT 11:51 PM
Tiny
BFOX197
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thanks Alex. I will start with the thermostat and go from there.
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Sunday, July 28th, 2019 AT 5:08 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 43,047 POSTS
If I can jump in here. it sounds like the fan clutch is not working correctly. can you hear in engage when the car is running hot? Here are to guides to help fix the problem with diagrams below to help you on your car:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Also a video to show you how to remove the clutch:

https://youtu.be/N_-MLVlBHk8

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.
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Tuesday, July 30th, 2019 AT 1:07 PM

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