Engine overheating?

Tiny
MATTGAK
  • MEMBER
  • 2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
  • 3.6L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,000 MILES
Coolant temperature overheating. The temperature goes up and down and I can't exactly pin point any set pattern. Been going on for about a day and a half. Overheat light came on twice but went off almost immediately (maybe a second) it definitely didn't get to out but I have no idea. Coolant looks good. Fans running. Doesn't appear to have any leaks and I have had a thermostat installed within the last year. Any advice would be great.
Thursday, June 11th, 2020 AT 11:50 PM

25 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

This is acting as a thermostat. I would start there.

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

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-thermostat

Make sure the coolant level is good as well.

Roy

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Friday, June 12th, 2020 AT 4:48 AM
Tiny
MATTGAK
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thank you, I got my replacement thermostat (within 12 months) installed. And it seems to have fixed the issue. Will check back in with further question if problem starts back up. Thanks!
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Sunday, June 14th, 2020 AT 6:57 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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You are welcome.

Always glad to help.

Roy
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Sunday, June 14th, 2020 AT 6:59 AM
Tiny
DEBORAHW
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2011 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
  • 3.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • 147,000 MILES
Last summer engine overheated due to leak in system. Subsequently, leak(s)repaired. I have no further details except I had to take it back as it was leaking coolant onto the passenger floorboard so the mechanic did something to disable the heater to work.

A year later, car running hot at times. Noticed overflow tank low so would add antifreeze to “full” line periodically.

Car overheated in spite of full overfill tank. Mechanic checked that the fan runs and hoses feel cold so mechanic put in new thermostat. Ran normally for 5 days. I would check antifreeze levels when car is cold in the AM directly by removing radiator cap as a preventative. Then two days in a row it was overheating just on the return trip. Drive residential and highway (10 miles each way ) to town. Car was then parked for an hour or so but overheated on the same drive home. Yesterday, I checked the radiator coolant and it was low when I removed the cap so I added coolant directly here. All it did was fill up the overfill tank. It was slow to fill with a lot of air bubbles. Is that normal or indicative of a problem? I drove to and from town without issue. I ordered an ECT just in case. Any ideas? I’m taking the car to a different mechanic today. Thank you!
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,645 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

If you see bubbles in the cooling system with the engine running, that can indicate a bad head gasket. Here is a link that explains how to check for a bad head gasket. It talks about bubbles in the system. Take a look through it and let me know if that is what you saw.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JAMESCOGBURN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2006 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
  • 4.7L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 88 MILES
My vehicle is overheating while I am sitting in traffic. Once I shift it out of drive and into neutral the temperature starts going down. What do I do?
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,864 POSTS
When no overheating occurs at higher speeds where natural air flow is sufficient, suspect the radiator fan is not turning on. That is only needed at low speeds.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HEALCRIT
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
  • 4.1L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 246,000 MILES
Overheating a few days in a row. Went to see maybe if it needed water, went to open cap there was rust on cap and inside radiator. It’s brand new replaced half a year ago and lower hose and new also.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Good morning,

If you mean the radiator has been replaced a year ago, the rust from the block has contaminated the new radiator.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-flush-and-refill-all-cars

What you need to do is go to a radiator shop and have them acid flush the cooling system completely to get all the rust out of the system. The rust in the block will not come out with a normal flush. This type of flush is pressurized and done with the thermostat removed.

Roy
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NASCAR123
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
  • 4.7L
  • V8
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 170,000 MILES
Overheats after thirty minutes. Changed thermostat and still overheats. Had in the shop they couldn't find nothing wrong with it. The fan kicks on high when gauge is only halfway mark. Any help would be appreciated.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,645 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

Has the radiator and engine been flushed? Also, has anyone checked for a head gasket issue. Here are a couple links you may find helpful. Let me know if these things have already been done. Also, let me know if the check engine light is staying on when the engine is running and if anything other than a thermostat was done.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/coolant-flush-and-refill-all-cars

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NASCAR123
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Replaced cap and thermostat. Nothing has been flushed. Had it about four years.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Welcome back:

What I would suggest is to check to make sure there are no head gasket issues. If none are found, the next step would be to flush the system.

Let me know if I can help.

Joe
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NASCAR123
  • MEMBER
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Okay, thank you.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,645 POSTS
Welcome back:

You are very welcome. Let me know what you find. Also, and this may sound crazy, but make sure the lower hose isn't collapsing when it is overheating. I've see hoses without the inner support do that and cause an overheat.

Take care,
Joe
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NALCBLUE
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
  • 4 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 77,000 MILES
I put a new thermostat in my jeep grand che, and the only time it heats up is when it is idling. Once you start driving the heat is not there anymore
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,645 POSTS
Make sure the coolant is full. Also, check the blend door to make sure it is staying in the correct position. It may close the heat off when you are off idle. Do this. Drive the vehicle until the engine is hot and you lose heat. Once you lose heat, open the hood and check both heater core hoses. Both should be hot. IF they are, it is related to the blend door. If only one is hot, try flushing the heater core.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:27 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CLAYTON1545
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  • 2 POSTS
  • 2004 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE
  • 4.0L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
This is my son's vehicle, and I am not where it is.
Driving at highway speed, engine started heating up suddenly, and lost all heat to interior. Pulled over, let it cool off some, then drove a few more miles to destination, it heated up again.
Top rad hose hot and under pressure. Lower rad hose cold. Both heater hoses cool to touch. Rad cap not hot while engine running, but heats up when it sits with engine off for a few minutes.
Installed new thermo and gasket, but made no difference.
Removed heater hose off rad housing, and with the engine running, there is pressure there. Time restraints didn't allow him to try and remove other heater (return) hose to see if it was coming through there, but I doubt it as there is no heat in the cabin. (This may be a separate issue?)
Thinking about removing lower rad hose to see if there is good flow through rad, but as above, time constraints.
He is at work today, so I am trying to find something out, that will help him solve this.
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,645 POSTS
Since the heat loss and the overheating started at the same time, I would think they are related. Is the coolant level full? Has he ever flushed the heater core as well as the radiator?
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CLAYTON1545
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
No flushes, to my knowledge, but this seems a little too sudden to be a problem with plugging. So solidly, doesn't it?

He told me later that he had an earlier issue with the heat controller that is behind the glove box on this vehicle, s I am leaning toward there being a simultaneous malfunction/failure there.

Also, wondering if (worst case scenario) could this be pointing at a blown head gasket or intake manifold gasket? I understand that there is a test for this? A dye of some sort that reacts in the coolant?
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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 2:28 PM (Merged)

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