Jeep Cherokee intermittent overheating

[Wozzaaah]

Long story short… 120 odd mile trip yesterday, 90 miles in and suddenly the temperature gauge goes to max and the car goes into low power mode.
We pulled over and called the RAC but were sat for 2 hours waiting for them, by which time the gauge had dropped to 1/4. I decided we’d try and get closer to our destination and for the next 23 miles the gauge never got above just under half way and the car behaved faultlessly.
Any suggestions? I did wonder if the cap had failed as the coolant was definitely boiling in the expansion tank but wasn’t blowing out so now I’m not so sure.

 

[Blobber]

Thermostat on its way out?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Thermostat on its way out?

Could be a very good shout.

 

[angellonewolf]

trip on the motorway/natinal speed limit should not realy need a fan on the motor way ?

saying that its been hot of late

 

[Ed.]

Also check your temp sensor, mine gave me grieve for over twelve months, throwing up a stack of different totally unrelated error codes. Took it several times to a dealership and couldn't find any fault, took it to my local mechanic and same deal , the third time he had a scan tool connected when it went wonky and the temp went down to -1500c in the software, a cheap $30 part that was shorting out the CAN Bus. It kept throwing up errors such as 4WD transmission needed servicing, shutting down the air conditioning and a stack of others issues. I will never ever buy another Jeep!!

 

[Wozzaaah]

It definitely overheated, for sure.
It’s currently in a local garage.
Knowing what I know about them now I’ll never buy another Jeep either. Decent enough car but getting hold of parts can be a nightmare!

 

[Wozzaaah]

They’ve just phoned, “restricted flow in coolant system”, so they’re going to perform a flush and refill so we can go from there. Hopefully it’ll get us home ok on Friday.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Do a sniffer test for exhaust fumes in expansion bottle.

Had it on my vextra, twice.

 

[dobbslc]

Have you made sure they replace the thermostat as if that's stuck shut that will be the restriction!
My son keeps on about getting a Jeep but after talking to my Jeep owning next door neighbour I've told him NO!
Good luck

 

[Wozzaaah]

They’ve said the thermostat and temperature sender are working perfectly, it’s just reduced flow within the system. The heater has never worked properly since we’ve owned it, so there’s probably a build up of residue throughout. As long as we can get home ok, that’s my Sunday sorted.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@Wozzaaah prospect motors spares do a good cooling system flush.

 

[dobbslc]

They’ve said the thermostat and temperature sender are working perfectly, it’s just reduced flow within the system. The heater has never worked properly since we’ve owned it, so there’s probably a build up of residue throughout. As long as we can get home ok, that’s my Sunday sorted.

I suppose once a blockage starts it's much easier for other cxxp to get caught and make it worse then add the hot weather in with a loaded up car...
Is it an auto?
The Surf and Landcruiser have a transmission cooler built into the bottom of the radiator, I can watch the temperature gauge rising going up hills in the summer.
I fitted a digital temperature gauge after replacing the cylinder head on the Surf so I can tell what the actual temperature is, the factory one lies and won't budge from the middle until it's too late!