Bad time to be in AZ; I need some ideas

[Just Chillin]

With a 3 speed automatic, 3.07 gears, and 33in tires, that doesn’t sound good. Running the engine at a low RPM can cause heating issues. At 60 mph you are likely running 1950 rpm. That’s too low to push a lifted brick through the air. Try your same freeway test but in second gear. That would put you at 3000 rpm which would be good.

 

[macleanflood]

What about @Jezza Texas Jeep Products water pump overdrive pulley as a temporary quick fix/bandaid while addressing larger issues?

-Mac

 

[KennethS]

With a 3 speed automatic, 3.07 gears, and 33in tires, that doesn’t sound good. Running the engine at a low RPM can cause heating issues. At 60 mph you are likely running 1950 rpm. That’s too low to push a lifted brick through the air. Try your same freeway test but in second gear. That would put you at 3000 rpm which would be good.

Based on the information he posted below, it appears he has an air flow issue at idle - the temperature climbs when the vehicle is stopped, then it comes down when the vehicle is moving.

Az02Tj said:
Once the jeep stopped moving the temp climbs rapidly. Very rapidly. But if I shut off the ac it stays where it is for a second then drops slowly. Or if i turn the ac off and drive again it drops very very back done to 210.

 

[AVGodZ]

I’d definitely pull the grill inserts for an AZ rig.

 

[Az02Tj]

And, actually it can sit and idle no problem. Its only when the ac is on. I drove it today to work and back. Ac blasting the whole way and it stayed between 200 and 210. I get off the freeway and sit for 4 minutes with the ac on and it jumps to 230. I turn the ac off and it regulates back down to 215. Im stumped.

 

[Az02Tj]

And the fan clutch is brand new

 

[KennethS]

And the fan clutch is brand new

But is it working properly? New does not always mean good, unfortunately.

When the AC is on, the condenser is dumping heat in front of the radiator, and that is heating the air that flows across the radiator. The radiator and fan have to be capable of removing that heat.

 

[Az02Tj]

But is it working properly? New does not always mean good, unfortunately.

When the AC is on, the condenser is dumping heat in front of the radiator, and that is heating the air that flows across the radiator. The radiator and fan have to be capable of removing that heat.

As far as I know it is. I haven't done any test but when I cold started it yesterday it was spinning but not fully with the but (not engaged) and when at operating temp say on the freeway when I give it gas you can hear the fan roaring. Other than that I guess I dont know.

 

[xXDavidCXx]

As far as I know it is. I haven't done any test but when I cold started it yesterday it was spinning but not fully with the but (not engaged) and when at operating temp say on the freeway when I give it gas you can hear the fan roaring. Other than that I guess I dont know.

What happens when you spin the fan by hand when the engine is cold?

 

[Just Chillin]

The reason I mentioned the low rpm on the freeway is because you can generate a lot of residual heat that once you get off the freeway and you are at idle, there is not enough airflow and water flow to deal with it.

Also, a restricted exhaust can do the same thing. Maybe the cats are clogged? We seen that before.

 

[Az02Tj]

What happens when you spin the fan by hand when the engine is cold?

when i spin the fan clutch cold it turns but not far at all. like maybe barely 1/4 of a turn.

 

[Az02Tj]

The reason I mentioned the low rpm on the freeway is because you can generate a lot of residual heat that once you get off the freeway and you are at idle, there is not enough airflow and water flow to deal with it.

Also, a restricted exhaust can do the same thing. Maybe the cats are clogged? We seen that before.

You know what I completely forgot to try that on the way to work today. I will leave a note on the door to remind me in the morning to try. And I didn't even thing about the cats being possible plugged up.

But a little update from today. Today in Arizona it was 108 degrees. And still I am able to drive on roads, freeways, anything with the ac full blast. But if i am just at idle parked for more than 3-4 min my temp is still raising. But i can stay in that park position and shut the ac off and the temp will level out back to 210. And freeway driving isn't always involved. If i were to just run to the gas station for a hot dog and come back out and try to eat the hot dog with the ac on it will start to go up very quickly. I don't know what it is about having the ac on at idle the jeep is not liking at all..

 

[Rickyd]

Which radiator did you use? They aren't all equal and most aftermarket ones don't cool like factory.

@Irun has a nice breakdown of various radiators towards the end of his build thread

 

[Jamison C]

It could be worse! My AC in my place broke two weeks ago, it got up to 90° inside today

Getting fixed tomorrow thankfully.

 

[MikeE024]

You know what I completely forgot to try that on the way to work today. I will leave a note on the door to remind me in the morning to try. And I didn't even thing about the cats being possible plugged up.

I wouldn’t go that route. You said it drives fine but gets hot in idle.

But a little update from today. Today in Arizona it was 108 degrees. And still I am able to drive on roads, freeways, anything with the ac full blast. But if i am just at idle parked for more than 3-4 min my temp is still raising. But i can stay in that park position and shut the ac off and the temp will level out back to 210.

Have you confirmed that your fan is pulling air from the radiator rather than pushing towards it? Send us a photo of your fan orientation if you aren't sure which way it should point.

210-215 is too high in idle with the AC off, so you need to get your ECTs down in idle. I'm around 203* or lower idling in Tucson, and I have two coolers in the grill

Grill insert aren’t helping you get more airflow.

And freeway driving isn't always involved. If i were to just run to the gas station for a hot dog and come back out and try to eat the hot dog with the ac on it will start to go up very quickly. I don't know what it is about having the ac on at idle the jeep is not liking at all..

The AC in idle is only making your problem worse...it should not be considered the problem yet since you are running too hot even when the AC is off.

You are fine when you have airflow driving, so we already knew your water pump was fine. You need a good fan clutch to have the fan pull air through the radiator when you are idling (again, I'd confirm the fan's orientation is correct as well).

What fan clutch are you running?

You can get a new Hayden 2971 from Amazon via Prime for $44.00. It looks almost identical sitting next to my Mopar fan clutch. The Amazon system is wrong when it says it won't fit.

Don't assume a fan clutch works well just because it's new. And spinning it in idle isn't very helpful because that doesn't tell you how much it's potentially slipping when things get hot (I know this all too well).

Similar to the water pump, I'm leery of blaming your radiator or thermostat since you didn't have issues when driving.

 

[MikeE024]

It could be worse! My AC in my place broke two weeks ago, it got up to 90° inside today

Getting fixed tomorrow thankfully.

It could be worse! My friend's AC went down when it was 116* outside a couple years back (about 25 days before her lease ended).

Management neglected her problem for multiple days, so I motivated them with some pointed words.

 

[MikeE024]

I wouldn’t go that route. You said it drives fine but gets hot in idle.



Have you confirmed that your fan is pulling air from the radiator rather than pushing towards it? Send us a photo of your fan orientation if you aren't sure which way it should point.

210-215 is too high in idle with the AC off, so you need to get your ECTs down in idle. I'm around 203* or lower idling in Tucson, and I have two coolers in the grill

Grill insert aren’t helping you get more airflow.



The AC in idle is only making your problem worse...it should not be considered the problem yet since you are running too hot even when the AC is off.

You are fine when you have airflow driving, so we already knew your water pump was fine. You need a good fan clutch to have the fan pull air through the radiator when you are idling (again, I'd confirm the fan's orientation is correct as well).

What fan clutch are you running?

You can get a new Hayden 2971 from Amazon via Prime for $44.00. It looks almost identical sitting next to my Mopar fan clutch. The Amazon system is wrong when it says it won't fit.

Don't assume a fan clutch works well just because it's new. And spinning it in idle isn't very helpful because that doesn't tell you how much it's potentially slipping when things get hot (I know this all too well).

Similar to the water pump, I'm leery of blaming your radiator or thermostat since you didn't have issues when driving.

Also, are you sure you have a good 195* thermostat installed? Your current thermostat might be staying closed longer than it should. I can't speak to the longevity of a Murray since I sold the Jeep soon after, but I've had good luck with Mopar and Flowkooler (Robert Shaw) thermostats.

I gingerly bring up the thermostat because maybe a partially closed thermostat results in hotter temps when the air flow isn't moving a much in idle. This is pure guesswork.

 

[Just Chillin]

This is my stock 05. Does your fan shroud look and fit like this? Does your fan look stock?