Hello everyone, this is my first post on this forum, which I am glad to have found. I bought a 2003 TJ sahara 4.0 with 130k a month ago. It has a leak in the crankshaft seal but that doesn't worry me much at the moment. The question I would like to ask here is about temperature. Is it normal for the jeep to go a little over 210? I have measured it with a scanner and it can even reach 220 or 222 and then go down and keep oxylating. By turning it off and being off for a while, temperatures of 224 or something like that can be measured until they begin to drop. I have not yet gone at high speeds in this car nor have I had to endure long lines of traffic with it, so I am concerned about the temperature issue. Can anyone shed some light on this?
About Jeep TJ 2003 temperatures
- Thread starter 4.0TJOwner
- Start date
210⁰ is what the factory designed the TJ to run at. 10⁰ over normal operating temperature is nothing to be concerned about.
I've seen this said a thousand times here, but what nobody really ever wants to address is that if it has run at one particular number forever, and then all of a sudden it runs 10* hotter for a time, that feels like it's worth trying to understand. I get "normal range of operation" and all that, but the jeep defines its own range of operation eventually. But when it goes outside of what it normally does, it bears investigation beyond "that's normal move along." IMHO, anyway.
That said, I don't have thing constructive to offer on why OP's temp is fluctuating.
Florida is pretty warm now, is this with AC on or off? I'm in AZ and the first summer I had my TJ I was seeing some higher temps with AC on and city driving, it could get close to 230F at a long red light unless I switched off the AC, and after engine shut down my reservoir would boil over. I eventually replaced the after market aluminum radiator with an OEM Mopar, probably one of the last ones available since nobody seems to be able to get one now. I also replaced the thermostat with a Robert Shaw Flowkooler 195. After that it didn't get near 230 again. It will still reach over 220F at a long red light with AC on and outside temps over 100F, but as soon as I get moving it cools down fast. I also installed a compressor cutoff switch on my shifter that I use at drive thrus and when accelerating hard. I also use it to kill the compressor a couple minutes before I reach my destination to reduce heat soak after shutting down.
It's a lot of hot in Florida right now, but it doesn't matter if you drive at 5 in the morning or 2 in the afternoon it always does this, with air conditioning on or off it doesn't matter, it always moves between that range
That's what I mean, I have never had a car that varies the temperature in that way, at least in normal conditions, my previous car, a 2007 Chevy, when it got different temperatures it was because it had air in the coolant reservoir or when it turned off until it started to cool down. , but never when I was driving. Anyway, at first I also thought that it could be normal in the TJ to have those temperatures and now delving deeper into this forum and seeing other threads where people comment that it is normal to get maybe 220
So you're new to the TJ for a month. The temps aren't exact, but 210 is operating temp ish. These can fluctuate, but 224 and higher on a TJ I just bought, I'd do a few things, but this is just me.
1. I'd do some testing, highway then AC on and off, with a Traildash or whatever that plugs in that gives exact temps, Just see what it's doing, if there is consistency, and you can figure out a consistency, then it will give clues to what the problem actually is.
Depending on the exact issue, there are a few differences. If Sitting is the issue and it does fine while in motion, that would say the fan clutch needs replacement to pull air while sitting. I'd look and see if there is a leak, are the hoses good, any smell of leak in the Heater core. I'd let it idle up to temp and feel the top hose and if you feel the thermostat open and the top hose get hot at 195.
2. I'd personally put Thermocure in, run it a day or so and then be ready to flush it out, it most likely will be black.
I'd let it cool after a day, then drain it out of the bottom of radiator. Then I'd pull the Thermostat, and put the housing back with no stat. Then fill with distilled water. Run it 30 seconds, then shut it off and drain. it will move water throughout even when cold because no thermostat. Repeat until water is clearish. Then I'd drain and pull the block plug, probably not necessary but I did. Then I'd put a new Thermostat in, and Then fill with 50% Distilled and 50% coolant.
The flush and new thermostat are cheap and pretty simple. Then run it and see if you've got a significant difference.
I saw a huge difference putting in a Mopar OEM radiator, but those can't be had anymore. Not sure what the next best is.
Estaba pensando en cambiar todo el sistema de refrigeración, las mangueras se ven viejas y el radiador también, el embrague del ventilador parece estar funcionando raro ya que hoy al arrancar me di cuenta que va a toda velocidad al menos al principio por un tiempo. Estuve monitoreando el nivel de refrigerante y está perfecto, no hay fugas ni olor a refrigerante quemado. Del mismo modo, quiero todas esas mangueras nuevas, pero la pérdida de horas de trabajo me hizo retroceder económicamente. Así que estoy jodido al menos hasta el mes que viene, espero poder aguantar. Medí las temperaturas con un escáner y es exactamente así al conducir suele bajar a 208, 207, 210 en las paradas alcanza una temperatura de 217, 220. El aire acondicionado no ha creado temperaturas más altas.
There is nothing wrong your temperatures and their fluctuations are 100% normal. Really.
Then you’re not that out of bounds. 217-220 is ok. I would just do the Thermocure. Reason, for me, you never know if last owner used tap water. Thermocure gets any rust, turns it black. If you’re doing the hoses like you want, do the Thermostat and flush too is my mindset.
Agree, I was just suggesting if you’re concerned and just bought it, a flush wouldn’t hurt.
Jerry is correct, no need for anything with those temps.
Check.
Maybe we need a sticky like this.
"If you do "Beat a Dead Horse" by starting a new thread, take cover. Which brings us to the next point...
Don't Banter- You may get an answer you didn't want to hear, or a comment that you felt was offensive. As Chris Rock would say: "Let it slide"
This forum is full of gurus and all around helpful guys, just take criticism with a grain of salt. No need to be quick to defend yourself or attempt to insult the poster. Honestly, they don't really care.
Check.
View attachment 514648
Maybe we need a sticky like this.
"If you do "Beat a Dead Horse" by starting a new thread, take cover. Which brings us to the next point...
Don't Banter- You may get an answer you didn't want to hear, or a comment that you felt was offensive. As Chris Rock would say: "Let it slide"
This forum is full of guru's and all around helpful guys, just take criticism with a grain of salt. No need to be quick to defend yourself or attempt to insult the poster. Honestly, they don't really care."
Nice Breitling, I have one...but purchased it on Canal St in NYC....so not quite "Swiss Timing" ha.
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