T-Stat and Tune Up Time?

[Pinkyman]

Since its been getting colder out, and ive been driving the Jeep more than my car, i noticed that the temp gauge only gets up to about 160-ish, and the heat only gets somewhat warm, but not hot like (i assume) it should normally be. Do i need to head to the dealer and get a warmer (190*) thermostat?

Also, i think its time for a tune up. I noticed today that there was a very rhythmic "pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop" while i was idling (it was coming from the exhaust, but i couldnt really feel a misfire), and it seemed to go away once it warmed up. Im guessing since who knows when it was done last, that its time for plugs, wires cap and rotor.


Heres where my temp gauge sits at all the time once its warm:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/Rocketryan1/20151201_130831_zpse5snmhre.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rocketryan1/media/20151201_130831_zpse5snmhre.jpg.html)

[GoneWithTheWind]

You live in the land of a thousand ice rinks, get a zippered radiator cover made for your Jeep. Like the ones you see on the big rigs.
Tell Willy the Walleye hello for me the next time you him :)

[Pinkyman]

You live in the land of a thousand ice rinks, get a zippered radiator cover made for your Jeep. Like the ones you see on the big rigs.
Tell Willy the Walleye hello for me the next time you him :)

By zippered radiator cover, you mean cardboard? :D

Correct me if im wrong, but Im not sure that that is the issue, as the temp gauge was in the exact same spot, even when it was like 70* out....

[Carves]

Does it get up to the so-called, "normal", XJ temp and then drop down,

or does it only rise to the temp on the gauge ??


If the temp is not going high and low, its likely your old one is stuck open - or you ended up with a 160*/170* t'stat in there at some time.

I would have suggested a dodgy temp sensor ... but you reckon your heater is cooler than normal.

[Pinkyman]

Does it get up to the so-called, "normal", XJ temp and then drop down, or does it only rise to to the temp on the gauge ??

It only goes up to where it is in the picture. It runs steady there, and does not ever get any higher than that.

[Carves]

T'stat is likely to be stuck open then ... They're cheap - bang a newy in and see how it goes.

[GoneWithTheWind]

By zippered radiator cover, you mean cardboard? :D

Correct me if im wrong, but Im not sure that that is the issue, as the temp gauge was in the exact same spot, even when it was like 70* out....

I was going to use cardboard on mine. It's only cold here for a few months at most.

[Pinkyman]

Sounds like its time for plugs, wires, cap, rotor and a thermostat.

........My wife will be thrilled that i need to spend more time in the garage working on the Jeep........ :smiley-scared003:

[Pinkyman]

Well I replaced my thermostat tonight with a 195* one.... I pulled the old one out of the bucket it fell in, and realized that was a 195 as well. I topped off my coolant, and found out that at operating temp, my radiator cap is still not really hot. I guess this spring I'm going to have to flush it all out and see what's going on.

My heat seems to be better, but my gauge still sits just a hair higher than it did before I started.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/Rocketryan1/Mobile%20Uploads/20160105_194437_zpsedttpbnj.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rocketryan1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160105_194437_zpsedttpbnj.jpg.html)

My old thermostat...

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/Rocketryan1/Mobile%20Uploads/20160105_195222_zpseszj9q5h.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rocketryan1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160105_195222_zpseszj9q5h.jpg.html)



At least it was nice and warm in the garage even though it's about 18*F outside lol

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/Rocketryan1/20160105_191942_zpszyoitz0b.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rocketryan1/media/20160105_191942_zpszyoitz0b.jpg.html)

[slvmart]

Did you try to verify your engine temp independently ? Either a accessory gauge or ir hand held ?

[Pinkyman]

Did you try to verify your engine temp independently ? Either a accessory gauge or ir hand held ?

I dont have an IR gauge or anything like that. But after driving it to work today, there is definitely no change in the heater temp. I may try backflushing my heater core and seeing what happens since that is easy and quick.

The high on Sunday is 1*F, so ill probably just park the jeep for the next week unless i can get this sorted.

[xj-jake]

Definitely flush the system and go from there. Had the same thing with the wife's WJ last winter. Temp would read good but very little heat would come out of the vents. After a flush it'll near cook you out of the cabin.

[bluedragon436]

I would say try backlashing the heater core and see if that seems to help any.. That is what I did to my old XJ as well as my current XJ... and it seems to have helped as far as the heat output.. another thing you could check is make sure you have a good radiator cap as well.. Never hurts to try and they are pretty cheap as well.. I know that was something I did to my 98 XJ, and it helped when I was having a random temp readings and crappy heat output.. Figure it's worth a try, and if nothing else you'll know it is sealing and pressurizing correctly...

[XJ Wheeler]

Definitely flush the heater core^^^ Good thing to do every year or so anyway. Especially since you just got this one not long ago.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[sKrazo]

It's easy to pressure test the radiator cap at any AZ or Oreily.

[Pinkyman]

I think in the next day or so im going to try the water and compressed air way to back flush the heater core. Either that, or im going to use a 307 that i have with a garden hose, so i can just use my compressor and 5 gallon buckets.

Being that its been a consistent 0*F for a week, i cant just grab the garden hose and do it the normal way. At least if i use the 307 it will be close, and i can still use the garden hose, just from the comfort of my heated garage lol. We will see how it goes. Hopefully i will have heat again.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e124/Rocketryan1/13156.tif.imagep.87.20.1130.811_zpsrjb41kl0.png (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/Rocketryan1/media/13156.tif.imagep.87.20.1130.811_zpsrjb41kl0.png.ht ml)

[XJ Wheeler]

Just don't put too much pressure on it.

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