WJCO's Build Thread, 1999 WJ

WJCO said:
Ordered a used AC clutch for this this thing. Being that I did visibly watch it slip one time, and it cycles too often, I'm going to try replacing it just to see. I got it cheap. Even though the one I have looked fair when I took it apart, I just want to try this as process of elimination. I'm not 100% convinced it will change a thing because temps do still rise with A/C off, however takes a lot longer to occur. But there is a chance the pulley bearing may be going out, so I'm going to replace the clutch/coil/pulley. Next step will be a block test and pressure test. Then I don't know....
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Sorry but I forget but did you look for a clog in the condenser? I was working on a f-150 recently where it was cycling every 3-5 seconds. The shop that was doing the work (we just charged the system) replaced everything but the condenser. Once it was replaced pressures were good and worked perfectly. We cut it open and the bottom half of it was clogged. Might be worth looking into
 
cozdude said:
Sorry but I forget but did you look for a clog in the condenser? I was working on a f-150 recently where it was cycling every 3-5 seconds. The shop that was doing the work (we just charged the system) replaced everything but the condenser. Once it was replaced pressures were good and worked perfectly. We cut it open and the bottom half of it was clogged. Might be worth looking into
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Good suggestion. I've had this thought for awhile as well. The only thing keeping me from diagnosing it too thoroughly is that we're approaching the end of the season where I'll need to even use the A/C. I sold my gauges years ago, so I would likely need to get a set and check for high pressure. A couple of things that have led me away from this though, AC cools fine if ambient temp is in the 70s. When this thing does act up in the 90s, even keeping the RPMs at 1500 for a few seconds, and everything works normally. I would think a restriction would be more constant. It's really pissing me off, lol.
 
Sucks to hear you're STILL having problems with the heating issue. My buddy Eli's TJ has been having a huge issue with overheating all summer, as well. We've replaced everything we possible can on that damn cooling system and nothing has worked. Hopefully you get it worked out before next summer! :crazyeyes:
 
BananaJeep said:
Sucks to hear you're STILL having problems with the heating issue. My buddy Eli's TJ has been having a huge issue with overheating all summer, as well. We've replaced everything we possible can on that damn cooling system and nothing has worked. Hopefully you get it worked out before next summer! :crazyeyes:
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Sure does suck. I hope it gets fixed soon too. One thing at a time.
 
WJCO said:
Sure does suck. I hope it gets fixed soon too. One thing at a time.
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I was reading a little bit about your overheating issue and I'm having the same thing with my 3.8.
I talked to a guy yesterday who is very knowledgeable and said that he had one on his vehicle and he had to take the radiator hose off the top, pour the coolant into the head through a funnel... And could hear the water running through. He put a gallon and a half in it. This guy has been a manager at O'Reilly for years and is a very good mechanic and took him months to figure out. Maybe you have something like that going on?
I know on some of the cars like BMWs and some of the new Ford trucks you have to fill them at an angle or even burp them by jacking them up on one side and letting it down.

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rumblebee3 said:
I was reading a little bit about your overheating issue and I'm having the same thing with my 3.8.
I talked to a guy yesterday who is very knowledgeable and said that he had one on his vehicle and he had to take the radiator hose off the top, pour the coolant into the head through a funnel... And could hear the water running through. He put a gallon and a half in it. This guy has been a manager at O'Reilly for years and is a very good mechanic and took him months to figure out. Maybe you have something like that going on?
I know on some of the cars like BMWs and some of the new Ford trucks you have to fill them at an angle or even burp them by jacking them up on one side and letting it down.

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I have heard of that as well on various engines, and I guess it's possible. Only thing is that this issue just randomly started one day, it wasn't after any repairs. Also, I have done repairs on this in the past (not recently) where I did have to open the cooling system and after those repairs, everything was just fine (years ago). Mine has a bleed screw at the top of the timing cover where the upper hose goes in and that is full of coolant.

Are you thinking yours is going to be something like this?
 
WJCO said:
I have heard of that as well on various engines, and I guess it's possible. Only thing is that this issue just randomly started one day, it wasn't after any repairs. Also, I have done repairs on this in the past (not recently) where I did have to open the cooling system and after those repairs, everything was just fine (years ago). Mine has a bleed screw at the top of the timing cover where the upper hose goes in and that is full of coolant.

Are you thinking yours is going to be something like this?
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Well hmmmmmm.... That is odd. Cars suck, period. Not sure what's going on with mine yet.

We just bought it a couple weeks ago and when we were out Wheeling I noticed if you let it sit even with the air conditioner on or off it wants to heat up a little bit. And has an electric fan on it so it's not a mechanical fan issue, also it goes away once you start moving again so wondering if the thermostat is sticking or maybe week water pump flow???

Doesn't get too crazy hot but enough to make me wonder if something is amiss. But it's got 193,000 miles on it.... So I'm assuming things are probably a little worn out. Going to look into it this weekend.

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rumblebee3 said:
Well hmmmmmm.... That is odd. Cars suck, period. Not sure what's going on with mine yet.

We just bought it a couple weeks ago and when we were out Wheeling I noticed if you let it sit even with the air conditioner on or off it wants to heat up a little bit. And has an electric fan on it so it's not a mechanical fan issue, also it goes away once you start moving again so wondering if the thermostat is sticking or maybe week water pump flow???

Doesn't get too crazy hot but enough to make me wonder if something is amiss. But it's got 193,000 miles on it.... So I'm assuming things are probably a little worn out. Going to look into it this weekend.

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That's exactly what mine is doing. I really thought it would end up being bugs/mud in condensor and radiator, but I've cleaned it out a bunch, definitely not that. I even made a sprayer tool out of cooper pipe to get down in there without having to pull the radiator out.
 
WJCO said:
That's exactly what mine is doing. I really thought it would end up being bugs/mud in condensor and radiator, but I've cleaned it out a bunch, definitely not that. I even made a sprayer tool out of cooper pipe to get down in there without having to pull the radiator out.
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One thing the guy I talked to the other day suggested is take a temp gauge(which we have here at work conveniently enough) and let the vehicle sit there and warm up and turn the air conditioning on. When it starts warming up past the normal point check the temperature at the thermostat housing to see if it reads accordingly with the temp gauge.

It could be a finicky temp gauge on yours and mine?? If the temp reads okay and it's the gauge that's all then problem solved. But if the temperature is raised up enough with the temp gauge reading accordingly.... Then I'm going to try putting a new thermostat in it and look at the water pump maybe as well.

I would try bleeding your little pressure relief valve again as I'm going to do the same thing. Like he told me, if your radiator hose is up above the block started out of nowhere???

As far as mine goes, it's new to me so no telling how long it has been doing this or why. Up to me to find that out now.

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WJCO said:
That's exactly what mine is doing. I really thought it would end up being bugs/mud in condensor and radiator, but I've cleaned it out a bunch, definitely not that. I even made a sprayer tool out of cooper pipe to get down in there without having to pull the radiator out.
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I'll let you know what I find out as far as using the temp gauge today... Hopefully that shed some light on both of our problems.

All this effort and it's probably something simple... hopefully 🤞

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rumblebee3 said:
One thing the guy I talked to the other day suggested is take a temp gauge(which we have here at work conveniently enough) and let the vehicle sit there and warm up and turn the air conditioning on. When it starts warming up past the normal point check the temperature at the thermostat housing to see if it reads accordingly with the temp gauge.

It could be a finicky temp gauge on yours and mine?? If the temp reads okay and it's the gauge that's all then problem solved. But if the temperature is raised up enough with the temp gauge reading accordingly.... Then I'm going to try putting a new thermostat in it and look at the water pump maybe as well.
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rumblebee3 said:
I'll let you know what I find out as far as using the temp gauge today... Hopefully that shed some light on both of our problems.
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Yep, I did that. Laser temp gun confirmed the engine is getting hot. I'm reading 220-230 at the intake near the temp sender which coincides with the gauge.
 
rumblebee3 said:
Well shit.... Have you tried changing the thermostat? I probably didn't read back far enough.

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Lol. Yes. Twice.

Tstat replaced last year, then again last month.
Water pump, once last year, and again last month.
Fan clutch 2 months ago, then again yesterday for hopes and dreams.
Radiator and cooling system has been flushed 3 times (once chemically) with no signs of any debris, coolant looks great. Radiator is about 3 years old.
Radiator cap is new.
Even flushed heater core.
Belt is new.
Belt tensioner is new.
Electric fan is new and works perfectly.
Fan shroud in tact and sealed.
Cleaned condensor fins and radiator fins, they're almost new looking and not bent either.
No signs of external leaks other than the heater core (which leaked worse last year and this problem didn't exist).
No signs of bubbles in cooling system, no intermix in oil nor coolant.
I've bled the system at least 3 times.
Also, coolant level doesn't drop, stays full.

Only 3 items left:

Radiator internally clogged?
Something related to the AC system?
Internal engine breach between combustion system and cooling system?

If I rev up engine, all symptoms go away. Everything works perfectly.

I am going to do a pressure test just to see if there are any leaks that I can't see.
 
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WJCO said:
Lol. Yes. Twice.

Tstat replaced last year, then again last month.
Water pump, once last year, and again last month.
Fan clutch 2 months ago, then again yesterday for hopes and dreams.
Radiator and cooling system has been flushed 3 times (once chemically) with no signs of any debris, coolant looks great. Radiator is about 3 years old.
Radiator cap is new.
Even flushed heater core.
Belt is new.
Belt tensioner is new.
Electric fan is new and works perfectly.
Fan shroud in tact and sealed.
Cleaned condensor fins and radiator fins, they're almost new looking and not bent either.
No signs of external leaks other than the heater core (which leaked worse last year and this problem didn't exist).
No signs of bubbles in cooling system, no intermix in oil nor coolant.
I've bled the system at least 3 times.
Also, coolant level doesn't drop, stays full.

Only 3 items left:

Radiator internally clogged?
Something related to the AC system?
Internal engine breach between combustion system and cooling system?

If I rev up engine, all symptoms go away. Everything works perfectly.

I am going to do a pressure test just to see if there are any leaks that I can't see.
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Holy crap that's a long list!!! I would probably say you have an internal leak, maybe a head gasket or hell even maybe a cracked block or something. Just enough to let water start leaking through and maybe getting a little bit of air in the cooling system and causing it to evaporate if it enters the cylinder....

That's really odd. Let me know what you find out. I would about say I would lean towards a head gasket or an internal leak rather than anything else. You've replaced absolutely everything and I can't imagine the heater core would be holding air?!?!

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WJCO said:
Lol. Yes. Twice.

Tstat replaced last year, then again last month.
Water pump, once last year, and again last month.
Fan clutch 2 months ago, then again yesterday for hopes and dreams.
Radiator and cooling system has been flushed 3 times (once chemically) with no signs of any debris, coolant looks great. Radiator is about 3 years old.
Radiator cap is new.
Even flushed heater core.
Belt is new.
Belt tensioner is new.
Electric fan is new and works perfectly.
Fan shroud in tact and sealed.
Cleaned condensor fins and radiator fins, they're almost new looking and not bent either.
No signs of external leaks other than the heater core (which leaked worse last year and this problem didn't exist).
No signs of bubbles in cooling system, no intermix in oil nor coolant.
I've bled the system at least 3 times.
Also, coolant level doesn't drop, stays full.

Only 3 items left:

Radiator internally clogged?
Something related to the AC system?
Internal engine breach between combustion system and cooling system?

If I rev up engine, all symptoms go away. Everything works perfectly.

I am going to do a pressure test just to see if there are any leaks that I can't see.
Click to expand...
It almost sounds like there is still air in the system but you would think that it would burp itself when you rev it like that.
 
rumblebee3 said:
Holy crap that's a long list!!! I would probably say you have an internal leak, maybe a head gasket or hell even maybe a cracked block or something. Just enough to let water start leaking through and maybe getting a little bit of air in the cooling system and causing it to evaporate if it enters the cylinder....

That's really odd. Let me know what you find out. I would about say I would lean towards a head gasket or an internal leak rather than anything else. You've replaced absolutely everything and I can't imagine the heater core would be holding air?!?!

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But the coolant level doesn't drop. I'm doing a block test this week to see.

cozdude said:
It almost sounds like there is still air in the system but you would think that it would burp itself when you rev it like that.
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I know. Crazy shit.
 
With a blown head gasket between cooling ports it won't leak but will overheat. I'm not saying that's your issue but it's happened to me on a gm 3800. Took months and I couldn't figure it out. If i recall it was my grandfather and I had serious doubts but he turned out to be right lol
P.s. A pressure test didn't work because technically the system is still sealed.

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