[EugeneTheTJ]

I sent this to flatlander already and he gave me his advice which I value greatly but I figured I could use some other advice too just in case the problem still persists. Sorry for the long read but please try to help me

Ok:

Last Monday I was driving back from Myrtle Beach (its like a 4.5ish hour drive). About halfway through my check gauges light came on and my temp gauge went through the roof. I immediately pulled over and let it sit for a few minutes. I started my Jeep again and my temp had gone down a little bit but it still was hot. I let it sit for a few more minutes and cranked it up again, the temp had gone down a bit more. So I checked the coolant and it seemed ok so I was confused. I didnt want to mess my Jeep up so I called AAA to tow me home. When the tow man got there he pointed out a gray grocery bag that had wrapped itself around the big nut that holds the fan assembly to the water pump (I dont know how I missed this; I guess if you arent looking for something its hard to see it). Anyways I guess the bag was keeping the fan from spinning right. I then cut/pulled out as much of the bag as I could but I couldnt get it all. I cranked my Jeep and let it sit for ten-ish minutes and the temp was constant at 210. Anyways I drove it home (another 100 miles or so) and the temp remained around 210 the whole way. I thought it was ok.

Then the next day I went to my girlfriends apartment (30 minutes away) and the temp still sat around 210. The next morning I was coming home and when I got off at my exit the check gauges light came on and the temp gauge skyrocketed again. I was only a mile away so I turned the heat on full blast and the temp gauge went down to 215-220. Later that day I replaced the thermostat (a 195 degree) and I cut out a little more of the bag (there doesnt seem like much left but I cant get the rest out without taking the fan clutch off. Plus the fan seems to be spinning as free as ever). Anyways it seemed ok and last night I drove it about 35 miles and it stayed around 210 the whole way.

Then, today I took it on a long trip to get a hardtop. About 35 miles into the trip I saw the temp gauge start creeping up. Before it hit the red I turned the heat on and rode the rest of the way (another two hours) with the heat on (my girlfriend is still whining about that one); the gauge was around 215 the whole time. On the way back home I stopped to get a drink and when I cranked it again it idled very rough and at a very low RPM (like 3-400) (and it did this the other day too). Today, though, it actually cut off on me twice. Before it cut off the second time the check gauges light came on and the temp went high (in the red). The third time it cranked I gave it some gas to get the RPMs up and cranked the heat. The temp sat at 215 for the rest of the way home (100 miles).

Also, when I got home I noticed my passenger floorboard was very wet.

Thats the whole story. I hope yall can help me!

[EugeneTheTJ]

Forgot to add: the fan seems to be spinning ok at idle (when it idles right) and the overheating has only occurred on the highway (except for one time when it happened getting off the exit)

[EugeneTheTJ]

bumpin for help

seriously yall this is making me hate my jeep right now. please help me

[EugeneTheTJ]

bump out of desperation

[bonza]

first of all remove the remains of the plastic bag that maybe jamming up the viscous clutch. to remove the clutch use an 18" crescent wrench on the large nut and whack it anti clockwise, then the fan and clutch will spin off together.
to fix an overheat problem you have to systematically rule out each possible cause one by one, but maybe the plastic bag has damaged the bi metal spring on the front of the clutch and wont allow it to operate the valve within the clutch in order to lock it.

to check fan clutch grab it and rotate. if spins freely without resistance then it is likely to require renewing

following is a list of causes from the FSM

TRAILER BEING TOWED, STEEP HILL IS BEING CLIMBED, OPERATING IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC, ENGINE BEING IDLED WITH VERY HIGH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES AND AIRCON IS ON.

• TEMPERATURE GAUGE FAULTY, COOLANT WARNING LIGHT DEFECTIVE
• LOW COOLANT LEVELS IN BOTH RADIATOR HEADER TANK AND OVERFLOW BOTTLE
• LOW COOLANT LEVELS IN RADIATOR HEADER TANK ONLY
• RADIATOR CAP LOOSE OR FAULTY
• COOLANT MIXTURE RATIO INCORRECT
• COOLANT NOT FLOWINGTHROUGH SYSTEM
• RADIATOR AND OR AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSOR FINS BLOCKED WITH BUGS OR DIRT
• RADIATOR CORE IS PLUGGED OR BLOCKED
• FUEL OR IGNITION SYSTEM PROBLEMS
• DRAGGING BRAKES
• BUG SCREEN BEING USED RESTRICTING AIR FLOW
• THERMOSTAT STUCK IN CLOSED OR PARTIALLY OPEN POSITION
• THERMAL VISCOUS FAN NOT OPERATING PROPERLY
• LOOSE OR WRONGLY ROUTED FAN BELT
• CYLINDER HEAD GASKET LEAKING
• HEATER CORE LEAKING

do a search, tons of info on overheating causes and fixes

[MJMPC]

That bag may have messed up the fan clutch. The water on the floor if itwas the pass side might be the heater core leaking. Is the water on the floor coolant?

[EugeneTheTJ]

I sniffed it. It didnt really smell like water but at the same time it didnt really smell like coolant. It was kind of fishy smelling honestly

[MJMPC]

Unless your GF had a OH OH it almost has to be coolant.

[EugeneTheTJ]

haha no but whatever it was made an uh oh on her coach purse

[SpaceWrangler]

I once foolishly tasted a sample of a puddle on the passenger side of my truck. Turns out, my neighbor's cat got in the truck through an open window and sprayed in it.

[TJdualsport]

replace the radiator cap too, after a system overheats i always replace thermostat and the cap. def remove the clutch fan to get that bag off. put it back on and test it. good luck man you will get it. it ran rough when it was hot because of vapor lock. once it cools down it should run fine.

[EugeneTheTJ]

thats what flatlander said too.

umm so do I need a fan wrench to get it off or should a big a** crescent work if I whack it hard enough?

[JakeAW]

shouldn't need a fan wrench on a 97. I was having similar problems and replaced the radiator, fixed it instantly. Could be anything in the cooling system though, I'd start with cleaning the clutch or putting in a new one.

[EugeneTheTJ]

<< its an 03

[Knuckelhead]

Originally Posted by EugeneTheTJ

or should a big a** crescent work if I whack it hard enough?

Yep...