Pls help 04 Jeep Liberty renegade overheating on hwy

[416kJ]

Hello all it’s been awhile since I posted ,, I’m having a hard time trying to solve my overheating issue I need help , very depressed about this just want my Jeep fixed

problem: so at city driving my car seems fine the temp stays abit just below the middle line (normal operating temp) no overheating but on the highway at 110 or more after 10mins my car starts to overheat and I have to blow hot air to get the temp back down ,

changed the following parts :
Water pump : 5/6months ago
Flushed the heater core last winter
Clutch fan :changed today
Thermostat :changed today
Bled the air out of the bleeding port
And did put hoat coolant back in

it ran fine for abit longer on the hwy today but then started to overheat again
Also my top rad hose is hot and my lower rad hose going to the thermostat/housing
Is super cold is this normal ? I notice that the right side of the rad is cooler then the drivers side
Is this normal ,,And it doesn’t seem to be losing coolant the level is full
where should I be looking next ,, is my radiator shot ? Pls help me out I put a lot of money into my Jeep and love it don’t wana give up on it

 

[tommudd]

What thermostat was in before ( Brand ) and what Brand afterwards ?
Is the fan kicking on ?
No issues when driving in town ? Almost impossible to flush out the heater core the way it is made sadly
Sounds like something in the radiator after rereading

 

[kejobe]

Sounds like something in the radiator after rereading

This is my thought.

 

[416kJ]

What thermostat was in before ( Brand ) and what Brand afterwards ?
Is the fan kicking on ?
No issues when driving in town ? Almost impossible to flush out the heater core the way it is made sadly
Sounds like something in the radiator after rereading

thanks for the reply , I appreciate it a lot man ,, I have no issues when driving in town drives amazing , and I do heare the fan kicking on , and I put a motorad thermostat in it , not sure how good those are but its what’s available today ,,it’s acting exactly the same as when the old thermostat was in there, I do not know the brand of the old thermostat but it was rusty lookin so I decided to change it as I bought the part anyway thinking it was the issue , when I Had the old thermostat in there yesterday it was doing the same thing same hwy overheating issue there

 

[tommudd]

The ONLY thermostat that works well is MOPAR
all others are a waste to even install

Was it in the right way and aligned right ?

 

[416kJ]

The ONLY thermostat that works well is MOPAR
all others are a waste to even install

Was it in the right way and aligned right ?

yes i put it in the right way it had a little tab nub and put it exactly the way the other one came out ,, but if it were in wrong you think it would give the same symptoms as before but worse possibly ? What’s even worse is my bleeding port is now rounded so Im in another dilemma now I really don’t know what to do from here suchhh day man , really discouraging ,, how do I bleed the system now withought a port ? If I do go ahead and change the rad ? It’s now seized stuck in there and it won’t move at all ,

 

[tommudd]

You can usually get another size pounded down in there and then replace with a new plug

 

[416kJ]

You can usually get another size pounded down in there and then replace with a new plug

thanks for that it’s just super rounded now... that aluminum spot where the bleeding screw goes, you think it would crack if I went screwn around trying to bang another size hex socket in ? Also so you think my rads just restricted plugged? Is it normal that the lower rad hose to be cold should it be hot like the upper or warmish or should be all even temp all around the rad itself ? Seems like the driver side is more hot and the passenger side of the rad is colder I don’t know if this is the way it’s to be (normal) I’m searching like crazy but I’m so flustered and fustrated there’s so many stuff in the net I don’t know what’s right and what’s wrong :/
I guesse what I’m asking is would you go to the rad next in the steps I’ve taken ,, I also think I might take the thermostat out claim it defective and get a mopar if I do go ahead and get a new rad since the coolant will be drained

I appreciate you’re help a ton

 

[LibertyTC]

Are the electric fans working? When your select any of the * or a/c positions the fan should run & jeep should cool down quick.

The Mopar thermostat has a built in air bleed & works well to remove air alone, so don't worry about the stripped hex bleed air port for now.
Definitely only use a Mopar Thermostat as Tom Mentioned.
Only use Mopar HOAT coolant or Zerex G-05 in the Jeep! Pre mixed 50-50 is available.

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See cooling section for more information from the FSM:http://colorado4wheel.com/manuals/Jeep/KJ/2003JeepKJServiceManual.pdf
My lower rad hose is always much cooler than the top rad hose.

 

[416kJ]

Are the electric fans working? When your select any of the * or a/c positions the fan should run & jeep should cool down quick.

The Mopar thermostat has a built in air bleed & works well to remove air alone, so don't worry about the stripped hex bleed air port for now.
Definitely only use a Mopar Thermostat as Tom Mentioned.
Only use Mopar HOAT coolant or Zerex G-05 in the Jeep! Pre mixed 50-50 is available.

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

See cooling section for more information from the FSM:http://colorado4wheel.com/manuals/Jeep/KJ/2003JeepKJServiceManual.pdf
My lower rad hose is always much cooler than the top rad hose.

Hello thank for you’re reply and good day ,, so I just came out to check the fan and it does NOT come on at all after I select any of the a/c settings to on and full blast however if I pull the relay and replug it comes on at high speed only there is no low setting just kicks on at high speed and does NOT come off at all even if the a/c is turned off ,, at this point the car is operating idle and started , I switched the relays out , and they both seem to work but only in the rad fan high setting ,, is the fan supposed to come on when the a/c setting is on and even at cold start ? Because it’s not it’s stays off

 

[416kJ]

Hello again well I took it for a run on the hwy with the fan stuck in the hi fan setting and and it’s still over heating ,, I’m not sure if it’s a faulty fan though because it does come on either when I unplug one of the either hi or lo fan relays both aren’t needed in the socket it just sticks in the hi fan setting it looks like and not a low fan type spin I’ve switched both relays out with each other and it does the same thing ,, regardless still over heats on the hwy only and when I get off the hwy it creeps back down regardless of the fan working or not working ,, I do however have to put the heat on high on the hwy to creep the temp back down

 

[tommudd]

You said you replaced the water pump 5-6 months ago ?
At higher speeds sometimes a pump will not circulate the antifreeze fast enough
I've only ran into that issue a couple of times over the years
But both had been done by other shops and used cheap WPs with plastic blades
Not sure if that is your issue, but just a thought that came to me ( while installing a WP, hoses, thermostat, etc for a customer )

 

[LibertyTC]

#1- If your aftermarket thermostat is stuck closed, it will overheat. Install the MOPAR thermostat correctly today.
#2- Pressure test the system to ensure there are no leaks & that the system can hold pressure.
#3- Each morning ensure coolant is at the cold line and add HOAT as necessary to the cold line.
#4- Please read from post 9 above^ the coolant section, factory manual link !!
#5 System operates with the PCM, ambient air temp sensor. A faulty MOPAR coolant temp sensor or Connector /wiring, may be the issue preventing fans from working correctly. Try new relays?
#6 Providing power to low speed to test fan etc is something that Bill our electrical specialist will hopefully chime in on soon.

 

[uss2defiant]

Hello thank for you’re reply and good day ,, so I just came out to check the fan and it does NOT come on at all after I select any of the a/c settings to on and full blast however if I pull the relay and replug it comes on at high speed only there is no low setting just kicks on at high speed and does NOT come off at all even if the a/c is turned off ,, at this point the car is operating idle and started , I switched the relays out , and they both seem to work but only in the rad fan high setting ,, is the fan supposed to come on when the a/c setting is on and even at cold start ? Because it’s not it’s stays off

What year is your KJ?


copy and pasted the info from the 2008 FSM for you.

OPERATION The electric radiator cooling fan is controlled by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) through the radiator cooling fan relays. The PCM regulates fan operation based on input from the engine coolant temperature sensor, battery temperature sensor, air conditioning select switch and vehicle speed. The fan is not energized during engine cranking regardless of the electrical input from the temperature sensors and air conditioning switch. However, if engine operation conditions warrant fan engagement, the fan will run once engine starts.

On vehicles NOT equipped with AC: The relay is energized when the coolant temperature is above 80° C (176° F), or battery temperature sensor above -12° C (10° F). It will then de-energize when coolant temperature drops below 82° C (180° F), or battery temperature sensor below -9° C (16° F).

Vehicles Equipped with AC: In addition to using coolant temperature and battery temperature sensor to control cooling fan operation, the cooling fan will also be engaged when the, air conditioning system is activated. The relay is also energized when air conditioning is selected and coolant temperature is above 95° C (203° F), or, air conditioning is selected and battery temperature sensor is above 41° C (106° F). It will then deenergize when air conditioning is selected and coolant temperature is below 92° C (198° F), or air conditioning is selected and battery temperature is below 38° C (100° F).

 

[LibertyTC]

416KJ in title states owning a 2004.

 

[Billwill]

There is no 2004 Service Manual available...2003 manual is no good as they use a Solid State Relay to operate the fan...only done on 2003 models.

So download the 2005 Jeep KJ Service Manuals and go to Section 8W for the wiring diagrams. The wire colors may be different but otherwise the system is basically the same.

Not unusual that when you pull one of the relays out the fan goes into High Speed, I have seen this posted before..weird!

I will go through the manuals now and see what I can suggest!

OK Section 7 of the 2005 Service Manual describes the Cooling of the engine.

Section 8W has the wiring diagrams...page 8W-30-22 shows the Relay circuitry.

The Relays are activated by the PCM grounding the relay coil so the PCM decides what relay to energize depending on the Engine Temperature Sensor.

However I think your problem is most likely not Electrical!

Need Mopar Thermostat fitted correctly.

Need Mopar Water Pump.

Heater core not blocked.

Correct ratio mix of Hoat and distilled water needed and bled correctly.

Radiator sounds suspect to me.

How have you forced the Radiator Fan into High Speed? Have you jumpered out pins 30 and 87 in the relay socket?

Is the fan rotating in the correct direction? Not such a stupid question as I have dealt with this before....check the Fan Motor is grounded properly ...Black Wire!

I cannot use my May 2002 Export 2.5 CRD as a test bed as it only has a viscous fan...six months later they fitted an electrical fan in addition to the Viscous fan on the Export models.

I have considered adding a fan to my Jeep but have never had overheating issues and am in a pretty hot area!

 

[Kal808]

Hello all it’s been awhile since I posted ,, I’m having a hard time trying to solve my overheating issue I need help , very depressed about this just want my Jeep fixed

problem: so at city driving my car seems fine the temp stays abit just below the middle line (normal operating temp) no overheating but on the highway at 110 or more after 10mins my car starts to overheat and I have to blow hot air to get the temp back down ,

changed the following parts :
Water pump : 5/6months ago
Flushed the heater core last winter
Clutch fan :changed today
Thermostat :changed today
Bled the air out of the bleeding port
And did put hoat coolant back in

it ran fine for abit longer on the hwy today but then started to overheat again
Also my top rad hose is hot and my lower rad hose going to the thermostat/housing
Is super cold is this normal ? I notice that the right side of the rad is cooler then the drivers side
Is this normal ,,And it doesn’t seem to be losing coolant the level is full
where should I be looking next ,, is my radiator shot ? Pls help me out I put a lot of money into my Jeep and love it don’t wana give up on it

I'm was going through the same thing this past weekend. When the engine over heats do you see the "Overflow Tank"? Also, does your exhaust emit smoke at all?

 

[Austin288]

A cold radiator while coolant tank is full indicates that the radiator could be filled with gas from the combustion chamber due to either a bad head gasket or a cracked head. In my case (2011 Liberty), it was a cracked head. A "draw down" (or something like that) compression test will diagnose for that. I hope this is not your problem.

 

[flajeepdiver]

Is it actually overheating or this just the guage on the dash indicating that it's overheating?
Have you run a computer diagnostics? any error codes? When you park is it leaking? Park on top of a piece of cardboard to identify the leaks if any.

 

[JnyBob]

Hello all it’s been awhile since I posted ,, I’m having a hard time trying to solve my overheating issue I need help , very depressed about this just want my Jeep fixed

problem: so at city driving my car seems fine the temp stays abit just below the middle line (normal operating temp) no overheating but on the highway at 110 or more after 10mins my car starts to overheat and I have to blow hot air to get the temp back down ,

changed the following parts :
Water pump : 5/6months ago
Flushed the heater core last winter
Clutch fan :changed today
Thermostat :changed today
Bled the air out of the bleeding port
And did put hoat coolant back in

it ran fine for abit longer on the hwy today but then started to overheat again
Also my top rad hose is hot and my lower rad hose going to the thermostat/housing
Is super cold is this normal ? I notice that the right side of the rad is cooler then the drivers side
Is this normal ,,And it doesn’t seem to be losing coolant the level is full
where should I be looking next ,, is my radiator shot ? Pls help me out I put a lot of money into my Jeep and love it don’t wana give up on it

Hi, I am driving my first Jeep. So I am not a Jeep expert. If I were experiencing this problem, I would remove the thermostat, bolt everything back together, and see if it still overheats. If it does, you have a circulation problem with your radiator. To make sure the problem is NOT in the heater core, you can bypass. Locate the two hoses that pass through the firewall, disconnect them, and insert bypass tube, you can get one at auto parts store or fashion your own. Make sure coolant can pass through the bypass tube.

All said, I would suspect the radiator. Carry it to a radiator specialist for a check, or just install a new one.

I have also seen a cheap water pump with plastic fins not pump enough coolant to cool the engine. Use the Original equipment water pump. Good luck!