Hello yall! I have a 90' cherokee that will have its temperature gauge sit at 140 to 145 degrees even after sitting at idle on a summer day. Does anyone think this could be a thermostat issue or a gauge issue? The gauge shows no sign of abnormalities and will start at below a 100 degrees and climb to 140 when first started and allowed to warm up. This is a vehicle that has 200k on it so I realize it might be a t-stat or well anything. I just wouldn't of thought even if cooking itself on a hot day that it would stay at 140. Advice, tips?
Low temp or faulty gauge?
- Thread starter JBerard
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2005
- Location
- Raleigh, NC
I would not believe that a 4.0L in a Cherokee would be capable of staying at 140F under any circumstances. My money is on a bad gauge/sender/wiring/etc.
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2005
- Location
- Hendersonville, NC
Here's how to test it:
Unplug the temp sending unit connector (1 wire) from the sender. It is located on top of the rear of the driver's side of the cylinder head basically underneath the MAP sensor. With the key on, but not running, apply ground to the wire and watch the gauge. If the circuit is good, the gauge will read all the way hot. If it doesn't move or doesn't move all the way hot, the circuit has an issue.
Also, there are 2 different sending units. One is for a warning light cluster and the other is for a cluster with a temperature gauge. If the wrong one is installed, the gauge will be inaccurate.
Lemme know if you need anymore help with this.
Unplug the temp sending unit connector (1 wire) from the sender. It is located on top of the rear of the driver's side of the cylinder head basically underneath the MAP sensor. With the key on, but not running, apply ground to the wire and watch the gauge. If the circuit is good, the gauge will read all the way hot. If it doesn't move or doesn't move all the way hot, the circuit has an issue.
Also, there are 2 different sending units. One is for a warning light cluster and the other is for a cluster with a temperature gauge. If the wrong one is installed, the gauge will be inaccurate.
Lemme know if you need anymore help with this.