Originally Posted by lildoggy

.....I've change out everything but the fan clutch........

Originally Posted by lildoggy

I've had the jeep almost 2 years. Its a 96 XJ 4.0. I love this jeep.
After learning so much here I finally made it to the junkyard (there aren't many here in South Florida) to see what I could find. My XJ came from a yard north of here and had been saved by a guy working there. It was covered in grease inside and out but so am I ,I bought it from him.
Its run fine for me all along and I love the inline 6.
Well, the efan exploded driving home last week, brittle and old, it disintegrated. I went looking for one and didn't find so I put an aftermarket comparable to it in. While at the salvage yard I spotted the coveted instrument panel that would allow me to do the "gauge swap" I read about on here. I've always had the idiot lights and since I tow a boat some I've always hated the idea of the overheat light coming on without warning even though its never done that even after the efan broke. I did the swap.
New fan works just as its supposed to maybe. It comes on when I turn the AC on.
The new gauges look great and all function. I had to hunt for the right temp sender for the temp gauge. (Big long hot story there). When I found the right sender, put it in, cranked her up, I watched as the temp climbed past 210 almost reaching the red area but it didn't. Turned on the heat, came down a little. Drove around the block, came down a little. Turned on the AC, it stayed high but got no higher and the efan came on.
All this was yesterday and today and I haven't really taken it for a drive around town which would involve alot of stop and go. Its close to 90 degrees here and I'm in full sun.
I know:
The guy I bought it from had put a radiator in so there was probably a problem at one time.
Its not a new radiator.
I've never seen the overflow bottle high. Doesn't mean it hasn't but I think I would've noticed since I'm obsessed with overheating fears.
The top on that bottle is loose but its not a sealed system anyway right?
Its got coolant (not sure how much though but looks very green)
It has the tow package with transmission cooler.
Its never failed me and it gets really hot here in Summer.
No leaks and hose doesn't collapse.
The red warning light had never come on.
I was freaked watching the temp climb so high.
I don't have a heat infrared gun (I'm poor and outta work)
I want to keep this jeep forever (gonna just paint it myself with a sprayer)
Thanks for hearing me out here. Ideas where to begin? I've read so many overheat issues and never knew I was overheating.
Could it be?
Efan -it kicks on with the AC but shouldn't it run as the temp is climbing?
Thermostat?
Radiator flush?
Bad sender choice even though its new?
Calibrated gauge for another year? It fits perfect though.
Should I run it and see if water overflow fills up to hot line?
The other temp sensor that kicks on the fan comes on at what temp?
Any other ideas are appreciated and where to begin.
Thanks again a million times for reading this. I've read and read and learned so much here.