Nothing-2-Deep-4-Cherokee

was trying to get other peoples opinion on this. I have a 99 cherokee, for a while now while driving my temp gauge stays a little below half way. Also after i done driving it smells like burnt coolant. I was thinking water pump, but some people told me could possible be a held open thermostat, and other people are saying might need to flush and fill her with new coolant.

let me know whatcha think on this, thank you in advance

William08

I think the suggestions you got were correct. I would pull out the thermostat and see if it is stuck open (it should be closed). I would also throw it in a pan of water and heat it up on the stove. It should pop open just before the water comes to a boil, or use a candy thermometer to see when it opens. At any rate thats an easy fix.
Before changing it, I would dump some radiator flush in to the radiator, then flush the system out as directed. I once bought a car that had a stuck thermostat, not big deal I though. When home and replaced it, but not before I burned up a valve driving it home. The engine had ran so cold that it never kicked off the enriching cycle. I pulled the head and EVERYTHING was carboned up, valved, piston, intake manifold. One of the valves got so hot because of all the extra carbon it literally melted a pie shaped 1/4 of the way around the head. All for a $5 thermostat.

djb383

Really.........a t-stat would do all that?????

djb383

Smelling coolant is usually from a coolant leak somewhere. Grab a good flashlight, pop the hood and start looking. Also, inspect the carpet (passenger side floor board)......is it wet (leaking heater core)?

Morris4x4Center

Take a look if you can see anything around the thermostat, radiator, or the heater core under the dash on passenger side. If not take it to a local mechanic that has a coolant pressure tester to check for the leak as well.
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Nothing-2-Deep-4-Cherokee

thank you for all your suggestions, ill be sure to let ya know what it is