2003 Jeep Grand Cherokee Logo
Posted on Mar 24, 2011
Answered by a Fixya Expert

Trustworthy Expert Solutions

At Fixya.com, our trusted experts are meticulously vetted and possess extensive experience in their respective fields. Backed by a community of knowledgeable professionals, our platform ensures that the solutions provided are thoroughly researched and validated.

View Our Top Experts

It overheats when in traffic ior when it is idling

2 Answers

Anonymous

Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

New Friend:

An expert that has 1 follower.

  • Contributor 1 Answer
  • Posted on Apr 22, 2011
Anonymous
Contributor
Level 1:

An expert who has achieved level 1.

New Friend:

An expert that has 1 follower.

Joined: Apr 22, 2011
Answers
1
Questions
0
Helped
504
Points
1

I have fixed my own 2002 Jeep Cherokee twice for the overheating issue. Overheating can be caused by a number of different problems, but one of the most notorious problems for the Jeep is the 'radiator fan relay switch'. When the temperature thermostat goes over 210, it tells the relay switch to turn on the radiator fan to cool down the engine. If that relay switch isn't working, the fan never turns on and thus your engine overheats. Here's a simple test to check if this is your overheating problem:
1. Start up your Jeep, open the hood, and let it run to the point where the temperature gauge on your dashboard creeps past 210.
2. Once it goes past 210, go over to the engine and see if the radiator fan kicked on. (the radiator fan is right behind the grill, circular with big plastic blades) If yes, then the relay switch is working. If no, then you probably need to replace the relay switch or the radiator fan motor is bad. But more than likely, it's the notorious relay switch.
3. Turn off the Jeep asap to avoid damaging the engine.

You can purchase a 'radiator fan relay switch' from most Jeep dealerships if they have a service dept. It should be around $75.
(I saved over $700 by not taking my Jeep to an auto shop to fix this) To change out the relay switch, you need to take off the passenger side front headlight. There's a black plastic guard behind the headlight and the relay switch is located under/behind that guard. If your Jeep ever experienced this problem before, you may see a cut-out where someone replaced this part before. If there's no cut-out, you can check out this link to see a picture of where to cut.
http://rigs.corequipment.com/cebby_WJsite/cooling.htm#relay

Once you switch out the part, you should be golden.

Anonymous

Level 2:

An expert who has achieved level 2 by getting 100 points

All-Star:

An expert that got 10 achievements.

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Vice President:

An expert whose answer got voted for 100 times.

  • Expert 255 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 24, 2011
Anonymous
Expert
Level 2:

An expert who has achieved level 2 by getting 100 points

All-Star:

An expert that got 10 achievements.

MVP:

An expert that got 5 achievements.

Vice President:

An expert whose answer got voted for 100 times.

Joined: Mar 18, 2011
Answers
255
Questions
2
Helped
53831
Points
934

Check your coolant vent and radiator for any clogs.Fill the coolant port with coolant to prevent further overheating.

Ad

Add Your Answer

×

Uploading: 0%

my-video-file.mp4

Complete. Click "Add" to insert your video. Add

×

Loading...
Loading...

Related Questions:

1helpful
1answer

How do I fix my engine that gradually overheats in traffic or in idle?

If it only overheats when stopped and stays cool or normal when driving that I would suspect that the radiator fan is not working. Check the obvious like fuses and relays. The relay can be swapped with another identical relay in the fuse block. If those check out than you will need some more advanced diagnostic equipment and info. If you up to the challenge I can provide you with some more in depth info to help you solve.

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

0helpful
1answer

Thermostat

For car running hot and overheating issues, I suggest to you go through this help links. Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems: ----Car runs hot? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html-----------Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

---------------------------
Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------overheating? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
----------This details will help.Thanks.

0helpful
1answer

Engine revs and starts to overheat

For car running hot and overheating issues, I suggest to you go through this help links.

Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems: ----



Car runs hot?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------

All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
---------

Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html

-----------



Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

---------------------------

Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------

overheating?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------

Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
----------This details will help.Thanks.

0helpful
1answer

Car overheating

For car running hot and overheating issues,i suggest to you go through this help links. Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems :----Car runs hot? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html-----------Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

---------------------------

Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------overheating? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
----------This details will help.Thanks.

1helpful
1answer

Car is overheating

For car running hot and overheating issues,i suggest to you go through this help links. Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems :----Car runs hot? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html-----------Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

---------------------------

Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------overheating? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
----------This details will help.Thanks.

0helpful
1answer

2005 chevy impala overheat light comes on, the car was shaking when I started it and cold air when idling but when given a little gas the car starts blowing out hot air what do you think it might be?

For car running hot and overheating issues, I suggest to you go through this help links. Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems: ----Car runs hot? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html-----------Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

---------------------------

Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------overheating? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
----------This details will help.Thanks.

0helpful
1answer

2004 chev. malibu overheating

For car running hot and overheating issues, I suggest to you go through this help links. Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems: ----Car runs hot? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html-----------Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

---------------------------

Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------overheating? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
----------This details will help.Thanks.

0helpful
1answer

1989 toyota 4runner overheating

For car running hot and overheating issues, I suggest to you go through this help links. Click this link below and go through the troubleshooting procedure to take care of the problems: ----Car runs hot? http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-runs-hot-in-traffic.html
-----------All types of car overheating problems and troubleshooting?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-types-of-car-overheating-problems.html
Car freeze overnight and started overheating while driving?http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-freeze-overnight-and-started.html-----------Engine Overheats and heater blowing cold?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/engine-overheats-and-heater-blowing.html

---------------------------

Car overheats and Air blows hot at idle?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-overheats-and-air-blows-hot-at-idle.html
--------overheating? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-century-overheating.html
----------Car engine Overheats and transmission starts slipping?http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-engine-overheats-and-transmission.html
----------This details will help.Thanks.

1helpful
1answer

I have 2001 mazda 626 and its overheating. we have checked fluids nothing is leaking or coming out levels are good. we have replaced the thermastat and its still doing it. where should i look next? ill...

when does it overheat ? wile driving at hiway speeds ? or at idle or wile driving in stop and go traffic ?

if it overheats on the hiway, supect a restricted radiator, or a blown head gasket or cracked cylinder head.

if it only over heats at idle or in stop and go traffic, supect no cooling fans.
0helpful
3answers

My toyota revo van model 2001 is getting overheat when there is heavy traffic. However if I will turn off the aircondition the tempe rature will go back to normal level. Can you help me please

Guys, I have Toyota Revo 2001 manual diesel. Its getting overheat only during idling or heavy traffic. We overhauled the radiator, new radiator cap and hoses, new thermostat, the fan is ok. the pump is quiet (no noise). Still, its getting overheat. please help me guys! Thanks!
Not finding what you are looking for?

514 views

Ask a Question

Usually answered in minutes!

Top Jeep Experts

ZJ Limited
ZJ Limited

Level 3 Expert

17989 Answers

Ronny Bennett Sr.
Ronny Bennett Sr.

Level 3 Expert

6988 Answers

Thomas Perkins
Thomas Perkins

Level 3 Expert

15088 Answers

Are you a Jeep Expert? Answer questions, earn points and help others

Answer questions

Manuals & User Guides

Loading...