At the beginning of the summer (early June) my 2001 TJ SE overheated driving on the city streets after like 15 min. Took it in and they replaced the radiator. It's been fine since including some hour or so jaunts on the interstate - until today.
Today I was driving from Chicago to Indianapolis and about 2.5 hours in the AC went from blowing cold to moist warm humid air. I looked down and the temp was in the red but not all the way to the right. Pulled off when I could and ran the heat for a bit and then turned it off and let it cool down a few. Decided to make an effort to drive the rest of the way on country roads at 55 with A/C off and temp stayed at what I consider normal temp (just under the 210 mark) and I was able to make it to destination.
This morning I had an oil change before leaving and had all the fluids checked. Double checked when I pulled off and the coolant tub is definitely above full.
Any idea what could be causing this? They showed me the air filter at the oil change and it looked good to me - a lot of white still. I think it was changed when I took it in for the radiator but don't know for sure. Should I get it rechecked?
I saw in another thread that someone suggested checking the coolant in the radiator, especially if the radiator was replaced recently. should I do this? Is that looking (after it cools down fully) in the silver cap that I know you're not supposed to open when hot? How do I tell if its full or needs more? I'm not very mechanically inclined so I would have assumed that if the coolant tub was full the radiator would have what it needed?
Any insights would be appreciated. Did having the A/C off for the rest of the drive make the difference some how?
Tomorrow I need to try to get back to Chicago and if need be then get it in for service; even if it means taking the long slow way home.
Thank in advance.
Today I was driving from Chicago to Indianapolis and about 2.5 hours in the AC went from blowing cold to moist warm humid air. I looked down and the temp was in the red but not all the way to the right. Pulled off when I could and ran the heat for a bit and then turned it off and let it cool down a few. Decided to make an effort to drive the rest of the way on country roads at 55 with A/C off and temp stayed at what I consider normal temp (just under the 210 mark) and I was able to make it to destination.
This morning I had an oil change before leaving and had all the fluids checked. Double checked when I pulled off and the coolant tub is definitely above full.
Any idea what could be causing this? They showed me the air filter at the oil change and it looked good to me - a lot of white still. I think it was changed when I took it in for the radiator but don't know for sure. Should I get it rechecked?
I saw in another thread that someone suggested checking the coolant in the radiator, especially if the radiator was replaced recently. should I do this? Is that looking (after it cools down fully) in the silver cap that I know you're not supposed to open when hot? How do I tell if its full or needs more? I'm not very mechanically inclined so I would have assumed that if the coolant tub was full the radiator would have what it needed?
Any insights would be appreciated. Did having the A/C off for the rest of the drive make the difference some how?
Tomorrow I need to try to get back to Chicago and if need be then get it in for service; even if it means taking the long slow way home.
Thank in advance.