While traveling across Colorado and Utah we drove up to Black Canyon National Park on a warm day the temp gauge started rising past the center rapidly past 3/4, turned off the air and took it out of overdrive to keep it in check. We didn't have or have any overheating problems since then. When it occurred we weren't spewing coolant and the engine didn't smell like it was overheating (like antifreeze). Parked cars we walked by at the top of black canyon smelled like they were running very hot. The rest of that day it was running warmer than normal driving through the mountains on US 50.

No check engine light came on and it performed just fine. I read on another post if the engine gets to a certain temp it shuts off the fuel flow to save the engine, this didn't happen. My thought is that this was a glitch with the computer not an actual overheating situation. We got 27 MPG on that tank so it ran fine.

Any thoughts on this?

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Sold 05 CRD Patriot Blue, hole in the roof, Trailer tow, factory skids, LSD, Saris load bars, Michelin LTX M/S
Current Bright white 2010 Dakota Quad Cab 4x4 V8

The ECU will limit the amount of fuel but it will never shut it off completely.

If you're just cruising normally and not pulling a trailer then you might not have felt the reduction in power. it could be if you have a very loose or faulty fan clutch then driving through the mountains it might very get warm/"overheat".

At high altitudes cooling capacity is derated from what it is at sea level due to thinner air.
Electric motors can not be loaded to their Full Load Amps at high elevations either due to the thinner air and loss of cooling capacity. If you want to see the effect, check out a electric motor engineering data sheet.
A more aggressive fan clutch or fan (like Hayden) may be what you need to force more air through the radiator to make up for the cooling loss. Our member kapalczynski went to a flex fan. From what I can figure out, he doesn't watch the tides roll in from his back door, far from it.

Did you get to see a Prius burn up going down the Mountain when the regen brakes had no more battery left to charge?

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2006 Pearl Green CRD
Magnaflow 2 1/2" Cat Back
KJ Extra Leg Room Brackets, Carter Lift Pump, V6 Airbox, ORM
Fuel cooler, Oil Separator, Progard 7
Gauges EGT Boost Trans Temp Oil Pres, Michelin LXT AT2 245 70 R16
7,000# Draw Tight hitch, PML EX Deep Trans Pan
Centrifuge, SunCoast, Transgo, RAM TCM, InMotion Stage 2
Wife's 99 TDI VW Beetle

Bad clutch fan

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2006 CRD http://www.UtahPowderCoatings.com/ http://www.gorecon.com/ I'm kind of a big deal.
RL rear bumper, ARB front bumper, Mile Marker winch, Power Tank, Skids by Mopar & Skid Row, RL Super Skink Sliders, 235/85R16 MTR, Air Flow Snorkel, DTT, 4.10 gears, Frankenlift II, Katskin leather, JL Audio stereo, Rosen video.

There was a TSB on this as well as discussions over the years. Doc makes some instructional comments on this thread:
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=52110&hilit=temp+gauge+tsb

I don't really see it as much of a problem though even I get nervous when the needle moves past center...

Boilermaker2

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2005 CRD Sport - "Blackie"
Tow Package
Trac Loc
GDE EcoTune w/ unl torque
Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor Tires
over 192,000+ miles
100k mile service performed
5V Glow Plugs Installed and ECM updated