Temp Gauge during test towing.

kb61751 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:59 pm

I just took my Liberty out for a test tow of my travel trailer (17', single axle, 3500 lbs gross) and the temp gauge most of the time ran about one notch below center, but on some up hills, it ran about 2 notches above center, and the fan came on. After the fan came on it cooled back down to the first reading. I must assume that this is normal. It had no problem pulling it on the interstate, at 65 mph with the overdrive off. I only towed it for about 10 miles. The outside temp was about 97. Thanks.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:03 pm

kb61751 wrote:

I just took my Liberty out for a test tow of my travel trailer (17', single axle, 3500 lbs gross) and the temp gauge most of the time ran about one notch below center, but on some up hills, it ran about 2 notches above center, and the fan came on. After the fan came on it cooled back down to the first reading. I must assume that this is normal. It had no problem pulling it on the interstate, at 65 mph with the overdrive off. I only towed it for about 10 miles. The outside temp was about 97. Thanks.

They had some programming problems with these gages, I have a local friend with a '06 with same problem towing his bass boat. I guess his is about 3000 lbs and his did the same thing, so I put my scan gage on his CRD and the temp never varied more then couple of degrees. He took it in an to local dealer and it no longer has the erratic reading, I guess they reflashed the thing. There has been one or two thermostates and water pumps replaced for simular problems.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Sun Jul 30, 2006 12:41 am

Whoa ther partner. Oldnavy's reply makes it sound like you have a problem. If I were towing I would expect to see exactly what you are seeing or perhaps even more of an increase. If you had the same load in a bass boat perhaps not but the wind resistance on the front of the trailer adds a lot. DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY!

oldnavy · **Posted:** Sun Jul 30, 2006 8:30 am

Cowcatcher wrote:

Whoa ther partner. Oldnavy's reply makes it sound like you have a problem. If I were towing I would expect to see exactly what you are seeing or perhaps even more of an increase. If you had the same load in a bass boat perhaps not but the wind resistance on the front of the trailer adds a lot. DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY!

It depends on what the two notchs represent in temp range, my friends Jeep never varied more then about 6* with the bass boat and like you say the other trailer may have a lot of wind resistance. My friends Jeep was getting very close to the red line when towing up hills but the scan gage showed a temp of 181* and that is a long way from over heating or causing a gage reading he was having. At the time it was obvious that my friends Jeep was not over heating just from looking and feeling of the cooling system. Also this was last month and I may not be remembering exact temps and such, but I do remember that whatever dealer did, it fixed the problem. What added a check behind problem for me was he took back to the dealer he bought it from, which is about 50 miles from here so I didn't get to check with the tech like I would have here local.

RTStabler51 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:39 am

This is quite interesting as I wondered about this this past weekend. I pulled 4k this weekend, and when going up hills or under a hard load, my temp gauge would almost peg itself. However, once I let off or got to normal speed and was running consistent it would drop down. I figured it was just an oversensitive gauge.

I plan on installing a water temp gauge when I get the apillar pod. I wasn't going too, but after this weekend, I'm definately going to!

kb61751 · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 8:49 am

I have to think that my gauge is reading correctly, for two reasons. 1) its a late build 2006 2) at 2 notches past center the cooling fan comes on. If it was a incorrectly calibrated gauge I don't think the fan would come on.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 9:42 am

kb61751 wrote:

I have to think that my gauge is reading correctly, for two reasons. 1) its a late build 2006 2) at 2 notches past center the cooling fan comes on. If it was a incorrectly calibrated gauge I don't think the fan would come on.

Hey who knows how D/C has these thing wired. :shock:

blacksmoke · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:18 pm

oldnavy wrote:

Cowcatcher wrote:

Whoa ther partner. Oldnavy's reply makes it sound like you have a problem. If I were towing I would expect to see exactly what you are seeing or perhaps even more of an increase. If you had the same load in a bass boat perhaps not but the wind resistance on the front of the trailer adds a lot. DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY!

It depends on what the two notchs represent in temp range, my friends Jeep never varied more then about 6* with the bass boat and like you say the other trailer may have a lot of wind resistance. My friends Jeep was getting very close to the red line when towing up hills but the scan gage showed a temp of 181* and that is a long way from over heating or causing a gage reading he was having. At the time it was obvious that my friends Jeep was not over heating just from looking and feeling of the cooling system. Also this was last month and I may not be remembering exact temps and such, but I do remember that whatever dealer did, it fixed the problem. What added a check behind problem for me was he took back to the dealer he bought it from, which is about 50 miles from here so I didn't get to check with the tech like I would have here local.

Interesting! I should have read this before posting my own problem, funny it happened in the same period.
Just wonder if I should run to the dealer and loose 1/2 day or just wait to see if it happens again. I'm thinking more and more about buying the scan guage tool :-)

oldnavy · **Posted:** Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:27 pm

I know where without my ScanGage. I do need to upgrade to the new one though, mine is a very early one that I got almost year and a half ago.

Temp Gauge during test towing.

Who is online