Temp gauge at operating temp

ech0sh4y · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:52 am

Just picked up a crd. I've noticed that my temp gauge won't go past the quarter mark. From what I've read it should be closer toward the half way mark? Ambient temps are around 0-10*F. Would this be a bad t-stat or possible the viscous pump is bad? I noticed the heater output doesn't seem to stellar either. Maybe it just is designed that way I can say as I haven't rode in other kjs before. Any ideas?

msilbernagel · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:02 am

You are correct. The thermostat is bad, and if not fixed soon may take out the viscous heater, which is working overtime to make up for it. Imagine it attempting to compensate for those low ambient temps rushing through the radiator with no 'stat to slow it down...

Recommend you get 'er done!

Mark

thermorex · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:40 am

Thermostat, used to be about $100, +/-, and it could take about 30 ish min to replace it, depending on how many coffee breaks you take. P/n thermostat: 5142601aa and p/n gasket: 5066806aa.

When I got my jeep, in apr 2009 at 78k, it was blown on open, barely passed 1/4 to 3/8ish. Went all summer with it like that (in hot weather it went to 1/2) and had to replace it in sept when cooled off and barely passed 1/8th, when I also did the tb. Thing is that it may get stuck on semi-open, which can be bad while towing/hot weather, so IMO change it as soon as possible.

ech0sh4y · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:41 am

Is there any way to verify this so I can tell the dealer to repair with our getting the, oh it is fine just cold out side excuse? How would one tell if the viscous heater pump is bad or going bad? Also with near 0*F temps should the temp dummy gauge read near half way?

ech0sh4y · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:48 am

Ok scratch that I believe you are correct. The thermostat is stuck. I read the thread above this one. But how would you tell if the v.h. Pump is done for? My temp gauge will rise rather quickly from cold start. However it will not appear to go much past 1/4 mark. This makes me believe the pump is fine just bad t-stat. Maybe my heater will work better!

thermorex · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 2:05 am

On 0F, while you drive your jeep and admitting your thermostat and viscous are working properly, the temp should go towards 1/2 after a while (could take 20-40 min of continuous movement), but as soon as you stop the car and leave engine on, temp would fall towards 1/4. I think this engine was not meant to operate in very cold weather, plus diesels, as we all know, are known to warm slower.

The only way I can think of testing the viscous is to touch the hoses and see if in and out are the same temp (or using an ir thermometer). If there is no temp difference, then definitely its not working. Unplugging/plugging the relay can also work if you have a good ear since when it couples should make a sound similar to ac compressor (aside the relay click). You can also measure the viscous ohms. But nevertheless, at quarter temp on gauge it should be decently warm in the cabin if viscous works.

thermorex · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 2:16 am

P.S. the viscous usually doesn't break on not working(off), it gets stuck on always on more often. Also, the bearing can go bad.

Dennis MacGyver · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 2:44 am

Check out this thread. This is how I fixed my bad thermostat. Many others here on this forum have done the same.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=64333&hilit=Stant+13519

car0430a · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 10:42 am

Welcome to lost ech0SH4y. If you just purchased the jeep congratulations. And if so have the dealer do it for free if they will not IDparts.com has replacement thermostats. They are highly used and trusted around here. And glad to see someone else from Wisconsin on here. Good luck.

ech0sh4y · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:23 am

car0430a wrote:

Welcome to lost ech0SH4y. If you just purchased the jeep congratulations. And if so have the dealer do it for free if they will not IDparts.com has replacement thermostats. They are highly used and trusted around here. And glad to see someone else from Wisconsin on here. Good luck.

Thank thank you! I am assuming the dealer will fix the issue as it was just purchased. These little diesels are hard to come by around here! I was looking for quite some time to find the one I wanted that was rusty. Have to love Wisconsin road salt haha!

tech57 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:37 pm

ech0sh4y wrote:

Just picked up a crd. I've noticed that my temp gauge won't go past the quarter mark. From what I've read it should be closer toward the half way mark? Ambient temps are around 0-10*F. Would this be a bad t-stat or possible the viscous pump is bad? I noticed the heater output doesn't seem to stellar either. Maybe it just is designed that way I can say as I haven't rode in other kjs before. Any ideas?

Welcome to LostJeeps.com!
Purchased my CRD about 3 months ago, 108,000 miles on it.
Temperature readings exactly like yours.
I bought a replacement thermostat on-line and took it to a shop to have it installed.
Temperature reading has been slightly to the left of mid-scale ever since.

After purchase I replaced ALL fluids, replaced both rear brake calipers (were frozen), replaced muffler with Magnaflow, replaced intercooler hoses, and added GDE ECO Tune.
Very happy with my purchase!
Bilstein shocks going on this week.
Best of success with yours!

msilbernagel · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 5:27 pm

tech57 - with that mileage, be sure either you or the previous owner did the 100k mile timing belt service?!

tech57 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 6:03 pm

msilbernagel wrote:

tech57 - with that mileage, be sure either you or the previous owner did the 100k mile timing belt service?!

Thank you for the heads up!
The belt was changed just before I purchased the CRD.

I am the 3rd owner.
1st owner documented all maintenance in service section of owner's manual.
2nd owner had it for about 15,000 miles and traded it it.
Belt was changed as part of reconditioning by independent auto dealer (I bought Jeep on eBay).
I changed all fluids just to be certain the proper spec was in the vehicle.

naturist · **Posted:** Sun Feb 17, 2013 7:56 pm

I have never heard/read of anyone having the viscous heater go bad, but even if it did, and even at 0°F, the temp gauge should got to a tad below 1/2 after 10 miles on the highway. If it does not, the t-stat is definitely bad. I HAVE heard of folks disconnecting the viscous heater year 'round to save fuel.

It is true that the engine will not warm up completely just idling, and will cool off below operating temp idling in ambient temperatures of zero and below.

The OEM t'stat is designed to mix cold water from the radiator and hot water from the head to provide a constant intake temperature to the water pump. While a lot of folks have jiggered up an standard inline thermostat in order to save money, I'm not a fan of doing that. There is a reason for this particular t'stat design.

BMW (to the best of my knowledge) started using that sort of t'stat way back in the 60s, and they said they did so to minimized cracked blocks from hard charging drivers going through the Alps in the winter. They wanted control over the incoming water used to cool the block. I've no evidence this would be any sort of issue with a CRD, but I wonder what difference it might make if you were towing up a mountain in below zero weather.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:54 am

Only bad viscous heater I know of is at viewtopic.php?f=5&t=60567 . Down here it's a useless item as the vehicle warms up just fine hence my viscous relay has been pulled for quite some time. Elsewhere if you have access to plug your block heater in (ideally on a timer set for ca. 2 hrs before departure) then the viscous doesn't do much good. I could be wrong but as far as I know its sole purpose is to provide a tiny bit of cabin heat a tiny bit earlier than the engine will do, absent use of the block heater, in really cold weather.

I would worry a bit about viscous heater life if you have a bad enough tstat that the viscous runs with the clutch engaged all the time or repeatedly cycles on/off.

Just a reminder that the viscous does absolutely nothing to warm up other vehicle fluids such as the tranny, transfer case, and differential. In fact the tranny won't shift into upper gears until it reaches operating temp. Best advice I can give for really cold weather starting, with or without the block heater, is to crank up; wait say 30 seconds; then drive gently until the temp needle shows signs of life to let ALL fluids circulate and warm up at least a little bit.

ech0sh4y · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:51 am

Thank you all for the information. The dealer has agreed to fix the issue. Just trying to see of there is anything else I should have them check. I do have the common thud when releasing the breaks from a dead stop. Seems that this is common. Also I knows LSD is shot as I can really go anywhere is 2wd in the snow. I did notice a squeak and odd nose from the front when I hit big dips or go over speed bumps. Seems to be coming fr
The front. Anywho thanks again!

thermorex · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 9:04 am

I just unplugged the vh relay this morning. Quite honestly, I didn't even feel its not working. But the temps were in the upper 40s. Engine temperature seems unchanged, meaning it didn't take longer than usually to reach 1/2 less a tick to the left. In theory, engine should warm a little faster with vh, since the cabin heater should at least in theory provide a little bit of heat for the engine too, but I haven't seen any sign of this. And for when it's 0F... This is what Columbia jackets are for, lol.

tech57 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 19, 2013 12:11 pm

ech0sh4y wrote:

Thank you all for the information. The dealer has agreed to fix the issue. Just trying to see of there is anything else I should have them check. I do have the common thud when releasing the breaks from a dead stop. Seems that this is common. Also I knows LSD is shot as I can really go anywhere is 2wd in the snow. I did notice a squeak and odd nose from the front when I hit big dips or go over speed bumps. Seems to be coming fr
The front. Anywho thanks again!

Have them check the intercooler hoses for damage.
Mine were split and leaking when I brought my car home.

If not mentioned earlier, read the NOOB Guide thread. Lots of valuable info there.

Temp gauge at operating temp

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