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aircon working OK?

Ok, first of my hopefully few stupid questions regarding my new (to me) '97 JC 4.0l...

When I turn the aircon on the electric fan runs for between 9-15 seconds, followed by 5 seconds off, depending on the interior cabin fan speed I select and engine RPM. At idle, fan speed 2 = 9 seconds of external fan, top fan speed = 15+ seconds of external fan, followed by 5 seconds off. Does this sound right?

I then measured the internal temp of the airflow. Outside ambient is

15 deg, inside cabin 17 deg. airflow in cool mode (no aircon) is 14 degrees. With aircon it's 7-9 degrees. Sound OK?

Got the towbar fitted today, so went for a tow with the 1800kg trailer and it pulled like a steamship. Stooped like a steamship, too! (trailer brakes did more braking!), but pulled fine, even on inclines. Haven't tried at any speed yet, so not sure about any sway issues yet.

Reply to
Danny
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Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

Thanks Bill,

I'm used to cars like Saab etc where the compressor and fan run for longer periods with longer rests between. Thanks again.

I see that there is an additional cooler in front of the radiator - am I right in thinking this is the auto transmission cooler and that the aircon condenser is built into the radiator?

Reply to
Danny

I think that if you follow the plumbing lines to the front radiator, you will find that it is part of the air conditioner system. The trans cooler is very small if there is one. If there isn't one, then you will find the plumbing to it going into what passes for the bottom tank on the radiator. Some radiators have the tanks on the sides, I am not sure how the Cherokee is configured, and the bottom tank is the one opposite the tank with the filler cap on it.

Like Bill said, the fan itself inside the passenger compartment should come on and stay on where ever you have set the speed control. The A/C clutch will cycle off and on, but for the most part this is completely transparent from the driver's seat.

Reply to
Jeff Strickland

Reply to
L.W.( ßill ) Hughes III

Thanks Jeff. I'm having an additional transmission cooler fitted next week, since I have the little radiator jobbie at the moment and am towing a large catering trailer.

The fan in the compartment stays on at whatever setting I use, it was the electric fan on the A/C I was querying. Spends all it's life coming on and going off every few seconds, which isn't how other cars I've had with A/C work. And it's noisy. And the headlights dim when it operates

Reply to
Danny

On my '98 Cherokee, the electric cooling fan that's mounted to the radiator, cycles on and off with the A/C compressor. I'd assume that your '97 operates in a similar way.

As others have mentioned, if your system is low on refrigerant, it will cycle more than is "normal" (or possibly not at all).

As for the headlights dimming, I believe that there was a TSB on that -- at least there was for the '98. I can't find any reference to it right now, nor do I recall what "the fix" was. Perhaps someone who has access to TSB's will chime in here...

-John

Reply to
John Sevey

Thanks John. While you're here, another question? :)

How can I definitively know what gearbox I have. The owners manual refers to the 4.0l auto as needing Dexron/Mercon, and the 2.5l needing chrysler fluid (ATF+2). Elsewhere on the net I read that you should never use Dexron in a Chrysler transmission, but I don't know if mine is Chrysler or the Asian Warner (sp?) alternative...

My local gearbox specialist is fitting an oil cooler next week, and told me that apart from the early Jeeps they all had the Chrysler 518 (derived from the older Torqueflight), and they are happy with Dexron

- I really don't want to get this wrong, since I'm mostly towing and at the moment the transmission fluid is a lovely bright red :)

Reply to
Danny

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