Help! 4.0 SOHC Owners!

[Keach]

Okay folks, I need some expert advice. The check engine light came on about three days ago, disconnected neg. battery cable to reset, the CEL was back on in just couple miles. Thought it was O2 sensor and was not worried. Driving back tonight, engine started running hot, I had driven 100+ miles earlier in the day without a problem. Its running hot, transmission shifting ackwardly and rough. Doesn't overheat but the ck gauge light comes on then goes off after engine cools slightly. It doesn't completely overheat, just runs gauge almost to the red then cools slightly. Coolant level good, no cooling system leaks, thermostat is two years old, as is clutch fan. Could the O2 sensor cause this?

Any Suggestion?

Thanks

 

[dbarale]

Sounds like a bad thermostat to me... You may wanna try to flush/replace the coolant. I would just replace the therm anyway. It's cheap and doesn't take that long.

 

[kgd102]

I just had that problem on my 98 SOHC the other day and it ended up being the thermostat. Dropped a new one in and everything is fine again...except for that damn noise I can't figure out.

 

[Robert]

Same symptoms my '97 had last March when I needed a new thermostat. Mine was about 2.75 years old at the time.

 

[Keach]

Thanks!

Thermostat cured the problem.

Thank You!