Overheating issues on my Cherokee – radiator leaking or something worse?

[patcummins]

I’m honestly at a bit of a loss with my 2017 Cherokee because it’s started running hotter than usual over the past couple of weeks and I can smell that sweet coolant smell whenever I park, which I know is never a good sign. I’ve been keeping an eye on the temperature gauge and it creeps up to about three-quarters when I’m stuck in traffic, though it drops back down once I get moving again, so I’m hoping it’s just a slow leak rather than something more serious like a head gasket issue. I did a quick visual inspection and I noticed some greenish residue on the bottom of the radiator, which makes me think there’s a small crack or a failing seal somewhere, but I’m not confident enough to diagnose it myself because I know these modern cooling systems can be pretty complex with all the plastic components that tend to get brittle with age. The thing that really worries me is that I’ve heard horror stories about these Cherokees developing cooling system problems that lead to engine damage if you don’t catch them early, and I definitely don’t want to be that guy who ignored the warning signs and ended up with a blown motor. I’ve been quoted a pretty wide range of prices for radiator replacement, from budget aftermarket units to genuine Mopar parts that cost significantly more, and I’m trying to figure out if it’s worth spending the extra for OEM or if a good quality aftermarket radiator will do the job just fine. A friend who works in Musaffah mentioned a place that does Quick Jeep Radiator Replacement in Musaffah and said they were fast and reasonably priced, which sounds appealing because I really can’t afford to have the car off the road for days while I wait for parts to arrive. Has anyone here had a similar issue with their Cherokee and found that replacing the radiator solved the problem, or did it turn out to be something else like a stuck thermostat or a failing water pump? I’d really appreciate some guidance before I start throwing money at this because I want to make sure I’m actually fixing the root cause rather than just treating a symptom.

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