Hi. So I'm not totally sure what part I need to order here.

Jeep info:
2008 wrangler manual transmission 2 door

symptoms:
-Overheating at idle.
-radiator fan runs (pretty loudly and fast) when at normal/high temperature.
-cools right back down to normal temperature when moving.

I tried to see what happens when i shut the jeep off when the fan is running and the fan doesn't abruptly stop. It keeps spinning until it runs out of momentum.

I've seen people with the same symptoms say it was the fan clutch... but do these electric fans have that? Or is that just a TJ YJ thing? Looks to me like mine just has an electric motor.

attached is a pic of my fan so you guys could see the type of fan I have if it helps.

 

You do have an electric fan. I'd start with checking the level and condition on the coolant. When you start it up and allow it to come to temperature, us is the thermostat opening? It could very well be a water pump if it's not moving the coolant through the radiator appropriately.

 

It's hard to tell from your post, but are you observing the fan running at low/normal speed as the engine starts heating up, and then it kicks to high speed as the temps really get up there? IIRC, mine kicks to high up over 230* or so. Just trying to figure out if you're seeing both low and hi modes, or if maybe this is a situation where "low" isn't working and it's only kicking on high when the engine really heats up. This would make sense why when you're driving and air is flowing over the rad you're generally ok.

 

Also....looking at your radiator, have you given it a good rinse from the front and back? I can imagine there's plenty of mud in there that may not be allowing it to cool correctly at idle.