Bad heater Core Help !
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
From: St. Clair Shores, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline 6
so guys ... driving home today i found my self sitting on the side of the e-way.. my jeep over heated and it was because of the heater core i belive.when i turned on the heat smoke inside the car and coolant inside on the floor.. i manged to tow it home and we bypassed the heater core for now tg.. i can still drive her but i heard i have to take the dash apart to replace the core.... any one have to do this as of late and can give me some tips ?
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 4
From: morrisonville ny
Year: 2000 @ 1994 givin away
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Yes you can drive it as long as the two heater hoses connect back to one another like you said, and from what I know of this job its a royal pita,but hopefully someone will stop by while you are using the search function and shed some light on that subject,but your fine to drive.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
From: St. Clair Shores, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline 6
Yes you can drive it as long as the two heater hoses connect back to one another like you said, and from what I know of this job its a royal pita,but hopefully someone will stop by while you are using the search function and shed some light on that subject,but your fine to drive.
Registered Users
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 4
From: morrisonville ny
Year: 2000 @ 1994 givin away
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Yes you could throw the full set of gauges in it.I think 97 thru 01 will work but again get that verifid cause Im not 100 percent on it.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,103
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From: St. Clair Shores, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline 6
does this seem to be about the gist of stuff to do for it ?
discharge A/C system
unhook battery.
drain cooling system
disconnect heater hoses, inlet and outlet.
remove consul. place all nuts bolts and screws seprate from everything else! mark them as, (consul hardware)
remove electrical connectors from blower motor. label connector with tape. (blower motor)
open airbox, remove lines from evaporator. be careful NOT to hurt the evaporator.
pull PCM away from firewall, DO NOT DISCONNECT WIRES!
now, disconnect all hoses and wires from air box assembly. NOTE: label all electrical connectors with tape, and name it where ever it came from, use color coding.
remove heater core from box.
replace everything as you took it out.
recharge A/C system with approved, proper refrigerant, ensure oild is replaced also.
i would recommend getting it recharged at a shop. and let them figure out how much oil you lost. cause if it breaks, its on them.
unhook battery.
drain cooling system
disconnect heater hoses, inlet and outlet.
remove consul. place all nuts bolts and screws seprate from everything else! mark them as, (consul hardware)
remove electrical connectors from blower motor. label connector with tape. (blower motor)
open airbox, remove lines from evaporator. be careful NOT to hurt the evaporator.
pull PCM away from firewall, DO NOT DISCONNECT WIRES!
now, disconnect all hoses and wires from air box assembly. NOTE: label all electrical connectors with tape, and name it where ever it came from, use color coding.
remove heater core from box.
replace everything as you took it out.
recharge A/C system with approved, proper refrigerant, ensure oild is replaced also.
i would recommend getting it recharged at a shop. and let them figure out how much oil you lost. cause if it breaks, its on them.
Just did both heater core and evaporator core in my 2001 about 3 weeks ago. It's really not as bad of a job as it seems. If you give me your e-mail I can send you PDF files of the sections of the manual you need to do the job.
I would recommend replacing the evaporator while you're in there also. They tend to be leak prone and it's right next to the heater core. My evaporator was leaking but I did the heater core also since I was there. I found the evaporator cheapest at NAPA and the heater core was lower priced at O'Reilly. You will need disconnect tools to unhook the A/C lines, I think they are around $20 at NAPA. If you replace the evap, you will need to add the proper oil. If I remember right I think it was 2 oz of PAG oil. The decal under your hood that lists the refrigerant charge has the proper type of oil listed and the HVAC section in the manual lists the amount.
A little tip to keep from making any bigger antifreeze or oil mess inside the Jeep when you remove the heater box. Pump enough grease from your grease gun into the tubes of the cores to seal the liquid in, then push it a bit with a wad of paper towel to keep the grease in. DON'T do this if you plan to reuse either core, you'll never get all the grease out.
If you want the PDF's sent let me know before about 3pm today. I'm working out of town this week and I don't know if the campground I'll be at has internet available.
Jim
I would recommend replacing the evaporator while you're in there also. They tend to be leak prone and it's right next to the heater core. My evaporator was leaking but I did the heater core also since I was there. I found the evaporator cheapest at NAPA and the heater core was lower priced at O'Reilly. You will need disconnect tools to unhook the A/C lines, I think they are around $20 at NAPA. If you replace the evap, you will need to add the proper oil. If I remember right I think it was 2 oz of PAG oil. The decal under your hood that lists the refrigerant charge has the proper type of oil listed and the HVAC section in the manual lists the amount.
A little tip to keep from making any bigger antifreeze or oil mess inside the Jeep when you remove the heater box. Pump enough grease from your grease gun into the tubes of the cores to seal the liquid in, then push it a bit with a wad of paper towel to keep the grease in. DON'T do this if you plan to reuse either core, you'll never get all the grease out.
If you want the PDF's sent let me know before about 3pm today. I'm working out of town this week and I don't know if the campground I'll be at has internet available.
Jim
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,135
Likes: 16
From: Gilbert AZ/Las Cruces NM
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 upgraded
here is all of the work involved in replacing the heater core
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/we...-2-door-53298/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/we...-2-door-53298/
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
From: St. Clair Shores, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline 6
whoo looks like this is going to be a weekend dealio.....
parts needed
1. new heater core
2. new speedo from junk yard
3. 2-3 cases of beer
4. 1 friend lol
thanks for all the help guys ... love this site .. i will post pics when doing the progress
parts needed
1. new heater core
2. new speedo from junk yard
3. 2-3 cases of beer
4. 1 friend lol
thanks for all the help guys ... love this site .. i will post pics when doing the progress
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 504
Likes: 1
From: Tucson, AZ
Year: 2002
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
here is all of the work involved in replacing the heater core
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/we...-2-door-53298/
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f46/we...-2-door-53298/
.....
Last edited by lurk520; Aug 15, 2010 at 01:14 PM.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,103
Likes: 0
From: St. Clair Shores, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Inline 6
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 28,068
Likes: 6
From: Tenn. and Mich.
Year: 2004
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.7L V8


