Sooooo, I turn on the A/C last night and there is a little bit of "smoke" (not really smoke SMOKE, but more like fog) coming out of my vents. The window was fogged up so I played with the settings back and forth trying to figure out what the "smoke" from the vents was while drying to de-fog the front windshield, the whole time not being able to see out the window while stuck in traffic from the fireworks. The wife BLASTS the fan and the "smoke" comes POURING out! I immediately turned it off and she wiped the window with a napkin and we were on our way. I looked at things a bit when we got home but it was late, dark and I was tired.

So this morning I had actually forgotten about it when I headed out to the bank. A mile from the house I turn on the A/C and here comes the "smoke" again. I turn it off immediately and it pretty much stops, then I get to the bank where I notice some really thin oil in the passenger flootmat. The side of the trany hump is soaked with this stuff and its pooling in the mat.

Anyone have any ideas? Is my heater core shot? Do I need to start pulling the dash? Thanks in advance!

 

If it smells like antifreeze, or smells at all theres a high possibility of it being the heater core.
If it doesn't smell, it might just be humidity mixing with the cold dry air etc
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f9/c-...vents-1089501/
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/w...-vent-1094918/

II do believe it is your heater core going, because it sounds like it is leaking coolant

 

Agreed, sounds like heater core.

 

Yeah, I think it is coolant. I dont smell it in the Jeep per say, but I THINK I smell coolant outside, but there is nothing leaking under the hood. The stuff on the floor is dirtyish, and therefore I thought it was oil, but its too thin to be oil and not dark enough, so Im guessing its dirty coolant. Either way, this is NOT normal for my Jeep. Its NEVER happened (owned it for over 9 years now) and due to the fluid on the passenger floor Im pretty sure its the heater core.

So, what Im wondering now is, Ive seen heater cores (been searching the net this afternoon) from $35 to $150. Is there really THAT much of a difference? I dont want to spend $150, pull the whole dash only to find some connection gone. Im thinking about going the inexpensive route and if its the heater core Ill pop it in and go on from there. If its NOT the heater core, Im only out $35.

 

Sounds like heater core... go middle of the road .. because if thats what it is you dont want to have to go through the trouble of replacing it again ... mind as well do the evap while your down there ... call some buddies get some beers....only about 4 hrs to do with help

 

You mean the A/C evaporator? How do these hook up anyway? Are they soldered, brazed, clamp, etc.? And, do I need to remove the entire dash, comepletely? Any write-ups on this? Id hate to take the WHOLE dash out if I dont have to. Ill be doing this alone in my driveway, and this time of year, Ill be in the sun all day and it'll be over 90. Wont be fun.

 

well the whole dash does not entirely have to come out... but if u dont take it all the way out you need a couple buddies to hold one end up... there are a few great write ups in here... they are all screwed in i belive... make sure you separate everything out...(all dash pieces) so they all gho back togehter.. the heatercore is small and u need one of those clamp removers.. the sell them at local store... the heater core itself is inside a black box... you will need to bleed the ac lines and unhook it from the engine first before taking dash apart

 

This is not a job for the weak or faint of heart.

Have the A/C evacuated at a shop before taking out the console, dropping the steering column, and removing the dash assembly.

X2 on replacing the evaporator core while you're in there.

 

Heater core and evaporator are on their way. Thanks for the info, Im sure Ill probably have a couple questions when I start digging.

 

Find some shops in your area who might be willing to do the work. For a price. While you're waiting on parts.

 

Not much of a choice up here. Only ONE shop in town. And although theyve ALWAYS given me great prices on stuff like charging up the AC, tires, alignment, ball joint, etc., this is one thing that Im thinking Ill do myself due to time. Ive heard it can/will take around 8 or so hours, and even though they only charge like $35 an hour, Im thinking this one might run up FAST! But honestly, Ill probably stop by tomorrow and see, but Id rather do it myself. I hate having ANYONE else due stuff to her. She's like my child.

 

I wish shops in my area only charged $35 an hour.

Most are $85-$135.

Still, you need to have them evac the A/C before you take it apart and recharge it after you put it back together.

 

Yeah, I know. Most shops are a complete rip off.

And yeah, I know that too. Which sucks because I just had it totally flushed and charged last summer due to me putting on a new compressor. Not happy about having to pay twice in 12 months for that.