Jakers

So I just flushed my radiator and realized the small hose on the top below the cap is capped off, is this normal? What does it normally connect to? Thanks!

Jake

RTorrez1

It is suppose to connect to your over bottle.

Jakers

Seems like a pretty dumb thing to remove.. Any reason why the PO would have done this?

RTorrez1

Do you still have the over flow bottle? Maybe it was leaking or they have a week rad cap and they figured that was the fix? But, like you said it is a dumb thing to remove. I would replace the bottle if it's missing or leaking and put a new rad cap too (16lbs.)

djb383

That needs to be rectified ASAP. That's the pressure release/coolant recovery port. If the system needs to find a new place to release pressure, that won't be good....as in split hose or cracked radiator. Heaven forbid cracking a heater core. Git 'er done.....right.

Jakers

Overflow bottle is still there and appears to be intact, cap LOOKS good. I can't believe I just noticed this... Searching for a new hose right now. Might have already damaged the heater core. I live in AZ so I don't really need heat but since it's the winter months I turned it on and doesn't really get hot so not sure if the core is clogged out damaged...

freegdr

You still have the factory pressure bottle ?

Jakers

I've never replaced it so unless the PO did then yea I believe is factory

RTorrez1

Good catch! I didn't realize his year and more then likely it came with a close system. That is more then likely why it was capped off. The PO never installed a overflow bottle and it may still have the old pressure bottle from the closed system.

Jakers

So was it a closed system and the PO made it an open system? I've attached some more pictures... Not sure what my next step should be.







I'm assuming the closed system was replaced with an open system, but instead of adding the overflow bottle the PO just blocked that section off... So would I be correct in assuming I just need to obtain an overflow bottle and add a hose from the radiator to the bottle?

freegdr

Does heater work ?

djb383

Don't know about the heater, but I bet the a/c don't work.

Can't a pressurized bottle be converted to a open system bottle?

Jakers

Heater does NOT work. It seemed to work on the trail (defrost only) but engine was running hot anyways and was going at trail speeds. On the freeway going 65+ I had to wear my hoodie and still did not get warm on a 30minute drive, keep in mind as well its AZ weather, so only 35-45F outside.

A/C does NOT work either, but the lines have been cut for that. I think you should be able see the cut lines in the pic thats focused on the bottle.

freegdr

Heater cores most likely plugged some you can hook it up direct then just install a over flo bottle after you flush the core it self and hook up capped of line to it from below cap.

Jakers

So I have to flush the heater core, then buy and install an over flow bottle, then connect the the now capped off line the the newly installed overflow bottle. Any wasy way to flush the heater core? I've seen some stuff about using just a regular hose or using an air compressor? I did a flush just the other day and added a T into the heater core hose and attached my garden hose to it and turned the water on and had it flush out through the top of my radiator and into a bucket, did that with the Jeep running for about 5minutes untill all clear water came out. Was the sufficent enough or do I need to do something special for the core?

Thanks again!