Coolant Leak - What Part is This?
 

I have had a slow coolant leak going on for a few months now and I caught the culprit today!! The bad part is... WTH is it called and where do I get it from?

That's the heater control valve. Just eliminate it.

How does one eliminate it and if I do.... is the heat still controlable?

Later XJ's didn't come with that. It's a hot water control valve and it really isn't necessary, lots of folks just pitch them. You can either run longer hoses from the pump/block to the heater core, or use hose splicers to connect the ends together with the valve removed. A search will turn up pics of the finished job I'm sure.

As said a search will turn up a lot on Google "jeep xj hcv" should turn up something.

All the thing does is divert hot coolant from the heater core when your heat isn't on. The blend door in the HVAC system does the same thing as it is. (Or so I've read)

You can either go ultra-ghetto style and fashion up some couplers with hose clamps (saw one guy just use pieces of copper pipe...) or simply order heater hoses for a 97+ XJ. With the valve out of the way cut back that vacuum line as far as it'll go and plug it with a dab of RTV or something.

1st pic shows how the factory eliminated the HCV on '97 up. 2nd pic shows 3/4" and 5/8" heater hose we in stalled that's sold "by the foot" at any auto parts store. Measure twice, cut once and as stated, don't forget to plug the vacuum hose/tube.

a new one is like $14

Yeah and how much does it cost to keep replacing it every few years, and the odd time it breaks and you dump coolant all over the freeway, leaving you overheating and calling for a tow?

No joke, that's happened to at least one member.

you had it towed for that?

a pair of pliers and you can loop the heater hoses together as a quick fix.

would have saved you the tow bill.

We carry one of those 5/8"X3/4" hose barbs in the glove box for a quick/easy "emergency" loop, if needed.

Wasn't me. Guy ran out of coolant because it pumped out of the hose. He didn't notice until the engine overheated.