Hi all.

I need to temporarily bypass the heater core until this nasty UK weather improves... we still have snow.

What's the best way to do this? I think I need to join the two hoses together at the firewall. Not sure if this is the best way or not.

I think this will be my only option due the LPG hoses that connect to the heater hoses closer to the water pump. I can post a pic of my engine bay if need be.

What I also need to understand is why I can't simply turn the heat off. If I put the heater control to its coldest setting, will this not stop coolant from entering the heater core? I was under the impression that this would close the heater control valve and no coolant would enter the core.

Every time it snows in the UK, my Jeep brakes in some way and I can't drive it. It sucks!

Thanks.

 

Route a hose from the tstat housing to the waterpump in a loop and call it good. The heater core does not control the temp, it always has coolant passing through it. The vents (blend doors?) control the air flow into the cab and mixes the hot air with cooler air to adjust the temp. I am not sure if a 97 has a heater control valve or not, but i think those do route the coolant through itself before the core in older models.

 

ok, thanks for the advice!

Is there any reason I can't just connect the two hoses together at the firewall? Will this have any adverse impact on anything?

 

All you need to do is remove the two hoses at the heater core and connect the hoses that come from the t-stat housing together. You will need to get a couple of barbed fittings. If I am not mistaken one hose is 5/8 inch hose. Off the top of my head I cant remember what the other hose size is.

 

Nope! No heater control valve.

 

Get the right size hose barb and you can, the hoses are two different diameters. you just need to have the flow loop before the core, do that however it works for you.

 

ok thanks guys

Here is my problem (if it is a problem - don't know yet).

The LPG system that's fitted seems to take a feed from the heater pipes... not sure why. I guess it has its own internal coolant temp sensor.

Hope the pics help.

 

Just noticed you posted this before I got to it. I guess this would solve my problem. Thank you!

 

LPG system? Wow, what is all that mess hooked up in there? I'd be curious to know. That might throw a wrench into things. Why do you need to bypass it? Is it leaking?

 

OK, From your pics it does look like you do have a heater control valve. I don't know if that's because it is LPG setup? But you should still be able to disconnect the hose at the heater core and just connect the two hoses together and not have to work so close to the t-stat housing that way you can still have the hoses connected to the LPG.

 

Excellent! That's all I need to know. Thanks again guys.

Yup... the lpg system does add a lot to the engine bay and to be honest, its not the neatest of jobs.

Not sure about the valve myself, I suspect it isn't a valve and its something to do with the lpg system. I wouldn't like to be without it though, it's half the price of normal petrol and thats expensive here... equivalent of $2.29 per litre.

With lpg I get the equivalent mpg to most cars out there. Its also done 80k miles on lpg so fuel pump is happy and injectors are used a lot less.