what is going on here? Looks like a heater core bypass, but I wanted to ask on here before messing with anything. What reason would the previous owner have done this, is this bad? Can I drive like this?




Unplugged nipple?



The other hose, also unplugged

 

they basically bypassed the heater core, so you won't have heater for the winter. It's perfectly fine to drive the way it is now. I'm gonna guess that the heater core was leaking so the PO bypassed it instead of installing a new heater core. If your gonna hook it back up, check to make sure your heater core isn't leaking and I would also recommend deleting the Heater control valve. That's the little plastic piece with the orange nipple, they are known to crack and leak. The factory even did away with them in the 97 and newer jeeps. Lots of info can be googled if you need more explanation on the heater core and heater control valve.

 

Originally Posted by 93XJeeper
when you say 'delete' the heater control valve, do you mean direct connect . Then plug off that vacuum line. That junk control valve is plastic and always breaks, leaks or whatever. Why plastic?
I've put epoxy around the new one to make it last longer. So far 3 years now.

 

Op should replace all those hoses before they K-B.

 

completely remove the plastic piece, plug the vacuum line, get some new hoses for a 97 Up Cherokee, they are one complete piece so they go straight from the thermostat housing to the heater core wth no breaks in between. Or you just connect the two old hoses together.

 

Thanks. When this valve leaks, and it will, I will do exactly that. Get '97 hose.

 

Don't wait til it leaks.

They go from slight leak to disintegrating in short time.