Well it looks like we have ourselves a Cherokee. Needs a bunch of TLC. The first thing is the thermostat housing. Its leaking around the seal. Can I buy this item at the local parts dealer or is this a dealer item? Thanks

 

the housing is availabe aftermarket for very cheap (about 10 dollars i think). Check amazon and rockauto.
Also don't forget to pick up a thermostat housing gasket while your at it.

 

Oneb thing i have found out over the last fews days is that the dealer doesn't really carry much for the older xj's now. I tried to get a coolant temp sensor and called for a price on an ECM only to be told both of those items are discontinued in their system. Told i had to go aftermarket. Tstat housings are common at parts stores. I used water pump and tstat housing RTV from Permatex. The paper housing that came with the housing was junk and leaked. Remember that most housings are cast aluminum and don't need to be cranked on. They crack easily.

 

Besides just replacing the gasket on the thermo housing, you can put a small amount of RTV on both sides of the gasket. This has always worked for me (unless the housing is VERY badly warped or gouged).

 

After thinking on this. Im gonna go ahead and put a heater core and flush the entire system as well. Any tips on doing this? My son will be 16 the day after Christmas. He is so excited about getting started on this. If Ive heard Toyota Tacoma once Ive heard it a million times. But watching him drive this worn out Jeep home was priceless. He said he loved it and the Toyota thing was over rated. Im excited. Thanks for all the help

 

Another question. Should I use Loctite on the bolt threads?

 

No, I wouldn't.

Is the heater core leaking? I have never replaced one on an XJ, but from what I've read on here, sounds like it's quite a job.

 

If anything, anti-seize on the threads!!

Replace the thermostat while you're at it with one from the dealer. The supplied gasket is excellent, also.

Why replace the heater core? Is it leaking?

 

Also don't tighten those housing bolts down too much. That can cause an assortment of surprises.

Just a heads up, went with an aftermarket housing from AutoZone. Had 2 leak on me with everything put back together properly and torqued accordingly. Also, if you remove the temp sensor from the housing, wrap some plumbers tape around the threads.

 

if your just replacing parts to replace parts then forget the heater core and put in a better radiator, water pump, and heater control valve... all common failures on xjs (really on most vehicles not just us). unless you have strong evidence of a leaky heater core i would not want to jump into that job unwarranted. plenty of other jobs to beat your head on.... ball joints tie rods brake lines fluid flushes filter changes stuff like that

 

Better yet, eliminate the heater control valve. It serves no purpose and is **** to catastrophic failure at the most inopportune times.

 

Sorry to thread hijacked but I have a question about that. Doesn't eliminating that make hot coolant flow to the heater core all the time and fight the ac?

 

Does not. The heat/AC is controlled by a blend door, not coolant flow. The factory eliminated the HCV in later years.

I live in Arizona and it works just fine.

 

Oh ok i see. Thanks cruiser.

 

You bet. Eliminate that piece of plastic junk that explodes without warning. I brushed up against mine working on a hot engine and it split in half, showering me in hot coolant.