I am working on removing the heater core on my 96 cherokee 4.0L with A/C. During removal of the blower housing, I knocked a black rectangular component off the front of the blower housing. The component attaches to a copper tube that is embedded into the housing. There are two thin white wires inside the component that go into the blower housing and has a black and white wire pair that goes to a plug. Looking at the Haynes manual, my intuition says this may be the air conditioning thermostat. Not sure though. See attachment for picture.

Can anyone help ID this? Bonus question: Can this component be replaced and roughly how expensive is it?

 

My first thought would be to pull out the whole heater assembly and open the top of it. The whole top should come off from what i have seen. Then asses whats damaged then see if you can find a new one at the parts store or junk yard it... As for what it is... You got me.... My rigs for off road so all that b.s. Was ripped out

 

hes right thermostat