will a blocked heater core cause you jeep to overheat
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 506
Likes: 1
From: Rapho Township, PA
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L straight Six
By itself, probably not, however, if it is clogged it could be trhowing gunk that has your thermostat clogged, and that definietley would. The coolant needs to flow through all freely, but there is a by-pass for the heatercore that should allow it to stay cool.... but again, depending on why it is clogged....LOL... its easy to flush though, may help to get some crap out of there
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: ny
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
i have had some brown sluge in my system something about electro but we flushed everything and put new water pump and theomstat no no heat and car is over heating i check everything again today all i could find is blocked heatercore and more brown stuff i pretty sure the head gasket is still good i need help
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: ny
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
when it over heats gauge goes staight to hot and red light comes on and water bubbles out from overflow allover i fushed hole system today and still doing but i did find blocked heater core
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: ny
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
there is no heat i did put the theromostat in boiling water and it open i put back in cold and it closed so i now that works the water pump is 2 months old i took off today still looks new the pellers where still there
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Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: ny
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
when i am driving it will over heat bubbling in like 10 to 15 give or take i took theromsta out and put it in boiling water and it open and the real quick in cold and it shut
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,031
Likes: 4
From: Blue Springs, MO
Year: 1993
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L Laredo
I think you might need to do another flush or two. You need to get all the sludge outta there. One thing i'm wondering about is since you said you replaced the water pump, are you sure it's the correct pump? I think 2000 up use a reverse flow pump on the 4.0L engine. They have an R stamped on the propeller. Maybe the parts guy grabbed the wrong one. Just tossin' it out there, probably just the sludge.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 760
Likes: 6
From: Landers, CA
Year: Several
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Take the upper radiator hose off. Start it.
If water flows out from the radiator - it's the wrong pump..
Get an infrared thermometer - measure the temps all over the radiator Cold spots indicate where it's plugged.
If water flows out from the radiator - it's the wrong pump..
Get an infrared thermometer - measure the temps all over the radiator Cold spots indicate where it's plugged.


