Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here! ZJ (93-98), WJ (99-04), WK (05+)
All ZJ/WJ/WK specific tech questions asked here!

02 grand cherokee heat issues.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 03-03-2017, 11:42 AM
  #1  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Shannon Loewenhagen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default 02 grand cherokee heat issues.

I have ano 02 grand cherokee. I'm having heater issues and not sure exactly what it is. The heat kind of comes and goes a little. It will get hot for a little bit then cool right off. If you turn the control to cold it gets cold then crank it back up as hot as it goes it will get good and hot for a few seconds then cool back off. Thermostat seems to be working fine engine temp gets up and stays where it should. Thought maybe the doors in the dash but not sure and someone said maybe the heater core. But if it was the heater core it shouldn't get hot at all I wouldn't think right?? Not sure what I should check or do here. My local shop isn't sure either without tearing it all apart.
Old 03-03-2017, 12:16 PM
  #2  
Junior Member
 
tony270's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

I would first suspect the thermostat, sometime opening partially, fully, and not at all.
Old 03-03-2017, 01:50 PM
  #3  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Shannon Loewenhagen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

Originally Posted by tony270
I would first suspect the thermostat, sometime opening partially, fully, and not at all.
. But the engine temp is where it needs to be. If it's stuck open it should typically stay cool, if it's shut which really never happens then it would overheat. If you turn the temp down all the way to cold and then crank the heat all the way back up it has warm air for a few seconds then cools off again. Not real sure.
Old 03-03-2017, 03:56 PM
  #4  
Junior Member
 
tony270's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

Then you need to test out the A/C and Heater Control Assembly, the vacuum lines attached in the rear all the way back to the manifold, and the electrical connections. There's a test using a vacuum gauge that is explained in the Haynes Manual. But if you don't have a vacuum gauge you can first try finding it by listening, looking, and felling for any leak.
Attached Thumbnails 02 grand cherokee heat issues.-cam04056.jpg  
Old 03-03-2017, 04:59 PM
  #5  
Old fart with a wrench
 
dave1123's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Manlius, east of Syracuse, NY
Posts: 14,398
Received 723 Likes on 628 Posts
Year: 2000 XJ Sport & WJ Laredo
Model: Grand Cherokee (WJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Default

If you have the automatic climate control, there are temperature sensors around inside the cabin that the unit reads to adjust the climate. There is also a self-diagnostic procedure you can activate and it will give you trouble codes, although I don't know how to get it started.

With the manual heater control, the temperature is controlled by the blend door that is activated by an electric stepper motor. That's the center **** that is colored red to blue. The mode control, the one on the right, is vacuum controlled and moves the heat or air to be discharged in different places.

Just for grins, try this. Turn the temp all the way up, put the mode control in recirculate, and the fan on high. You should get heat only thru the dash outlets and it should get real hot and stay hot. This is because you're reheating inside air and outside air may be too cold to get hot at high blower speeds. My heater works fine when the outside air is above 30*, but sucks at lower temps.

One other thing it could be is partially plugged heater core. This may be my problem. When the blower is on low, the airflow is low enough for whatever heat is getting thru the core to warm up the air, but on high, the core isn't reheating fast enough to do the job.

I hope this helps. You can start by getting the heater core power flushed.

Last edited by dave1123; 03-03-2017 at 05:06 PM.
Old 03-03-2017, 09:14 PM
  #6  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Shannon Loewenhagen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

Originally Posted by tony270
Then you need to test out the A/C and Heater Control Assembly, the vacuum lines attached in the rear all the way back to the manifold, and the electrical connections. There's a test using a vacuum gauge that is explained in the Haynes Manual. But if you don't have a vacuum gauge you can first try finding it by listening, looking, and felling for any leak.
thanks for the info. It goes in nxt Fri to get diagnosed I will show them these helpful hints and hopefully they can figure it out.
Old 03-03-2017, 09:15 PM
  #7  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
Shannon Loewenhagen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

Originally Posted by dave1123
If you have the automatic climate control, there are temperature sensors around inside the cabin that the unit reads to adjust the climate. There is also a self-diagnostic procedure you can activate and it will give you trouble codes, although I don't know how to get it started.

With the manual heater control, the temperature is controlled by the blend door that is activated by an electric stepper motor. That's the center **** that is colored red to blue. The mode control, the one on the right, is vacuum controlled and moves the heat or air to be discharged in different places.

Just for grins, try this. Turn the temp all the way up, put the mode control in recirculate, and the fan on high. You should get heat only thru the dash outlets and it should get real hot and stay hot. This is because you're reheating inside air and outside air may be too cold to get hot at high blower speeds. My heater works fine when the outside air is above 30*, but sucks at lower temps.

One other thing it could be is partially plugged heater core. This may be my problem. When the blower is on low, the airflow is low enough for whatever heat is getting thru the core to warm up the air, but on high, the core isn't reheating fast enough to do the job.

I hope this helps. You can start by getting the heater core power flushed.
thanks for the help. It goes in nxt Fri and I will relay all this info and hopefully it helps.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:08 PM.