Hey so I have had my 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee v6 4x4 for about 10 years now it has around 250,000 miles I really have not done anything to it besides oil change and lubrication regularly change the radiator small things like that. I noticed a couple months back when it was snowing that when I have the heater on or sometimes it not even on I would smell what smell like hot radiator fluid and the cab would have a little bit of smoke or steam coming through vents. I only use this car to drive back and forth to work about 10 miles a day. And when I was coming home yesterday the temperature shot way up and a bunch of smoke or Steam started pouring out of the vents smelling like radiator fluid. I jumped in it this morning to hope that it worked and it continued to do that. Please help with any suggestions on what it may be and how to fix it.

 

Heater core. It will have to be replaced. This requires removing a lot of the dash from my understanding.

 

Welcome to the forum.

The symptoms sound like a failed heater core.

If correct, then the repair sucks lemons through a garden hose. The whole dash must be removed, then the heater / air conditioner box.

My suggestion is to replace the A/C evaporator at the same time, even if it still working. (When my evaporator failed, I replaced my functioning heater core)

There are topics shown the R/R for your model year, it is similar but different to my model year.

Hands down this is the least favorite repair I've done on my Jeep. When I did mine I replaced everything on the A/C, to ensure all was good. All is good now.

 

Here is a topic on the dash removal / heater box removal

Here is a topic on the heater box rebuild

Here is a topic on changing the A/C drain to prevent leaking under the carpet

 

You can bypass it under the hood but youll have no heat or defrost tell you fix it.To replace the heater core you have to take out the whole dash its a huge job and a shop will charge 1600 bucks or higher because of the hours it takes.

 

Also, inhaling toxic coolant fumes is not good! It attacks the liver and may not show up for years! Fix it ASAP or eliminate the heater with a bypass. I can't stress this enough.

 

Hey thanks for the welcome and appreciate all the fast responding.. well looks like i know what i am doing tomorrow. Crazy that it does that when i am not even calling for heat. Hope my Napa has the part or i going to have to bypass for now. Yea and the smoke from that **** really sinks.

 

http://mallcrawlin.com/forum/showthr...ousing-Removal

 

That is a nice link for the early ZJ. The OP has a '98, so it is different than shown in the link.

 

different slightly in appearance, mounts the same......two extra screws on the driverside support bracket to the floor console

 

Hey so thanks again just wrapping everything up. Am I able to recharge the system myself or do I have to get back to the mechanic. Any advice on putting everything back together. I followed the form on taking it apart have all the parts and screws in bags numbered and labeled any other advice.

 

Yes.

Which system are you asking about though? If the cooling system, just add the required amount of coolant mix.
If you changed the A/C core as well, you should "pull a vacuum" before adding freon. Unless you have a really awesome neighbor like I do, (who has a vacuum pump and will loan it) you will probably need to head to a shop that will recharge your system.

 

Good news.

The R134a can cause personal injury. Follow all appropriate handling procedures, including eye and skin protection.

+1 on the vacuum pump. The system must be evacuated, then shut down, to verify that the system will hold a vacuum, w/o leaks. The tools are priced reasonably.

When I assembled my A/C components, I used Nylog Blue on the connections for leak protection.

If any components were replaced, then ensure that the appropriate quantity of the correct fresh lubricant is replaced.

Add the correct amount of R134a to the system.

 

Hey everyone thanks so much again just finished wrapping up everything no leaks taking it to the shop tomorrow to get it recharged. I just replace the heater core because my local shops did not have the AC part. Definitely a tough one but thanks to you guys got it done. The great forum and look forward to posting more in the future.