Red river chapter member needs help!!!

[killerfly128]

So I drove from Ft. Worth Texas yesterday to Chicago for my grandmothers 90th birthday and about 3 hours into the 18 hour trip my heater died. I am now 1000 miles from home in a Jeep with no heater and am facing 1000 mile drive back home on monday or tuesday.

i think that the heater core is clogged or the thermostat is stuck. Is there any one in the north chicago area that can help me get this fixed or has a recomendation on where to take it (I am on a bit of a budget)


It is a 98 xj 2wd mostly stock if that matters.

Thanks so much in advance!

 

[Boveevil]

I've heard of people swapping the heater core lines so it flows the other way... Might be worth a try.

 

[IllianaXJ]

What does the temp gauge show? Does the blower work?

If the temp gauge is normal and the blower works, you may try swapping the heater lines at the thermostat housing, just takes 5 minutes.

If the temp gauge reads low or all the way cold it's probably a stuck thermostat.

 

[bmyohn]

What does the temp gauge show? Does the blower work?

If the temp gauge is normal and the blower works, you may try swapping the heater lines at the thermostat housing, just takes 5 minutes.

If the temp gauge reads low or all the way cold it's probably a stuck thermostat.

x2

Even a thermostat can be changed fairly quickly as well. Very easy to get to and simple to swap out.

 

[CherBear]

Heater core can be cleaned out very simply with a pressure washer from a do-it-yourself car wash center. Just unclamp both lines going to the core, alternate spraying down each side until no more gunk comes out. Does wonders for me.

 

[killerfly128]

What does the temp gauge show? Does the blower work?

If the temp gauge is normal and the blower works, you may try swapping the heater lines at the thermostat housing, just takes 5 minutes.

If the temp gauge reads low or all the way cold it's probably a stuck thermostat.

Blower works great. Temp gauge is showing a small fluctuation from 190-210 ish or so. It only dips every 2-5 minutes at regular intervals. I assumed this is from the super cold air cooling the anti freeze and the tstat opening.

 

[killerfly128]

Heater core can be cleaned out very simply with a pressure washer from a do-it-yourself car wash center. Just unclamp both lines going to the core, alternate spraying down each side until no more gunk comes out. Does wonders for me.

Yeah .... no.

Too much pressure, it would likely rupture heater core. They aren't intended to see more than 20-25 psi

 

[killerfly128]

x2

Even a thermostat can be changed fairly quickly as well. Very easy to get to and simple to swap out.

I know it is simple, just hard to do with no tools.

 

[killerfly128]

I've heard of people swapping the heater core lines so it flows the other way... Might be worth a try.

Hoses aren't the same size.

 

[XJ-ARNIE]

I got tools...Im In cary...sadly I have a broken wrist. love to help anyway I can. Ill help you swap a thermostat or anything else you need bud, just let me know.

 

[CherBear]

Yeah .... no.

Too much pressure, it would likely rupture heater core. They aren't intended to see more than 20-25 psi

Well to avoid some armchair engineering, with the diameter and length of those tubes, plus the low volume of a pressure washer. The actual core doesnt even see a fraction of that pressure.

Anyways, ive done it years in a row to my own jeep, my brothers TJ and a friends WJ. No heater core explosions yet.

 

[killerfly128]

I got tools...Im In cary...sadly I have a broken wrist. love to help anyway I can. Ill help you swap a thermostat or anything else you need bud, just let me know.

I got it taken care of right before I saw this post. Thanks so much for the hospatality though.

Well to avoid some armchair engineering, with the diameter and length of those tubes, plus the low volume of a pressure washer. The actual core doesnt even see a fraction of that pressure.

Anyways, ive done it years in a row to my own jeep, my brothers TJ and a friends WJ. No heater core explosions yet.

I still dont think that is a risk one should take when 1000 miles from home with no real tools to speak of and low trip funds.

We used hot water ad poured it into a funnel to get a gravity effect ... kinda worked a little bit.

 

[FlexdXJ]

I still dont think that is a risk one should take when 1000 miles from home with no real tools to speak of and low trip funds.

We used hot water ad poured it into a funnel to get a gravity effect ... kinda worked a little bit.

Its ok, none of us listen to him either!

 

[CherBear]

I got it taken care of right before I saw this post. Thanks so much for the hospatality though.



I still dont think that is a risk one should take when 1000 miles from home with no real tools to speak of and low trip funds.

We used hot water ad poured it into a funnel to get a gravity effect ... kinda worked a little bit.

Fair enough, I was a bit skeptical the when i heard of the idea as well. Worst case scenario, you could bypass the heater core and route the intake tube to the output end.

Its ok, none of us listen to him either!

I dont blame you

 

[Rev Den]

Might be a little late, but...

go to WalMart, buy a 12V heater, problem solved.

Rev

 

[old_man]

Are you sure the valve is opening? Have someone switch it inside and watch the lever move.

If it does not move, get some zip ties and push it to the open position and zip tie in that position.