Topic: Sodding heater core (I'm guessing) (Read 10997 times)

Brynjaminjones · « **on:** December 19, 2014, 03:45:05 PM »

Not a happy bunny - just on my way back from uni when I noticed that there was a small amount of steam coming from the vents (with the heater set to 0). I turned the heater on and the windscreen momentarily steamed up. No smell initially, but as I drove it started getting more and more steamy with a definite coolant smell. The coolant level looked okay, but I've just got safely back to the parents' and the coolant is at the minimum.

I'm guessing that this is the heater core, but is there anything else it could be or that I should check first?

Any advice/pointers etc. will be much appreciated.

Dutch · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2014, 03:59:38 PM »

Had the same with the V8 WJ. Very interesting driving in winter with all windows open

Run the whole show as hot as you can - but still able to get rad cap off.

Rad weld in there - Heater on 11 (full chat) and run engine at higher revs to circulate the juice properly.

If the crack/hole is still small enough you might nip it in the bud.

XJ Fan · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2014, 04:33:05 PM »

Brachunky · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2014, 04:44:35 PM »

Its always worth a go before having to get that bastid core out

Brynjaminjones · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2014, 05:19:36 PM »

No disrespect meant to anyone, but while I'm sure Radweld etc. would work, I really don't feel happy putting that kind of thing in the XJ. I've heard how these kind of products can clog up more than they're supposed to, and as I'm planning on keeping the XJ for as long as I possibly can, I'd like to fix it properly (or at least without risking affecting other parts of the cooling system).

In the mean time, is there any way that I can easily bypass the heater core? I can (relatively) happily survive without the heater, so could this be an option until I get the time to sort it?

Cheers guys!

Brachunky · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2014, 05:48:01 PM »

Its a simple joining of the two heater pipes running alongside the valve cover. A pair of 19mm plastic elbows will do the trick.

wildwood · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2014, 05:53:36 PM »

best way and no worries about stuff in your coolant. It all depends on how long you can live without a heater.......

But by the time spring arrives you'll be well 'ard and won't be missing the heat......

thorna · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2014, 05:58:39 PM »

Bypassed my TJs back in October; easy enough to do. TJs hoses were different sizes so I brought a hose tail to tail adaptor off ebay for a couple of quid to make the join easier. 20-30 mins to do it.
Try to blow out all the water in the matrix to start letting your cab dry off.
It's no fun driving without heat though.

Dutch · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2014, 06:35:58 PM »

Abe, I have been told that it only solidifies (welds) when it comes into contact with open air i.e your small hole.

You can always chuck some in - weld the hole - then flush the crap out with a cooling system flush.

Winter hasn't even started in anger yet and no heater gets a bit of a nuisance after a bit.

Your girlfriend (or boyfriend) will not appreciate/share your romantic views

Brachunky · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2014, 06:44:40 PM »

She's 'ard too

Brynjaminjones · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2014, 08:51:59 PM »

Thanks for the advice guys - I really appreciate it. I think for now I'm going to look into bypassing the core. Thorna, might you be able to point me in the direction of the adapter you used - XJs have different sized pipes too, and I think they're probably the same as a TJ. Dutch, there's no-one else to worry about "keeping warm" at the moment, thank you very much!

If I don't bypass the heater, I think mum has found that she can put me on the TJs insurance for a while for a decent price now that I'm 21, so if that happens I think I'll tear the XJ apart.

Also, thinking along Dutch's lines of radweld then flush, is it at all possible to run the radweld stuff only through the heater core? As in disconnect pipes, and flush hot water through somehow?

Dave69 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2014, 09:51:07 PM »

if your not going to chuck in a small bottle of rad weld, only solidifies in contact with air, the use and egg white.

Brynjaminjones · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2014, 10:08:55 PM »

It's either you lot or the beer, but something is causing me to be more and more tempted by that stuff...

Dutch · « **Reply #13 on:** December 19, 2014, 10:24:42 PM »

Its your money pal ...... which you aint got

YT · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2014, 10:31:05 PM »

Plus, it's not so much you gettin cold, it's more not bein able to keep the screen clear in winter.

Denis O · « **Reply #15 on:** December 20, 2014, 04:44:18 AM »

Could try a pot of Kalimex.

I used it in the past on a couple of Range Rovers with suspected matrix "O" ring leakage. Both of them went on for another 30k each, prior to being sold, with no more leakage and no problems with blocking cores or overheating.

Brachunky · « **Reply #16 on:** December 20, 2014, 11:35:18 AM »

I tried that Kalimex on my zj's heater core & did nowt

Sadly, its a case of bypassing until getting around to whipping the dash out

georgen · « **Reply #17 on:** December 20, 2014, 04:01:22 PM »

I too don't like rad weld but have used it when stuck on a Sunday afternoon out green laning so can confirm it works, but rad weld seams to lump up so you do get large solid bits into the system, Kweld in my opinion is a much better product and better at its job, just make sure you shake whatever product you use up well before use. bypass as said is easy but I could not go the winter without heaters so you must be Arder than me LOL.

Dave69 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 20, 2014, 05:31:32 PM »

keeping the ice off the inside of the windows is not easy on a cherokee

Dutch · « **Reply #19 on:** December 20, 2014, 06:32:25 PM »

Quote from: Dave69 on December 20, 2014, 05:31:32 PM

keeping the ice off the inside of the windows is not easy on a cherokee

When you're 'ot 'n ard its a doddle

Brynjaminjones · « **Reply #20 on:** December 20, 2014, 10:28:12 PM »

Okay, I've spoken to my mechanic, who usually helps me make my final decision, and he also thinks that I should just bypass it for now, and he's also hopefully managed to get me a connector to do so this afternoon.
He then said that he'd put me in his workshop for a weekend when we've both got free time to fix it properly.

I know it's going to be cold, but the temperature hasn't dropped too much yet, and I have many coats, a scarf and gloves! If it gets to the point that I can't de-ice the windscreen, Mum has found that she can put me on the TJ's insurance for not much more money

YT · « **Reply #21 on:** December 20, 2014, 10:41:13 PM »

Inverter & hairdryer for the windscreen. Seen one of those nutters on ice road truckers do that couple of days ago.

Brynjaminjones · « **Reply #22 on:** December 20, 2014, 10:53:10 PM »

Now that's a good idea!

Dave69 · « **Reply #23 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:07:50 AM »

and you complaining,

try a cj, at least my heater is on or on

Bandit · « **Reply #24 on:** December 21, 2014, 02:51:42 PM »

If you need a heater matrix I got 2 spare ones here, one for mine for when it goes and another one for when the spare one goes

but im happy to let one go if your stuck fella

Author Topic: Sodding heater core (I'm guessing) (Read 10997 times)

thorna

YT

Denis O

georgen

YT

Bandit