Need help with this coolant leak issue

[Kmahnke]

I believe this is a heater core issue, but how can i tell if i need to replace the hoses or the whole heater core without paying 1000+ to a mechanic

The coolant is spraying out from here onto the passenger side floor board

 

[Snowbird Tom]

That’s a bad heater core. Hoses are attached to it in the engine bay, outside of the actual cabin.

 

[Kmahnke]

That’s a bad heater core. Hoses are attached to it in the engine bay, outside of the actual cabin.

So I would need to replace the whole core and not just replace hoses?

 

[BLACKJKU]

So I would need to replace the whole core and not just replace hoses?

If you have a lot of miles on the Jeep and they feel hard it would be a good idea to replace them.

Do you know how to burp the air out of the cooling system when your done?

 

[Snowbird Tom]

So I would need to replace the whole core and not just replace hoses?

Correct. The heater core has failed probably due to corrosion. It’s the only way you’ll get coolant in the cabin. As said by BlackJKU, change the hoses if they’re hard. Odds are, they’re due too.

 

[Dirty Dog]

If the hoses were leaking, it would almost certainly be in the engine compartment, not passenger. When you replace the core, it makes absolutely no sense to not go ahead and replace the cheap rubber hoses.

 

[Kmahnke]

If you have a lot of miles on the Jeep and they feel hard it would be a good idea to replace them.

Do you know how to burp the air out of the cooling system when your done?

It’s got about 86000 miles on it,

I do not, I think it was mentioned to me in passing once, but I’m sure there’s a video out there for me to find

 

[Dirty Dog]

It’s got about 86000 miles on it,

I do not, I think it was mentioned to me in passing once, but I’m sure there’s a video out there for me to find

Raise the nose of the Jeep. Even just pulling up onto one of those wheel stops in a parking lot or a curb will work. Take the cap off the radiator. Start the engine. Turn the heater on at it's highest setting so the coolant is going through the heater core. Let the engine get up to temperature (you can tell this has happened because the fan will kick in). Top off the radiator as needed. Repeat till it stops needing topped off.

 

[Kmahnke]

Raise the nose of the Jeep. Even just pulling up onto one of those wheel stops in a parking lot or a curb will work. Take the cap off the radiator. Start the engine. Turn the heater on at it's highest setting so the coolant is going through the heater core. Let the engine get up to temperature (you can tell this has happened because the fan will kick in). Top off the radiator as needed. Repeat till it stops needing topped off.

Perfect, thank you very much. I appreciate the help

 

[vaffanculo]

I believe this is a heater core issue, but how can i tell if i need to replace the hoses or the whole heater core without paying 1000+ to a mechanic

The coolant is spraying out from here onto the passenger side floor board

View attachment 127077

Since it's such an expensive repair and the weather is warmer you can disconnect the 2 hoses at the fire wall or cut them because they are a pain too remove and just connect the 2 hoses together with an adapter and wait till you have more funds or till the fall

 

[Dirty Dog]

Since it's such an expensive repair and the weather is warmer you can disconnect the 2 hoses at the fire wall or cut them because they are a pain too remove and just connect the 2 hoses together with an adapter and wait till you have more funds or till the fall

Expensive? You can get a heater core from Amazon starting at like $30.

 

[vaffanculo]

Expensive? You can get a heater core from Amazon starting at like $30.

For sure but the shop will charge you like 9 bills for the install

 

[JerryD]

Its the labor charge involved that makes it expensive if you do it the "right" way.

 

[JerryD]

"Right way"

"Shadetree way"

 

[Dirty Dog]

For sure but the shop will charge you like 9 bills for the install

So... change it yourself.

 

[Snowbird Tom]

Not everyone has the tools or skill level for the work involved. It’s why I farmed out my trans fluid change. No experience there.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Not everyone has the tools or skill level for the work involved. It’s why I farmed out my trans fluid change. No experience there.

I operate on the assumption that if people are coming here to ask how to do something, it's because they want to do that thing.
And changing a heater core doesn't require anything other than simple basic hand tools.

 

[1o1Proof]

I operate on the assumption that if people are coming here to ask how to do something, it's because they want to do that thing.
And changing a heater core doesn't require anything other than simple basic hand tools.

And time.