Heater core replacement recommendations

joniki · Dec 6, 2022

Fix one leak and another pops up....

2006 JT with a 4.0. Noticed a spot under the front right side and it tastes like anti freeze. It is dripping out of the black tube coming thru the firewall below the condenser and battery.

Core suggestions?

hear · Dec 6, 2022

I need to do this as well. Consensus here is to preferably get your core repaired by a trustworthy shop, and barring that get the one from Performance Radiator for $74.

https://shop.performanceradiator.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=8045

It typically says not in stock, but I believe a phone call can resolve that.

SkylinesSuck · Dec 7, 2022

I believe a lot of people have complained recently about the performance ones leaking. They also complain about the Brassworx one not putting out sufficient heat, but maybe they have improved the design recently? Anyways, +1 for finding a shop to rebuild your OEM core. I'm dreading the day I have to do it.

Longwhitejeep · Dec 7, 2022

Can you rebuild the plastic tank versions? Most shops I called don't rebuild those but could rebuild or repair the early model tj versions. The shops I called all recommended performance radiator fwiw.

I just finished this job with a performance radiator core. It's only been about 2 weeks but no issues so far and heat output is on par with factory. Getting the ac recharged today actually.

I did have to call performance radiator to order.

Cornbread · Dec 7, 2022

I would look into having yours rebuilt (if you have any skills soldering copper you may be able to fix it yourself). Do a simple pressure test with yours under water and see where your leak is coming from. Mine was the bottom tank and I sealed it with solder 2 years ago, no issues since.

Longwhitejeep · Dec 7, 2022

Cornbread said:
I would look into having yours rebuilt (if you have any skills soldering copper you may be able to fix it yourself). Do a simple pressure test with yours under water and see where your leak is coming from. Mine was the bottom tank and I sealed it with solder 2 years ago, no issues since.

You soldered an aluminum core with plastic tanks? I know my 05 leaked around the seam for the plastic tank and aluminum core.

PurpleTJAZ · Dec 7, 2022

I just did my 05 on Saturday. Performance core. Pretty straightforward install using the forum install posts. Durability to be determined, but heat by output at the vents exceeds 125*. More than enough for me.

Cornbread · Dec 8, 2022

Longwhitejeep said:
You soldered an aluminum core with plastic tanks? I know my 05 leaked around the seam for the plastic tank and aluminum core.

No, mine had the all original copper heater core, yours must be aftermarket.

hear · Dec 8, 2022

my 02 needs a new core...I think. The PO bypassed the heater core, which I can only assume was because it was leaking. Obviously I can only finding out by doing pretty much the whole job. What really burns me up is that my a/c works great, and I need to discharge that system in order to work on the heat. Irony being in TX that we rarely need heat but always need A/C, so why am I even considering this?

PurpleTJAZ · Dec 8, 2022

hear said:
my 02 needs a new core...I think. The PO bypassed the heater core, which I can only assume was because it was leaking. Obviously I can only finding out by doing pretty much the whole job. What really burns me up is that my a/c works great, and I need to discharge that system in order to work on the heat. Irony being in TX that we rarely need heat but always need A/C, so why am I even considering this?

Mine was the same. previous owner bypassed the core but a/c worked fine. But every time I lifted the hood I saw that bypass and it irritated me. I just can't let stuff like that go. OCD or old school values or whatever. If it's broke fix it! So I spent a Saturday morning making it right.

hear · Dec 8, 2022

PurpleTJAZ said:
Mine was the same. previous owner bypassed the core but a/c worked fine. But every time I lifted the hood I saw that bypass and it irritated me. I just can't let stuff like that go. OCD or old school values or whatever. If it's broke fix it! So I spent a Saturday morning making it right.

I'm being very stubborn about it, especially considering that I pretty much drive them 100% of the time with doors and/or top off so I never use the A/C. And this one has no carpet so it probably gets hot enough on the floorboard to smoke me out even w/o the heater.

But I'm with you on the OCD bit. My daughter turns 16 before too long and I know she wants to drive it, so it kinda needs to be fixed. Ugh, but the effort. Le sigh.

joniki · Dec 8, 2022

Well, the core is supposed to be here Saturday. Let the fun begin...

Longwhitejeep · Dec 8, 2022

@Cornbread

Mine is an 05. In 02 they changed to a plastic tank, aluminum core style. Which can't be repaired. Mine was the original Valeo heater core. The aftermarket ones for the earlier tj's are still all copper or all aluminum depending on the brand. They unfortunately do not seem to be interchangeable with the 02 and up systems.

Jodh · Dec 10, 2022

hear said:
I'm being very stubborn about it, especially considering that I pretty much drive them 100% of the time with doors and/or top off so I never use the A/C. And this one has no carpet so it probably gets hot enough on the floorboard to smoke me out even w/o the heater.

But I'm with you on the OCD bit. My daughter turns 16 before too long and I know she wants to drive it, so it kinda needs to be fixed. Ugh, but the effort. Le sigh.

When I did mine I called a local shop to get price of just evac and recharge. Was like $50. Worth it to have their machine weigh freon and also check system for leaks. Make sure you replace the o-rings on evaporator.

SvtLdr · Dec 10, 2022

joniki said:
Well, the core is supposed to be here Saturday. Let the fun begin...

I replaced my factory core with one from Performance earlier this fall. It's been working well for me for a couple months now.

joniki · Dec 10, 2022

SvtLdr said:
I replaced my factory core with one from Performance earlier this fall. It's been working well for me for a couple months now.

Did you do the A/C condensor while you were in there. My core showed up yesterday but I'm not going to tackle this for a bit.

Jodh · Dec 10, 2022

I didn't replace mine. Just make sure you clean it good. Mine was packed full of dirt and grime

SvtLdr · Dec 10, 2022

joniki said:
Did you do the A/C condensor while you were in there. My core showed up yesterday but I'm not going to tackle this for a bit.

I gutted my AC when I was in there. The compressor clutch had been acting up for awhile so I couldn't remember the last time I'd used AC. I removed all the components and haven't looked back.

freedom_in_4low · Dec 10, 2022

I started mine up for the first time since Monday and got a whiff of antifreeze odor. I hate the idea of doing this job to install a replacement of questionable longevity. I haven't completely ruled out having one designed and built at work. Downside is it would be expensive and my jeep would be apart while I reverse engineered it and waited for 2 weeks while it got drawn up and produced. It would be a copper type so I'd also need to make sure I had room for header tubes in place of the plastic tanks.

hear · Dec 10, 2022

freedom_in_4low said:
I started mine up for the first time since Monday and got a whiff of antifreeze odor. I hate the idea of doing this job to install a replacement of questionable longevity. I haven't completely ruled out having one designed and built at work. Downside is it would be expensive and my jeep would be apart while I reverse engineered it and waited for 2 weeks while it got drawn up and produced. It would be a copper type so I'd also need to make sure I had room for header tubes in place of the plastic tanks.

I'm confident a great many people would be interested in such a thing.

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