Everyone is WRONG about the Wrangler TJ Heater Core

With the Miata done, I get moving on the long, long, LONG list of problems with my other cars, starting with the Jeep. Here I take on the worst thing any Jeep owner has ever had to do: The heater core. I also replace my AC Evaporator core while I'm in there. Is it as bad as everyone says it is? There's only one way to find out!

[@DirtSweatGears]

Thanks to Casey Baker for the informational & entertaining how-to kzbin.info/www/bejne/lavZi5epqLWnlc0

[@StuffThatWorks-ca]

Just did mine today. You’re absolutely correct. It’s not a fun job but it’s nowhere near as bad as a lot of people make it out to be. I ended up being about 5-1/2 hrs start to finish with a couple of coffee breaks. A couple of tips from your video were helpful. Thanks!

[@DirtSweatGears]

Thank you! This comment makes me feel bad that I might be selling my Jeep 🤣

[@russell3380]

My 2004 is in the shop now getting the heater core replaced, I had no idea it was this involved. Thanks for this video.

[@DirtSweatGears]

It is not for the faint of heart, but it's far from the worst thing I've ever done. I wouldn't do it this way on someone else's car because I scratched the plastic around the steering wheel. I'm ok with it, but not everyone is me.

[@texasmotorcyclerideradventures]

Had a similar fuel door problem with my Street Glide. New parts work!

[@BigManAlaska]

The two worst heater cores I've done in my life were a older Dodge caravan and a Mercedes. The Mercedes requires the motor to be dropped slightly and none of the bolts ever turn. The minivan had an incredible amount of hidden bolts and screws and you had to just believe in yourself 😂.

[@DirtSweatGears]

Ah yes “believe in the bolt” is something I have to do when I work on the back of my preludes engine. You can’t see it, can’t feel it, you turn it with hope 😂

[@lylekliewer4787]

It's not an awful job, not worth putting off if you need it done and have the resources. As you said, take your time, and it's your Jeep. Do what you want how you want. I elected to pull the steering column when I did my heater core a couple years ago, and I would do it that way again. Regarding shifter boots, there are three. The smallest one directly on top of the shifter is the most important, as it allegedly keeps water and dirt out of the transmission. The other two boots are there to make your girl friend more comfy. Not that that's not important...

[@DirtSweatGears]

I did notice I added a couple small scratches to my steering column. If I had to do it again, I'd pull the column too just to avoid that. The real benefit to keeping the column intact was that I could just slap the dash panel back on and keep driving it. It was loud and very hot, like having a heater core the size of a 3-row radiator on full blast...but it got me where I needed to go. I only had the one important shift boot and the accordion looking one. There was also 2 thermal pads in there, I believe, but they weren't "boots" by any means. Maybe they changed the design mid-generation and you had a better design.

[@jasonnabors7377]

Well coming from a guy who just did the heater core on a 02 TJ I can tell you it is just as bad as the rumors say.

[@DirtSweatGears]

Perspective is everything. Compared to other Jeep work, yes it's pretty bad. But compared to a complete re-hose on a 3rd generation Honda Prelude, it's a breeze.

[@hd221813]

Dumb question: the heater core of the YJ Wrangler is not interchangeable with the Wrangler TJ one?

[@DirtSweatGears]

@@hd221813 I have no idea. They’re all cheap though I believe. I think I paid $15-25 for mine at most

[@tjtrent2351]

Bro, this could be a lot better with a little planning and editing. I couldn’t even make it to the Jeep stuff I was so annoyed…. Thanks though

[@DirtSweatGears]

I understand what you mean. I definitely suck at editing, I’m hoping to hire a professional editor soon. I’m finding it hard to plan when I have no idea what I’m doing in the first place. I hope I can find a groove when I have basic essentials such as electricity in my garage. thanks for the comment, I do appreciate it.

[@tjtrent2351]

@@DirtSweatGears For sure, I meant it respectfully. I teach diesel mechanics at University and for every lesson I do I have to plan out what I’m going to talk about and say during a lecture and lab. If I don’t it’s way to easy for me to get sideways on topics and I don’t cover what I needed to sometimes. You have awesome potential and clearly love the industry as a whole. Seems like some cool builds in progress and material you could share that’s beneficial to many. Get that written down and see what happens. If it works, hell yeah, if it doesn’t and you hate it, do it the same way as before. Good luck! I’ll keep dropping by.

[@DirtSweatGears]

@@tjtrent2351 thanks a lot, I really appreciate the encouragement. Lately I've been trying to get my videos focused on either a single build or a specific part of a build. It's been very helpful not only for the story telling but also for peace of mind. It feels good knowing i don't have to get the whole project done, just next stage of it. From there any detours I take during the course of the project is just part of the discovery process. Taking your advice, that would be the point where I take a break, think and write up my change of plans rather than just going straight into it. It'll probably be worth the extra time, you're right.

[@trialnterror]

The 5 bolts that hold the heater assy to the firewall are they accessible from the engine bay? It sounds like it’s loose and is rattling and I’d like to tighten it up!

[@DirtSweatGears]

There’s one on a bracket on the inside, above the glove box. The other 5 are in the firewall accessible from the engine bay. If I remember correctly you’ll have to pull the battery to reach 2 of them. One is behind the head, you’ll need a wrench to get to, and actually has 2 nuts on it. One that holds the garbage collector on it, another behind it that holds the hvac box. I need to tighten mine a second time now that the seals have broken in a little. My garbage collector also rattles (The thing I mention in the video) because I forgot to replace the foam.

[@jerrad6320]

That rattle is the 10mm socket in the bottom of the heater core housing.

[@BDuck-lp2pg]

Just show us the repair!!!

[@DirtSweatGears]

Im going to be honest, I don’t do technical how-to videos because I have no idea what I’m doing. There’s lots of how to videos out there already from much better mechanics than I am. Im not even a mechanic, im a software developer, and not even a very good one. 😂

[@g.fortin3228]

Pretty nice job there man ! It's a big job for sure but as you showed..do-able ! I don't think it would be fun tho'

[@adairjanney7109]

anyone else a minute in going WHO THE F CARES, where is the TJ

[@DirtSweatGears]

@@adairjanney7109 I get it. This is an old video and I’ve gotten into a better groove. I have a new Jeep video coming soon, a rear disc brake conversion. I hope you check that one out cause I think it will be better

[@OhYeahAboutThat]

Rats DO live in here sometimes! lol

[@DirtSweatGears]

Yeah, you see their disgusting little footprints everywhere.

[@austinc8176]

It’s not that bad