carrasco1

I just got a 96 jeep grand cherokee larado....I went to start it the day after I got it and it wouldnt heat up, took the kids to school on the way the temp gage in the truck says it was where it should be but still NO heat at all. I get almost home and the truck is smoking like no other i jump out pop the hood and take the coolant cap off and the *** b4 me must have had more water than coolant in it so it froze. Ok so I heat everything up and get it going again ive changed the thermostat, temp sensor, flushed the fluids, and cleaned out the heater core hoses however i still get NO heat in the truck! I am stuck at this point....the hoses get hot..and if i keep the heat off for a few mins it gets alil warm but then blows cold air again...i have taken the coolant cap off and let the truck run and the coolant does not even get warm...any thoughts on this at all? I have looked all over the net and done everything ive seen so far other than the blend door thing which looks like a pain so im trying everything else first....I could really use some help..thanks ahead of time

GI-Jeepin'

I dont understand, You said it was smoking so you pulled the cap off and it was frozen? While on the way home from the kids school??

Did you look at the water pump? If in fact the coolant in the block did freeze over night at some point and the engine was started, the impellers inside the water pump can break off. This will result in a spinning pump but without the ability to move coolant.

OverlandZJ

I would be suspicous of a blockage in the radiator.

Chad149

You may want to verify your temp sensor readings-I had to replace mine-but from what you describe you have more involved issues.

carrasco1

I was thinking the water pump as well...but would that make it to where the coolant would not heat up and i would get no heat in the truck? i have had diff ppl say diff things about this..some say yes if it is the pump that would make for no heat and some say no it wouldnt.....I did change the temp sen....it is odd that the whole time it said it was 190 but on the way back from the school it kept going up.....and yes there was ice on the rad cap when i got it home and took the cap off

carrasco1

@ GI......it was smoking so i got it home then pulled the cap off thats when i found that it was frozen..and all the way to the school and back which is only about 2miles the car would not heat up at all

GI-Jeepin'

Ok, Me personally, I would start at the pump, because all circulation starts there. If the Temp sensor (lets assume that its functioning properly) gives a reading of 190 but your not getting any heat, then I would think that the hot coolant is not circulating. But then if that is the case, the engine would overheat and the underhood temps would melt away any ice so i was curious as to the ice on the cap.

It really sounds like you have more than 1 issue. But as with anything else, take it one a time. The coolant circulation is the more prominent one so you should focus on that first. I know it sucks not having heat in the winter time, but it wont work until it gets fixed.

carrasco1

see and what gets me is the truck is NOT over heating.....hmmmm.....just no heat...if i turn the heat off for a min then turn it on a little warm air will blow but then cold comes out...i have also noticed now that when i press the gas it stops blowing from the vents and will only blow from the defrost but when i let off the gas cold air comes back out the vents!!!

carrasco1

and also after i have the truck running and the coolant cap off i can stick my finger right in the coolant and it aint hot

GI-Jeepin'

ok, for the vents, I think I know what is going. However, I own a 2001 GC and had this same issue. What i dont know is if this fix will work for your 96, but try it anyway.

When I bought my 01 WJ, I had heat but only from the defroster and floor vents, when I gave it gas it would blow out of the dash vents but then stop when I let off of the gas. Also my cruise control would turn on but not engage. The vents are vacuum controlled and I had a dry rotted 3" long 1/4 dia hose under my battery tray that was connected to the cruise control diaprahm. Wierd yes, i know, but thats what Jeep did, not me. Some other member here pointed out this little tid bit of info and I have been riding warm ever since.

Now that may be the fix for the vents blowing wherever they want. But I think the heat issue is a blend door issue.

GI-Jeepin'

where are you located? I would love to have a crack at this jeep!!!

carrasco1

I am michigan

carrasco1

Hey GI how does a water pump bypass hose sound???? I'm about to replace it so i'll let u know if that's indeed what the problem was

carrasco1

:curs ing: IT WAS NOT THE BYPASS HOSE>>>GRRRRRRRRRRRR

carrasco1

Ok GI....this is what im thinking...u were right...I'm going to replace the water pump tomr...I think if they broke from being frozen then its prolly pushing enough fluid to keep it from over heating but not pushing enough to keep heat in the truck with the fins being broke!!!! So this will be a pain in the *** from what i can tell....Looks like i'll have a few broken nails by the end of the day tomr.......