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Heater Core Bad

JeepJLFL

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Drove 500 miles with my JL and then noticed pink fluid dripping from Transmission Box, lots of pink fluid. Brought it in for repair and was advised it was radiator fluid and the heater core was defective and needed to be replaced. They removed the dashboard to replace it and now each time I drive it I notice water dripping from the same place. Does anyone know if dripping is normal? This is my first Jeep and none of my other newer vehicles drip water as my older vehicles did due to condensation, etc.
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That One Guy

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I drove a Sahara jl brand new today 30 miles and smelled coolant coming from vents. I didn't buy it.
If a few more forumgoers have had this issue, I guess we can add it to the list of known problems.
 

jaldeborgh

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Drove 500 miles with my JL and then noticed pink fluid dripping from Transmission Box, lots of pink fluid. Brought it in for repair and was advised it was radiator fluid and the heater core was defective and needed to be replaced. They removed the dashboard to replace it and now each time I drive it I notice water dripping from the same place. Does anyone know if dripping is normal? This is my first Jeep and none of my other newer vehicles drip water as my older vehicles did due to condensation, etc.
Is the dripping from the outside of the car on on the inside? Also, what is the outside temperature, some dripping on the garage floor is normal when the AC had been running and the humidity is high but should be very small. Any dripping inside is not normal or acceptable.
 

Scott2373

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This sounds like a similar issue that the JK crowd was having with the 2012 and early 2013 Pentastars. This issue was associated with casting sand from the manufacturing process and mucking up the heater core. Some owners were reporting condensation and coolant dripping into the cabin.
 

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The heater core/radiator failure is a known issue all the way up through 2017, just escalated with the 2012-2013s.
 
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JeepJLFL

JeepJLFL

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Is the dripping from the outside of the car on on the inside? Also, what is the outside temperature, some dripping on the garage floor is normal when the AC had been running and the humidity is high but should be very small. Any dripping inside is not normal or acceptable.
The dripping comes off of the transmission box outside the vehicle. When I don’t have air conditioning on it doesn’t drip and it is hot here in Florida so I assume it’s condensation. It’s just that none of my other vehicles drip like this and I’ve already had the one issue so I wanted to make sure it’s normal. It’s a significant amount, not just a few drops.
 

PavementWarrior

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The dripping comes off of the transmission box outside the vehicle. When I don’t have air conditioning on it doesn’t drip and it is hot here in Florida so I assume it’s condensation. It’s just that none of my other vehicles drip like this and I’ve already had the one issue so I wanted to make sure it’s normal. It’s a significant amount, not just a few drops.
if its actually water, seems like it has to be condensation.
 

Jkohler

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If it's off the transmission aren't we talking the transmission cooler. A heater core would be dripping on the floor of the jeep.
 
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JeepJLFL

JeepJLFL

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If it's off the transmission aren't we talking the transmission cooler. A heater core would be dripping on the floor of the jeep.
They replaced the heater core and said it was defective.
 

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Jeepsterfreak

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If you are still seeing coolant on the ground then you still have a leak. The transmission fluid is cooled by the coolant system so maybe your leak is at the transmission.

It’s possible the dealer used a different color colant when replacing the heater core. So you have to determine whether it’s water or coolant you are seeing.

If it only drips when running the A/C, then it’s most likely condensation from the evaporator.
 

RNJeeper

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FWIW I live in Florida too, my Camry and my new Jeep leave puddles of water in the garage after driving around with the AC on. I figured that’s normal. Had the Camry for 8 years and it always did it. Our weather is always humid and airconditioners act as a dehumidifier in a way for the air that travels through it into the cabin.
 

Jeepsterfreak

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FWIW I live in Florida too, my Camry and my new Jeep leave puddles of water in the garage after driving around with the AC on. I figured that’s normal. Had the Camry for 8 years and it always did it. Our weather is always humid and airconditioners act as a dehumidifier in a way for the air that travels through it into the cabin.
this is absolutely correct. the evaporator box behind the dash has a hole that allows it to drain outside the vehicle. I have no idea where that hole is on the JL. the more humid the air, the more water you will see on the ground when running the A/C.
 

Jeepman

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Confirming my 2018 Rubi suffered from a bad heater core. With less than 300 miles and 12 days at the dealership I finally got it back. Like others have said, it was obvious by the strong smell of coolant in the cab. It sucks to have the whole dash removed on a new vehicle. My concern now is things rattling loose or hearing noises that may be due to the repair.
 

BIGDOGS

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At around 300 miles, we began to notice a strong burning smell through the vents of our JLU Sahara. No more nice new car smell! We thought maybe it was a label or something new burning off the exhaust or engine, but 2 weeks went by and it got worse. Then got dense white smoke out of the vents and it made my wife and I both sick. Called the dealer and they couldn't get us in for 1-1/2 weeks (!). Got it in and they determined it is a bad heater core. Took another week for the core to arrive. Now they've installed it and apparently broke the gear shift and God knows what else, so it's in the shop for another week waiting more parts. Assuming they finally get it fixed this coming week, I'm expecting them to have gotten rid of the smoke damage and make sure it has no leaks, no rattles, and no scratched-up interior. We LOVE our first Wrangler (have had other Jeep models) but our service experience isn't going so great!
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