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Jeep Creature Comforts - Heaters!

Jeep Creature Comforts - Heaters!

I Speak Jeep Mar 04, 2026 77 min
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About this episode

Dive into a detailed discussion about Jeep heating systems, focusing on the evolution from older models to the JK and JL series. The hosts explore common heater issues like faulty blower motors, resistor failures, and heater core design challenges, including leaks and overheating problems. They also share personal experiences with cold weather, discuss the impact of modern HVAC controls, and touch on the passion for railroads near their shop. The episode blends technical insights with casual banter, making it a fun yet informative listen for Jeep owners interested in improving their vehicle comfort.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

four-wheel drive

"In my oversized four-wheel drive Jeep"

Four-wheel drive means the car can send power to all four wheels at the same time, which helps it drive better on dirt, snow, or mud.

Brand

Vivos Diesel Heaters

"We all know how prolific vivors diesel heaters are This is not that podcast"

Vivos Diesel Heaters are special heaters you can add to your vehicle to keep it warm, especially when it's very cold outside. They use diesel fuel to make heat and are great for people who camp or drive in cold places.

Car

Jeep XJ

"XJs and TJs all had a resistor issues"

The Jeep XJ is a type of Jeep Cherokee made between 1984 and 2001. It's popular for being tough and good for off-road driving.

Part

blower motor resistor

"XJs and TJs all had a resistor issues. Which is a very common challenge. When the blower fan speed only works on high."

The blower motor resistor helps control how fast the fan blows air in your car's heater or air conditioner. If it breaks, the fan might only blow air on the highest setting.

Car

Jeep TJ

"XJs and TJs all had a resistor issues"

The Jeep TJ is a version of the Jeep Wrangler made from 1997 to 2006. It has springs that make it better to drive on roads and off-road.

Car

Jaguar Xjs

"Electricly to burn down on us XJs and TJs all had a resistor issues Which is a ver..."

The Jaguar XJ-S is a fancy, comfortable car made a long time ago. Some parts that control the car's electrical system can stop working right, causing problems.

Car

Jeep Wrangler

"But the Jeep that broke the mold The JK Wrangler comes around in 07 Now I think that it's valuable"

The Jeep JK Wrangler is a popular off-road vehicle that came out in 2007. It has a boxy shape and is great for driving on rough roads or trails.

Part

heater core

"To talk a little bit about the heater core We did already outline that in the previous one But the heater core is basically a mini radiator That exists in the dash It's securely snuggled up In the center of your dash"

The heater core is like a tiny radiator inside the car's dashboard. It helps warm up the air so the inside of the car gets warm when you turn on the heater.

Car

Jeep JK

"Yep, in the JK In the TJ it's a little bit over to the passenger side In the JK it's securely snuggled"

The Jeep JK is a newer Jeep Wrangler made from 2007 to 2018. It has more modern features and options, including a version with four doors for more passengers.

Term

Uconnect system

"That crappy Uconnect system That's no longer working efficiently"

Uconnect is a screen and control system in some cars that helps you use music, maps, and phone features. Sometimes it can stop working well, especially in older cars.

Part

O-ring seal

"So they have an O-ring seal And before that You just had pipes soldered"

An O-ring seal is a small rubber ring that fits between parts to stop liquids or air from leaking out. It helps keep things like coolant or oil inside the car's pipes.

Part

crimp fitting

"So you have a crimp fitting Off of this S-curve tubing And there's a crimp fitting"

A crimp fitting is a special connector that holds tubes together tightly so fluids don't leak out.

Term

HVAC

"The HVAC center stack section It's not exactly melting"

HVAC is the system in your car that heats or cools the air inside so you feel comfortable when driving.

Term

actuator

"Actuator B out of range or actuator A high circuit"

An actuator is a part that moves things in the car, like opening vents or locking doors, usually controlled by the car's computer.

Term

auto climate control

"For the first time ever in the JK platform We had auto climate control And manual climate control"

Auto climate control means the car can keep the inside temperature comfortable by itself. You just set the temperature, and the car adjusts the heat or air conditioning automatically.

Term

manual climate control

"We had auto climate control And manual climate control In the Wrangler platform"

Manual climate control means you have to turn knobs or press buttons yourself to make the car warmer or cooler. The car doesn't do it automatically.

Car

Jeep Grand Cherokee

"The theme of this podcast Grand Cherokees had done this previously And were terrible"

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a big car that can drive on rough roads and has nice inside features. But some older versions had problems that made them not work well.

Term

cooling system

"...Is the temperature of the coolant and oh that's too hot that's what it's designed to do and we can actually get a code for the JK where we have basically the cooling system..."

The cooling system helps keep the engine from getting too hot by moving special liquid called coolant around the engine.

Part

thermostat

""It's literally mean that it's cooling it too well. Thermostat is getting sticky, is not working quite right to maintain the temperature that the OE wants to see.""

The thermostat is like a gate that controls how hot or cold the engine gets by letting coolant flow or not. It helps the engine stay at the right temperature so it works well.

Part

accelerator pedal

"The heater box and pedals and accelerator pedal and all that are all in one module"

The accelerator pedal is the pedal you press with your foot to make the car go faster.

Term

discharge the AC

"You have to discharge the AC"

Discharging the AC means letting out the cold gas from the car's air conditioner before fixing or taking out parts, so nothing gets broken.

Part

upper intake manifold

"You got to remove the upper intake manifold On both 3A and 3.6 jeeps"

The upper intake manifold is a part on top of the engine that helps send air to the engine so it can run. Sometimes it needs to be taken off to fix other parts.

Term

harnesses

"And all that because there's harnesses That go uninterrupted from the Dash harness through the firewall"

Harnesses are groups of wires in the car that connect different parts so they can work together. They carry electricity and signals.

Term

coolant

"All the sand Goo from not changing your coolant When you're supposed to It does go bad people"

Coolant is a special liquid that helps keep your car's engine from getting too hot by carrying heat away from it.

Car

Chevrolet Corvette

"...air out of the cooling system It rivals like 90s Corvettes and 2000 F bodies almost Where you just, it's ei..."

The Chevrolet Corvette is a fast and famous sports car from America. Sometimes, it can have problems with its cooling system, which helps keep the engine from getting too hot.

Term

bleed the system

"And the only thing they couldn't do was bleed the system"

Bleeding the system means getting rid of air bubbles inside the car's heating or cooling pipes so the heat or cold can flow properly.

Part

cabin air filter

"As we do talk about cabin air filters as part of our HVAC... Of cabin air filters... Yes, and is the most ignored filter going"

The cabin air filter is like a screen that cleans the air you breathe inside your car. It stops dust and dirt from coming in through the vents.

Part

airbag

"Get into your safety systems with the airbag And the clock spring that controls that airbag"

An airbag is like a big cushion inside the car that quickly fills with air if there's a crash to keep you safe. It helps stop you from hitting hard parts inside the car.

Part

clock spring

"With the airbag And the clock spring that controls that airbag To get power and that to the steering wheel"

The clock spring is a special part inside the steering wheel that keeps the wires connected even when you turn the wheel. It helps things like the airbag and buttons on the wheel work properly.

Car

Ford Model T

"I've had a Driver side door on my Model T project has been kicking my tail For a while"

The Ford Model T is an old car made by Ford a long time ago. It was one of the first cars many people could buy because it was cheaper than other cars at the time.

Part

wheel cylinder

"The wheel cylinder Ever so slightly So if you try to put the wheel cylinder In With the hose pointed back"

A wheel cylinder is a part inside some car brakes that helps push the brake pads so the car can stop. It needs to be put in the right way to work properly.

Brand

Honda

""If you ask me to work on a Honda or you know some other platformed vehicle...""

Honda is a big car company from Japan that makes cars and motorcycles. Many people like to fix their own Hondas because it's usually not too hard and parts are easy to find.

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