Possible Leak (pictures included)

A

Adam K

New Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2019
Messages
6
Location
Clearwater, FL
Good morning all and happy Thanksgiving. I just brought my 06 TJ home yesterday and it appears to be leaking something near the right front tire. I had a budget lift done (2 inch spacers) and it appears to be coming from that general area. At first glance and touch it seems to just be condensation however I noticed it yesterday and the puddle is still very visible this morning. It has no odor and feels like water, however as you can see from the picture the puddle is quite large and it has only been sitting in that spot for about 25 minutes.

Also, any pointers on getting the doors off? I'm guessing they haven't been removed in years as they are very set in place.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I'm trying to soak in all the knowledge I can about this beautiful machine!

Leak.jpg


Puddle.jpg
 
Congrats on the purchase! Yep, the A/C condensate can seem excessive at times, just because of the way it leaks/pools over the frame and keeps dripping long after the drive is over.
 
If it feels slick, it would be coolant From a heater core leak. If the core is leaking it will drain coolant from the same tube on the firewall in the engine compartment. The drain is located just under the heat core hoses.

Like other have said, if its clear and has no slick feel or antifreeze smell, then it just condensation from the A/C dripping from the same tube. When you run the defrost, the compressor runs too, so you could have the same condensation dripping.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pete Updike
I see these posts all the time, and I wonder if first time Jeep owners never realized their cars were dripping also, they just couldn't see under them like you can in a Jeep.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Viking Jeeper
Adam K said:
Good morning all and happy Thanksgiving. I just brought my 06 TJ home yesterday and it appears to be leaking something near the right front tire. I had a budget lift done (2 inch spacers) and it appears to be coming from that general area. At first glance and touch it seems to just be condensation however I noticed it yesterday and the puddle is still very visible this morning. It has no odor and feels like water, however as you can see from the picture the puddle is quite large and it has only been sitting in that spot for about 25 minutes.

Also, any pointers on getting the doors off? I'm guessing they haven't been removed in years as they are very set in place.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I'm trying to soak in all the knowledge I can about this beautiful machine!

View attachment 126877

View attachment 126878
Click to expand...
Thats nothing bro, my 06 lays down twice as much H2o, especially if I run the a/c.
 
So I too suffer from the leaking of coolant from the heater core outlet on the firewall. I have been trying to source all the parts necessary to replace the evap core, heater core, blower motor (might as well since one speed doesn't work) and have come up with one part I cannot find anywhere.

It is the gasket kit for the AC and Heater core installation. It is Mopar part# 5073-174AA (see pic)
Screen Shot 2019-12-14 at 11.31.18 AM.jpg


What has everyone else done when gathering the parts for this project and they can't find this one? Is there an alternate part? Is there a magical source?

Thanks in advance.

Bob
 
As for the doors, spay inside the hinges with liquid wrench, let it sit for a while, then swing the doors back and forth while applying upward pressure. If that doesn't work, I used a floor jack and a block of wood under the door near the hinge. *Gently* continue to jack the door up while swinging it, and they should pop out.
 
BobK said:
So I too suffer from the leaking of coolant from the heater core outlet on the firewall. I have been trying to source all the parts necessary to replace the evap core, heater core, blower motor (might as well since one speed doesn't work) and have come up with one part I cannot find anywhere.

It is the gasket kit for the AC and Heater core installation. It is Mopar part# 5073-174AA (see pic)View attachment 129263

What has everyone else done when gathering the parts for this project and they can't find this one? Is there an alternate part? Is there a magical source?

Thanks in advance.

Bob
Click to expand...
Those gaskets are nothing more than dust boots. They don’t seal any liquids other than rain. Of you’re leaking coolant from the heater box it’s the core. Good on you for trying to replace them all. That’s how you keep your Jeep on top shape.
 
jeepins said:
When I first bought my Jeep that AC drain bothered me dripping on the frame like that so I ran a small rubber hose from it down next to the frame. Been on there 21 years now.
Click to expand...

I did the same but I’ve only had my Jeep since 2016.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jeepins
DaYooperTransplant said:
If you’re careful you can salvage most of it. I went to Home Depot and bought some different thicknesses with a sticky backing. Seemed to work okay for me so far.
Click to expand...

My plan is to check them out once I get it all apart, reuse if in decent shape, if not I ill use them to make a template on paper that I will transfer to some dense foam and make my own. I have no idea why I can source every other part but this simple one.
 
Nimbley said:
Those gaskets are nothing more than dust boots. They don’t seal any liquids other than rain. Of you’re leaking coolant from the heater box it’s the core. Good on you for trying to replace them all. That’s how you keep your Jeep on top shape.
Click to expand...

After the second quote I received from shops to take care of this for me (both over $1,400 and one unwilling to even attempt it until I found those foam gaskets). I decided I have performed every other surgery on this TJ, this would jsut be one more I would take on. Right now I have the blower motor, evap core, and heater core on order. I will likely hold off until after Xmas since the wifey would not be happy with the garage and my TJ torn apart over the holidays.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DaYooperTransplant
Flivver250 said:
That appears to be hydrogen hydroxide. Sell it quick. :)
Click to expand...

That's funny. I once saw a video of a guy getting people to sign a petition to ban di-hydrogen monoxide on a college campus because it was all over the place. Without asking what the hell this was the petitioner got scores of signatures. He then told the people that it was the chemical name for H20. It can also appear as hydrogen hydroxide.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Flivver250 and Blondie70
Where you talk about the fan not running at one of its speeds. You know that is most likely the resistor pack right? Quite a common problem. I just did mine a couple of months ago because I lost two speeds.


BobK said:
So I too suffer from the leaking of coolant from the heater core outlet on the firewall. I have been trying to source all the parts necessary to replace the evap core, heater core, blower motor (might as well since one speed doesn't work) and have come up with one part I cannot find anywhere.

It is the gasket kit for the AC and Heater core installation. It is Mopar part# 5073-174AA (see pic)View attachment 129263

What has everyone else done when gathering the parts for this project and they can't find this one? Is there an alternate part? Is there a magical source?

Thanks in advance.

Bob
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chris
TJScott said:
Where you talk about the fan not running at one of its speeds. You know that is most likely the resistor pack right? Quite a common problem. I just did mine a couple of months ago because I lost two speeds.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I want to replace all the wearable parts since I only want to take on this project once. I have ordered the resistor pack and the vacuum lines too, along with heater and evaporator cores, blower motor, dryer canister, and o-rings.
 
Top Bottom
Back