Improving the cooling on our TJs

[NskLJ]

What does a heater core cost to replace at the dealer? My guess
6 hours labor x $150 = $900
Core, coolant , clamps $200
$1100 plus tax

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Ya, I saw what you posted. Idling for nearly an hour in high temps with the AC on.

Try driving around instead of sitting and idling.

Sometimes that's not an option. I was in outside sales for nearly 40 years and once in a while I'd have to park with the a/c on to make calls and/or do paperwork.

 

[jeepins]

Well I was typing a WTF are you doing sitting and idling that long for.. but get it (Jerry beat me to it). Not here to pry into someone else's reasons for doing that but... there you go.

 

[KennethS]

Sometimes that's not an option. I was in outside sales for nearly 40 years and once in a while I'd have to park with the a/c on to make calls and/or do paperwork.

Agree, I changed my post to raise the idle speed Anything to move more air and water.

Maybe even pop the hood. I see that with police cars that sit at a location for extended periods.

 

[TexasTJ2004]

Sometimes that's not an option. I was in outside sales for nearly 40 years and once in a while I'd have to park with the a/c on to make calls and/or do paperwork.

That is exactly my problem. I am an IT guy, and a lot of time have to present on my laptop over Zoom while I am in the car, waiting to pick up the kid. Cannot drive for an hour, and I need AC, otherwise I will bake inside.
Raising the RPM is a possibility, but I cannot really focus on two things - keeping stable high RPM and focus on what I present.

 

[NskLJ]

That is exactly my problem. I am an IT guy, and a lot of time have to present on my laptop over Zoom while I am in the car, waiting to pick up the kid. Cannot drive for an hour, and I need AC, otherwise I will bake inside.
Raising the RPM is a possibility, but I cannot really focus on two things - keeping stable high RPM and focus on what I present.

Idle up solenoid might work.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0010HG1E6/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[KennethS]

You’re creative enough to be able to figure out how to slightly depress the gas pedal.

 

[red02tj]

Hand throttle.

 

[freedom_in_4low]

That is exactly my problem. I am an IT guy, and a lot of time have to present on my laptop over Zoom while I am in the car, waiting to pick up the kid. Cannot drive for an hour, and I need AC, otherwise I will bake inside.
Raising the RPM is a possibility, but I cannot really focus on two things - keeping stable high RPM and focus on what I present.

TeraFlex 4870402 Throttle Hand Control Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CI42U3G/?tag=wranglerorg-20

I've used mine for exactly this purpose. Just barely moving it will bump the idle up to about 1000rpm and that is enough to keep the temp down.

 

[Daryl]

Dang. Idling for nearly an hour with the AC on.

I dunno if the new radiator is gonna solve that problem, but hopefully it does. If not, try driving around the parking lot instead if sitting stationary and idling. Or at least raise the idle RPM to spin the fan and water pump faster.

This is how I was thinking.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

This has gotten stupid, I haven't seen so many band-aid suggestions in a long time when there is a very simple and effective fix. Replace that shitty Autozone radiator with the Mopar that is already in the OP's possession and, perhaps if needed, a new fan clutch.

 

[jjvw]

Keep going! Everyone outside the bubble already thinks Texas is ridiculous. Why stop now?

 

[TexasTJ2004]

Keep going! Everyone outside the bubble already thinks Texas is ridiculous. Why stop now?

I will change my signature to Rube Goldberg Engineering Solutions LLC.

 

[TexasTJ2004]

This has gotten stupid, I haven't seen so many band-aid suggestions in a long time when there is a very simple and effective fix. Replace that shitty Autozone radiator with the Mopar that is already in the OP's possession and, perhaps if needed, a new fan clutch.

Yes, that is what I am working on.
New Hayden 2791 and Mopar radiator on my bench.

 

[jjvw]

I will change my signature to Rube Goldberg Engineering Solutions LLC.

It saddens me that it was only now today that you learned about Rube Goldberg.

 

[TexasTJ2004]

It saddens me that it was only now today that you learned about Rube Goldberg.

Taking into account that I am an expat who moved to US because of my engineering job, this is kind of expected.

 

[NskLJ]

This has gotten stupid, I haven't seen so many band-aid suggestions in a long time when there is a very simple and effective fix. Replace that shitty Autozone radiator with the Mopar that is already in the OP's possession and, perhaps if needed, a new fan clutch.

Maybe adapt a set of VW deck lid stand offs to prop the hood up to
Let the heat out.

 

[TexasTJ2004]

Maybe adapt a set of VW deck lid stand offs to prop the hood up to
Let the heat out.
View attachment 445498

I think that we need to have something like ride or the month competition, but for most Rube Goldberg solutions on our TJ.
It would be a really funny one

 

[MikeE024]

My problem is idling with AC.

You could also turn the AC off. I was in phx when it was 118* this week with no windows and the AC off 99% of the time.

And if you can’t bear the heat, maybe that will motivate you to replace the radiator (and eventually the leaking heater core).

 

[MikeE024]

I will change my signature to Rube Goldberg Engineering Solutions LLC.

An LLC would be far too simple.

Be sure to layer multiple trusts and corporations to ultimately own an LP, and be sure to name the entities as the limited and general partners. The structure should fit nicely with your business model.