Has anyone had this happen? The patient: 2006 XK Limited with the 4.7 and 85K highway miles in need of an oil change, tire rotation and coolant replacement. Nothing wrong beforehand. Just previously to starting the coolant change I did an oil change. So far, super dooper.
The medicine: two gallons of Zerex G-05, two bottles of Prestone Superflush and 2.5 gallons of distilled water. I followed the instructions on the Prestone bottle, however, when I got to the step that calls for the temp selectors to full hot, no hot air came out. Funny that... my mom gets chilled easily and she keeps the car hot nearly all the time. The heater was working or I would have heard about it immediately.
Did the flush, the rinse and still no hot air. What's more, I was short about one gallon of old fluid. Try as I might, the Jeep wouldn't give it up. OK, I'll just go to 70% coolant:water ratio (the max recommended) to keep the old fluid from from weakening the mix I was pouring in. Buttoned everything up and headed for a spin around the block to get everything mixed well. I kept the heater dialed to fully hot (manual mode, not Auto) but still no hot air. I'm one block away and the temp needle pegs, the computer chimes and says to check the gauges. Crap! I turned right around and headed home.
The fix (or so I thought): Hmm... maybe the computer is telling something in the cooling system to stay zigging when it should be zagging. I disconnected the negative lead and went inside for pizza and lemonade. Half hour later I re-connected the battery and tried the drive around the block again. This time I made it two blocks before I had to get back with the temp needle pegged. I noticed that the previously full reservoir bottle is now empty, so I filled it with the 70% mix I had left over, let the engine cool for about an hour and tried the drive one more time. Made it half a block. Popped the hood and the reservoir bottle was full and stayed full even after the engine cooled down. I double checked for leaks and had previously checked the radiator cap for serviceability. It all checks out.
What do you guys think is wrong? What else can I try before I have to get this thing towed to the dealer? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.
The medicine: two gallons of Zerex G-05, two bottles of Prestone Superflush and 2.5 gallons of distilled water. I followed the instructions on the Prestone bottle, however, when I got to the step that calls for the temp selectors to full hot, no hot air came out. Funny that... my mom gets chilled easily and she keeps the car hot nearly all the time. The heater was working or I would have heard about it immediately.
Did the flush, the rinse and still no hot air. What's more, I was short about one gallon of old fluid. Try as I might, the Jeep wouldn't give it up. OK, I'll just go to 70% coolant:water ratio (the max recommended) to keep the old fluid from from weakening the mix I was pouring in. Buttoned everything up and headed for a spin around the block to get everything mixed well. I kept the heater dialed to fully hot (manual mode, not Auto) but still no hot air. I'm one block away and the temp needle pegs, the computer chimes and says to check the gauges. Crap! I turned right around and headed home.
The fix (or so I thought): Hmm... maybe the computer is telling something in the cooling system to stay zigging when it should be zagging. I disconnected the negative lead and went inside for pizza and lemonade. Half hour later I re-connected the battery and tried the drive around the block again. This time I made it two blocks before I had to get back with the temp needle pegged. I noticed that the previously full reservoir bottle is now empty, so I filled it with the 70% mix I had left over, let the engine cool for about an hour and tried the drive one more time. Made it half a block. Popped the hood and the reservoir bottle was full and stayed full even after the engine cooled down. I double checked for leaks and had previously checked the radiator cap for serviceability. It all checks out.
What do you guys think is wrong? What else can I try before I have to get this thing towed to the dealer? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.