# Heater core **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** heating, wrangler, jeep\ **Created:** [October 30, 2009, 11:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-core/38799 "2009-10-30T11:44:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bacadan2002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@bacadan2002](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bacadan2002)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 11:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-core/38799/1 "2009-10-30T11:44:28Z")
recently my 2005 jeep ran hot. turned out the hose under the hood that connects to the inside was loose and of course i got coolant everywhere… fixed the clamp replaced lost coolant, hasn’t ran hot since. now when i turn the heat or the air on i can smell the coolant. it heats and cools wonderfully. do i really need to replace the heater core? oh, just for information i do alot of stopping and starting so this happened about 2 months ago and it hasn’t run hot since the the time in question. thanks alot for your help and suggestions ---
**Author:** ![ccooper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ccooper](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ccooper)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-core/38799/2 "2009-10-30T14:38:41Z")
After this two month run, how’s the coolant level? It’s possible for the core to be leaking (just a little) and produce this smell, while still working correctly. As far as it running hot, I believe the two most common things that cause this are coolant levels, and faulty thermostats. Taking for granted that the radiator is clean. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/heater-core/38799/3 "2009-10-30T14:54:19Z")
So the leak happened right at the firewall? Sounds like some coolant got into the passenger compartment. Probably sitting in a puddle in the ductwork near the heater core. You need to get under the dashboard. Remove, whatever plastic parts enclose the heater core.