Jeep Cherokee XJ Vent Blows Hot Air

2000 Jeep Cherokee XJ. When running the blower that is supposed to bring in external fresh air, the air is hot, or at least warm. I would expect it to be ambient temperature, or slightly above ambient. This is not about the AC. The AC is off and doesn’t work, which is why I am so interested in bringing in fresh air. I have eliminated the mixer door as the source of the problem as I have installed a bypass so that in the summer the engine coolant doesn’t circulate through the heater core. I wonder if it has something to do with the loose seal around the hood hinge in shown in this picture:

Tape the seal together at the bottom and see if that is the problem

Tester