My jeep runs and starts fine - no issues there, but you don't need a key to start it. I have a hard top and full doors so I keep it locked. I'm looking very forward to taking the top off for the summer, but I'm not going to do it if my jeep can be fired up without a key. Considering where I live is well known for vehicles being stolen, this is a ticking time bomb for me.
What do I have to do to fix this? It doesn't look like it was broken into, but you don't need a key to start it, and also the key release trigger isn't required to get the key out. Can I open the steering column up and maybe something's come loose, or do I need to replace my ignition cylinder? Thoughts?
On an unrelated note, I don't seem to really get any heat out of my blower. I turn it to the first thing that turns on (the image of a fan), and that gives me air out the top vents. It's usually warm after I've run the jeep for a bit, but cools off quickly. If I push it to the second setting (Heat, apparently?), it powers the high powered vents at the bottom of my dash, but it's still not really heating. Hot air for a minute, then lukewarm, then cool. If I push it passed that (Vent?), I get nothing out of anything. Thoughts?
I had a similar issue with my heating system just recently. It was blowing just fine, but didn't seem hot at all. Turned out my radiator was beat. If you're not getting hot air, it's most likely a problem with your cooling system. I wish I could be more specific as far as what piece of the system, but at the very least hopefully I've helped you narrow it down. Best of luck figuring it out!
Yeah, I figured this out one day after I thought I lost my keys. Crawled in through the back (when I had a soft top), fired it up w/o keys and drove home, then found my keys in a grocery bag. hah. I'm thinking maybe just swapping out the key lock cylinder, but I don't know if that would take care of the key-release thing either, so hopefully some all-knowing jeeper will enlighten me as to my possible solutions.
i also have never tried to start mine without keys but can take them out when i'm driving... i want to see what someone can tell us about this... very interested
When the keys and lock cylinders get wore out this happens. I can start my jeep then pull the keys out. The only fix is new lock cylinder and key. Pretty easy job if you have the right tools.
lock cylinder for the ignition problem. Happens to many after they've logged a bunch of hours. First step to go allows you to pull the key out without turning it off. Then as the problem progresses you can start it without a key.
Two fixes... replace the lock cylinder - recommended fix OR install a secondary type of ignition kill -> something like a fuse inline with the ignition wire under the dash. Pull the fuse when you leave the car, and unless your thief has the same fuse design... no problem as Ignition will not signal power. That solution of course requires a little bit of know how with wiring and therefore not as easily done as the cylinder.
The heater problem - question 1 -> What does your temperature gauge on the dash say? Does it get to the middle? (Operating temperature? or does it stay low?) Question 2 - when you toggle the hot to cold lever, does the wire actually move the flap door? This is located at the foot of the passenger side... you will see what looks like a piece of metal with a bike cable wire thing attached to it... if the flap door isn't moving when the lever is moved... try moving it by hand. This could be a problem as many of these rust up and stop working and end up staying closed to cold air.
Replace lock cylinder it is. I'd rather do it proper than jury rigging some electrical stuff. My cherokee was a nightmare of bad electrical work.
heater - answer 1: temp gauge hits the middle (80-100) so it does get to operating temperature. Answer 2: The lever is moving, and so is everything attached to it that I can see. I can't tell if the flap door is moving, but when I change it from warm to cold, or cold to warm there's a change in the pressure coming out, so I'm guessing the flap is moving?
When I bought my jeep, the thermostat was dead. The guy I got it from said not to worry about it overheating, it will be fine. I don't think they did anything to it, and I replaced the thermostat a couple days after I bought it. Nothing looks odd about the hoses, all the hoses get warm. Maybe I need to flush the heater core? How would I do that, if that would help?
I'm about to look into replacing my lock cylinder as well. Truthfully, I haven't tried to start it without the keys but I wouldn't be surprised if it would. My lock cylinder doesn't kick back to the run position automatically like a normal car does. I have to manually pull the key back or the starter will never disengage the flywheel. I have to be careful though, if I pull back too far it will shut off. It's like all of the little clickers are broken in it.
the heater flap door appears to be fine, and the thermostat then appears fine. A flush is indeed a good idea. A quick way to flush the engine is to disconnect the rad hose from the top and bottom of the waterpump, and put a hose up the bottom and watch the water come out. This will flush everything except the rad. The rad... you put the hose in the bottom hose hole and watch the water come out the top. This is a backyard way of doing it. Keep in mind, rad fluid is toxic to animals so try your best to capture all you can and dispose properly. Further, water will be all that is left in the block after this method, so you need to remember this amount of fluid when calculating your 50/50 mixture on refill. What size engine do you have? I can try and find some specs to help... if you don't already have them.
Other possible issues with heater... does the blower work? meaning, is it a soft gentle breeze when it is on high? or does it actually blow the window like you're drying your hands with a machine in a restroom?
.... A quick way to flush the engine is to disconnect the rad hose from the top and bottom of the waterpump, and put a hose up the bottom and watch the water come out. This will flush everything except the rad. The rad... you put the hose in the bottom hose hole and watch the water come out the top. This is a backyard way of doing it.
dammit, I wish I had seen this method/idea BEFORE I brought my prestone inline flush kit. I used that kit and it blew the water pump, even on low pressure. In the future I will remove the hoses on the water pump and follow your backyard method.
I would also examine the heater core itself to make sure it's not clogged after the flush. My wife's sentra pulled this same issue.
I'll have to check the power of the blower on my way home, and get back to you then!
Before I head home and check my Hayne's manual for ignition wiring, is the ignition wire easily accessible from under the dash without a lot of monkeying around if I were to go the route of putting an inline fuse along the ignition wiring to deal with my lack of top and no key start-up problems before I go and do the lock cylinder?
OK, based on what I see here replacing my ignition lock cylinder is the way to go. Mine is doing the same things I see here where it can start without the key and all. This week it got worse. Now when I start it the starter will engage with no problem but it won't fire up right away. I have to keep trying a few times before it will start and sometimes the radio and turn signals will not work or the AC fan will not come on until I turn it off and try it again.
I bought the lock cylinder and went ahead and got a new ignition switch while I was at it from Quadratec. The pictures on their website for the 87 - 91 models show it with the keys but for the 92 - 95 models their are no keys in the pic and no keys in the box when I recieved it. Am I supposed to use my existing keys with this? Not sure how that would work but there are no instructions in the box, just the lock cylinder. I have a 92, no tilt colum. Just want to know if I should contact Quadratec about the keys before I get started on this.
i would def check about keys before i started, i replaced the cylinder on my 93 cherokee, which is identical to my 93 YJ, and mine came with keys...good luck...pretty easy job once you get going in the right direction!!
I emailed quadratec about their lock cylinder for my 91, and they did say it came with no keys. You can either keep it, and get a locksmith to fit it to your key, or return it and get one that comes with keys. I got one locally for $44 that came with 2 keys.
Locally is not a good option for me since I am working in the Middle East, that's where my Jeep is. I will just have to take it to my mechanic and see what he says. Before you guys rag me about not doing my own work, I don't have a good set of tools here or a place to work. Plus labor is dirt cheap and it was 116 degrees today. Let him be the one to cook
Gotcha, well there are other places that sell lock cylinders with keys for a bit more, probably less than what it would cost to have the lock keyed.
All you really need to swap out the ignition cylinder are a few screwdrivers, lock-plate compressor and steering wheel puller. The above two special tools cost me $15 and it was a learning experience. Did it in my driveway on a rainy day. Hayne's manual on the dashboard, ripped it all apart and got the new cylinder in with relatively few problems. I'm a complete newbie when it comes to mechanics. If I can do it, anyone can. But if it's that hot...let him cook.
Curse you and your hot weather! I would like to see some actual near summer out here. Best we're getting in Vancouver seems to be around 18-22 C, if we're lucky and it's not raining!
When I gought mine the heater fan worked but there was no heat at all. I took the heater hoses off at the firewall and took the garden hose and put it to the in line and put the ater to it and watched the 8in turd come out the out line. Heater core was clogged bad lol. you said you were getting luke warm then it would get cool, I say flush the same as I did as see if your lines are partially clogged only allowing minimal amount of hot water into the core.
LoL yea I really didn't either. There was so much gunk built up in there from neglect that when it started coming out I actually wondered for a sec... I an now planning on doing a mod another member on here has done with the vent at center bottom of dash to redirect the heat off my feet and another flip vent at top of dash so I can either have the defrost blow to winshield or flip it and have it blow into the cab. Might even cut some slots in it so when it's pointed into the cab some of the air can still hit the windshield.
On an unrelated note, I don't seem to really get any heat out of my blower. I turn it to the first thing that turns on (the image of a fan), and that gives me air out the top vents. It's usually warm after I've run the jeep for a bit, but cools off quickly. If I push it to the second setting (Heat, apparently?), it powers the high powered vents at the bottom of my dash, but it's still not really heating. Hot air for a minute, then lukewarm, then cool. If I push it passed that (Vent?), I get nothing out of anything. Thoughts?
thanks!
All you guys having issues with heating:
1. Do you have a coolant smell in the cabin?
2. Does condensation form on your windshield just above the defroster vents?
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