92 Cherokee overheating and no heat

[ckb24]

Gang,

I am trying to help a couple out at church. They have a 92 cherokee and it is not blowing heat and it is overheating. They say they have to add water to it every few miles they drive. Anyone have any ideas? I was thinking heating core, but now I am leaning more toward maybe the waterpump. I have not actually looked at it. But I want to try and be able to troubleshoot it quickly and figure out where to go from there.

Thanks for your advice!

Chris

[Po Pilot]

Stuck thermostat. Classic signs - overheating and no heat. Feel the upper radiator hose - more then likely it will be cool. Thats another way to tell.

[EquityDog]

Popilot may be right but I would have thought that the heater drew water from the engine side of the thermostat and therefore would work even with a stuck thermostat. As I say, I don't really know.

Also, find out where they are losing water. If it overflows from the overflow tank (right side engine bay) then it might be just overheating due to a stuck thermostat. However, when I hear that they add water every few miles, I think serious leak somewhere. Water pump, hose or radiator core are all common enough sites (and have all happened at one time or another on my 1992 Cherokee with 120,000 miles).

Good luck.

[Po Pilot]

The 92 is a open cooling system. Your right - the heater hose comes in from the water pump however, the return line is on the thermostat housing. Although I am inclined to say the 'stat, I would agree to check out ALL that is listed.