Element 4WD L4-2.4L (2004)
Technical Service Bulletin # 08-097
Date: 081218
Campaign - Poor Heater Output/Engine Overheat
08-097
December 18, 2008
Applies To:
See VEHICLES AFFECTED
Product Update: Restricted Heater Core or Radiator Causes Poor Heating or Engine Overheating
(Supersedes 08-097, dated December 18, 2008, to update the information marked by the black bar or asterisks).
* BACKGROUND
Contamination in the factory fill engine coolant can eventually cause restrictions in the heater core and the radiator, leading to poor heater performance
or, in rare cases, engine overheating.*
VEHICLES AFFECTED
Not all vehicles within the affected VIN ranges have contaminated coolant.
To verify vehicle eligibility, you must check at least one of these items:
^
The customer has a notification letter.
^
The vehicle is shown as eligible on a VIN status inquiry.
In addition, check for a punch mark above the first character of the engine compartment VIN. A punch mark in that location means this product update
has already been completed.
Some of the vehicles affected by this product update may be in your used vehicle inventory. These vehicles should be updated before they are sold or
leased.
CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION
All owners of affected vehicles will be sent a notification of this product update. An example of the customer notification is shown in this service
bulletin.
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Inspect the engine coolant and, depending on the condition of the coolant and the heater core, do one of these repairs:
^
Replace the coolant.
^
Replace the radiator, the water bypass hoses, and the heater breather hose, and drain/refill the coolant.
^
Replace the radiator, the water bypass hoses, the heater breather hose, and the heater core, and drain/refill the coolant.
