Has anyone ever used any kind of aftermarket heater solution? I bought my Rover with the core bypassed and simply don't have time to attempt to replace it right now but my morning commute is going to be cooling off soon. I have read a ton of bad reviews about the cheap, simple aux plug in heaters and have looked into heaters from companies like JEGS, but I'm hoping someone in here has a tried and true solution.

 

How about getting a couple quotes from an import auto repair place, to replace it? Ideally you want to find a place that's done it a couple times. It's a big job.

They make Aux 12v hot water heaters for Van's, Campers, Busses and construction equipment. It would have a HW coil and a fan. Those 12v plug in heaters litterally do nothing.

If you're an industrious sort, you ** Could** unhook the engine hoses to the heater core, and rig up a pressurized pump and re-circulate warm/hot water through the heater core. Put a little Bars-Leak in it. Not too much. That stuff DOES work. Re-circulate it a while, (hour?), then drain the heater core out (get rid of the bars leak). Then plug in the heater hoses. See if it plugged up the leak.

Or you could drive around with your radiator cap loose and see how that works. In the winter the engine might not overheat, or force coolant out the heater core (not much pressure).

I sympathize with you. A couple years ago I had to pull the dash and replace the heater core in my Plow Jeep. For 3 years I drove it w/o heat ...even in -15*F temps! It was a lot of work but, man, it'll heat a house now!!

All the other L/R owners: You might want to test your Disco's coolant pH. Too high a pH will eat the heater core. Do some searches on the proper pH on the internet. You can adjust it a little one way or the other with either sodium Hydroxide or Lemon Juice...