My daughters Jeep had the heater valve crack the other day and of coarse it's a dealer item only and they have to order it. I've already bypassed it so she could drive it home but I'm wondering If I really even need to replace it? I ran new heater hoses straight to the heater core and everything works great both heat and A/C so will I have any long term issues leaving it this way? Thanks.

Anyone?

Doesn't heat always come out then?

The valve should block the flow of coolant through the core unless heat is needed. If you bypass it and turn on the a/c, the heat from the core would negate the cooling by the evaporator. If you only want the vent on, you'd still get full heat.

Everything still works ok. When I turn the AC on it blows ice cold and when the vents are just on it still seems to blow cooler air. Heat works ok too so I'm thinking it's just there to close off the heater core while the engine warms up and then once it's at operating temp it opens the valve to the heater core. I may have to ask a dealer mechanic to see what he thinks.