• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

oh great...

exdeath

exdeath

Lifer
drain.jpg


Noticed a faint coolant smell the last couple weeks, haven't been able to find leaks or spots or loss of coolant.

Was out late the other night and had the heat on and it was so strong I knew then for sure it has to be the heater core. Strike 1.

When I got back to the car to drive home, there was a steam patch on the inside of the windshield, passenger side. Strike 2.

Got home and finally there was a definite leak I could see on the ground and steam I could hear hissing off the passenger side header. Checked all hoses for absolute confirmation of the source of the problem before I order parts. What you see in the pic is the drain for the AC condensation drip tray. Busted red handed. Strike 3.

Oh well, brand new heater core is $80. Will be a pain in the ass to rip the dash apart but thankfully at least on this car it's high up and the hoses going into the firewall are accessible from the engine bay and don't require dropping transmission, headers, etc.
 
Last edited:
never had to do a heater core and i doubt i ever will. If the shop wants less then 5 hours, its all theirs. The dash almost never will sit right and then the possible rattles of the dash. But in a SVT i dont think you can hear much over the wondering engine.
 
^

Heater cores have become a mess IMO. Used to be when I was a tech a HC was not to bad a job, in fact could pay well for the time it took. Biggest thing for me was to clean the car and try to get the smell out for my customers.

Now a HC can be an all day job or worse. I turned one down on a VW once as you had to strip the dash and center console out plus drain the AC system just to get to the box that contained the HC.

Seems most are going to placing them in the center of the car and having a pile of stuff on top of them; let alone having to discharge the AC system in many as well. So even if you fix the HC there are so many other things that can go wrong. I rather pull a engine or trans then do many HC jobs now.
 
Been researching the procedure, it actually doesn't seem too bad. Dash comes out and goes back pretty easy. The biggest pain will be that I have to discharge the AC system.
 
exdeath said:
Been researching the procedure, it actually doesn't seem too bad. Dash comes out and goes back pretty easy. The biggest pain will be that I have to discharge the AC system.
Click to expand...

Dash comes out easy on these cars. Already did the core in my '04 GT. If you have a helper when you pull the dash you can do it in an hour or two.
 
By the way, when you have the dash out, take the opportunity to put some felt tape on all the edges where there is plastic on plastic contact behind the dash.
 
I feel your pain. I did the core on my dodge truck and took quite a few shortcuts so no complaints there. I don't know what year your camry is, but my 98 has the easiest heater core access I've ever seen. It slides out like an 8 track tape! So much win.
 
skyking said:
I feel your pain. I did the core on my dodge truck and took quite a few shortcuts so no complaints there. I don't know what year your camry is, but my 98 has the easiest heater core access I've ever seen. It slides out like an 8 track tape! So much win.
Click to expand...

It's on the Cobra.

So does this open up room for upgrading anything else while you're down there? :awe:
 
Yeah, that is why I was sympathetic. Every other heater core I have changed/looked into has sucked in comparison.
 
Vic Vega said:
By the way, when you have the dash out, take the opportunity to put some felt tape on all the edges where there is plastic on plastic contact behind the dash.
Click to expand...
Good call. Would suck to rip the dash twice just to fix some annoying rattles or squeaks.
 
skyking said:
Yeah, that is why I was sympathetic. Every other heater core I have changed/looked into has sucked in comparison.
Click to expand...

Usually its because people think its harder than it is and they try and take shortcuts that leads to bending and prying on things in tight spaces. Im the type that will just say fuck it and pull the 4 bolts holding the dash in and get it over with from the start instead of wasting more time struggling with trying to squeeze it out of a 2" blind hole to save the 15 seconds of ratcheting.

Besides I'm going to want to pull the whole box and wash it out with soap and water and let it air out. My nose is extremely sensitive to the smell of coolant, and that will annoy the shit out of me. Even my computer smells strongly of coolant just from diffusion and I know there are no leaks there but the smell always has me looking.
 
It's not 4 bolts and 15 seconds of ratcheting in my truck. the dealer service procedures are about 8 hours of shop time, dumping the AC and recharging, the hit list goes on. It was huge that Napa had a core with swiveling tubes to prevent all that.
 
exdeath said:
Even my computer smells strongly of coolant just from diffusion and I know there are no leaks there but the smell always has me looking.
Click to expand...

That's why you don't run antifreeze in your watercooled PC, unless you're mixing copper and aluminum you don't need it 😀
 
Only heater core I did not mind changing was the ones on the 88-98 (some 99-2000 models) Chevy trucks... If you took more than 30 min then you just did`nt have a clue... But late model Chevy`s suck as does just about everything else that now has the AC evap & heat core all in one box...😛

But changed a condensor in a D61PX-15EO dozer today which took nothing more than 10 min and a 13mm wrench and a 10" Cresent wrench... Besides recovery & recharge...
 
Bartman39 said:
Only heater core I did not mind changing was the ones on the 88-98 (some 99-2000 models) Chevy trucks... If you took more than 30 min then you just did`nt have a clue... But late model Chevy`s suck as does just about everything else that now has the AC evap & heat core all in one box...😛

But changed a condensor in a D61PX-15EO dozer today which took nothing more than 10 min and a 13mm wrench and a 10" Cresent wrench... Besides recovery & recharge...
Click to expand...
Those things have AC?
 
Howard said:
Those things have AC?
Click to expand...

As of now all dozers we are getting have full cabs with AC of course... What we have heard is they are basicly not going to make open ROPS machines any more...?

When I was a supervisor with a local construction company I was trying to buy a Cat skid steer loader (most say Bobcat but it just a brand) without an enclosed cab... Took nearly 2 weeks to find the only one in the country out in Cali then get it shipped to us... Go figure...?
 
HarryLui said:
I by-pass the heatcores in my car. Don't need them in AZ and certainly don't wan to change them.
Click to expand...

same here usually, but one trip to flagstaff with kids will have you replacing that damn thing in a hurry. luckily, the HC in a dodge ram is easily replaced. dash on a couple bolts, dont even have to disconnect the controls to slide it out of the way.
 
dash.jpg


hvac.jpg


core.jpg


Glad that's over with....

So the dash wasn't 4 bolts... it was about 11 if you don't count the various panels, braces, steering column, etc. :awe:
 
Last edited:
^

You think they make the HC a lot stronger/better now that its a PIA to get to but looking at your pic shows the same type I use to put in cars 30+ years old.
 
The replacement has a ton of solder in the form of a triangular bead at the joint to spread out the stress much better through the tank. The old joint actually didn't fail, there is a ring of tank material still attached to the tube in the pic.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top