heater core leak!

steedastangt

Founding Member

Aug 29, 2001

141

0

0

newbraunfels,tx

Apr 21, 2007

#1

• Apr 21, 2007

• #1

has anyone had to change out their heater core? I have coolant in the floor vents so I know there is a small leak. can anyone give me pointers on how to install a new one? thanks

 

D

Dragstr05

New Member

Dec 21, 2004

643

1

0

Stafford VA

Apr 22, 2007

#2

• Apr 22, 2007

• #2

You're gonna have to pull the dash out...

After that it should be pretty straight forward.

 

R

rconaway

Founding Member

Nov 11, 1999

1,415

3

39

Phoenix, Az.

Apr 22, 2007

#3

• Apr 22, 2007

• #3

I've gone through 3 of them in 2 months and I'm my new one is starting to leak too. No problems for 5 year, then heater cores start leaking. I've even got a bypass on the heater core to reduce pressure and I'm still blowing them. Any ideas?

 

steedastangt

Founding Member

Aug 29, 2001

141

0

0

newbraunfels,tx

Apr 22, 2007

#4

• Apr 22, 2007

• #4

rconaway said:

I've gone through 3 of them in 2 months and I'm my new one is starting to leak too. No problems for 5 year, then heater cores start leaking. I've even got a bypass on the heater core to reduce pressure and I'm still blowing them. Any ideas?

Click to expand...

I think I am going to temporarly bypass my heater core by using a small "u" shape tube to connect the two coolant tubes at the fire wall. this will eliminate the flow of coolant going to the heater core until you find the problem. summer is around the corner so you probably won't need it anyway.

where are you getting your heater cores from? iwould have a serious problem with whoever I bought them from.

good luck with your problem.

 

forum155pl

New Member

Jul 11, 2006

520

0

0

the 509

Apr 22, 2007

#5

• Apr 22, 2007

• #5

its a pain in the butt.. i did mine in the middle of winter in my driveway... i bought a ford one and havent had a problem with it since..

 

fast97gt

Active Member

Jan 2, 2007

1,082

2

49

north carolina

Apr 22, 2007

#6

• Apr 22, 2007

• #6

i was gonna say i think after my second one i would replace it with a oem peice from ford, and yea the dash pad has to come out, there are about three dozen or so screws that fastens it to the main structure. then 6 or 8 screws(bolts) that fasten the nain structure. and three bolts inside and three out on the fire wall, all and all it shouldnt take about 6 hours so good luck. and to save grace go with an oem peice from ford lil more expensive but it beats changing it out twice let alone three times.

 

forum155pl

New Member

Jul 11, 2006

520

0

0

the 509

Apr 22, 2007

#7

• Apr 22, 2007

• #7

the only thing that is a pain is the AC.. have someone under the hood with the tool and you sit inside the cabin and wiggle the unit to pull it out.. took me about a day to figure out that i did have the right tool.. i just needed 2 people...

 

RandyStinchcomb

New Member

May 25, 2005

1,159

3

0

Randallstown, Md

Apr 23, 2007

#8

• Apr 23, 2007

• #8

rconaway said:

I've gone through 3 of them in 2 months and I'm my new one is starting to leak too. No problems for 5 year, then heater cores start leaking. I've even got a bypass on the heater core to reduce pressure and I'm still blowing them. Any ideas?

Click to expand...

either your getting cheap hearter cores or electrolysis is eating them up do to improper grounds.

ever since FoMoCo went to an all aluminum heater cores there have been problems wth them rotting-out. there is even a TSB on this that tells you to solder a ground wire to the heater core and then out to the frame or engine block.

 

281CI96Coupe

Member

Oct 30, 2006

233

0

16

Apr 23, 2007

#9

• Apr 23, 2007

• #9

In other terms the way your heater core gets f*k up is when you dont flush the coolant system right? because all the crud/crap gets clogged in the core therefore leaking?

 

steedastangt

Founding Member

Aug 29, 2001

141

0

0

newbraunfels,tx

Apr 23, 2007

#10

• Apr 23, 2007

• #10

281CI96Coupe said:

In other terms the way your heater core gets f*k up is when you dont flush the coolant system right? because all the crud/crap gets clogged in the core therefore leaking?

Click to expand...

Im sure that would add to the fault of one. with all the advances in technology you would think they could build a heater core that simply doesnt leak no matter how old it is.

I found out i had a leak beacuse while i was making a turn coolant splashed onto my right foot. That is a small event that can ruin your day.

I have since found a kit at advance auto that can be used to bypass the heater core. it is a brass tube that is 3/4" on one side and 5/8" on the other. All i did was disconnect the lines from the fire wall and connect them with the hose clamps in the kit. It was only $4.99. Summer is coming in TX so the last thing i am woring about is my heater. Hose explosions....... thats a different story

 

V

vidmaster

New Member

Jun 6, 2004

167

1

0

Brick, NJ

Apr 25, 2007

#11

• Apr 25, 2007

• #11

speaking of hose explosions, my heater inlet hose exploded @ 50k miles just got done replacing both heater hoses and the upper/lower rad hoses. Cheap insurance i left about 2 gallons of coolant down the highway and another gallon in my engine bay and the entire back side of my car was covered in nasty ass crusty coolant

 

madmatt

Ellis Juan sympathizer

Founding Member

Dec 28, 2002

465

0

16

Lexington, SC

Apr 26, 2007

#12

• Apr 26, 2007

• #12

If you replace it, prepare for the worst install you've ever done. What a bitch it is.

If mine leaks again, I will probably pay someone to fix it. Make sure to ground it like Randy said.