Heater Core...

97GTSTANG

97GTSTANG

Founding Member
May 25, 2000
852
0
17
Virginia
#1
6 months ago the heater core was replaced, not during the winter months i want to use the heater and steam is coming from the vents. I am not sure if the coolant from before is just evaporating now or if the problem was not fixed. What could be the problem, could something else besides the heater core have gone wrong?
I notice that steam comes out more when i rev over 4k RPM. any suggestions?

Thanks
 
#2
6 months ago + still steaming core = problem not fixed. Check the hoses that run into the firewall in the engine compartment. See if they are leaking. Also, what heater core did you use: a new one, or a used/salvage core, and was the person who installed it competent? While not a particularly hard part to replace, if care is not used, it is possible to damage the core on installation and many people/places get in a hurry to finish the job and don't do it right. So, check for antifreeze dripping on the floorboard of your car and also check the area underneath the vehicle to see if there is any fluid there either, and then check to make sure the actual radiator isn't bone dry. I almost forgot to ask, does the steam smell like antifreeze?
 
#3
The steam does smell like anti freeze, what i did yesterday was put the heater on full blast, that cleared up all the steam, now its blowing heat well, but it does not defog the windshield property. I am going to check now if its missing coolant from the resoivor. There is no cooland inside the car, i will check the hoses. If it was heater core, is it possible to stop steaming like mine did?
 
#4
Have you noticed any condensation on anything inside the car? To smell like antifreeze it would have to present somewhere. The defrost problem is most likely due to a duct inside the dash area not being tight enough or not connected well/if at all. Who did the install? Also, does it only steam with the climate controls activated or does it steam all the time regardless of what is going on? Being that you have had this replaced in the not so distant past and the fact that these conditions are present, I think I would take it back to whoever fixed it. Unless your mechanically inclined. Then I would go behind the dash and find out what is wrong. It just sounds like something didn't get hooked up right or isn't tight enough. Replacement of a heater core is an easy but time consuming task, one which many people hurry through and the end result is something like what your problem is. Did you run your a/c during the summer months and if so, did you not notice anything then?
 
#5
unhook the hoses and bypass the heater core under the hood , if the problem goes away then the heater core is leaking ....which is probably is , I would just start taking the dash apart to replace it again .....
 
#7
i replaced the coolant in the resoivor and now there is no steam coming from the vents, its actually warming up. Where else could the coolant have gone? The tech checked the resoivor for leaks and the pipes in the engine and said it was fine. Any suggestions? I can barely smell coolant from inside the car now. He also said its only a 3 months warranty and its been over 5 months since i got the heater core replaced.
 
#8
Three month warranty my ass!! I would get a second opinion from another source. Maybe his labor is guaranteed for three months but I bet the part itself is much longer, probably around a year, and that warranty is for defects in craftsmanship. I would find out from another source whether the install was the problem. Make sure to keep the radiator filled and check for leaks at the same time in the above mentioned posts. The defrost steaming up is due to them not properly hooking something back up. Did they replace the heater hoses when they did the install. There has to be a leak, possibly the hoses or he bent the inlet/outlet tube enough for a slight crack when he put it in. Its my belief that whatever shop did the repair, did it shoddily and I wouldn't count on them taking any responsibility for it. If a second opinion confirms this, I would go after them for cost and replacement. Just make sure that if a shop confirms this, they will put in writing so you can take it back to the original installer. Was it a dealership that repaired it or the generic Bobs roadside garage?
 
#9
It was a generic shop that did the install. He said if the part has a defect i wont have to buy a new one because it has a 1yr warranty, but i will have to pay for labor again since it was not his fault the core leaked again. I am going to watch it this week and see what happens, then i will take it to another shop and get a second opinion.
 
#10
Yeah that is unfortunate. I do all my own stuff but I would stay away from someone who would only honor their work for a whopping three months. It doesn't sound like he has too much confidence in his repair quality, especially a heater core change out, or, he half asses it so you have to come back and spend more money. Then something else will break and you'll have to go back again to him and more money and so on. Its a vicious circle. It sounds to me like a poor install all the way. Get the second opinion from someone reputable.
 
#11
Well, i took the care back to the mechanic that fixed it the first time, he said that if he takes it apart again and its the heater core that is defective due to manufacturer then i will have to pay for labor but i wont have to pay for a new heater core since its under warranty. Is that how it usually works, or should he swap it out free of parts and labor?
 
#14
I have gone through 4 heater cores in the last few months. Most of them didn't last a month. I even used a bypass to reduce pressure and that didn't help. If anyone can tell me why heater cores are failing, let me know. I'm freezing.
 
#16
rcon, are you grounding the new aluminum heater core.? a couple of ground wires might help. I am not sure if the mechanic that worked on mine put ground on it, but i will make sure the new tech i take it to does that. i dont want to get this thing replaced again.
 
#17
Thank you for the suggestions. However, the grounding problem would take longer than the 30 days it took to blow 2 in a row. We installed a new one with a restrictor from the police interceptor Crown Vic. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
 
#18
are you paying for these heater cores to get replaced or are you doing them yourselves? Mine goes in tomorrow for the second on in 4 months. I hope i dont have to pay to get it done again. I am getting everything replaced behind the dash. the parts are very inexpensive so might as well.
 
#19
97GTSTANG said:
are you paying for these heater cores to get replaced or are you doing them yourselves? Mine goes in tomorrow for the second on in 4 months. I hope i dont have to pay to get it done again. I am getting everything replaced behind the dash. the parts are very inexpensive so might as well.
Click to expand...

Az Dyno did it under warranty for te 4th time. However, after this I'm on my own. I can't get the smell out of there yet though of everything that got soaked when I use the heater.
 
#20
I give up. We put in a reduction valve from a Police Interceptor Crown Vic. Blew again. I'm bypassing the heater core and freezing my ass for winter. The last one didn't last more than 6 hours in the car.
 
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