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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

i think my heater core went bad... help

  • Thread starter Thread starter Foxfan88
  • Start date Start date Aug 19, 2007

Foxfan88

My Grandpa has great wood.
Sep 13, 2004
2,487
4
0
Miami, Ok
Aug 19, 2007
#1
  • Aug 19, 2007
  • #1
i was adjusting the timing on my car i was about 4 miles from my house and it was idling for a bit while i messed with timing. got back in the car and smelled coolant in the car i was like hmm. i drove on and played with the car for a sec. after about a mile i noticed white smoke coming out under the hook by the windshield on the passenger side. stopped at my dads and checked it out, there was one of the small heater tubes hoses going to the firewall all busted up. the black rubber sleeve came off and it was shooting steam out of it. after i shut the car of it stops withing a minute or so.

got back into the car to baby it home and noticed the passenger floorboard was wet under the dash i instantly thought the heater core was bad, i have heard about the floor getting wet when it happens. i drove it home and white smoke came out behind the dash and fogged up the windshield, car got hot and was about to start overheating then i got home. the hissing steam was coming out of the heater tube under the hood and once again it stopped very fast.

so maybe the heater core clogged up and caused a pressure buildup to bust the heater hose???

i wasnt using the heater or anything

and are there any write ups on the heater core fix? i heard its a PITA
 

Roland69

Sergeant Tangnet
Sep 17, 2005
2,867
3
58
Port Elgin, Ontario
Aug 19, 2007
#2
  • Aug 19, 2007
  • #2
do you use the heater.....if not bypass it That's what I did
 

Foxfan88

My Grandpa has great wood.
Sep 13, 2004
2,487
4
0
Miami, Ok
Aug 19, 2007
#3
  • Aug 19, 2007
  • #3
i dont drive the car much but i would rather fix it and have a heater for when i do drive it. my heater never has works very well in this car at all. it would just barely defrost the windows and thata about all it could do.

plus it gives me a good reason to do some wiring stuff behind the dash i have been putting off.
 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell
Mod Dude
Feb 18, 2001
43,259
17,943
224
Massachusetts
Aug 19, 2007
#4
  • Aug 19, 2007
  • #4
Replace the hose and bypass it for now. It will allow you to drive the car until you replace the core
 

sweetstangchic5

New Member
Aug 14, 2007
1
0
0
Las Vegas
Aug 20, 2007
#5
  • Aug 20, 2007
  • #5
to replace the core its a PITA. Everyone has said if you replace it you will be replacing it every year. Everyone I know just says to bypass it.
 

ryan218

In just 10 years, I'll be old enough to drive!!!!
Dec 28, 2005
0
1
38
columbus ohio
Aug 20, 2007
#6
  • Aug 20, 2007
  • #6
sweetstangchic5 said:
to replace the core its a PITA. Everyone has said if you replace it you will be replacing it every year. Everyone I know just says to bypass it.
Click to expand...

when i did mine i thought it was easy..... just stupid...i already had my dash out so i though what the hell..mis well while im able to get to it.
 

PeteyAce

Member
Jul 2, 2004
346
0
17
Aug 20, 2007
#7
  • Aug 20, 2007
  • #7
yea i had half my panels taken apart so it wasnt that bad, but when my core started to leak it got into my blower motor so that had to be taken out to, you might as well change the blower motor while your there too just my .02.
 
8

89stangGT

Founding Member
May 31, 2001
73
0
17
Salt Lake City, UT
Aug 20, 2007
#8
  • Aug 20, 2007
  • #8
Its a PITA mainly because it is time consuming

I did mine three years ago and have not had to do it again. Just make sure you get a genuine replacement.
 

jrichker

StangNet's favorite TOOL
In Remembrance. Thank you for your contributions
Mar 10, 2000
27,512
2,813
234
Dublin GA
Aug 20, 2007
#9
  • Aug 20, 2007
  • #9
See http://home.netcom.com/~skent/mustang/1990/heater_core/hcore.html
 

fiveohwblow

Official Member
15 Year Member
Jul 21, 2005
2,169
145
155
Aug 20, 2007
#10
  • Aug 20, 2007
  • #10
89stangGT said:
Its a PITA mainly because it is time consuming

I did mine three years ago and have not had to do it again. Just make sure you get a genuine replacement.
Click to expand...

This is good advice. I have had the same experience, however I have had to replace three amongst two of my vehicles. There are some amazing writeups on this and it can be done with an afternoon and preferably with a friend. Good luck
 
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