PLEASE LOOK! HELP!

[limppimp]

OMG, I finally got my heater core out!!! But it doesnt look bad...can you tell (visually) when one has gone bad. The reason I changed it is because I had antifreeze leaking on the inside of the car, and smoke coming from the vents. Please tell me I didnt go through all of this for nothing!
If its not this heater core, then what else could it be? I dont want to put it all back together and not have the problem fixed. PLEASE HELP!

here are 2 pictures of the heater core I just took out of my car>

 

[Black1987Stang]

It does look good, but doesnt mean it doesnt have a crack in it. if u have an air compressor stick one end of the air gun in one of the pipes and put ur finger over the other pipe, turn on the air and listen for leaks. If u dont find a leak put the new or old heater core in hold in the unit with just those 2 nuts in the engine compartment, just to hold it in, hook up the hoses and see if it leaks and where while u still have the dash apart
good luck

 

[blk92stangg]

It does look pretty shiny don't it? For the most part, the only thing that will fog up the passenger side inner windshield and make the car smell sickly sweet is a bad core. Don't forget, that it only starts to leak when the car runs and pressure builds up. I think you may have trouble duplicating 160 pounds of pressure with your finger stuck on one end of the darned thing. I think you can take it to have it pressure tested if you really want to be sure, but if it was me, I would just change it, button it up, and call it a day.

 

[1986LX2002]

Is that a factory original? I like the look of the quality, I replaced mine with a auto parts store one "big mistake" I heard if you put a ground on your heater core you can slow down and even elimnate the core from crosion. "heard it from an old school hotrodder" I have two grounds attached to mine cant hurt and its going on two years now.

 

[sjhm9102]

make sure the hole on the firewall beside the tranny inside the engine compartment passenger side under the dryer make sure it is not plugged

 

[UMDSmith]

My stock one still looked shiny, but the inlet pipes going into the core body had developed some hairline cracks. The coolant smell was the biggest indiicator for me. Well that and the fact I froze my ass off half of last winter.