Heater Core

[Colin]

Well, my heater core started leaking the other day, and so I took it to a mechanic and he said it'll be about 8 hours of labor and a final cost in the neighborhood of about $400-$500. I poured Bar's Leaks into it Wednesday, but when I drove it Saturday evening, it started smelling bad again, but I can't see ANY leakage, nor feel anything hot or even remotely (sp?) warm leaking out. I took it out yesterday and put it through its paces, and the weird smell was back, but NOTHING hot, warm, etc. The engine even went up to about 210* before the thermostat opened up. It's kinda' startin' to piss me off. My wife was with me both times it started acting up, and she said the second time it leaked was considerably less than the first time, so do you think 1 more bottle will do it?

[86camarodriver]

Unless you have a headed garage take it to the mechanic, I did it out in the cold and it took a full Saturday, If the guy works for a dealear or you took it to one it will cost A LOT more than that but for 400 bucks I would take it to him, it really IS a pain :mad:

[3.4 slow to go]

he's in okyhoma. it's warm there :mad:

what does the holy book haynes/chilton have to say about it? I'd do it myself, personally, and pocket any change found while doing the job ;) . From what I've heard, & read just above, save it for the weekend.

[Colin]

All this, even after not even seeing any more coolant leakage?

[3.4 slow to go]

yeah, but your still smellin it :eek: . too much anti-leak, no matter how small might even clog up the heater core :mad: . Is it the origonal one in there?

[86camarodriver]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 3.4 slow to go:
he's in okyhoma. it's warm there :mad:

what does the holy book haynes/chilton have to say about it? I'd do it myself, personally, and pocket any change found while doing the job ;) . From what I've heard, & read just above, save it for the weekend.<hr></blockquote>

Unless its warm out and you put a weekend aside to do it take it to the guy LOL, you pull like 30 screws, have to fight to get the center section out then have to find a buddy to get the core in becase its really trickey and WAY up there.

[Colin]

Okay, here's the latest. I've decided to dismantle the dash myself--to a point that I can still drive it--and then take it to my mechanic. I've disassembled lotsa' stuff (dash pad, various pieces of plastic exterior trim, insulating panels, etc. I have yet to remove the ECM and the steering column brace, 'cuz I figure I'll need 'em) and can see the heater core housing, and the passenger side of the dash is coming out, but to get the rest of the dash out, you have to remove the radio and A/C controls? What about the center console w/the emergency brake and all, 'cuz I have an automatic with a 'T'-shaped shifter. I certainly don't mind disassembling this stuff, but I don't wanna' make any more work than there has to be. :rolleyes:

[Colin]

Well, another one in the books. My father-in-law and I managed to tear out the remainder of the dash and the heater core and replace it (dash is still in 4 or 5 large pieces, but it's driveable again). I won't lie, it was a pain in the butt, but at a cost of only $21 for the core and about 4 hours of labor-thus far, we managed to get it runnin' again. [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img]

[86camarodriver]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Colin:
Well, another one in the books. My father-in-law and I managed to tear out the remainder of the dash and the heater core and replace it (dash is still in 4 or 5 large pieces, but it's driveable again). I won't lie, it was a pain in the butt, but at a cost of only $21 for the core and about 4 hours of labor-thus far, we managed to get it runnin' again. [img]graemlins/rofl.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

Don't say I dident warn ya LOL, glad you got it in.