Heater Core Woes
#1
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Car: 1990 pontiac firebird
Engine: 3.1L 6 cylinder
Heater Core Woes
So I had recently posted here in regards to replacing a faulty Hot Water Valve. It seems that that issue is resolved, but yesterday I got in and started my car, turned on the defrost and was met with a pretty awful smell after a few minutes. I would describe it as a burning wood/cigar smell. It also had a hint of cinnamon, which I've heard is a tell tale sign of antifreeze. My car hasn't been low on anti freeze lately, so it definitely doesn't seem like it's leaking. There's no moisture on the passenger side of the car's interior. I guess my question is, is there an easy way to tell if the heater core is in fact shot for sure? If it is, how much does one of these usually cost to have replaced at a shop. And how hard is it to do yourself. I can do most maintenance no problem but I don't have a garage at my disposal. Thanks in advance.
-B
-B
#2
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Car: 1987 Firebird Formula
Engine: 2004 LQ4
Transmission: T-5 WC
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Heater Core Woes
Might as well change it, your car is 18 years old.. Mine went right where the bent copper hose goes in to the heater core. Leaked all over my floor, smelled, and left a nice coating of anti-freeze on my windows. The heater core was 45$, it took 3 days, but probably 4-5 hours of actual work. I also cleaned all of my vents, and some other fun stuff. But taking off the dash was the only hard part, that alone took an hour and a half. Good luck!
#3
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Car: 1990 Formula
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Re: Heater Core Woes
Thw burning wood smell could be leaves on the exhaust. I would look there first. Heater cores are no fun.
#4
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Car: 1986 IROC-Z
Engine: '69 camaro 350/350hp
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: Posi 3.23
Re: Heater Core Woes
Just did a heater core on an 86 iroc. Even the mom & pop garages wanted 250 bucks to put one in. I got my core at Advance Auto for 25 bucks. Was a fairly simple install. Take off dash pad, Remove hush panels & speaker brackets. Then I believe there were only four more nuts or bolts and the dash pulls away from the heater box. (forgot, I also dropped the steering column). It really is easier than it sounds. The hardest part was getting the top heater box cover bolt back in. Took me 2 1/2 hours & a twelve pack . Just dive in and do it yourself. You will be glad you did.
#5
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Car: 92 25th anv camaro rs
Engine: 305 tbi
Axle/Gears: 3.08s non posi
Re: Heater Core Woes
fun fun, i dont advise taking it to a shop, besides the fact that it costs to much, sometimes they forget they get paid to do it right, i took my 88 rs in for a cooling problem, they said they "fixed" it, 3 hrs later my heater core blows up, its lik srapmetal every where, but surprizenly there wasnt any antifreeze in the passerager copartment, and not htat much to clean, but its was really fun taking my dash apart to replace it, have fun
#6
Re: Heater Core Woes
i replaced mine in my 86 trans am. mine was a very minor leak so i could only smell it when i had the defrost on and it wasnt leaking into the passanger compartment (was i happy for that) but the reason i knew it was the heater core was becase the windshield foged up when i turned on the defrost. it costed me bout $50. all it took was lowering the steering column and pulling out the dash about a foot. it only took me bout 3 hours.
p.s. if you have someone help you pull the dash out it makes it alot easier but i just used a ratchet strap
p.s. if you have someone help you pull the dash out it makes it alot easier but i just used a ratchet strap
#7
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Car: 1987 Firebird Formula
Engine: 2004 LQ4
Transmission: T-5 WC
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Heater Core Woes
2 people taking off the dash is the best thing, I had to show the girlfriend how to use a ratchet, as well as lefty loosey, righty tighty.
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#8
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
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Re: Heater Core Woes
im in the middle of replacing my core but cant seam to find the right cores cause every where i go the copper tubes on the cores arnt bend the same as on the old core but once i get the new core it shouldnt b a problem it was taking it out that was the problem just cause the 5th bolt on the top of the heater core box other than that it was just the time of doing every thing and i think it was worth it xause the place i was going to take t to wanted 700-800 dollars and im onley 14 so i wasnt goin to do that so i say its not worth taking in just do it ur self and as far as a garge i dont have one ether but im doin fine the onley thing that sucks is the weather telling when i can and cant work
#9
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Car: 88 GTA "Cocaine"
Engine: 350 tpi
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: Heater Core Woes
dont put anything but a delco heater core in there
I found out that napa carries the same stuff as all the rest when they showed me that same made in mexico pos that autozone had
I found out that napa carries the same stuff as all the rest when they showed me that same made in mexico pos that autozone had
#11
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Car: 1984 Z28 HT,2006 2500HD
Engine: 5.7L, 6.6Llbz dmax
Transmission: 700R4, 6 speed allison
Axle/Gears: worn out 3.73 posi
Re: Heater Core Woes
i feel your pain i just discovered that my heater core had frozen and cracked i presume but anyway its leaking coolant everywhere all over my floor and my engine bay got a spray also so im gonna subscribe to this
#12
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Heater Core Woes
ya its a real pain in the *** fixin it,also seeing as how i still cant get the right core but my grandpa is tryin to find the part 4 me i guess because hes who we got the car from he feels every thing that gose wrong is his fault so i ges i just wait cause i dont have the time to go lookin 4 the right part seeing as how i have school 4 most of the day and i cant drive so it takes me like 2 hours go go eny where .i hope i get it fixed soon cause its just been sitin there 4 just about a month. and iv onley had it for 2
#13
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Car: 1984 Z28 HT,2006 2500HD
Engine: 5.7L, 6.6Llbz dmax
Transmission: 700R4, 6 speed allison
Axle/Gears: worn out 3.73 posi
Re: Heater Core Woes
you can still drive the car with a busted heater core unless you have it taken apart you just wont get heat
#14
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Heater Core Woes
i know the cars still drive able its that im only 14 and dont have a licence
#15
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Car: 1984 Z28 HT,2006 2500HD
Engine: 5.7L, 6.6Llbz dmax
Transmission: 700R4, 6 speed allison
Axle/Gears: worn out 3.73 posi
Re: Heater Core Woes
wow man that sucks at least you got time to work at it
#16
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Heater Core Woes
ya i got the car from my sister 4 free cause it was becoming to much of a pain in the *** to have as a daily driver so that gives me the time to fix all the meany small problems it has and i started with the heater core
#17
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Re: Heater Core Woes
I just got a heater core from autozone and it's from mexico , ELCRAPO GRANDE wheres my receipt I'm taking it back , I'm not going to bust my hump to put one in if it's a POS from the get-go . THANKS GUYS FOR THE HEADS UP .
#19
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Car: 1987 Firebird Formula
Engine: 2004 LQ4
Transmission: T-5 WC
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: Heater Core Woes
I don't know how long I'm going to have this car for, so I just bought the cheapest possible. But I guess, if I were to put in a nice, big V8, the heatercore would be taken out anyway, thats a few pounds of dead weight...
#20
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
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Re: Heater Core Woes
ya i didnt wont to use a cheap one cause this cars going to b a daily driver and i dont wont to do this again cause its a pain in the ***
#21
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Car: 1987 Firebird Formula
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Re: Heater Core Woes
True, but even the higher grade Delco version could also have it's flaws. I've bought ball-joints made in mexico, and my car hasn't fallen apart, I've bought bearings made in Mexico, I only had one problem where they didn't seat, but that was easily fixed. The only reason you hear the mexican ones are bad, is from people who have had bad experiences. If mine goes bad, I'm going to change it. It will be frustrating, no doubt, but you wouldn't buy another cheap one at that point anyway.
#22
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Car: 1992 Camaro RS
Engine: 305 TBI
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Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Heater Core Woes
True, but even the higher grade Delco version could also have it's flaws. I've bought ball-joints made in mexico, and my car hasn't fallen apart, I've bought bearings made in Mexico, I only had one problem where they didn't seat, but that was easily fixed. The only reason you hear the mexican ones are bad, is from people who have had bad experiences. If mine goes bad, I'm going to change it. It will be frustrating, no doubt, but you wouldn't buy another cheap one at that point anyway.
#23
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Car: 88 GTA "Cocaine"
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Re: Heater Core Woes
go to gmpartsdirect.com and print out the order sheet with the price w/shipping
take it to your local dealership and tell them that you want to keep the business local and see if they can match or beat the price
take it to your local dealership and tell them that you want to keep the business local and see if they can match or beat the price