Nate86

About two weeks ago I replaced just about everything in my coolant system that I knew about (rad. cap, upper/lower hoses, thermostat, water outlet and a hose that busted which goes from the engine to the firewall--I believe it's the heater core hose) and everything was great. The car runs at a consistent temperature and the coolant is clean.

However, today I noticed that the mat in my passenger side floor had a huge puddle of coolant lying in the middle of it (I have rubber mats) and the surrouding carpet is also damp and smells of coolant. However, I have no idea where this is coming from.

Can someone please help me?

red90bird

I would say probabbly the heater core. I know that dosen't help alot but thats where to start looking for a leak.

Nate86

That is what I was thinking as well. But I have not used the heat. Would it still leak even though I haven't used the heat for a while?

Nixon1

Dont need to use the heat to have a leaky heater core. Either way, coolant still circulates through it.

Nate86

I see. Anything else it could be before I go out and spend money on a new one?

Air_Adam

Not likely anything else.

Nate86

Alright, thanks a lot guys.

Nixon1

You can bypass it in the mean time. We're in FL... Don't really need a heater core right now. Not til winter or....if next winter it's like it has been this winter....you won't need your heater core til January or February.

hellraiser319

definately the h/c unless gm used the lil plastic hoses leading up to it, like my dad's old 88 cavalier. if thats the case and h/c is still in good shape (not like rotting out or pieces of rust or anything comin out the lines) id change both of the hoses and put rubber on there and you wont hafta worry bout findin a new core. and if its still good, flush it out real quick to make sure coolant flows properly.

hellraiser and the red thing

Scania

Check the coolant hose from the engine that goes into the firewall. I had a problem with a bad hoseclamp at the firewall and that caused a coolant leak and a puddle of coolant on the passenger side floor.

thirdgen88

Yeah, make sure you aren't using those factory style spring-type clamps on that heater core hose you replaced. Get the screw type clamps and see if that helps...

I too have replaced a core then to find out it was those damn clamps all along..

Nate86

Both of the hoses are fine and both of them have screw-type clamps that are securly fastened onto the bracets coming out of the firewall.

I'm gonna try to replace the heater core today. Bought a new one for ~$20.

Nate86

Ok... new problem. I bought a heater core two days ago and managed to get it in, but when I put I hooked it up to the coolant hoses, it leaks even worse than the old one did (I think I may have broken it trying to shove it in there on the first day... I was frustrated because the thing just would not go in).

Anyway, I put the old one back on and it still leaks as well. However, I don't understand why it is leaking because when I run water through it with a garden hose it easily holds every drop without a leak at all.

I'm gonna go back to AutoZone and try to get them to take this back since it has a lifetime warranty. If a new one (that I don't break, now that I know how to get it in properly) continues to leak, what should I do?

Nate86

By the way, where are the clamps supposed to be located on the hose? This may sound dumb but I want to remove as many probable causes of this leak as I can.

I placed the clamps on the very end of the hose and tightened it down very securly. Am I doing this right or should it be a bit farther up the hose (like 1/2"+ more)?

frogmanjohn

you want the hose clamps to be about a 1/4" up the hose to apply the best pressure and seal, did you replace the old hose while you were at it, just to cover your bases?

John

Nate86

Yes, both hoses are brand new because they both had a tear in them that I discovered while flushing the coolant from my car.

I'll check out the clamp position tomorrow.

Nate86

I feel like a dumbass. As it ended up, the clamp was causing the problem... it was too far up the hose and didn't seal properly. All that work for nothing.

Anyway, thanks for the help.

PhAnToMs

iTrader: (2)

how do you gain acess to the heater core cause i think i have a slow leak also and have no idea where it is at i know on passenger side but do i have to take dash apart to get to it or is it under the hood?

Nate86

I can't speak for Camaro owners but for the Firebird it is inside the area above where the passenger's feet would go (don't know the technical term for it). Some manuals instruct you to remove the dash but I found it quite unnecessary. I didn't even remove my seat, and I'm 6' tall.

You take off the 7mm screws that secure the trouble light panel to gain access to the area underneath and you will see a large black cover over the heater core. Remove another four 7mm screws and you should see the heater core. At this point there should be four more 7mm screws that allow the bracket for the heater core to come out and another two to remove the heater core from the brace inside the bracket.

At this point, it's basically just a replace and repeat process, in the reverse order. It's essential that you don't lose your patience when trying to install the new heater core though. I found it quite difficult to get the tubes of the heater core through the holes in the firewall. Being frustrated, I ended up trying to "push" it in; however, it still refused to go through the holes. The next day all it took was a slight bending of the tubes and it slid right into place. However, by this time I had already damaged the core itself, and it ended up having a worse leak than what I started with.

All in all, it's really not that hard of a job... it's just the awkward work space that you have to work in (and if it's your first time changing it, like me... you go into the job almost entirely blind of what exactly you are doing or what you are looking for) that makes the job seem so difficult.

Good luck.

PhAnToMs

iTrader: (2)

ya i got a camaro.. ill look around under there tomorrow thanks for the info it will be my first time also it should be the same i would guess any camaro owners verify that?

frogmanjohn

grab a haines, they walk you right through it. If no one replies i will get back at you tomorrow, my haines manual is at home.

john

RB83L69

It helps ALOT if you take off the top dash pad, and remove the ECM, the right speaker, and the one bracket that's right there; that 5 minutes of work will save you untold cussing and fighting stuff you can't see. Not necessary, but very helpful, especially for a first-timer, since it exposes everything and it's all right out in the open where you can see it and get to it without being a contortionist.

copperhead110

The instructions in the Haines manual for removing and replacing the heater core in my 88 camaro are the reason I don't trust Haines.

I found it to be much quicker and easier to pull the heater core out by not messing with the dash.

The picture is good for showing you your target.

I bought the GM manuals and I like them a lot better.

sqzbox

Are you sure the hoses are tight ? If the coolant get's by the hose clamp it will squirt right into the same hole the heater core comes out through the firewall. If not, you may have cracked the inlet or outlet connections on the core. Also, everything could be so clean now, the core couldn't take the pressure (no pun intended).

azvolfan

I have done this removal and install. To make it easier, once you get the old heater core out, hold it up to the new one back to back and check out the position of the tubes on the new core. Bend them gently to match up to the old core and they should be just about right to get through the fire wall. May need slight adjustments after that, but should cut down on some frustration.