I think I screwed up my heater core

Topic: I think I screwed up my heater core (Read 1366 times) previous topic - next topic

I think I screwed up my heater core

May 30, 2006, 10:20:42 PM

Well I think I just busted my 2 year old heater core. I had the core return line hose spring a leak on Friday night on the way to a car show. I got it home fine and I changed the hose Saturday. I was very carful not to pull on the tube for fear of breaking it but I think I might have. I took the car out for a spin today and I noticed it kinda smelled like buring antifreeze. I though it was just left over stuff from Friday on the exhaust. When I parked the car I shut the door and heard a hiss sound and saw steam come out from under the hood on the passenger side. I though WTF and popped the hood. I saw a lillte drop of antifreeze drip from the a/c condenser drip hole on to the exhaust when I shut the door. I started the car up and let it idle. No drip. I reved the engine up to 2,000 rpms and I saw a little antifreeze drip out and hit the exhaust. I think I must have cracked the tube on the core when I changed the hose. I have car shows comming up so I don't have time to take the dash out to change the core. I'll have to by pass it and wait till August to do it. Is it ok to run the a/c with the heater core by passed? After all they are two separate systems so I don't think the a/c cares if the heater core is by passed right? This me off for two reasons 1. I changed that hose when I had the core done so it shouldn't have sprung a leak and 2. I have to do the heater core again. That sucks:mad:

I think I screwed up my heater core

Reply #1 – May 30, 2006, 11:33:18 PM

Sorry to hear that man. Don't feel too bad though. I did that while changing my manifold two winters ago. I didn't realize it until I had everything buttoned up. Just another set back.

But hey, look on the bright side, atleast you know how to do it already:hick:

I think I screwed up my heater core

Reply #2 – May 31, 2006, 12:39:25 AM

As far as I know it wont people have done it forever as far as Ive known if youre worried about the AC not working then just dont use it. there's always windows and 70 down the interstate.

I think I screwed up my heater core

Reply #3 – May 31, 2006, 12:51:12 AM

Hey, I had that happen a couple years ago. I was getting the car out from winter storage, and the first time I started it the engine was heating up but no heat was coming from the vents. Someone suggested I switch the heater hoses, so I did and in the process apparently broke something because it was g water all over the place from one of the tubes. So I just bypassed the core and it's been that way ever since...I figure I can do it whenever, and it's my summer car so I don't really need heat anyway.

I do kinda wish I had gotten the air conditioning fixed when I got the car, rather than tossing it, because it didn't work (had no coolant in it whatsoever)....but oh well...the only days I regret not having it is when it's about 95 (like today)...then it really sucks :(

I think I screwed up my heater core

Reply #4 – May 31, 2006, 04:25:13 AM

thats okay, I drove my freind I flew in from philly to my house, and along the way, the solder on the core broke. Ended up dumping hot coolant onto all of his clothes and things.

I think I screwed up my heater core

Reply #5 – May 31, 2006, 08:14:58 AM

Quote

had the core return line hose spring a leak on Friday night on the way to a car show. I got it home fine and I changed the hose Saturday. I was very carful not to pull on the tube for fear of breaking it but I think I might have

Yeah been there done that. I pulled the pipe right out of the core once.. Man I was freakin mad... Now when I replace them lines I always cut them and slice them off..

I think I screwed up my heater core

Reply #6 – May 31, 2006, 06:25:55 PM

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one who has done it :hick:

So the A/C should work fine with the core by passed right? I mean the A/C dosen't use the heater core so it shouldn't make a difference I'm assuming.

I think I screwed up my heater core

Reply #7 – May 31, 2006, 06:30:32 PM

Be sure you got the hose on all the way and its tight. I once changed a heater core and when I put it all back together I didn't get the hose on correctly. The coolant was running down the heater core pipe and into the heater box. Looked like a blown heater core.

I think I screwed up my heater core

Reply #8 – May 31, 2006, 06:33:33 PM

Coolant is comming out the A/C condensation pipe on the lower part of the fire wall. Funny thing is when I put the heat on full blast no steam comes out the vents.

I think I screwed up my heater core

Reply #9 – May 31, 2006, 10:55:59 PM

Update

So I checked the hose conection and noticed that some coolant was dripping out of the bottom of the hose and running down the fire wall. I tightened the hose clamp and started the car and let it idle for 15 minutes to bring it up to operating temp. The hose didn't leak at all and both hoses were hot so I know coolant is going through the core. At the same time I had the heater on full blast at 90* and NO steam was comming out the vents. I tried the defroster and no steam either. I'm thinking that if the pipe was cracked that coolant should be comming out of the crack and hitting the core causing it to steam and come out the vents like it did when it failed two years ago. At that point steam was comming out the vents even with the fan off. Also I reved the engine up to 2,000 rpms and nothing came out the vents or leaked at the hose. Also no coolant was dripping out of the A/C condensor drain hole even at high (over 2,000) rpms. So when I shut the car off I shut the door and heard steam hiss. A little coolant dripped on the exhaust. So at this point I'm starting to think that what CougarSE said is correct and that I just have a little coolant in the bottom of the box and it drips out when I shut the door.

I think I screwed up my heater core

Reply #10 – June 02, 2006, 11:49:10 AM

I think it's ok:D It must have been coolant just running down the pipe into the heater box because I drove it yesterday and no leaks. I just guess that the stuf in the box had to leak out.