Heater Core question..... October 16, 2011, 07:03:59 AM With A/C, do you have to pull the a/c from the firewall lines to swap the heater core? Quote Selected
Heater Core question..... Reply #3 – October 16, 2011, 04:48:09 PM Well, if I have to, then I have to.....if it comes down to that. I can't smell coolant unless it's under harder acceleration. Can't tell where from. No leaking in the cabin, no leaking that I can find under the hood (cleaning and re-checking tomorrow),no water in the oil, no oil in the water. Not losing any water. Weird. Quote Selected
Heater Core question..... Reply #4 – October 16, 2011, 05:11:57 PM Quote from: vinnietbird;370276Well, if I have to, then I have to.....if it comes down to that. I can't smell coolant unless it's under harder acceleration. Can't tell where from. No leaking in the cabin, no leaking that I can find under the hood (cleaning and re-checking tomorrow),no water in the oil, no oil in the water. Not losing any water. Weird. Kinda un-related to a FOX, but I am having the same issue on my DD Escort. Only smell coolant under hard acceleration. Been like this for a while now, no leaks in the cabin, no overheating, nothing out of the ordinary except for the smell. I've just left it alone and no ill effect as of now. Good luck to you. Quote Selected
Heater Core question..... Reply #5 – October 16, 2011, 05:31:25 PM It's got to be coming from somewhere. I'll look for tiny pin holes or something. I had a hose that I could never see a leak, and it had the smallest hole ever. BUT, I don't seem to be losing fluids from the car. Quote Selected
Heater Core question..... Reply #6 – October 16, 2011, 07:24:46 PM I drove my crownvic for 6 months with the same smell. Ended up doing the heater core. The box was completely fulll of fluids. Quote Selected
Heater Core question..... Reply #8 – October 16, 2011, 08:06:10 PM I have actually done a heater core WITHOUT disconnecting the A/C lines. This was on a manual heat/A/C car. Is that what you have Vinnie?You loosen the whole heater box from the firewall so that you can move it an inch or so away from the firewall - but keep the a/c lines connected. You won't be able to loosen all of the heater core cover screws... so loosen all of them except the one closest to the firewall. The heater core cover will open and flex enough to get the old heater core out and slip the new one in.Probably NOT the best way of doing it, but I HAVE done it with success. Just, FYI... Quote Selected
Heater Core question..... Reply #10 – October 16, 2011, 10:10:37 PM Both my 86's I did not remember disconnecting the a\c. I did have to on the 87 with atc though. Quote Selected
Heater Core question..... Reply #11 – October 16, 2011, 11:31:45 PM I didn't have to disconnect any lines on the convertible ('86, 5.0). The two large-washered nuts that hold the accumulator tank to the firewall have to be removed, then IIRC the heater box could be moved under the dash. The tank is easily zip-tied to the pinch weld on the cowl area. I tried to save the stock hoses from the core but that didn't happen, had to knife them, they were stuck on. On the 5.0 at least, there probably is enough slack with the evaporator core to move it a few inches away without having to disconnect anything.And really, without even trying, I had the core changed in 3-4 hours. Zach (cougarcragar) was there as my witness. Excluding cleanup of the interior carpet it's very possible to swap one out in a few hours.For the guys over at NATO, who helped with making my infamous heater core article more accurate, it seems as though the a/c lines must be removed for the 2.3 turbo cars. I didn't see anything abnormal in the 3.8 engine bay (1984-87, at least).I think Haystack has it right: the ATC system adds more sensors and hoses so it makes sense that they have to be removed, regardless of engine. Quote Selected
Heater Core question..... Reply #12 – October 17, 2011, 12:05:00 AM I am sure that the box is different. Both my manual controls I do not remember even having to undo anything on the firewall, except for hoses. I could very easily be wrong though. It has been 8 years since I did it in both my 86's.But, I believe you can actually unbolt the heater box from the a\c on the manual controls, but I don't think you can on the atc. I really wish I would have been able to take pictures and take my time to document the last one I did. Quote Selected
Heater Core question..... Reply #13 – October 17, 2011, 12:07:38 AM My last heater core swap was under two hours. Using the method you gave me Eric. I suppose, if it's the heater core, I have nothing to lose by trying it with the a/c lines connected. If it doesn't work, then I'll remove them. ...IF that's the issue. I'm going to go wash and clean the Sport really well tomorrow morning and I'll be looking everywhere for some sign of an answer, and I haven't seen anything leaking from the drain on the firewall, no wet floor, nothing wet under the dash at all. I'll figure it out. Thanks guys. Quote Selected
Heater Core question..... Reply #14 – October 17, 2011, 12:08:20 AM By the way, the Sport has manual controls. Quote Selected
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