• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

Leaking heater core or much worse?

industrialfish

industrialfish

New member
So my car has been sitting since July 3rd, today I finally got to drive it around the block, and upon getting home there is smoke pouring out the dash vents. I quickly rip apart the radio trim thinking its an electrical short only to realize it is definitely water vapor, and then notice the floor is completely soaked which I didn't notice this morning, checked and the radiator is dry.

Since I've been under the car a lot the past few weeks, I know that there is no external leaks.

So is a "just" leaking heater core capable of blowing water through the vents? No surprise either, the heater core isn't covered under warranty.
 


being its summer take one hose off and use it to loop the coolant back to the alt bracket. this will stop the leak till you install a new core.
 
Scottydoggs said:
being its summer take one hose off and use it to loop the coolant back to the alt bracket. this will stop the leak till you install a new core.
Click to expand...

But it does just sound like the core is only leaking? There isn't something else that could be blowing water out the vents?
 
Mine went in late winter, so I was using windshield/floor. It came out kinda fuzzy and slimed up the windows pretty good.
I would think using the vents would be about the same scenario, if not more.
Those are the symptoms, steamy looking air/water on floorboard and level down in radiator. Your coil box probably is probably slimy on the bottom from dripping.
80 or so for heater coil and some antifreeze. No big deal to change, especially in summer.
 
Scottydoggs said:
its the only thing with coolant in it. does it smell sweet?
Click to expand...

It just smelled like condensation like from your exhaust when you first start it. However, I'm probably running %90 water since I drained the radiator in anticipation of doing my coolant elbows and TB turndown. The stuff on the floor was sweet, but I have no idea how much crap has been spilled on it in the past.
 


BillBoost37 said:
Yes it's heater core and best of luck looping them, unless you buy that new piece of hose.
Click to expand...

Yeah I looked at the stock hoses and saw that wasn't a possibility to use them, which is why I asked if they could be closed off instead. I bought a foot of hose, cut it in half, and used a 90deg copper coupler at the bend, works out good for now.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top