Heater core??

[dpannell]

Has anyone had the pleasure of changing out a heater core? I'm curious as to how difficult it might be.
Dave

[nic walker]

Great Question......
Curious as well....haven't seen the topic addressed on the forum, and tried the search function without results....I know there were problems with the troublesome heater cores in other GM models of that period. I remember replacing one in an 89 Cutlass Supreme International (nice car) at a cost of around 400.00 in '95....

Every once in a while I seem to get a slight whiff of Antifreeze in the cockpit, but I am thinking (hoping)it is probably coming from the intake (no noticable loss of coolant in the tank though)....as I can see an oil leak (slight)on the left front corner of the intake so there may be a little antifreeze escaping there as well....plan on replacing this spring/summer.

Any comments on probability and difficulty on heater core replacement and intake repair as well would be appreciated.....

thanks......

[F14CRAZY]

Note, that with the 6 Reattas we've touched, we've yet to have a heater core issue

[dpannell]

Yeah...I'm not 100% that it is a heater core....just a "whif" of anti-freeze while driving has given me cause for concern. DAve

[F14CRAZY]

Aye, its possible but not likely. Hmm...I'd check the connections regrading the heater hoses on the pulley side of the engine.

[padgett]

and check the water pump. With a 3800 it is a matter of "when" not "if" and a slow leak is likely to be smelt in the HVAC system. Fortunately it is almost as easy to replace as the alternator.

[Machiner 55]

Never had this happen on the Reattas but, on a Ford Tempo I had, I was getting anti-freeze in the cockpit. Wasn't pouring in but I could smell it. Naturally I thought it was a leaking Heater Core. When I went to change it out (and after already having gone an purchased another one) I found that one of the heater hoses was leaking where it connected to the core. The hose (feed or return I don't remember) was pushed tight against the firewall. So instead of leaking in the engine compartment the coolant was forced into the car. Don't mean to imply that this is your problem. Just another thought.

[imported_nomad]

I replaced mine after i felt the rug was wet around the passenger floor. I must have been breathing the fumes for a while and didn't realize it....can't be any good for you (wasn't the doggie safe stuff). I removed the stuff under the glove compartment and had to disconnect and remove a couple of modules. I think the hvac control had some adjustable leavers that had to go back in the same way,too. The only difficult part was removing the clamps on the engine side of the firewall and reconnecting them to the new core. The core was cheap...less than $20. I had a hard time with that part but it was a pain in the ....don't want to ever do it again.....but for $400 I GUESS I WOULD.