How long should a heater core last?

InvisiBill

InvisiBill

Active member
This is borderline Mod/Repair, but I thought it'd get more repsonses here...

I bought my Sy last March. The seller said he had just replaced the heater core. The carpet still smelled of antifreeze, because he said he didn't want to get out the carpet cleaner and have the floor soaking wet when I came to see it.

Well, I have a puddle of antifreeze sitting on my passenger floorboard now. I'm wondering if it's likely defective, or if it's probably just a loose hose or something... Anyone got any input before I go and rip into it?
 
V6 Kompressor

V6 Kompressor

New member
It is possible it was dammaged when it was installed, or the heater core was purchased at your neiborhood discount parts store for $17 and should be gaurenteed for at least a year. I just put one in a S-blazer that had 179,000 miles and mine went out with 139,000 showing on the clock. If you don't change out your anti-freeze at least every other year, the mixture will go acidic and start to attack the solder connections on the core, as well as freeze plugs, radiators ect. I am trying dex-cool in one of my vehicle's now, but if you ever let air in the system (ie: run low on coolant) a brown shit like mud forms inside the radiator after a while. Also, wherever this dexcool drips on metals, a whiteish blue powder forms like on a battery terminal. The only other thing I can think of is make sure your heater hoses are long enough, so as to prevent movement of the engine from pulling on the heater core connections. Also look and make sure that the clamp for the core lines got put back on the outside of the box under the blower motor. 7 out of 10 times, this doesn't get put back on, especially when it falls into part of the truck, where you can't get to it. Finally, before you rip into it, make sure the hose clamps are tight on the core tubes under the hood. They might be leaking and a stream is running down the tube into the heater box. If the new core is leaking, I would get a modine brand (makes em for gm) or a gm part. Good luck! Steve.
 
InvisiBill

InvisiBill

Active member
Well, I've had it for 10 months now with no problems, so I don't think it was damaged/screwed up when it was installed. I was actually thinking more along the lines of an old hose cracking at the clamp, or pulling loose like you said. Something like that... Thanks for the suggestions!
 
InvisiBill

InvisiBill

Active member
Doh. Ran out and checked, and there's no leakage around the pipes in the engine compartment, so it looks like there's something wrong with the core itself. Yippee.

Since it's really cold up here, anyone know what a regular shop would charge for changing one of these suckers?
 
A

audiophile

New member
I replaced my heater core for the first time the day before yesterday at 167500 some odd miles. I noticed earlier this winter that my heater wasn't blowing as warmly as i would like. The tube leading off the core going inot the engine compartment was almost pinched in half. It was just a *lil* restrictive. It took a good 4 hours(thats including running to town to get a new one once we saw the problem with the old one) to replace. And my Haynes GMC manual lied. To them it was 3 steps, like it was located right under the dash. It was actually more behind the glovebox, i didn't know i would have to take out my head unit, take out the back part of my glove box, etc...more extensive than i thought.
and yes, it cost 17 bux. i guess 4 hours labor is better than getting someone you dont know fix it for about 200 bux
-Burns
 
G

G.D. Bryson

New member
My two cents worth. I just had h-core # 4 (since I bought Ty in '95) installed at dealership in Salem, OR: $60 core and $170. Truck is stock with 140k freeway miles. Interestingly I have a '64 corvette I bought in '72 that has the original core. Happiness and success in 2002.

Gary & Ty 1845
 
T

turbosonoma

New member
Whats wrong with you people, 4 hours to do a heater core, thats ridiculous, i did mine in my truck like 6 months ago and it took me a shade under 1.5 hours. Did one in my 89 trans am last month i was worried that one was going to be real hard but it only took 45min. Get the wrenches moving faster people, definatly nothing you should even consider letting a shop do for that amount of money.

Brad
92 Synoma (motor out, sy interior almost installed, motor off to machine shop : )
 
Ian Turgeon

Ian Turgeon

Cascading Inspiration
If it lasts longer then it took to put in, I'd concider it a success.

I agree, first time digging around in the dash may take 2-3 hours if your watching price is right between steps. Its a pita, but its not too difficult.

Hah, GM wanted $90 for the heater core when I called em. uh, 20 at pepboys.
 
Phoon30

Phoon30

New member
I've had my Ty since April of 99 and in that time I've put on over 30K miles. Haven't had to change the heater core yet, but lately when I get in it in the morning I'm smelling coolant. It probably won't be long till I find a pool of anti-freze on the floor.
 
Ian Turgeon

Ian Turgeon

Cascading Inspiration
Changed the carpet on my dad's truck. After OVER A YEAR from the last heater core swap, the carpet was still wet on the bottom.

If you smell slight coolant, i give it a month or two before pukey puke. bypass that bitch till you want to spend the time fixing it. Coolant stinks, you dont want it spending more then a year under your feet.
 
InvisiBill

InvisiBill

Active member
I've read both Ian's and Ivan's guides to replacing it, and it doesn't appear to be that hard. I've been under the dash on the driver side and in the radio area quite a bit between the Sy and the PoS-10, so I'm not real worried. It's supposed to get up to like 40* tomorrow, so I'll probably try to do it then...
 
M

MadMav

New member
Did mine about a month ago. Took me and a friend about 4 hours and a case of beer. Most of that time was drinking and joking. I could do it in about 1-2 hours now. Did not have to take out the head unit, or the ECM. It is cake. Do it yourself and save a ton of money. Autozone had the HC for $17 lifetime warrentee, and Pepboys had it for $27 and lifetime warrentee. Oh yeah, last HC lasted 1 1/2 years.

Mav
 
SYO237

SYO237

SyTy Registry
funny...mine just busted about 2 weeks ago...and now im paying for it...

FL decides to get into the freezing temps...and i have no heater core. hmmm...


anyhow...the frequent cause of busted heater cores is non other than your motor torqueing hard right when you boost up and go WOT...

dont believe me? trust me, we'll have video soon of me taking off my hood and shooting footage from inside the cab....the motor moves at least 3-5 inches in serious torque.

quite amuzing to say the least.


problem is... do i put a new heater core back in when i know im just gonna make ian replace it when it breaks again in another few months?

i think i'll stay with freezing...
 
SyTyJedi

SyTyJedi

Jedi Council
Get a tie down strap and forget about it. I've had my chain and turnbuckle on for 3 years after replacing my heater core. I've had countless street races during that time, and probably saw boost and massive motor torque thousands of times. No problems. Screw motor mounts :wink:

Not bad for less than 10 bux from Lowe's... :smile:

I'll upload a pic tomorrow or something...
 
InvisiBill

InvisiBill

Active member
http://invisibill.unimatrix01.org/tiedowns.html too.

Well, I started at about 7:30, and I'm done now. I did come inside a couple times, and cleaned a lot of stuff out before I actually starting working on it. I spent about half an hour looking for the last two strap screws, then forever trying to get the ECM back in. Even looking in from the speaker opening, I couldn't see that it was hooked on the antenna cable, which I had pushed out of the way, just not far enough...

Everything considered, I could've done it much faster. I didn't really feel like working on it tonight, it was my first heater core ever, and nothing seemed to go smoothly. Hopefully I won't get a second chance though...
 
R

ROSEDOGGYDOG

umop apisdn w,I
I went thru 2 heater cores within about 2yrs! 1st time was after I drove down to SoCal (Nice time to notice that shit when its under extended warranty, drove it back and had it fixed at the home dealer! - saved me $50) 2nd time was this past summer (happened right after I began to floor it! - Hurray for me!)
 
mrweelr

mrweelr

New member
"Get the wrenches moving faster people, definatly nothing you should even consider letting a shop do for that amount of money."

:lol: :lol: :lol:
 
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