Bypassed heater core, argh

[jpanek]

One of the previous owners of my 94 must have not wanted to pay to replace a leaking heater core. I will replace it eventually, when it's cold enough and I get the courage to take apart the dash. When I do I'll have no idea how to route the hoses. He didn't just unplug the two hoses from the core and fit them together, but cut and plugged into tees somehow.

Can anyone check their factory service manual for me for a diagram of where all the small hoses go around the reservoir and heater core? I'm looking to buy the factory manual, but right now Haynes and Alldata.DIY are no help.

Thanks much!

 

[Magmotor]

These are on E-bay: Complete set of '94 Shop Manuals....Buy it now price of $69...same place where I got my manual...


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2438459476&category=34215

 

[sothpaw]

jp,

Look into this heater core issue further. I have had 2 cores fail in my 1993. I had this second one bypassed, paying to have dash taken apart once is enough.

I talked to someone at the track that said 91-93's are notorious for having a weak heater core design. If he is wrong about the year, you could have one of those.

If you have a weak one, like me, he said you have to upgrade the evaporator and other stuff to the 1996 design.

 

[jmccloud]

Heater plumbing

Hope this shows what you need, but it's for a '95.


If you got your car from Florida, the owner may have simply wanted to keep the heat out of the cockpit. Try pressure testing the core up to 12 or so psi and see if it holds.

 

[jpanek]

Magmotor, thanks for the ebay pointer. I was just about to bid on them when they extended the bidding another week. We'll see if I can snag those.

Sothpaw, it's definitely a 94. I was glad to get the 134a refrigerant in that year, and now you tell me the core/evap are stronger. Bonus!

Jmccloud, that's an excellent idea. I'll hook it up per your diagram and have the whole system tested at the same time. Hopefully you're right about the a previous owner not wanting extra heat. I'll drain everything first, (the old coolant is so brown, I thought it was dexcool for a second), refill with water, pressure test, and if there is a leak it will be water only. If no leak, then drain again and refill with 50/50 water/glycol.

Thanks for the help guys!