Heater core problem??

[goingballistic]

Last fall when I put my vette to bed for the winter, I noticed a puddle of fluid on the floor on the passenger side of the car. Upon further inspection, it was more of a lake than a puddle but too cold to do anything about it. I'm assuming the carpet is ruined etc, haven't had the heart to take the cover off yet..........yikes!!!!!

I fear that the heater core blew on the last run and I never noticed it.

How hard is it to change one? What's the best place to buy a new one, I know MidA has them, I'm looking for alternatives.

Thanks

 

[82ColEd]

Ballistic:
That seems to be a common issue in the C3'.. Mine has been disconnected for years now. If you do a Search here in the C3 Section for Heater Core, you will find heaps of info..
Stefan

 

[Bob Chadwick]

That's worse case. Take a look at your hoses. If you are a lucky person, the old hoses could have failed.

 

[GTR1999]

Not too bad if you don't have A/C. A/C requires some work. Be sure to check the new core before installing it. Some of the replacement cores are not made very well.

 

[goingballistic]

After reading all the other reports on this............it does not look like fun AT ALL!!!!!!! It would be nice if it was a hose..................can you spell M-U-R-P-H-Y....my luck it'll be WAY worse.

I'm getting info on a stroker rebuild and am now toying with just taking the whole thing out and bypassing it..............any info, pitfalls etc you are aware of in doing this......it does have air but not for long, I'm removing it with the stroker upgrade.

 

[Jack]

Not too bad if you don't have A/C. A/C requires some work. Be sure to check the new core before installing it. Some of the replacement cores are not made very well.

So true. If you replace core and do the job yourself, take heed. Regardless of what brand core you buy or what price you pay ... DO take new core to radiator shop and pay them the few bucks they charge to pressure test it for you ... DO this as soon as you acquire the new core ... before it's installed. Of course, never buy a used core ... new ones are relatively inexpensive.
JACK:gap

 

[SR'71]

2 goingballastic

The heater core in these cars is no big deal. DON'T CUT THRU THE FIREWALL! Remove the pass side dash panel ; center inst cluster. Right side kick panel. Unbolt lower and upper bird cage rod /remove rod. 4 nuts on the firewall and the heater casing is out[heater hoses removed] with the core bolted into it. R&R the core. 1 whole lot easier than a 64 Le Mans.

 

[Robin7TFour]

if you buy a flushing T kit you can pressure test the old one in the car. to see if it is really leaking. then use the same t to test the new heater core.

Robin

 

[SR'71]

Robin ... I don't know of a flushing T kit. My windshield fogged up any time I used the heater. Pin hole in the heater core, is what I thought. I had no anti-freeze on the pass floor. Bit the bullit and changed the damned thing. No more FOG.

 

[Robin7TFour]

it's a plastic T with a screw cap. you put it in-line on the heater hose, then uncap it and hook a garden hose to it. helps flush the coolant system .most auto parts stores carry them.

Robin

 

[Raidervette]

Same thing happened to my vette a week ago. $38 at Advanced Auto. 4-5 hours we were on the road again. It was a first for me, but not to bad. No a/c to deal with though. Good Luck!

 

[ChuckG]

I see you live in New York. If you bypass the heater core, you'll have no heat and more importantly, no defrost/defog. I'd fix it correctly. Don't be a BUBBA, do the job correctly. Heater cores are cheap enough. DO have them tested as others have suggested. I'd buy an AC/Delco one, not some cheap PEP Boys special. Chuck