heater core leak

[olddog]

Heater core is leaking in my 01 Grand Marquis. My Haynes manual list 21 horrible steps of dropping the steering column to rip the entire dash / instruments panel apart. The manual is quite vague like "disconnect two vacuum hoses at the source." Bottom line, I not feeling up to this.

I expect the labor to have it done will be steep. So, I'm considering trying some type of stop leak product. I did this about 35 years ago using some product that had some type of balls. Seems like it was glass beads, but that doesn't make sense, as glass will not melt at engine temps. Anyway I kept that car about 3 years and the heater core never leaked after that.

This is a 11 year old car with 130K miles. I expect I will only keep it another 4 years (until too many things start failing).

Bad idea or worth a try? What product?

[FWB]

Originally Posted by olddog

Heater core is leaking in my 01 Grand Marquis. My Haynes manual list 21 horrible steps of dropping the steering column to rip the entire dash / instruments panel apart. The manual is quite vague like "disconnect two vacuum hoses at the source." Bottom line, I not feeling up to this.

I expect the labor to have it done will be steep. So, I'm considering trying some type of stop leak product. I did this about 35 years ago using some product that had some type of balls. Seems like it was glass beads, but that doesn't make sense, as glass will not melt at engine temps. Anyway I kept that car about 3 years and the heater core never leaked after that.

This is a 11 year old car with 130K miles. I expect I will only keep it another 4 years (until too many things start failing).

Bad idea or worth a try? What product?

what the hell try a bottle of Bars leak see if it works.......but if it needs a core......it will probably be worth paying a shop to do it rather than the sweat and tears to rip into it yourself.........i wouldn't do one myself anyway......probably take a day or two of BS to get it done....and will you bust the dash in the learning curve?

[Bill Bess]

Try Alumi Seal powder..little tube..does wonders. dump it in while the motor is running and then put the cap on. This stuff works great for soft plug leaks etc.

[mreid]

The problem with leaking heater cores and their replacement, particularly on Fords, is that one leak is usually followed by others. Use the Alumiseal, but be prepared to use more if you keep the car for a few more years. Also, the heater core is enclosed in the heater and a/c box. The only way to access the box is to remove the dash as some of the mounting bolts, wiring, vacuum lines, water lines, a/c hoses, and ducting are on top of the unit. Not only is there the potential to break things taking it apart, it is very easy to damage other wiring puting it back together. I don't blame you at all for being reluctant to tackle the job. Expect the mechanic to feel the same and to charge you accordingly. I know you are in Ohio and need the heater, but if the sealant doesn't work, you could always bypass the core on the engine side.

[olddog]

Dealership wants $600 labor and $130 for a new core. Auto parts stores $30-35.

Considering it's my wife's car, and she has a lot of medical needs (traveling long distances to doctors), I have decided to fix it right.

As a matter of principle, I refuse to pay that type of money to the company that designed such an abomination.

So I bypassed the heater core for now, and I will do it when I have about 3 days to work on it. If it takes a Ford tech 7 hours it will take me 3 times that amount. I dread it!

[mreid]

I feel for you, dog. It is a suck ass job.

[Dirty Harry]

I had to replace the heater core in my wife's '97 T-bird a few years back. It was quite a job, but I just took my time and labeled the zip-lock bags that I put fasteners in. I laid all the parts in the order I took them out of the car and put them back accordingly. I could not believe how many things had to be disassembled just to get to the heater core. It took me 3 evenings after work,but only cost me $42. The dealership said it might be $1200 if they did it. It seems like Fomoco starts at the beginning of the production line with a heater core and starts buiiding a car around that. See you in London, Olddog?

[Pete Munroe]

Old Dog,

My Mercury Sable, about 96, had a new heater core installed...of course at that time the price a shop charged was total about 400-500...the car died in 2001.

The 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee I replaced it with needed a new heater core, and air blend doors, over the last year or two.

The dealer wanted about 1200-1500 in labor to pull the dash, and replace the core...I assume that included recharging the AC and did NOT include replacing the cheap plastic parts that break in the airdoor assembly.

Did the job my self...this was the most intensively difficult job I have done...and I pull trans, clutches, rebuild engines in my Cobra and Corvette.

Spent LOTS of time on line trying to find YOUTube video of the job being done...then found an online manual service with CURRENT factory manual info to perform the ops...

The heater core I bought at O'Reilly's did not fit the heater box...the exchanged unit did not fit...finally bought a SPECTRA brand heater core at Pep Boys that fit perfectly...

The car was down for 10+ days...I had cleaned the garage and organized stuff to facilitate stuff...took HUNDREDS of digital photo and stored them on the computer...that was essential...

Local gas station, very good and helpful garage said he had in the book about 900 to 1200 labor alone.

My goal was nothing would be damaged as the car is prefect inside...and it would WORK and NOT RATTLE when it went back together...

I had another car to use to pick up part...my Cobra...hadn't blown the engine yet, that is my current project...ouch.

Also had help from a car buddy for rides and the mechanic at the garage as helpful...he discharged the A/C, gave me credit for the freon to apply to the recharge...

The entire dash assembly ended up on the coffee table in the living room...heater box was removed, cleaned to remove anti-freeze stink, resealed...the air conditioner core looked dry and clean so I did not replace it...

In short...lots of planning, lots of HELP to lift the instument panel and not drag and scrape the front made it possible...

Had the O'reillys heater cores fit, even REMOTELY, I would have been done 4 days earlier...(the two that did not fit were put BACK IN STOCK...!)

You could do it, I saved in the case of my Jeep at least $ 1000+...and it works PERFECTLY, no leaks.

Best of all, my friend that would help out, an ex-airforce aerospace engineer and Model A fanatic...said, when he saw the Jeep gutted, all the parts in plastic bags, parts all over the house...thought to himself...HE WILL NEVER GET IT BACK TOGETHER...

So do it if your OK at planning, have a place to do it, another car you can drive if something goes wrong...it will...and you want it perfect.

Other wise budget for it and have a good shop that has done the job, and will back it up, perform the work...

Your time or your money...

Pete

[olddog]

Thanks everyone.

Dirty Harry - I plan to be there. I have had a bit of bad luck. Just epoxied my gas tank for Cobra and have to get it back together. Every time I plan to work on it two more things prevent me.