Discovery Heater core

[davidn]

i've sprung a leak in my 93 disco heater core. apparently a big job ripping out the dash. have been quoted 1000.00 for supply and fix. does this sound about right? https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[camel_landy]

Yep... It's an @rse of a job as the dash needs to come out. However... You're mainly paying for the labour as most (if not all) of the dash needs to come out. The heater matrix itself is probably under $200.

The facelift (soft dash) version is more of a sod than the original but if you're handy & don't need the Disco on the road for a few days you could probably do it yourself.

Mark.

[Frenchie]

Yeah, it's nearly all labour. Whoever thought up that when they were designing the vehicle deserves to be shot. :evil:

[Pavo]

It's a lot of labour, but not all labour. I think the matrix for mine was over $300. 1998 Disco 300Tdi.

Mine was replaced on 17 Nov 2000 for $682 at a mechanical workshop in Wollongong. I can check tonight exactly what was the labour charge and matrix charge, but either way, paying labour at a workshop at half the $110/hour the dealers charge will help. I wouldn't think the dealer would be twice as quick.

I don't want to give advice on this because I don't know if it is safe (others will help here), but I've heard you could just join the heater hoses in the engine bay to allow the coolant to keep flowing, but not through the firewall and heater matrix. This would buy you some time and atleast the car isn't unusable. But ask others about this.

Peter

[abaddonxi]

Originally posted by Pavo
I don't want to give advice on this because I don't know if it is safe (others will help here), but I've heard you could just join the heater hoses in the engine bay to allow the coolant to keep flowing, but not through the firewall and heater matrix. This would buy you some time and atleast the car isn't unusable. But ask others about this.

Yep, mine's like that, guess I'd better get on to fixing it now winter is coming.

Cheers
Simon

[ATH]

I bypassed mine with a bit of hose and 2 right angle bends for a while until it was fixed.
Got ARB in Osborne Park to do mine and what a balls up it was. Dash not on right, glove locker hanging off, car was filthy with oil everywhere, hand prints all over the window.
I'd got them to change the tranny oil and filter at the same time because I couldn't get 1 bolt out and when I got it back it would start in any position and the lever flopped all over the place!
The idiot of a workshop foreman said it was like it when it went in and I exploded.
Much loud complaining and he got a rocket from the boss and the thing was fixed up good.
I'll never allow them to get their hands on any vehicle of mine again as they're only interested in bolting bits on to Telstra new Tojos.
The workshop foreman didn't last long after that.
As has been said before, the bloke that designed that should be shot.
Good luck.
Alan.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

actually did it once to replace/remove filter in aircon,, when the core **** itself was NOT interested in doing it again,,
just looped the heater pipes in the engine bay, who needs a heater in sunny QLD?

its an experience.
got myself good with the steering wheel :roll: :oops: https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[camel_landy]

Originally posted by Pavo
I don't want to give advice on this because I don't know if it is safe (others will help here), but I've heard you could just join the heater hoses in the engine bay to allow the coolant to keep flowing, but not through the firewall and heater matrix. This would buy you some time and atleast the car isn't unusable. But ask others about this.


Yes... That will work. You should be able to see where the pipes for the heater go through the bulkhead. Just undo these & loop them back on themselves.

I had to do this on my RaRo a few years back when it dumped half the cooling system onto my left foot :!: Fortunately, it was the start of summer when it happened so it bought me some time to get it done.

HTH

Mark.

[PhilipA]

I have a site on my favourites at work which make replacement Disco, Range Rover Classic cores. there are 2 types, i suppose for old and new dash.
BUT I cannot give you the link until Tuesday.
Regards Philip A

[Pedro_The_Swift]

this is just a bump to remind PhilipA :wink:

[davidn]

thanks guys - i will just pay the money and have a heater. my local lr repairer in brookvale sydney is pretty fair, i was just hoping someone new some super simple way of doing it to maybe halve the price. dn

[PhilipA]

Oh well for anybody else.
http://www.autoheat.com.au/
Never dealt with them , but stumbled across this a long time ago.
regards Philip A

[barryj]

Originally posted by PhilipA
Oh well for anybody else.
http://www.autoheat.com.au/
Never dealt with them , but stumbled across this a long time ago.
regards Philip A

Thanks for the message PhilipA. I looped the firewall hose in my '84 Meteor about 10 years ago because it leaked all over the floor and Ford wanted $500 to fix it. Wish I knew the site then as the couple of cool mornings a year in Brisbane would have been more pleasant :roll:.

I guess the dash out process would take a bit of effort and patience, especially in a Rover https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ .

[PhilipA]

I did it once on my 77.
The old brass heater core could be resoldered so it only cost $60, back then.
The biggest PITA was getting the heater box back together and those xxy#$@% spring clips on the shafts.
It looks that the 92 heater box is worse, so I keep nice clean coolant in it.

Mazdas are usually **** easy to work on. I would be surprised if it takes more than acouple of hours.
Regards philip A

[barryj]

Originally posted by PhilipA
I did it once on my 77.
The old brass heater core could be resoldered so it only cost $60, back then.
The biggest PITA was getting the heater box back together and those xxy#$@% spring clips on the shafts.
It looks that the 92 heater box is worse, so I keep nice clean coolant in it.

Mazdas are usually **** easy to work on. I would be surprised if it takes more than acouple of hours.
Regards philip A

I might try it sometime, main trouble is that we have missed out on winter here in Bris for a few years https://www.aulro.com/afvb/ .

[Quiggers]

Mine expired years ago and I bypassed it. Seems as tho nearly everyone here has run into this fault. a bit like the dreaded 'loctite bolt saga'.

no more heater, ta ta......

Cheers, GQ

[matbor]

mines still going.... touch wood https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

[p38arover]

Oh well for anybody else.
http://www.autoheat.com.au/
Never dealt with them , but stumbled across this a long time ago.
regards Philip A

I note that on their page http://www.autoheat.com.au/index.html - they spell Autoheat as Auotheat. :D

Ron (Looking for an easy way to replace the D1 heater)

[Quiggers]

davidn: unless you really need a heater, bypass it, total mongrel of a job.

research this site and you'll find many a chat about this subject.

bypassed my failed unit some years ago, piece of cake... but if you must have a heater, the guys mentioned some fixes....

i have an electric heat blower, which does the job well enough, 300 watts and plugs into the cig socket. hot air for short bursts and Saturday Night Fever hair styles:twisted: :D

GQ

[p38arover]

My concern is will it pass the initial rego inspection in WA without a heater?

Ron