Heater Core

[d2dave]

Either my inlet pipe O rings or the heater core is leaking.

If it is just the O rings should I just change them, or whilst I have gone this far change the core as well?

It is after all 21 years old.

There is a myriad of cores out there with varying prices. Are there known good and bad brands?

For the amount of work involved I would like the replacement to last another 21 years.

[biggin]

Hey Dave, when the o-rings or matrix leaks, where does the coolant go? On the carpet, or does it drip out out the condensation tubes onto the ground?
I’m getting a trickle of coolant coming down along side the crankshaft sensor near the firewall on the passenger side of the V8 and can’t for the life of me work out where it’s coming from.
It doesn’t seem to be coming from the back of the head, so a bit perplexed.

[sierrafery]

IMO better replace the whole thing once you are there cos it's almost the same job to do the o-rings like when you replace the core too...i did it last year without removing the whole dash just the glovebox and central console but it involves a lot of contorsionism ... i bought a Van Wezel one which looked nice and it's heating well

[d2dave]

Hey Dave, when the o-rings or matrix leaks, where does the coolant go?

In my case it was onto my bare foot and it was bloody hot.

[d2dave]

IMO better replace the whole thing once you are there cos it's almost the same job to do the o-rings like when you replace the core too...i did it last year without removing the whole dash just the glovebox and central console but it involves a lot of contorsionism ... i bought a Van Wezel one which looked nice and it's heating well

I have found a tutorial on doing this. Yours would been a lot easier than mine as it will be a lot harder on a right hand drive vehicle.

Where did you get the Van Wezel from?

[sierrafery]

Where did you get the Van Wezel from?
from Just a moment... (https://www.autodoc.co.uk/van-wezel/12796054) (the autodoc24.ro version)

[Tins]

Guess I'll be doing this soonish. Good to know how you go, Dave.

[d2dave]

Guess I'll be doing this soonish. Good to know how you go, Dave.


Well I have been putting this off for ages as I was not looking forward to this job and I have another vehicle to drive(a recently acquired Td5 D2)

So I started it today and right up to the point that the pipes are to be removed from the heater, was not too bad.

However, this is where it ends The pipes are attached to a bracket near where they go through the firewall.

The screws for this bracket cannot be accessed as they are between bracket and firewall.

So it appears that it will be a dash out job. There are tutorials on doing this on LHD vehicles. They obviously don't have this bracket.

Having said this, now that I have access to the pipes there is no sign of any leaks. The pink coolant I use only needs a minuscule leak to show telltale signs.

Now that I can see it all, I might put the pipe clamps back on and pressure test the system and if no leaks put it all back together.


193289

[Tins]

Don’t blame you.

[d2dave]

I put it all back together today and pressure tested it and there were no leaks.

Which begs the question. Last September coming home from a trip I was having issues with mild windscreen fog on drivers side with air con on.

Then earlier this year in warm weather driving in bare feet, I get what felt like a drop of very hot water on my foot.

[Tins]

Secret Disco business.

[biggin]

If it were leaking coolant into the footwell there would be a permanent strong coolant smell.
I would guess you have blocked AC drainage tubes or have a leaking windscreen or such like.

[d2dave]

When I got home the first thing I checked was the air con drains and they seemed ok.

As for the windsreen, I was on my way home from crossing the Simpson desert and we had not had rain for weeks.

[biggin]

You would’ve given it a good wash after that trip.
If you can’t smell the coolant, it’s definitely not leaking into the cabin, that’s all I can offer.