Sully89Firebird

hey guys i have a bad heater core. i already searched through many threads and i have assumed that the puddle of green coolant on my passenger mat is from a bad core. the car does not over heat or anything as long as i keep an eye on my coolant level. i talked to a guy who works at a local napa and he said he can get me a new core for $40. i do not know if i should try to replace it myself (which i do not know how to do but reading through threads it sounds like a very hard job) or take it to the dealer? How much do you think it is going to cost because they charge $65 per hour for labor and i am a pretty poor kid.


thanks guys

ATX-Iroc

Its a little frustrating but not hard by any means. just pull off the under dash cover, then unbolt the cover that goes around it. theres only one hard bolt to get to and its the one on the very top, dont take of the dash pad it doesnt really help much. then look under the hood and behind your coil is two hoses coming out of the firewall. take the clamps off and if you have a hard time make a hook with a clothes hanger to help get the hoses off then just reinstall the new one.

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

Do it yourself and save alot of money. Just set aside plenty of time to do it, you sound like your a noobie. I changed my heater core with 1 helper in under 2 1/2 hours. Do a search on here, there are plenty of threads. Check out the tech articles https://www.thirdgen.org/heatercore

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Here's one:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...e-82-86-a.html

JamesC

Sully89Firebird

thanks guys i will probably post more questions once i save up and buy a new core. i was thinking, is there any way i could bypass it or get away with not fixing it for a while? today is the first time i noticed it so it and i only drove a few miles with it dripping. it seamed to stop when i turned off the heat.

howy03

iTrader: (2)

did mine this afternoon on my 85 ta 2.75hrs.Do it just as described above.a couple of long 1/4 extensions make the to screws easy to take out. Theres actually a duct cover then the heater box cover witch you pull out with the heater core.lay a couple of towels on the floor to catch the coolant.If your heater hose lines under the hood dont want to come of you may want to cut and replace them.Mine were fused to the heater core.
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The Heater core was $22 dollars.and you probably want to change out your coolant about another 15 bucks.

Shadygrady

iTrader: (3)

It`s kinda a pita,but i think it`s worth it for what a shop will charge you.A core cost me like 20 bucks.I think the napa guy is trying to bend you over or he just doesnt know what he`s talking about.My hoses were also fused to the core.That was really the worst part for me.

cameron7710

dont take it to a shop cause like every one else said its a pita but its not hard. replacing the heater core was the first thing that i ever did to my camaro (or eny car) i was a complet newbi (and onley 14) with working on cars and i was able to do the whole thing by myself other than a little help for the one pita bolt.and as far as where to get one i have to say i got one from napa,autozone,and some place on the internet and the onley place that had the right one was the chevy dealer. wich sucked cause it was 75$ there compared to the 30$ every where else.hope this helps

JamesC

iTrader: (5)

Channel locks will often break them free.

JamesC

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

You can disconnect the hoses at the firewall. Buy a heater heater hose connector, gray plastic piece that allows two hose to slip over each end.

RS Reaper

Dude, do it yourself it was the 1st thing I did to my car and I had never done anything in the dash of any car. You'll save money so you can put it in to other part of the car or pay bills . I would recomend a repair manual but it is a 80s and was not helpful on my 1990.

Shadygrady

iTrader: (3)

When I broke the hose loose from the core on the side that goes to the metal tube,I was pullin so hard i kinked the metal tube when it broke free.I had to cut the kink out and get a longer hose.No big deal,just another PITA.

Sully89Firebird

Thanks guys, i do have the proper repair manual. i have not had a chance to look trough it yet. i am buying the core this weekend. i will post again if i have any problems.

Sully89Firebird

hey guys i spent 2 hours and took the dash completly apart to take out my heater core. i am having a bit of trouble taking off the two hoses to the firewall. there are clamps but i already removed them and the core still wont come out. any suggestions on how to remove it?

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

Try twisting them off, if you can't, cut them off and replace them.

Sully89Firebird

Cutting them off where they meet the firewall?

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

Slice the rubber down the middle so you can get them off the heater core.

Sully89Firebird

alright i was unable to pull the hoses off the firewall. i am delayed because of rain and will have to continue to work on it tomorrow after school. in the meantime does any one know how much i can expect a new heater core to cost? i have heard estimates from 20 to 80 dollars.

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

I think I paid @ $25 for mine at Autozone or Napa. Chevy dealer price was @ $79.

Have you called the parts places by you and ask them yet????? Get the two rubber hoses too, most likely you will end up cutting them to get them off the heater core.

Sully89Firebird

Today after school i spent a hour and finally got the hoses off. now my core is out and looks pretty corroded. i am very happy because i am not good with cars and this is the first thing i have really done since i bought my firebird. i will be ordering a new heater core from NAPA tomorrow and will be installing it this weekend hopefully!!!! i hope the installation goes better than the removal!!!!


thanks guys for your help so far!

rough

was like 20$ from autozone for a new core.


Installing it wont be fun, things will be easier if you have two people, one to watch the two holes in the engine bay and to line up the lines as your inside trying to move the core around to fit in these holes.

cameron7710

geting it through the holes alone wont be easy it took me probley 30 min just to get it through the dam holes cause i didnt have help

rough

I envy your 30 mins, by myself it took me about an hour of running back and forth just to get the damn tubes through the holes lol
This is 3rd time doing a heater core to, think it would go faster, naa lol.

I also had to file down a rectangular hole on the plastic piece that goes on the heater core, it kept getting snagged on some metal piece that looks like it flaps the door open and close.

cameron7710

geez i guess i got lucky cause that was the first time i did enything to my car or eny car. the bigest problem i had was finding the right heater core for some resone napa and autozone cores didnt work for me so i had to get one from the dealer

Sully89Firebird

alright i bought the core from napa for 25 plus tax yesterday. i tried installing by my self today. i spent about 2 hours trying to get it through the holes and got no where. i just ended up getting fustrated and stopped. i am going to try on another day when its not 15 degrees outside .i wish i could bypass the core all together!

Sully89Firebird

yeah i am having a problem with a plastic peice that sticks out on the side, i dont think its a good idea to cut it off or anything but i think it would be easier without it

noroxus

iTrader: (1)

i got mine done in about 30-40 mins by myself the first and only time. i got lucky i guess. i bought mine for 20 on summit, though they seem to have gone up in price.

all i used was a nut driver, use one.

rough

I used a file made a rectangle in the plastic about |..... | wide and about a 1/2 deep in the plastic carrier, made installation so much easier.

Is the core not passing that metal strip, or are the tubes not lining up with the hole ?
If the tubes are not lining up with the hole you can use a screwdriver to help guide them through the holes.

If you bypass your core, you wont have any heat, and will have foggy windows that will never go away. Unless its warm out.

If you install the core without the plastic retainer, the core will shake causing annoying sounds, eventually leading to core failure.

If you need any help with your install, i can put up some pictures for ya.

MBcamaro1990

For the love of god, do not break or cut the radiator hose coming from the radiator to the core. I needed to replace it because the last owner cut it too short. I spent 8 hours replacing that hose, 6 of those hours just getting the old one out.

rough

My first 3rd gen i bypassed the heater core for the summer, then winter came and regretted it. Took me many hours to replace that line MBcamaro. Ended up having to jack the engine up some to reach behind it to replace the hose

Sully89Firebird

Does any one have any suggestions on how to get the core through the holes in the firewall? I can get it partially through but not all the way with out aplying enough force to break the core tubes. Because I would not like to risk breaking it just to buy another core.



thanks

Shadygrady

iTrader: (3)

That is the only part where I needed to get some help.
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That is the only part where I needed some help.Sounds like you almost have it.I got my wife to help.I had her take a screw driver and stick it in one of the tubes and very gently pull up while I gently pushed.Went right in the first try.Once I got some help that is.

Timothayyy

iTrader: (2)

Happen to know what size the hose is?

krisb410

iTrader: (9)

I think its 3/4 inch, but it might be 5/8ths or 13/16ths. Why don't you measure the hose on your car now and see what you have?????


EDIT: I just did a search on here for "Heater Hose", took me less than 30 seconds to find out it is 3/4inch

Timothayyy

iTrader: (2)

I tried searching and couldent find the size of the hose.
I dident want measure it in my car because under my hood theres a TON of stuff all around them.
But I think im just going to suck it up and replace the heater core.

But thanks for looking

Sully89Firebird

finally a warm 50 degree day. if that screw driver trick dosent work then i might just try to ream out the holes a little or something because i am really close on pushing it through.

jersyboyy

iTrader: (8)

Thats what she said.

No seriously tho good job bro let us know when you finally get it replaced.
When i was 16 and got my car i tore all the ac/heater stuff out from under the hood and 3 years later I just took the header ducts/core out from the inside, cars got serious weight reduction but it sucks in the winter!

Shadygrady

iTrader: (3)

Just have someone help you.You should get it in with a little help.

Sully89Firebird

after almost a month i got it in. i just have to clamp the hoses back on today and flush the rad and stuff. i cant wait to take it on the maiden voyage. thanks to all that helped so far!