I went out driving my Camaro today since i haven't done much driving it since i brought it home. I noticed that my passenger side floor got wet. Since it is a nice sunny day and this wasn't rain, i figured i would investigate. It would appear that the water is coming from the AC Box under the dash. The funny thing is that the AC is turned off and there is no Compressor attached to the engine. Essentially, i have no AC. The Freon Tank is even missing. Since the floor was wet, i figured i would look under the car and see if there was any rust. Unfortunately, there was. alot of it! Is this a Common Problem? if so, what are my Options?

In Addition, my Car got hot while i sat at lights. Once it got up to 220F. This can't be normal. When i drive the car, the temp comes down to 180 or even less. Do i have a Blown Head gasket?

 

Well if you had a blown head gasket you would have coolant in the oil, but It sounds kinda like your heater core is gone. To be sure your head gasket isn't blown, check your dipstick to see if there is any coolant (it will look milky) on it.
Otherwise search the board to find an easy way to change the heater core, I'm sure I've run across a post that makes it simple.

 

I assume what you're seeing is coolant. If so, the heater core has gone south.

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

Our cars heat up very quickly at idle or at low speeds. That you have a blown head gasket is doubtful.

JamesC

 

Thanks guys. That makes perfect sense. I have ordered a new Heater Core from Summit. Looks like i'll rerout the lines to bypass the Heater Core until i have time to replace it. Good thing it's not winter.

 

I replaced the Heater Core today. You guys make the thing sound so hard, but it was simple. I did get creative though. I used some tubing INSIDE the in/out spouts to help me line them up through the firewall. if you use the right size tubing, it will fit snugly inside the tubes. Then you can feed the loose ends through the holes and guide the Heater core in. When you get close, remove the tubes and carefully reposition the tubes from the engine compartment using a screwdriver. do it a little at a time going back and forth from the interior to the Engine compartment. Eventually, it will just pop right in. took me about 45 Minutes from start to finish. While my car was going into the shop for Motor mounts, i asked the Mechanic how much he would charge me to install a heater core while it was there. You guys had scared me into thinking it was a horrible drudgery. He quoted labor at $240. That's WITH me providing the Heater Core. In contrast, he charged me $250 Labor to Replace my Oil pan and Motor Mounts.

 

yea mAN i know, these guys had me scared when the heater core on my iroc let go, i did it and it was gravy so easy, try doing a heater core on a 2008 ford f350. now that is terrifyingly scary.

 

Yeah, third gen heater cores are time consuming, but pretty straight forward -- pull the whole dash, and you're looking right at it.

4th gen's on the other hand are no fun -- try putting your whole arm (and hoping it's skinny enough) all the way up under the dashboard from OUTSIDE the car. Then try getting a pair of hose clamp pliers up in there too and successfully reattaching the hoses back on the heater core. Oh yeah, might mention also that you can't see anything that you're working on during this process. Might very well be the biggest PITA repair I ever had to do to that car.

Third gens FTW in this case.

 

Thirdgens FTW always except for drivetrains.

 

pull the dash?? on a third gen??? ok thats weird i did it without even touching one dash board bolt,

 

And its easy to do them on a fourth gen too considering the glove box comes right out..you certainly don't have to pull the whole dash to do this.