Took about 30~45 min if that to remove it. Of course I had teh pass side panels reoved to finish removing the ecm & harness.

Anyway, I took out & it seemed just fine. FLushed it out, lots of crap in it. Did the plug one end w/thumb & blow into other end (after flushing) and couldn't get it to leak. I know not very scientific, but I wonder if I didn't have the hoses clamped on tigh enough and that's the reason it was peeing in the pass footwell.

How much does it cost to have one of these pressure checked? Hopefully cheaper than a replacement that probably wont fit as good.

 

I don't have any idea where you could get that thing pressure tested, but I would bet that it is most definitely the core that was your problem. I know that the cooling system has plenty of pressure in it that would probably make leaks appear that a simple lung-powered air test wouldn't. I was told that car cooling systems run at 10-12 psi. An article at HowStuffWorks.com ( http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cooling-system7.htm ) says the radiator/pressure cap is usually set at 15 psi. That is certainly a lot more pressure than we can generate with our lungs. I am betting it is a core leak. Hope that helps!

On a bit of a side note, when the core died on my car a few weeks ago, simply lossening the radiator cap to the first notch was enough to keep pressure from reaching normal so that the core did not leak as badly - and I was able to use the heater/defogger. A new core cost me $25 or so and fit just as well as the old one.

 

I'd imagine you could rig up a Mityvac somehow and apply 15 psi worth of vacuum...?

 

I have teh 30 gal air compressor, but don't want to blow it (heater core) out, nor do I have a way to secure one opening shut for the up to 15 psi to be blown in it.