Leaking heater core?

[ringfeder3]

My VX Berlina has developed a serious coolant smell inside the cab. For a few months there has been a strange 'sucking/ gurgling' noise behind the dash. Furthermore, the windows seem to fog very easily.

No heating issues and the carpet doesn't feel wet at all.

Am I right in suspecting a leaking heater core?

Is replacement an expensive fix?

[edals]

Hey Mate,

After you have been for a drive, Can you see any coolant leaking out from under the car at all?\

Also to rule it out you could always just block the 2 heater hoses that go into the cabin from the engine bay, i did this till i had to time to replace the heater core in the mrs VR.

[wrx884]

If the demisters r foging up ur windows then yep definatly heater core. u'll prolly find ur losing coolent through the A/C drain pipe thats y its not goin on the floor.

[graham7773]

I just looked at the instructions for r/r heater core (GMH service manual) and the first thing I read turned me right off. It said " recover refrigerant " ie get the gas out of the air con and save it. The whole job is a biggy and not for the average handy man. Who designs these things? I believe the hours quoted for this job are around 10. Anybody? Anyhoo, expensive and it seems that an aircon service would be part of it......earlier comms are easier

[ringfeder3]

There doesn't appear to be any coolant beneath the car. Just water after A/C been used on a hot day. Car fogs up quickly when cold or wet but demister clears it without a problem. The smell appears to be the giveaway....

[wrx884]

it may only b a tiny leak 4 now and the heat might b evaporating the coolent b4 it exits the car? but enough 2 fog up the windows coz of the coolents temperture, its not as hard as it seems 2 replace i did mine in 7 hours, as long as u got a manual how the whole dash pad and HVAC unit comes out u'll b right. otherwise ud b lookin at around the 900+ mark 2 get fixed. i managed 2 do it 4 $170.

there is a great thread thats been done not long ago with pics ect... on how 2 do it.

[brad_m_is]

if you want to get out of it cheaply and easily u could try some radiator stop leak. not the best option but if it works it may get u out of trouble for another few years. personally if just fix it properly

[edals]

Yeah The air-con has to be degassed and re-gassed and thats $200 just there. I Would really not recommend putting radiator stop leak in cause iv seen some cars do nothing but over heat, stops the leaks, but also stops everything else lol.
Un till you can afford to repair it, as its coming into summer, just remove the 2 hoses at the firewall, and block them off with hose stoppers. this causes no issues, also very handy to have these hose blockers when your heater tap decides to shit its self. saved 2 of my mates this way lol

[Bushy]

For a few months there has been a strange 'sucking/ gurgling' noise behind the dash.

this happens in my vs untill the motor warmed up.. it sounds like there is air bubbles in the hose .. but i never loose water... as i have not had to add water since i put in a new radiator and that was like 7 months ago and radiator and over flow are full ... but still could not figure out what it was..

has any one had this problem also ??

[edals]

this happens in my vs untill the motor warmed up.. it sounds like there is air bubbles in the hose .. but i never loose water... as i have not had to add water since i put in a new radiator and that was like 7 months ago and radiator and over flow are full ... but still could not figure out what it was..

has any one had this problem also ??

Same issue i had mate, When the car is cold, just top up your radiator, remove the top Engine cover, go for a drive till shes up to temp, pull over leaving the car running, these use a flat head screw driver and turn the bleed screw to remove the air in the system, when its flowing with coolant tighten it back up, this screw is on the very top of thermo stat housing where the top radiator hose connects to.
Sounded like i had bubbles under my dash, and be sure the heater is fully on to remove air from the heater core also