Heater Core or something else?

[Mirkz]

Hey guys,

Just wondering whether this issue I'm having it heater core related, or something else.

If I have my aircon on and put it on recycle, and then turn it off and change it to normal vents, the car interior heats up fairly quickly and becomes very muggy. Even the windscreen seems to start fogging up.
It also produces a bit of a musty/damp smell.

Is this an easy fix? Is it something that can be done at home?

Cheers

[pablo]

Check the drain plug from the a/c unit under dash to beneath the floor, passenger side on tranny hump, isn't blocked. It's a short piece of black hose flattened on the end. Poke a bit of wire up and give it a few twists. Mine also tends to have a bit of a damp smell in the same circumstances, but not as extreme as yours.

[justbad4you]

any un normal smell from inside? the car

Hey guys,

Just wondering whether this issue I'm having it heater core related, or something else.

If I have my aircon on and put it on recycle, and then turn it off and change it to normal vents, the car interior heats up fairly quickly and becomes very muggy. Even the windscreen seems to start fogging up.
It also produces a bit of a musty/damp smell.

Is this an easy fix? Is it something that can be done at home?

Cheers

[Mirkz]

yeah the damp musty smell when the aircon is off and just the fan is on. when the aircon is on it doesnt smell etc.

[shadetreemechanic]

Could be heater core. See, usually there is water circulating through the core even if you think the tap is closed (vacuum problem/tap corroded) Feel the pipes near the drivers footrest if they're hot.

[wrx884]

if ur windscreen fogs up wen u turn ur heaters on then yep ur heater core is leaking man. same happend 2 mine which i managed 2 replace myself, i didnt have any coolent on the floor or anything only had leaking coolent out of the a/c pipe wen i used the aircon only so it driped out side of the car instead.

[Mirkz]

I haven't checked my coolant lately to be honest, temp gauge hasn't shown any massive readings (only the strange thing of not showing its usual temp but a lesser temp once its at running temp (did it again tonight).

I don't know if it does it when my heater is on.
But the fan itself, if I've got it turned all the way to cold, no air con on and just blowing on face or face/legs etc. the windscreen fogs, and there's a damp musty smell.

Tried to feel for pipes around the drivers foot rest, and couldn't find anything that felt like a pipe as such.
if I poked my finger down the side of the carpet touching the floor of the car next to the foot rest it felt quite warm, there was also something big and plastic-ish hidden well under the dash etc on that side that felt warm too.

I'm thinking this should really get some attention soon (along with the exhaust, my god it sounds shocking rattling around etc...)

[justbad4you]

heater core may have a small leak,,,(thats the smell) of coolent (know it well from when my heater core died

yeah the damp musty smell when the aircon is off and just the fan is on. when the aircon is on it doesnt smell etc.

[Mirkz]

Hmm shite.
I know it's a big, dash out job for the VT. is it something that can be done yourself or with mates over a period of a day ? I've read it needs to be degassed etc.
Is it a straight forward job if the degas was done ?
can I just buy a heater core online or from a workshop etc and do it myself ? or is it something that's best to leave to the professionals?

[justbad4you]

Hmm shite.
I know it's a big, dash out job for the VT. is it something that can be done yourself or with mates over a period of a day ? I've read it needs to be degassed etc.
Is it a straight forward job if the degas was done ?
can I just buy a heater core online or from a workshop etc and do it myself ? or is it something that's best to leave to the professionals?

DONT WONT TO SCARE YOU SO PLS GO HERE TO BE SCARED BY OTHER MEMBERS LOL >>>>>>>>> Replacing heater core - Where abouts and how much? LOL AND DONT SHOOT THE MESSENGER LOL.....CHEEERS

[pablo]

The quick, simple solution is to put some radiator sealer in the system. Thats what that stuff is made for, and would probably see the life of the vehicle out.

[wrx884]

u can do it urself man its really not as hard as it seems just time consuming. aslong as u get ur aircon degassed u got nothing 2 worry about. i did mine in 7 hours over 2days and bought my heater core off ebay which turned out 2 b a local guy selling them 4 $110 i think it was then all u need 2 buy is coolent so ud save urself 800+ if u do it urself. the money u saved u can get it regassed and still b in front. Give it a go man if u need a hand gimme a call.

[Mirkz]

Thanks Ant.
May possibly get your assistance for some brews or coin if need be.
Would much prefer to save myself some huge money, especially seeing as the part itself costs stuff all!!

I'm getting my exhaust done hopefully in the next week, but will see how much money I have left after, may look at getting onto it straight away, or waiting a little bit.
Think I have a contact down the road that should be able to degas and regas for free or stuff all.

[justbad4you]

its a big job if your not tech minded at all,,but hay if you do it ya self.......70% cheaper

Thanks Ant.
May possibly get your assistance for some brews or coin if need be.
Would much prefer to save myself some huge money, especially seeing as the part itself costs stuff all!!

I'm getting my exhaust done hopefully in the next week, but will see how much money I have left after, may look at getting onto it straight away, or waiting a little bit.
Think I have a contact down the road that should be able to degas and regas for free or stuff all.

[wrx884]

its a big job if your not tech minded at all,,but hay if you do it ya self.......70% cheaper

If u can read a gregories manual its bascailly just a big jigsaw puzzle lol seriously its not that hard.

[justbad4you]

no its not at all.....some ppl think its harder than it realy is.....wrx your spot on

If u can read a gregories manual its bascailly just a big jigsaw puzzle lol seriously its not that hard.

[Mirkz]

Just trying to plan ahead here..
Is there anything else worth swapping out or freshening up if I was going to do the heatercore myself.
Other parts or bits that should be replaced to avoid having to potentially do another dash out job anytime in the near future?

[wrx884]

Yeah they say u should replace the evaporator core aswell even if its not leaking just so u dont have 2 pull the dash out again lol, coz its inside the HVAC box aswell. Tho at the time i didnt think of doing this so instead i got mine pressure tested and flushed out neways n shes been good since.

Another part u could replace is the TX valve involving the aircon but again up 2 u that part is easy 2 replace aslong as u got no gas in the lines.

Thermostat if u havent done that ina while? since ur dropping the coolent it wouldnt hurt, i did mine only coz i had never replace it b4 in the 90k kms that i owned the car.

[Mirkz]

Cheers Ant, might look into these.
Not sure when I'll get around to doing this though, hopefully sometime in the next couple months. I'd like it fixed asap!
:P

little bit worried about doing it myself still haha.

[Mirkz]

Got a quote from Youngs Holden today just to see what they'd charge to do this... was quoted $1800.
No wonder I never take my car for anything. Every quote I've ever had for anything service related there is astronomical.
I understand it's a shit job etc, but I was expecting max of 1200-1300

[wrx884]

dont stress 2 much man its, take plenty of photos wen ur taking things appart, label, write notes wat eva ay. just think of it as a massive puzzle lol and make sure u got plenty of room 2 store ur parts (check my pics in my ride thread on how much u need haha). if u dont have a gregories i got the manual on cd if u need 2 borrow it.

otherwise i do have a contact that some asain can do it 4 under $400, dont know how or y he would change so low?, i was a lil scepticle so decided 2 try it myself since i usually pull half the dashes out most weekends lol.

other auto elecs usually charge around $900-$1200 most dont like doing it lol