Just in the last couple months I've been noticing radiator fluid puddling in my passenger's floormat, and it's continually getting worse. I would guess it to be the heater core leaking, but I'm not completely sure. I've taken the glove box out and the heater core cover off and the core fins are colored green.

Is this something I can fix myself with normal tools, or is there something special to do? I would guess that I just detach the two hoses under the hood then pull the core off and put the new one on?

One other question: Why does coolant run through the core when the heater is not turned on? Is it just part of the coolant flow loop?

Thanks all.

 

Thats the basic way to do it. A few screws here and there. The heater core ALWAYS has coolant flowing through it. it's like a mini radiator. Pick up a Haynes manual if you need more specific info.

-Matt

 

Thanks, I'll go ahead and get one and do it myself. From looking at it, it looks pretty simple to replace.

 

While you are at it, if your heater core hoses look bad replace them too. Better to spend an extra $20 now then to be stuck on the side of the highway 2 hours from home with rad coolant all over the road. Good luck!

-Matt

 

Hey nothingbutFord - or anyone else reading this thread-

I need to replace the heater core on my '84 F150. Haven't had time to look into it yet. Is it/ did it turn out to be something a shade tree mechanic can handle in an afternoon, more or less?

Thanks in advance for any replys.

EA

 

I think I need to replace mine as well. I am maybe going to bypass is until fall. It is a pretty easy thing to do. Maybe get a Haynes manual and it should have step by step directions. Good luck!

-Matt

 

Replacing the heater core was really simple. I did not replace the hoses (probably should have!) I did cut the very end of the hoses off where the clamp was so I could clamp down on a fresh place. One thing that struck me as funny is that the two hoses are different sizes! One of them fit the core pipe perfect, the other hose was about 1/8" larger on the inside and only fit loosly until I clamped it.

 

mine is leaking too and would like to bypass it for a while. is this as simple as just taking one of the hoses & looping on the engine?

Thanks,

Wes

 

Yes, that's it. I did it on mine, but if you run air and it gets to be too cold it won't change because the heater supplies the little bit warmer air to be less cold, rather than the outside. As long as you have the standard heater, it is pretty easy to replace, I spent about 1/2 hour on it. If you have the high output heater, it's more involved. The way to tell the difference is by the placement of the core. If it passes through the firewall, you have the easy one. If it goes into the heater case, you have the harder one.

 

Felro86,

"The way to tell the difference is by the placement of the core. If it passes through the firewall, you have the easy one. If it goes into the heater case, you have the harder one."

Not sure how to dertemine which I have. I do have hose connections that are fixed into firewall and the heater hoses conect to them if thats what you mean. My truck is a '93 F150 XLT Super Cab, 5.0, Auto E4OD, 2wd.

Thanks,

Wes

 

Yep, that's what I meant, you have the easy one.

 

In the maen time can I loop one of the hoses at the engine to by pass the heater until I get it repaired?

Thanks,

Wes

 

Yes. Get one of your hoses and disconnect it from the engine. Get the other hose and disconnect it from the heater core. Then hook the hose onto the opposite spots of where you took them off. Good luck!

-Matt

 

Not sure which ones you guys have, but on most of the newer ones atleast the ones i have done from 97 and up vehicles, you have to remove the WHOLE dash to get to the heater core because there is no way in hell you can get it out with all the air ducts that are up underneath the dashes, once the whole dash is removed then you can take out the whole heater box and disassemble it. It only takes about 30-45min to get the whole dash off, really alot easier than it sounds. Its really cool how they have built the insides of the newer vehicles.

 

Yes, the heater core is the first part positioned on the assembly line, and the entire vehicle is built around it.