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1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks 1987 - 1996 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350 and larger pickups - including the 1997 heavy-duty F250/F350+ trucks

Defroster problem

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Old Aug 30, 2014 | 10:39 AM
  #1  
LOVEMYLABXS's Avatar
LOVEMYLABXS
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Trailering
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Defroster problem

Took off this morning and window was kind of frosted over turned on defroster and got a bunch of steam inside cab and covered window. Before I start tearing things apart does this sound like a heater core problem? Temp reads normal and vent blows warm air but a lot of steam with a smell of antifreeze?

Thanks

Mike
 
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Old Aug 30, 2014 | 06:42 PM
  #2  
eakermeld's Avatar
eakermeld
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,168
Likes: 3
From: South Central,MO
Yes, it's probably a heater core. But the good news is they are inexpensive to buy and very easy to install. 30 minutes including pee break!
 
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Old Aug 30, 2014 | 08:43 PM
  #3  
jb50F1's Avatar
jb50F1
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 230
Likes: 5
From: Northern Virginia
+1 on the heater core. I've had them go bad on many fords and these trucks are just about the easiest to replace. Try a Mustang some time and see how much of the dash needs to be pulled!
 
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Old Aug 31, 2014 | 06:35 AM
  #4  
tjc transport's Avatar
tjc transport
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,422
Likes: 5,507
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
Club FTE Gold Member
very easy to change the heater core, and you do not even have to drain the radiator!!.

open hood.
remove lines from heater box and stick them in the hood hinge to keep the ends up higher than the radiator.
go inside cab and open glove box.
remove the glove box door by removing the 4 screws under the dash lip.
remove the glove box liner.
look straight in and you will see the heater core cover.
remove the 6 or so screws holding the cover on.
remove heater core.
clean the heater box out with a rag.
while you have it apart, feel around in the ducts for anything that fell down the defroster vents. the debris can block the blend doors.
put new core in, and reassemble.
top off radiator.
 
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