3rd heater core gone bad
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From: Senoia, GA
3rd heater core gone bad
I have replaced my heater core twice now with napa's value line heater core ($16 instead if $56) and well, i have another one leaking. I was curious as to if anyone else has had this problem. is there a correct way to install them? hell it's only 2 hoses and it shouldn't matter...i don't think. is there something inside the heater box that could puncture it?
one thing that is fishy to me.....when i pulled my last core out i emptied it out and ran the water hose through it but it didn't seem to have a leak then. Is there something I am missing? yes the hose clamps are very tight but not so tight that it is crushing the copper tubes and causing a leak.
-jason-
one thing that is fishy to me.....when i pulled my last core out i emptied it out and ran the water hose through it but it didn't seem to have a leak then. Is there something I am missing? yes the hose clamps are very tight but not so tight that it is crushing the copper tubes and causing a leak.
-jason-
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From: Nebraska
Yep, I put in one of Napa's value line cores in July. One week after their three month warranty was up, it started leaking again. 
I went with their $50 core this time and no leaks...so far. I priced one from Ford and it was like $85.
I went with their $50 core this time and no leaks...so far. I priced one from Ford and it was like $85.
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Actually, they are not too bad. But the only heater cores I have changed have been in '79 Broncos and F350's so you have to rip the whole dash apart!
-Matt
-Matt
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From: Meggett SC
I just changed mine on my 84 F150 I6
Its pretty easy. I checked it for leaks by, putting a plug in one line and a piece of heater hose on the other, clamped an old valve stem from a tire to it, put the heater core in a bucket of water
and used a little air (one stroke) from a bicycle pump and sure enough i got bubbles from the core. Tried to fix it with some solder but just made the leak worse so i replaced it.
Checked the new one before i put it in, no leaks. You might try that.
Its pretty easy. I checked it for leaks by, putting a plug in one line and a piece of heater hose on the other, clamped an old valve stem from a tire to it, put the heater core in a bucket of water
and used a little air (one stroke) from a bicycle pump and sure enough i got bubbles from the core. Tried to fix it with some solder but just made the leak worse so i replaced it.
Checked the new one before i put it in, no leaks. You might try that.
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From: chino valley az
ford had real problems with the heater core in the rangers as well as the f series. the cure for the famous leaking heater cores, is to install a bypass hose between the heater hoses. napa sells these for about 4 bucks each. basically it has a 5/8 inlet and outlet, with a 3/8 hose in the middle. this will reduce the presure at the heater core. also a shut off valve will help in the off season from them poping from excessive heat build up. they have a tsb for the mustang and ranger, but nothing for the f series. it was the same problem. its not always the heater core.. Kurt
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From: Senoia, GA
Originally posted by dashashopdog
ford had real problems with the heater core in the rangers as well as the f series. the cure for the famous leaking heater cores, is to install a bypass hose between the heater hoses. napa sells these for about 4 bucks each. basically it has a 5/8 inlet and outlet, with a 3/8 hose in the middle. this will reduce the presure at the heater core. also a shut off valve will help in the off season from them poping from excessive heat build up. they have a tsb for the mustang and ranger, but nothing for the f series. it was the same problem. its not always the heater core.. Kurt
ford had real problems with the heater core in the rangers as well as the f series. the cure for the famous leaking heater cores, is to install a bypass hose between the heater hoses. napa sells these for about 4 bucks each. basically it has a 5/8 inlet and outlet, with a 3/8 hose in the middle. this will reduce the presure at the heater core. also a shut off valve will help in the off season from them poping from excessive heat build up. they have a tsb for the mustang and ranger, but nothing for the f series. it was the same problem. its not always the heater core.. Kurt
-jason-
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From: chino valley az
tried to make a diagram, but the program this page is running wont let me. imagine a capital H. (I-I is better) the to legs are the hoses going to the heater core from the block. now the leg in the middle is the 3/8 crossover tube. most hvac systems have away to shut off the coolant flow to the heater core via control cable. the ford blend door set up allows coolant to flow through is all the time. a small inline shut off valve in the off season will help relieve some of the pressures and heat. normally it isn't the core that fails but rather the solder joints... Kurt
Last edited by dashashopdog; Dec 8, 2003 at 01:34 AM.
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From: Meggett SC
Just a note,
flow must be maintained in the heater hoses on trucks with the EEC IV computerized systems because the thermocouple that talks to the computer is in that leg. If you stop flow the engine will have a high idle all the time.
84 F150 I6 EEC IV auto 2wd 200k
flow must be maintained in the heater hoses on trucks with the EEC IV computerized systems because the thermocouple that talks to the computer is in that leg. If you stop flow the engine will have a high idle all the time.
84 F150 I6 EEC IV auto 2wd 200k
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From: chino valley az
thats why i really stress the crossover tube. for but a limiter-orifice in it to keep the flow down. the cts should still have plenty of coolant with the crossover from the heads. i have never heard of it causing it to read low voltage (under temp) on vehicles with the hoses blocked off. infact my wiffes 88 2.9l ranger had a pair of pinch off pliers on the hoses for a while, when i was too busy to replace it. and it had no problems.. Kurt
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From: Senoia, GA
Originally posted by sail2244
Just a note,
flow must be maintained in the heater hoses on trucks with the EEC IV computerized systems because the thermocouple that talks to the computer is in that leg. If you stop flow the engine will have a high idle all the time.
84 F150 I6 EEC IV auto 2wd 200k
Just a note,
flow must be maintained in the heater hoses on trucks with the EEC IV computerized systems because the thermocouple that talks to the computer is in that leg. If you stop flow the engine will have a high idle all the time.
84 F150 I6 EEC IV auto 2wd 200k
i think i get what your saying dashdog.
the thing i don't understand is why this started just recently...I have had the truck for almost a year and it is just now giving me problems!
-jason-