coolant smell
Oct 10, 2006 | 09:46 PM
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From: Alpharetta
coolant smell
just recently, within the last week or two i've noticed a coolant smell in the cab of my truck. 89f150 5.8L reg cab. i think it's from my heater core. i have not used my ac or my heat. also... the windshield fogs up on the passenger side above where the heater core would be... i noticed something dripping from under the dash today also. this sound like the heater core? How hard is this to replace?
Oct 10, 2006 | 10:04 PM
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From: Lakewood, Ohio
you need a new heater core.
very easy job, remove glove box, remove cover over core, unbolt heater hoses after noting which go where, remove core, reverse process.
Oct 10, 2006 | 10:33 PM
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From: Alpharetta
do i need to discharge anything with the AC?
Oct 10, 2006 | 10:36 PM
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From: Alpharetta
also. looking at advance auto parts web site. they seem to have a copper/brass or an aluminium core. which is better? thanks
keith
Oct 10, 2006 | 10:41 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Quote:
Originally Posted by kjg26
also. looking at advance auto parts web site. they seem to have a copper/brass or an aluminium core. which is better? thanks
keith
If you have a copper radiator use the copper heater core.
Oct 11, 2006 | 08:29 AM
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From: Lakewood, Ohio
the air conditioning is not involved at all in the changing of a heater core.
i left out to drain at least half of the water out of the radiator when doing core replacement.
Oct 11, 2006 | 09:56 AM
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From: Topsfield, MA
It's a piece of cake job, took me 10 minutes to pull out the heater core in my 89.
I'd get some carpet cleaner and wipe up the spill, coolant doesn't evaporate.
My mom's 95 cougar on the other hand, terrible. You've got to discharge the AC and rip the whole dash apart. My dad just paid $700 to have it done.
Oct 11, 2006 | 11:04 AM
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From: Alpharetta
i don't know what kind of radiator i have? how can i tell?
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Oct 11, 2006 | 12:10 PM
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From: Alpharetta
could my windshield issue be part of this?
thanks
keith
Oct 11, 2006 | 12:47 PM
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From: Lakewood, Ohio
just take it out and you will know. either alum or copper is fine. windshield does not smell sweet when it leaks. this is a very easy job like mustangt221 says 10 minutes or up to 30 for beginners. just change it.
Last edited by quicklook2; Oct 11, 2006 at 01:30 PM .
Oct 11, 2006 | 12:49 PM
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From: St. Paul, MN
Oct 11, 2006 | 12:50 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kjg26
could my windshield issue be part of this?
thanks
keith
If your windshield fogs, especially on the passenger side-you'll kill two birds with the heater core replacement.
Oct 11, 2006 | 01:23 PM
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From: Alpharetta
sa-weet thanks
off to advnace to get the parts