Cooling or A/C trouble...
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Cooling or A/C trouble...
Last week I started to get a LOT of vapor out of the A/C vents- even when using the outside air and no A/C... thought it was the humidity. Also noticed an extra amount of drainage from area of the A/C drain pipe under the truck when I parked it.
This morning I took a closer look at the 'extra drainage' and it was slick..ie: coolant, not just A/C drainage. Checked the coolant level and it was non-existant...
Anyone run into this before?
Is it a leak in the heater core?
If so, do I need to remove the dash to get to the core?
Book says to discharge the A/C when removing the core - do I have to?
Any other suspects?
Thanks!
This morning I took a closer look at the 'extra drainage' and it was slick..ie: coolant, not just A/C drainage. Checked the coolant level and it was non-existant...
Anyone run into this before?
Is it a leak in the heater core?
If so, do I need to remove the dash to get to the core?
Book says to discharge the A/C when removing the core - do I have to?
Any other suspects?
Thanks!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 5
From: Lorain County, Ohio
Last week I started to get a LOT of vapor out of the A/C vents- even when using the outside air and no A/C... thought it was the humidity. Also noticed an extra amount of drainage from area of the A/C drain pipe under the truck when I parked it.
This morning I took a closer look at the 'extra drainage' and it was slick..ie: coolant, not just A/C drainage. Checked the coolant level and it was non-existant...
Anyone run into this before?
Is it a leak in the heater core?
If so, do I need to remove the dash to get to the core?
Book says to discharge the A/C when removing the core - do I have to?
Any other suspects?
Thanks!
This morning I took a closer look at the 'extra drainage' and it was slick..ie: coolant, not just A/C drainage. Checked the coolant level and it was non-existant...
Anyone run into this before?
Is it a leak in the heater core?
If so, do I need to remove the dash to get to the core?
Book says to discharge the A/C when removing the core - do I have to?
Any other suspects?
Thanks!
You have to remove the instrument panel, evacuate the AC, remove and split the heater/AC case to replace it.
It's not a "hard" job, just time consuming.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 1
From: Louisville, Kentucky
It is not likely to be a simple hose problem. Here is a document on how to do the job. Heater core replacement instruction sheet Good luck! 
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Thanks King - I appreciate this.
Tell me is this an all day job.. ie: 6am till dark...or do I need to plan a couple of vacation days?
Tell me is this an all day job.. ie: 6am till dark...or do I need to plan a couple of vacation days?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: SpringHill,Fl
depends on your knowledge level, your drive to get it done, and how much beer you consume!!
Mark
Mark
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,776
Likes: 5
From: Lorain County, Ohio
Contrary to the editing in the procedure, I would recommend completely removing the IP from the truck if you have never done this repair. You can then look at things from the "back side" and understand how everything fits together for assembly. If you should need to do this repair on another truck later, the "abbreviated" version will make much more sense and be that much easier. A skilled Tech can do this in about 4 hours.
The total time will be directly affected by how much beer you and your helper consume during the repair. With "good" beer, this could be a 3 day weekend project.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,209
Likes: 1
From: Louisville, Kentucky
The link that I provided is not mine, it is one that I have bookmarked for the day that my own starts leaking down the road. I found it referenced in another thread a while back by the author of the document. Unfortunately I don't remember the original posters user name right off hand. Good luck in getting the job done!
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,931
Likes: 180
i dont know how bad your radiator is, but if your lacking time right now, i would get a bototle of the BARS radiator sealer and pour it in , refill the radiator and run an hour and see what happens. probably will postpone the replacement for some time. if its a pin hole or small crack, its a good fix. if the core is rotten, you will postpone the inevitable.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,351
Likes: 8
Another temporary solution, that's guaranteed to stop the heater core leak w/o much work & is especially attractive in summer, is to simply disconnect the heater. An easy way is to leave the (often difficult) Quick Connects attached to the heater & pull the other end of these hoses off, then add a hose to reconnect these pipes & bypass the heater entirely. This will give you time to build up the courage to tackle the dash R&R.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
Club,
I had been thinkg of that very thing. I had to do that on our '55 ford Fairlane and was wondering if there were any sensors in this late model vehicle that would stop me from doing the same thing.
I'm thinking I'm gonna go that route, if there isn't.
I had been thinkg of that very thing. I had to do that on our '55 ford Fairlane and was wondering if there were any sensors in this late model vehicle that would stop me from doing the same thing.
I'm thinking I'm gonna go that route, if there isn't.
New User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 7
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You might have to bypass for now. I dont leak but I installed a heater valve with a vaccum control to bypass my heater all together so during the summer a/c gets a little colder. When I turn on the ac or vent the core is automatically bypassed. 11 for valve,3 for a 5/8 heater hose and a vaccum T. One thing you didnt mention, the smell. If heater core is bad it will smell.