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1996 Heater Core replacement (alternatives?)
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
1996 Heater Core replacement alternatives?
I've put this off for about 3 years now, haha. It's starting to get chilly in Dallas now, so I have been thinking about doing this again. The past few winters I just haven't driven her when it's so cold that I shiver even with a thick jacket on.
Local shop that I let actually do work on my car wants about $750 to do the job. While a lot of $ to replace a $50 part, I can understand why.
Did some searching through the archives and found some ways that others have done it (FastGuy), but I don't necessarily have the time to do this (then again at $750 maybe I do, haha)
Soo... are there any alternatives to replacing the heater core (i.e. cig-lighter plug-in heater haha)? I really don't mind having a busted heater core since I don't have any plans of selling the car anytime soon, but I would get a lot more use from the car on the weekends if I had an alternative heat source.
Local shop that I let actually do work on my car wants about $750 to do the job. While a lot of $ to replace a $50 part, I can understand why.
Did some searching through the archives and found some ways that others have done it (FastGuy), but I don't necessarily have the time to do this (then again at $750 maybe I do, haha)
Soo... are there any alternatives to replacing the heater core (i.e. cig-lighter plug-in heater haha)? I really don't mind having a busted heater core since I don't have any plans of selling the car anytime soon, but I would get a lot more use from the car on the weekends if I had an alternative heat source.
Last edited by GlockLT4; Oct 24, 2008 at 02:23 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 317
Likes: 1
I am not sure fast guys method works on a 96, I have the same problem, I am waiting until it snows, so I can start tearing it apart. Everything on this car is cheap to buy, hard to install. Except the clutch for some reason stupid zf!!!
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,695
Likes: 490
From: Denver, NC
Soo... are there any alternatives to replacing the heater core (i.e. cig-lighter plug-in heater haha)? I really don't mind having a busted heater core since I don't have any plans of selling the car anytime soon, but I would get a lot more use from the car on the weekends if I had an alternative heat source.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
I really hate heater cores..............
Has anyone ever tried some heater core leak stuff successfully? Would be nice if there was a way to plug the hole without replacing. Mine wasn't leaking liquid when it broke, just a bit of steam coming out onto windshield.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 2
From: East TN
I just did my '94 last week, it wasn't half as bad as I was expecting. After removing the dash which isn't that hard it took about an hour to replace the heater core. What helped me was to unbolt the passenger side airbag from the firewall to get better access to things (just 4 bolts). It definitely was not the hardest thing I've done on the car so far. I read all the tutorials first, that helped alot.
Last edited by dan6712cc; Oct 24, 2008 at 04:10 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
I just did my '94 last week, it wasn't half as bad as I was expecting. After removing the dash which isn't that hard it took about an hour to replace the heater core. What helped me was to unbolt the passenger side airbag from the firewall to get better access to things (just 4 bolts). It definitely was not the hardest thing I've done on the car so far. I read all the tutorials first, that helped alot.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 111
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
After market cockpit heater links.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/AUTOTEK-HEA...2307_10101.jcw
http://www.jcwhitney.com/WAGAN-MAGNE...5745_10101.jcw
I would go with the seat cushion thingy. The wife & mother have heated seats in their cars & they really warm the bod nicely.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/AUTOTEK-HEA...2307_10101.jcw
http://www.jcwhitney.com/WAGAN-MAGNE...5745_10101.jcw
I would go with the seat cushion thingy. The wife & mother have heated seats in their cars & they really warm the bod nicely.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,838
Likes: 341
From: Database Error Indiana
After market cockpit heater links.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/AUTOTEK-HEA...2307_10101.jcw
http://www.jcwhitney.com/WAGAN-MAGNE...5745_10101.jcw
I would go with the seat cushion thingy. The wife & mother have heated seats in their cars & they really warm the bod nicely.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/AUTOTEK-HEA...2307_10101.jcw
http://www.jcwhitney.com/WAGAN-MAGNE...5745_10101.jcw
I would go with the seat cushion thingy. The wife & mother have heated seats in their cars & they really warm the bod nicely.
.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
From: UCKFIELD EAST SUSSEX
A few years ago I had this problem with a Toyota MR2. To fix the heater matrix would involve ripping out the dash.Instead I undid the two pipes and poured a can of Barrs Leaks or rad weld into the matrix thru one pipe and collected it out the other one. I kept doing this a few times. When finished I put the pipes back into the system and the core was water tight and was still working three years later when I sold the car.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
After market cockpit heater links.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/AUTOTEK-HEA...2307_10101.jcw
http://www.jcwhitney.com/WAGAN-MAGNE...5745_10101.jcw
I would go with the seat cushion thingy. The wife & mother have heated seats in their cars & they really warm the bod nicely.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/AUTOTEK-HEA...2307_10101.jcw
http://www.jcwhitney.com/WAGAN-MAGNE...5745_10101.jcw
I would go with the seat cushion thingy. The wife & mother have heated seats in their cars & they really warm the bod nicely.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
A few years ago I had this problem with a Toyota MR2. To fix the heater matrix would involve ripping out the dash.Instead I undid the two pipes and poured a can of Barrs Leaks or rad weld into the matrix thru one pipe and collected it out the other one. I kept doing this a few times. When finished I put the pipes back into the system and the core was water tight and was still working three years later when I sold the car.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 9,087
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
Here is another alternative:
I have noticed that the floor gets warm enough that I do not even need the heat on high. The fans on mine are always running because of a DTC code, so I do not get much heat either.
I have noticed that the floor gets warm enough that I do not even need the heat on high. The fans on mine are always running because of a DTC code, so I do not get much heat either.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 762
Likes: 2
From: Huntington ma
I've added seat heaters to mine - really not that hard to do and makes it Much nicer on those cold mornings..
An option that, once you have lived with them, becomes a necessity. I just upgraded the old Truck this past summer - it now has seat heaters in it as well. New tricks for a 1978 model...
An option that, once you have lived with them, becomes a necessity. I just upgraded the old Truck this past summer - it now has seat heaters in it as well. New tricks for a 1978 model...
Racer
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
From: Pueblo Colorado
I finally fixed the fan switch and elecrtical issues on my 84 to get the heater working last month.
You guys seem to be forgetting the biggest need for your heater....
The DEFROSTER!
7 years with-out one in Colorado taught me what was more important.
You guys seem to be forgetting the biggest need for your heater....
The DEFROSTER!
7 years with-out one in Colorado taught me what was more important.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Mine says in garage and I'm in Dallas... not really much use for the defrost on the vette haha.
