How difficult is to replace the heater core ??

[krot84]

Hey guys

It's pretty cold in the car :smt022
I've read the service manual and I'm pretty confused.
I've consulted a garage and he asked for a vast amount of money (~$250) only for the work and not including the parts!!! :shock: :shock:
So what do you say ?
I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty :wink:

[bulldozer24]

it is usually difficult if your not mechanically inclined , i have never done a subaru but i just got done with a ford f150 and it took two people a whole day

[chuckthefuk]

$250 is a decent rate..

1) Removing steering wheel
2) Removing gauge cluster
3) Removing hvac/audio panel
4) Removing dashboard
5) Removing heater core
Re-&-Re

All of these things take time.. at least 2 hours just to remove the items.. since coolant is flowing through the heater core..

Lets go through a few things first..

0) When did the lack of heat issue start?
1) Are the fans blowing?
2) Is your car overheating?
3) Has the headgasket been replaced?
4) When was the last time you did a coolant flush

[krot84]

$250 is a decent rate..

1) Removing steering wheel
2) Removing gauge cluster
3) Removing hvac/audio panel
4) Removing dashboard
5) Removing heater core
Re-&-Re

All of these things take time.. at least 2 hours just to remove the items.. since coolant is flowing through the heater core..

Lets go through a few things first..

0) When did the lack of heat issue start?
1) Are the fans blowing?
2) Is your car overheating?
3) Has the headgasket been replaced?
4) When was the last time you did a coolant flush

Well:
0) The heater was already disconnected when i bought the car, about two years ago, i see the two hoses coming from the inside towards the engine bay - i think that means the heater core is still inside.
1) when i move the knob all way to the right and turn on the fan, it work, of course no heating :lol: however i don't know if that's the heater fan working or the AC one..
2) my car is perfectly cool as it should.
3) one of them for sure, i don't think that matters now.
4) couple month ago when i replaced all the radiator hoses (3)

I don't know what was the reason for them disconnecting the heater core, i don't what will happen if i reconnect it again.

[chuckthefuk]

Can you describe 0) a bit more..

When you say disconnected do you mean the coolant hoses are not connected?

-Chuck

[02_Legacy]

hook a hose to one end of the heater core where it goes into the engine bay and see what happens.
If nothing comes out the other side its clogged
If it comes out let it run for a little while and check for to see if it is leaking, some cars have tubes that direct any stray water out through the firewall, some cars will soak the floor if it is leaking, check both.

[krot84]

Can you describe 0) a bit more..

When you say disconnected do you mean the coolant hoses are not connected?

-Chuck

That's right.

the outlet of the engine's hot water has been shortened if you see what i mean.

[chuckthefuk]

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2012/01/566494972001png-1.jpg
#10 & #12 are the coolant lines.. when you say shortened.. can you please expand on that or take a picture..

It sounds as if they bypassed the heater core entirely..

here is the entire climate system + part #'s
http://opposedforces.com/parts/legacy/e ... 1/climate/ (http://opposedforces.com/parts/legacy/en_b11/type_11/climate/)

-Chuck

[krot84]

Yes i know, (number 4).
You know this procedure is really common here in Israel, because people don't use the heating in the summer so when they turn it in the winter it leaks.

[chuckthefuk]

Ya I know... My aunt in kfar saba deals with on her crappy Peugeot.

Anyways post some pictures of the shortened hose..

[krot84]

I have some friend in Toronto metropolis too :)
I will after work today

[krot84]

as you can see the two hoses that are disconnected come from the heater core
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/t/9tbhb.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/9tbhb)

[dodik]

can you try to connect them into right places and see if your heater core leaks? if it doesnt then you are good to go but if it does then its is time consuming job not difficult but time consuming. expect to spend a weekend with a friend just wrenching away.

[krot84]

can you try to connect them into right places and see if your heater core leaks? if it doesnt then you are good to go but if it does then its is time consuming job not difficult but time consuming. expect to spend a weekend with a friend just wrenching away.

I think there's a reason why it was disconnected at the first place.
Maybe I'll try to replace it by myself.
The think is that removing the dash cover doesn't seem to difficult, only 10 screws or so, however how to remove the actual core seem complicated.

[chuckthefuk]

here is a DIY for the heater core
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=23882 (http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=23882)

[krot84]

Thanks, saw it already.