[urq] Swapping out the heater core? Thoughts?

[Brandon Rogers]

If you have A/C - or at least still have the condenser - it will be a PITA.
If no A/C condenser - should be pretty easy - just remove the glove box,
IIRC. If you have the A/C and/or condenser still - you get to remove all
that stuff first - which would include evacuating the refrigerant.  AFAIK
the heater core is either good or not - no in between.  If leaking you get
wet/damp carpet and sweet smell of coolant in the cabin, and film on the
windscreen.

Brandon
'84 ur
 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: urq-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:urq-bounces at audifans.com] On Behalf
Of JP Chaplen
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 3:19 PM
To: Urq at audifans.com
Subject: [urq] Swapping out the heater core? Thoughts?



Just wanted to see what experiences people have had swapping it out, as far
as I can tell i think its fine, but i have never looked and never dug too
deep into the console? I have been looking for some good instructions, but
it looks like i have to yank out all the AC cooler/exchange to get to the
heater core. I was just thinking since i have most of the coolant out
swapping the Thermo stat and switch it might be a good time to do that too?
But wondering if its a couple hour job or an all weekend pain the butt job. 



The core its self seems reasonable cheap at about $80 and I have both the
replacement hoses already. Though I have to admit I'm not 100% sure i really
feel like tearing the whole dash apart. But the core as far as I know has
never been replaced - has anyone had any horror stories after the fact, or
do they slowly start leaking or ever go bad? 



Since i know people love to give advice and opinions...would love to hear or
if there are any tips or concerns on doing this job? Also was wondering, if
i do tear it apart, am I going to have 1/2 a gallon or something of
anti-freeze pour out when and if I undo the 2 hoses to the core even if the
bottom of the radiator switch has been pulled and drained? 


And thanks all for the advice on the thermo switch and stat ( I ended up
going with the 80 for the Stat and 75 on the radiator cooling swtich), the
reason mine was running hotter i think was i could barely read but it was 92
on and 87 off...which made having an 80 stat kinda worthless.... 



Thanks all in advance! 



JP
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