[V6-12v] The smell of curry soup (blown heater core)

[Clive Young]

Did this last year and I have the pictures to prove it . 

Just bridge with some copper pipe for now or even better, use the "t" piece
out of a flush kit. 

 This is no easy chore but it is definitely doable. Since you will be
discharging the AC system make sure you at least change the venturi that
goes into low pressure side at the fire wall. DO NOT change the receiver
dryer as PM as I did as the threads seem to be corroded on and you will find
yourself buying new hoses and maybe even a compressor. 
 Getting the heater box out is a pain and 2 people make re - installation
easier. Make sure you clean your new heater core . They come wrapped in
plastic wrap soaked in oil so they won't corrode. Use some brake cleaner to
thoroughly clean this. I didn't and now my car stinks of this every time I
put the heater on. There were a couple of procedures on the net I used but
for the most part it was just common sense. The pain is the footwell ducting
but it is not hard. 

In a nut shell.
1. 	remove rear then front centre console
2.	Remove red air bag connector under dash along with both under dash
covers and glovebox.
3.	Remove steering wheel, instrument cluster, radio and heater controls
( 	unclip from air box )
4. 	Remove Passenger side airbag, heater ducting behind it footwell
ducting
5.	Remove all octoganal support and crush brackets. 
6.	Remove all electrical harnesses.
7. 	Unscrew and remove dash including hidden screw from inside radio
area.
8.	Lift out dash. 
9.	Disconnect heater core hoses and A/C compression bracket. 
10.	Undo screws from engine firewall holding on air box.
11.	remove airbox and replace core. 

	Tom I have a few pics of what it will look like if you want them. 


Clive.

PS sure glad my 911 doesn't have this issue .... it has a whole bunch of
others , but not this one ...by the way I got new hoses for my heater core
re: the no heat thing. Might try it this weekend as this thing has NO heat
still. 




-----Original Message-----
From: v6-12v-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:v6-12v-bounces at audifans.com] On
Behalf Of Tom Christiansen
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 9:58 PM
To: v6-12v at audifans.com
Subject: [V6-12v] The smell of curry soup (blown heater core)

Folks,

My 1994 90S has started to consume coolant and I have noticed the
smell of curry soup in the car lately. Now, I don't really mind curry
soup, but the smell of it -- especially when it comes from the vents
is indicative of a blown heater core. Damn!!

I understand that changing the heater core involves tearing the entire
dash apart. Thus, I'd prefer to have a 3-day weekend available for
this. Conveniently Memorial day is only a month away. But I'm not sure
the core will last that long...

Are the stop leak products safe to use on Audi engines with the red coolant?

Is there a "back road" to the heater core that allows it to be changed
without having to tear the dash apart?

If I were to "bridge" the two hoses by the firewall, would the use of
copper or brass pipe corrode the aluminum block through galvanic
action?


Now that I'm "in there anyway" what else would you suggest I change or
inspect? A/C evaporator? (The A/C still works)


Thanks,

Tom
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