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

[Tom Christiansen]

Folks,

Well... Step one is complete. Thanks to Clive for suggesting to use a
Tee connection from a flush kit. I just happened to have an old flush
kit handy, and wouldn't you know it, the 3/4" tee fits perfectly on
the heater hoses. The hoses do get twisted around a little bit and
that seems to cause a little bit of pinching, but I don't think it's a
major constriction. Certainly no more resistance than a heater core...

The heater core itself is not very expensive. About $35 at AutoHausAZ.
However, they don't have the evaporator... I've found quotes at random
places online for as much as $300. Bloody Hell!!! As changing the
heater core does require the A/C system to be discharged, it would be
very convenient to change the evaporator at the same time. Especially,
since it's a known weak point in the A/C system. But my A/C system
still works after replacing the compressor and recharging it last
summer. At this point I'm leaning towards an "if it ain't broke, don't
fix it" approach.

I'll keep you posted. Hopefully, my car will now stop drinking water.
Or at least take smaller sips of it... Over the past week (4-500
miles) it's managed to drink the volume between MIN and MAX on the
expansion tank...

Thanks to everyone for responding.

Tom