Help! heater Core leaking..need advice

[Aintlifegrand]

I have a 1996 chevy blazer...the heater core is leaking. The repair lowest bid is 825.00 I do not want to put that kind of money in this vehichle right now. it was recommended that to do a bypass around the Heater Core.. Does anyone have experienced with this? Will the defrost work still? I really have very little need for a heater here but do need the defrost.

Thanks for your help
Stephanie

[wy_white_wolf]

If you bypass the heater core the defroster will only blow cold air.

[DaleK]

Not sure about the blazers but I did Dad's old F150 when it started leaking into the glove compartment. You just take the feed and return hoses from up front at the rad, unhook them farther back (or cut them off) and hook the feed directly to the return so it bypasses the heater core.

You'll still have the fan blowing but nothing with any heat so you'll lose most of the defrost effect.

[Aintlifegrand]

Thanks..anyone know how those portable defrosters work that plug into your lighter?

Defrost? in Louisiana?
ETA: you could probably get a heater coil in the junkyard.

have you called a radiator shop to see if they would solder it?

[Aintlifegrand]

Originally Posted by zong

have you called a radiator shop to see if they would solder it?

No...hadn't thought of that.. thanks..

Lol...and no I really don't need a heater that often but the condensation is horrible in the winter so I need a defroster in the winter or rainy season...

[fordy]

................The heater core is probably Aluminum and can't be solderied . , fordy

A lot of heater cores for Chev trucks on Ebay too, $23 and up. maybe a local junkyard would tell you which years are interchangeable. if you can find somebody to put it in at a decent price, you should get off pretty cheap.

[MELOC]

heater cores are relatively cheap. the killer is labor if you have to rip out half of the dash to get to it.

i'm still working on a 1992 VW Jetta heater core...a job i started last winter.

[Old Vet]

Go to a raidatior repair shop. They are familiar with them and It will be much cheaper less than a dealer would charge. Less than $200.

[Danaus29]

I won't tell you what it takes to change one in a 1985 Ford Tempo. but I will say it took dh and me 2 days and we learned how both the front seats and the whole dash go into and out of the car.

[big rockpile]

I'm thinking Chevys aren't that hard.I know with Fords and Dodge you need to take the Dash out which is a pain and worse if the Parts Store gives you the wrong Core.

But what do I care its my wifes Job to take care of this stuff.

big rockpile

[Jim S.]

Go to the auto parts store and ask for Bar's Leaks. Get only that brand. You want the type in the pint jar with the lil pellets in the liquid. Add that to the radiator when cool. Open the heater all the way to hot. Drive the vehicle for 30 minutes to an hour.

This can be either a temporary or permanent fix. Sometimes, it fixes 'em good, others it is just for awhile. It will buy you time while you save some $$$ for a replacement.

[wy_white_wolf]

Originally Posted by MELOC

heater cores are relatively cheap. the killer is labor if you have to rip out half of the dash to get to it.

i'm still working on a 1992 VW Jetta heater core...a job i started last winter.

Yep, a 1996 blazer requires the dash to be completely removed. If you're going to go thru that you need to make sure and get it right the first time and not mess with a used one or trying to repair it.

As for the little electric defrosters, they will keep an area about the size of a tea saucer clear when it gets cold here.

[Daryll in NW FLA]

Go with the Bar's Leak-my old F-150 is running three pints right now-heater & defroster works like a charm. This is the third year-each year I pour in a pint wether it needs it or not!

[cowcreekgeeks]

Advance Auto sells an AC Delco heater core for $135. The Haynes manual for your truck will be $25. The manual will tell you EXACTLY how to replace the core yourself...all you need is a little common sense and tools (a ratchet set, phillips and flat tip screwdrivers...probably nothing else) It will take you about two and a half hours to pull the old one out and replace the new one if you're not familiar with repair. Remember to take the shipping plugs out of the new one or it WILL NOT WORK! It's really not a big deal. I have a '94 Chevy S-10 that had a bad heater core. It's not hard at all.

[foxtrapper]

Bypass the heater core, or even block it off on both sides. Then it quits leaking, but you also loose all heat. Some mornings that's nice to have, but, you can live without it.

Use the rain-x anti-fog wipes for the inside windshield. It works pretty well at keeping fog from forming.

[fixer1958]

If you are going to use a stop leak use "Silver Seal". Bars-Leak is little more than rabbit turds in corn syrup.
It tends to plug things up on already questionable cooling systems. It works, but not worth the potential for problems.

You can bypass the heater core because the heater is not the defogger, the a/c comes on when you put it on defrost mode and heat helps with ice but the a/c is a dehumidifer, therefore removes fogging which is moisture.

If you don't need heat then cut the heater hoses and connect them together and move on.
The heater core is not the cost, it's the labor.

[tamsam]

I have a little electric heater I use to heat the back of our truck that has a top on it. It works pretty good but I have never used it in the cab. I may have to try that. Sam
Forgot it plugs into the lighter.