quote Originally posted by LarryB: Nice pics you added, BTW.

Thanks Larry, I was hoping in a small way to add to JazzMan's fine thread.

In this picture below, the heater core has been removed. The opening on the right hand side is where the heater core tubes go through to the front compartment. Instead of relying on that piddley little piece of foam that was installed from the factory, I think I'll stuff a good chunk of foam rubber in this passageway all around the tubes. Otherwise all kinds of air gets pumped into the front compartment instead of into the cabin. Makes no sense to me the way it was originally done.

[This message has been edited by JazzMan (edited 11-22-2011).]

Arghhhh!!!

I received a new heater core in the mail from a forum member today. In my PM to him after I paid for it I stated:

“Please pack it up well.”

This is how it looked when I removed the "packing" from around it...



I’m a little bit choked. It wasn’t packed well at all. Except for a layer of cardboard around the body of the core, all that was in the box for protection from abuse were a few pieces of crumpled up newspaper. Not only is it dented as can clearly be seen, but the two tubes had NO protection on their ends to prevent any transfer of shock to where they are soldered to the body of the core. The tubes were simply bashing against the end of the cardboard box across the entire continent.

Man oh man, would any of you take a chance installing this heater core?

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Arghhhh!!! I received a new heater core in the mail from a forum member today. In my PM to him after I paid for it I stated: “Please pack it up well.” This is how it looked when I removed the "packing" from around it... I’m a little bit choked. It wasn’t packed well at all. Except for a layer of cardboard around the body of the core, all that was in the box for protection from abuse were a few pieces of crumpled up newspaper. Not only is it dented as can clearly be seen, but the two tubes had NO protection on their ends to prevent any transfer of shock to where they are soldered to the body of the core. The tubes were simply bashing against the end of the cardboard box across the entire continent. Man oh man, would any of you take a chance installing this heater core?

AS FOR A REFUND, THAT IS, AT LEAST HALF PRICE

quote Originally posted by chrismclubm: ASK FOR A REFUND, THAT IS, AT LEAST HALF PRICE

Even with a full refund though, would you feel confident installing this heater core? Even if it doesn't leak initially, I wonder if it's lifespan has been drastically reduced?

Gawd, what a flipping nuisance...

[EDIT] After a couple of days to think about it, I've decided it would be best not to send this helpful thread off on a different tangent with this purchase problem of mine. I've sent a PM to the vendor and I'm waiting for a response from him. If he isn't forthcoming, then I'll start a different thread elsewhere about this bashed up "new" heater core he sent me. So let's please keep this thread about heater core replacement, and not about good/bad vendors. Thanks.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 05-18-2008).]

Since I happen to have both types of heater cores here, I thought I'd post an image showing the two of them together. The difference between them is quite apparent when you see them side by side.

Non A/C heater core on the left.................................................... A/C heater core on the right.

thanks for the write up James.

i work on many different cars.
and it's nice to have something to refer back to when i need to do one of these.

as far as heater cores go, Fieros are pretty easy.

I hope you are doing well.

buddy

PDF Format of the write up:

Jazzman_Heater_Core_Replacement.pdf

Can't let these ever get lost now can we?

Stu

Just wanted to say this write up helped a good deal when I had to replace my heater core recently and just wanted to say thanks for it.

'+' for Jazzman for TWO reasons:

1. A well-written repair article
2. Naming the article appropriately so it pops up in "search"

Also a '+' to Patrick (toad guy) for recognizing the need to go back to topic. Not always easy to admit to, even harder to do .... AND he even added a valuable pic of the two cores side by side.

[This message has been edited by fyrebird68 (edited 03-23-2009).]

JazzMan did a great write up here. Search worked flawlessly. Way more informative than all of the manuals that I have. Thank you JazzMan.

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[This message has been edited by Tony Kania (edited 04-19-2009).]

I did a search, read this thread twice, just replaced mine in my driveway in 45 minutes. Only thing I did different was to put a field jacket over my windshield to block the heat and glare from the sun..... Could not have done it so simply without the Jazzman. This forum is great! Thanks!

quote Originally posted by fyrebird68: Also a '+' to Patrick (toad guy) for recognizing the need to go back to topic. Not always easy to admit to, even harder to do .... AND he even added a valuable pic of the two cores side by side.

Thanks '68 Firebird guy.

Yeah, I don't regret showing what a damaged "new" heater core can look like (along with my earlier "repair in process" shots), but I'm glad I cooled down and didn't send this helpful thread off on a tangent.

Bump to mark as a fav.

Jim

Great write up. My problem is I am fighting the hoses. I have done every thing I can think of short of cutting them off and hope I have enough hose to push back on the new heater core. Anyone have any tricks I have not thought of?

Thanks, Jack

Job completed, had to use the utility knife and cut the hoses off at the end of the tubes. Hoses were long enough to make a good connection on the new heater core.

Jack

Burr it was cold (28 degrees) but thanks to the write up it wasn't half bad. Only took about an hour and a half to swap cores between my two cars. I swapped them because the parts car still needs to run and be moved. I didn't put the core back in the box and I could have just looped the hose but I didn't have anything to do that with so I used the old core for the time being.

Several people have commented on how hard it is to get the old hose off. I wish I could find what a mechanic friend of mine has. He has a set of what he calls "hose pullers" . I can't really describe them too well but the look like a long t-handled screwdriver except the blade end is j-hooked and flatten out with a slight curve to it. You place the blade on the tube and slide it between the hose and tube. Then you pull back and work the hose off the tube. It never takes him more then 5 seconds to pull a hose off.

Plused you for the great write up.

There was a comment a couple of pages back about actually repairing the heater core. It can be done but it's chancy. The biggest problem is getting the metals where the leak is clean and dry enough to hold solder. Generally the area where the leak is will have some white crud built up around it. The crud must be removed (inside and out) without damaging the metal. I've tried brake clean, Carb cleaner and electrical switch cleaner. None did that well. After using the various cleaners I applied some solder flux and heated it lightly with a propane torch. That seemed to have help solve the problem.
The torch I have has a rather large nozzle. A smaller pencil size nozzle would be better. The whole core is soldered together so keep the heated area small. Any way I carefully heated the area where the leak was and applied an Acid core solder to it. After several attempts I was able to get the solder to firmly attach. It was ugly but it leak checked okay. It's back in the car now to see if it will hold up.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Even with a full refund though, would you feel confident installing this heater core? Even if it doesn't leak initially, I wonder if it's lifespan has been drastically reduced?

I still don't want to send this thread off on a tangent, but I just wanted to quickly mention that the damaged heater core I pictured above started leaking yesterday, less than two years after being installed. These things should last for at least a decade.

It's obvious now that the damage which occurred during shipping did drastically reduce its lifespan.

I followed the steps outlined in this thread today and was able to swap out my leaking heater core with a new one in about an hour. The screw on the top of the heater box (under the speaker) was a PITA to get to.

This is a great step-by-step guide and got me through the process without any issues. I did have to cut the hose off the lower tube on the old core because it wouldn't budge, even after crushing the pipes. Wound up cutting about 1.25 inches off the hose, but there was plenty of slack on the hose.

Thanks for the documentation JazzMan!

Josh


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1988 GT

--Now new and improved with restriction free manifolds, Rodney's floating rear cradle nut kit, Fiero Store front cradle bolts, manifold stud kit, etc...

[This message has been edited by jtsordel (edited 04-02-2011).]

[This message has been edited by JazzMan (edited 11-22-2011).]

Thanks for the timely writeup. My heater core sprung a leak last week and I just replaced it yesterday. The hardest part was removing the hoses. The next time I'm at Harbor Freight I'm going to have to buy a hose removal tool.

I used a pair of needle nose vice grips to clamp the hoses. They worked well.

I was tempted to repair the core myself and return the new core that I had. It sprung a leak where the pipe goes into the core. That is where most heater cores end up leaking. It looks like it can be brazed using just standard solder and a propane torch that every hardware store has for plumbing pipes.

[This message has been edited by Doug85GT (edited 04-03-2011).]

I used this procedure to a "T" and it worked great. The hardest part was getting the hoses off the heater core. I was confused at fires than realized I had a sob installed. I only had the car a few weeks. LOL

Thanks a bunch

Frank

quote Originally posted by fotofrank: I was confused at fires than realized I had a sob installed.

What language is this???

[This message has been edited by JazzMan (edited 11-22-2011).]

quote Originally posted by fotofrank: Snip.. I was confused at fires than realized I had a sob installed. ...Snip Thanks a bunch Frank

Translation: "I was confused at first then realized I had a sub installed" I think.

Great write up, now to go out and do it.

Thanks
Nolan

Great write up! I used both this write up and the one by kinboyatuwo (https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Archives/Archive-000001/HTML/20090219-2-081096.html) in order to replace my heater core in my non A/C fiero.

It went very well, it was all done from outside the car thru the front compartment. I also managed to install the AC heater core in a Non AC car. You have to modify the clip holding the heater core in place, cut the plastic cover where the holes are located to make them wider and stretch the hoses into place. It works if ever you are in a pickle and cannot find a NON-AC heater core in time.

[This message has been edited by FieroMontreal (edited 11-12-2011).]

[This message has been edited by JazzMan (edited 11-22-2011).]

[Message deleted by Cliff Pennock:

I'm very sorry, but I received a notification from JazzMan that he does not want his original post reposted and asked/told me to remove it.

Again, my apologies, but I'm not going to be dragged into a Copyright discussion with him.]

Thanks RWDPLZ

Thanks for re-posting that. It's still a very good write-up. Sad it took this turn.

NEW THREAD:

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/120145.html

Since many posts in the archives point to this thread.