Date: 9 Nov 2006 05:45:40 -0800 From: "yaofeng" <yaofengchennospaml.com> Subject: Re: leak in heater
On Nov 8, 2:16 pm, "mdb" <milo_dh...nospamo.com> wrote: > My 97 9000 Aero has, I think, developed a leak in or near the heater core. > Two major symptoms bring me to this conclusion. First, I can smell > anti-freeze in the car when the heat is turned on. No such smell in the > summertime. Second, when I come back to the car after it has been operated > then parked for a while, I find a film on the windshield right above the > defroster outlet on the front dashboard. It does not appear while I'm > driving, just after the car has been sitting without the engine running for > a while. I can get it to dissipate just with the blower, but it takes a > while. So I'm guessing that I have either a leaking hose or heater core and > nothing is easy to get to. One other item that I could fix at the same time > would be a squeaky blower motor, probably the bearing. What do you think I > should plan on replacing to take care of everything? Are those symptoms > indicative of a faulty core? or just a hose? I buy my parts online and would > like to have everything on hand before I start the job. > > Thanks. > > Michael You can wait for the symptom to worsen to make sure. It appears to be the heater core. Replacing it is not too difficult. Many write-ups are available. I had one experience two years ago I think I removed the blower motor three times in the course of a week and a half to diagnose a bad blower motor. I became so good at it I pulled and intalled the blower motor and housing in half an hour the third time. The first time took 2 hours. The second 45 minutes. The blower motor housing is locked in place on the firewall by two plastic snap locks. For first timers it may be frustrating to remove it. Practice makes perfection.