I removed my dash and I saw an Oval alluminum cover but I dont see the heater core anywhere...I have a puddle of water on the passenger side floor and I am afraid of rust in the future and car running dry and overheating...


HELP ASAP PLEASE!!!! I GOT THE heater core at autozone lifetime warranty for $90.00 if it helps...thanks alot in advance!

 

That may not be your heater core causing that puddle. Does it look like antifreeze? It could be as simple as a clogged AC condensation drain.

 

The radiator water level drops every other day and when I soak up the water from the carpet its orange just like the coolant and it smells like coolant too. Also, when the a/c or heater are on it fogs up the windows and evaporation/smoke comes out and smells like strong coolant

 

Yep.. that's a leaky heater core. Sorry I've never replaced one before, but you could probably benefit by picking up a Haynes manual.
I have a leaky core in my Geo and I've been told it'd take close to a thousand dollars to fix it mainly because of it's position and the A/C has to be drained!

 

I've read on here before that you need to remove the dashboard which I did and crack it more while at it.
There is this alluminum cover and below that is a black plastic mat but its right above the air bag plastic cover that is part of the dash and I am afraid to move that around and have the air bag blow off on me...

Anyone familiar with this?

 

You don't need to remove the dash board. Changing the heater core is relatively easy in these cars.

This pretty much describes what I was going to say:

post

The manual recommends unplugging the electrical plug that's there as a safety against accidently deploying the passenger air bag, but that's about the only difference.

Good luck

 

This is for a 97 so I'm not sure it's the same.
From the pass. side engine compartment remove the two rubber hoses from the heater core lines. At the fire wall between the two heater core lines is a small (like 6mm) screw that holds a clip. This secures the two line at the fire wall so they don't move when you remove and install the rubber hoses. Remove this screw and the clip.
Inside the car: remove the kick panel under the clove box, two or three screws and a clip at the fire wall. On the 97 the clove box is removed in one piece. Three or four screws just below the hinge. On the 97 there is a relay attached to the core cover (plastic), that just pulls off. Remove the wire bundle hold downs (clips), so you can move it around. Split the vacuum control line for the HVAC for the same reason. Remove the screws for the plastic cover and pull it aft. to remove it. The heater core is held in with one screw on a clip, once removed it will pull straight back also. At the firewall is a rubber seal that may come loose when you pull the core out, and it's kind of a pain to get back in, so be careful at this point. Reverse the steps for installation.

 

I am going to try this out right now!
Thanks a lot!

 

Just was I was gonna say

 

Alright....
I replaced my heater core and I drove to my friends house and I was dropping off some CD's...
Well my temp went up to the 3rd white line before the red and fans came on.
I left my friends house and a bunch of smoke came out and I pulled over and found that the hose that runs to the heater core came apart.

This hose came apart at a metal connection where it says (heater core) and has an arrow which way the pipe should run. I ended up cutting that piece off because they wouldnt connect back together and I hooked it back off to the connection back near the throttle body right underneath it.

My question is...is this bad? What can or will it cause. The metal connection also had a plastic piece with a spring in it and all this was removed. I drove around for about 2 hours and the car did not overheat and the heater worked great and no leaks.

 

Ttt

 

Could you elaborate on this a little. I have a huge puddle on my pass side floor. When I soak it up with white paper towels, it has no color or oder either. My engine temp is also normal, and its really hot out. Could I have a cloged AC drain line? If So, how do I find it under the dash??

Question about the heater core, if it is leaking, and I drive the car, Will it still leak even if the heater/ A/C is all completly turned off?

 

You can find the a/c drain hole under the car. The heater core does have coolant running through it at all times.