Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
Moderators: Helpinators, Moderators
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:38 am
Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
Has anyone on here replaced a heater core in their Legacy?
It's time to do mine.
Yesturday on the way home from work- the car in front of me must have had a bad head gasket or cracked head or something because I could smell a little antifeeze.
On the way to work tonight- a different car in front of me had the same issue, but a stronger antifreeze smell. Only this time, the other car somehow caused my windshield to become very foggy. I had to keep a napkin in one hand it was so bad. (Cold and rainy in Portland, OR).
So I guess the timing is right since there is a spare sitting in the parts car in my driveway.
I'm just wondering if there is anything weird to the replacement of a heater core in a Subaru Legacy. I need to replace the A/C evaprator as well, but I think they are in different housings under the dash.
It's time to do mine.
Yesturday on the way home from work- the car in front of me must have had a bad head gasket or cracked head or something because I could smell a little antifeeze.
On the way to work tonight- a different car in front of me had the same issue, but a stronger antifreeze smell. Only this time, the other car somehow caused my windshield to become very foggy. I had to keep a napkin in one hand it was so bad. (Cold and rainy in Portland, OR).
So I guess the timing is right since there is a spare sitting in the parts car in my driveway.
I'm just wondering if there is anything weird to the replacement of a heater core in a Subaru Legacy. I need to replace the A/C evaprator as well, but I think they are in different housings under the dash.
Air-to-Water Intercooler, VF-39, 550 injectors, AEM FIC, stainless race header, 3" stainless exhaust, 75hp Nitrous, 150psi H2O injection, intake mods, stock: long block, 4EAT, ecm.
yes they are in different housings. I don't know if there's anything weird about replacing it.....other than the dash has to come out....
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
Fairly straight forward, once you find all the various hiding places for the screws. Just a major pain in the ass removing the whole dash. Some say you have remove the core w/o discharging the A/C -- I didn't find this true in my '94 TW.
'11 WRX Limited
'94 SS | 3" TBE, 07 TMIC, TD05H-16G, Revtronix Stage 2, Walbro -- Sold
'94 TW | R.I.P.
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:38 am
This looks like a real PITA job.
Luckily, I guess, the A/C core needs replaced too (or just o-ring). It's an R12 system![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
I'll be doing the conversion to R134a
Luckily, I guess, the A/C core needs replaced too (or just o-ring). It's an R12 system
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
I'll be doing the conversion to R134a
Air-to-Water Intercooler, VF-39, 550 injectors, AEM FIC, stainless race header, 3" stainless exhaust, 75hp Nitrous, 150psi H2O injection, intake mods, stock: long block, 4EAT, ecm.
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:38 am
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:38 am
AAARRR! NOT AGAIN!!!
Now the replacement heater core is leaking! This is not a job I wanted to do twice!
Does anyone know what could be causing this?
Both times, there was no liquid dripping inside the car or outside. It just smells like antifreeze when I turn the heater lever to the red side. The windshield also steams up. There doesn't seem to be any coolant loss in the system after a month of driving it like this. I wonder if there is a leak that is only leaking when the engine is hot and high RPM?
I'm not looking forward to doing this job again and I don't want to put alumaseal in there. Any ideas?
Does anyone know what could be causing this?
Both times, there was no liquid dripping inside the car or outside. It just smells like antifreeze when I turn the heater lever to the red side. The windshield also steams up. There doesn't seem to be any coolant loss in the system after a month of driving it like this. I wonder if there is a leak that is only leaking when the engine is hot and high RPM?
I'm not looking forward to doing this job again and I don't want to put alumaseal in there. Any ideas?
Air-to-Water Intercooler, VF-39, 550 injectors, AEM FIC, stainless race header, 3" stainless exhaust, 75hp Nitrous, 150psi H2O injection, intake mods, stock: long block, 4EAT, ecm.
-
- Fifth Gear
- Posts: 8360
- Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:41 am
- Location: Tenino, WA
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
You're going through the same shit as I did a few years ago with my 90 L wagon. I think I had my dash out and back in again 3 times before it was over with. I hate removing the dash. I bought a new one because there was no way I was going to go through all that and then have it leak again when I was done.
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
maybe theres a leak in the line its self, i had a van that i replaced the core only to find out that there was a crack in the line right at the firewall and it was driping into the core box
Hot damm that was fun!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 Legacy L postal, RHD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 Legacy L postal, RHD
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:38 am
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
I think I'll bypass the heater core and pressure test the core in-place. I will pressure test the one I pulled out a few months ago before tearing my dash apart again. The problem went away with the replacement so I'm pretty sure the core is cracked. I can't help but wonder if my coolant system was just operating with the wrong cap or something and maybe the pressure was gong too high??? I replaced the cap with a 14psi one. I suppose I should verify everything before I tear into it again.
It's such a strange failure since I never see coolant dripping from anywhere. No wet carpet, nothing. Just a steamy windshield and the nasty smell when I slide the temp lever to the red side.
Does anyone know if the replacement core is any different than the original one? Until what year did they use that part?
It's such a strange failure since I never see coolant dripping from anywhere. No wet carpet, nothing. Just a steamy windshield and the nasty smell when I slide the temp lever to the red side.
Does anyone know if the replacement core is any different than the original one? Until what year did they use that part?
Air-to-Water Intercooler, VF-39, 550 injectors, AEM FIC, stainless race header, 3" stainless exhaust, 75hp Nitrous, 150psi H2O injection, intake mods, stock: long block, 4EAT, ecm.
-
- First Gear
- Posts: 204
- Joined: Mon Apr 25, 2005 12:38 am
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
The leak was where the core tubes meet the cans.
For a temporary solution, I plumbed the leaking heater core into the intercooler plumbing. It blows just warm enough to defog my windshield. Intake temps are WAY down now though! haha!
The intercooler plumbing is pretty much at 0psi so no leak. I'm using PROPYLENE glycol so no nasty toxic fumes if it does leak.
I think I'll pick up a heated seat cover to get me through the winter...
For a temporary solution, I plumbed the leaking heater core into the intercooler plumbing. It blows just warm enough to defog my windshield. Intake temps are WAY down now though! haha!
The intercooler plumbing is pretty much at 0psi so no leak. I'm using PROPYLENE glycol so no nasty toxic fumes if it does leak.
I think I'll pick up a heated seat cover to get me through the winter...
Air-to-Water Intercooler, VF-39, 550 injectors, AEM FIC, stainless race header, 3" stainless exhaust, 75hp Nitrous, 150psi H2O injection, intake mods, stock: long block, 4EAT, ecm.
-
- Fifth Gear
- Posts: 8360
- Joined: Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:41 am
- Location: Tenino, WA
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
When I first read that post I thought you had plumbed in your heater core inline with your regular air cooled TMIC! Haha. I was like...wtf?!
My sister has my old car that I replaced the heater core with a brand new heater core from subaru for like $130 about 3 years ago and it just leaking again! One of her friends bypassed the heater core for her but that's a shitty solution when you live in washington where it's cold and rainy 3/4 of the year.
What do you mean by "where the core meets the cans"? I'm not pulling her dash out unless she buys another brand new heater core and she doesn't have money so I doubt that will happen.
My sister has my old car that I replaced the heater core with a brand new heater core from subaru for like $130 about 3 years ago and it just leaking again! One of her friends bypassed the heater core for her but that's a shitty solution when you live in washington where it's cold and rainy 3/4 of the year.
What do you mean by "where the core meets the cans"? I'm not pulling her dash out unless she buys another brand new heater core and she doesn't have money so I doubt that will happen.
98 Metro Hatch Daily Driver :)
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
91 SS EJ20G Engine/Tranny/Diff Swap Build Thread Here
"Your testes are close to your bottom but you still play with them all the time." Jeremy Clarkson
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
I plumbed the leaking heater core into the intercooler plumbing. It blows just warm enough to defog my windshield. Intake temps are WAY down now though! haha!
![:smt115](./images/smilies/115.gif)
94SS.Wiseco forged pistons,TD04,TMIC,WALBRO 225,440's,3" all the way,revtronix stage 2,enough other crap to fill the internet.
THE TRIBUTE BUILD>>>LINKY LINK>>> http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?p=295455#295455
THE TRIBUTE BUILD>>>LINKY LINK>>> http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?p=295455#295455
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
I am also replacing my heater core and I finally have the dash out! However I can't seem to find a way to remove the heater box to get to the core. I have tried the search option but I haven't found anything on how to do it. With having limited mechanical skills and have never done this before I had to walk away from it for a while. This is my first Subaru but I have to say they are really easy to work on. Just wish there was more youtube videos on how to do things on the 90-94 legacys. Any info would be much appreciated.
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
Did you remove the heater hoses from the heater core in the engine bay?
Josh
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
surrealmirage.com/subaru
1990 Legacy (AWD, 6MT, & EJ22T Swap)
2020 Outback Limted XT
If you need to get a hold of me please email me rather then pm
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 5000
- Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:52 am
- Location: Des Moines, Wa
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
Isnt there a nut or two underneath?
1992 Legacy SS 5mt, build in progress
Josh Colombo wrote: ↑Mon Jan 14, 2002 10:23 am Wait....I'm confused now.
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
You will need to loosen the AC box and pull it out a little for the heater box to come out. No need to remove the A/C box.
Charles
90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
I was finally able to do it. I wasn't able to pull it out due to the brace that is attached to the steering wheel. Once that was out it just came straight out. I was glad that I didn't have to discharge the AC. However I wasn't too happy with the new heater I got from autozone. It did not come with the tubes and gaskets. I didn't mind reusing the tubes but I didn't feel ok reusing the gaskets. I tried searching different auto part stores but no one had something similar. If it fails then it will stay broke for a long time because I don't plan on doing this again any time soon. It was a pain in the butt however I saved myself 350 dollars in labor.
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
Those gaskets are very brittle, I put a little ultra black on mine to make sure it was sealed. There's no part # for that gasket at Subaru, it come with the heater core. Aftermarket heater cores are universal, I believe that core also fits a Nissan,Subaru,Frounter and Xterra's from 89-04.
Charles
90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
90' White/Gray Outback DD workhorse (670,xxx) miles
92' Onyx Metallic (430,xxx) Wife's DD
68' Barracuda formula S 340 4spd coupe (ongoing project)
66' Mustang 2+2 4spd wife's (ongoing project)
Re: Heater Core replacement??? Straight forward???
Just for others doing this sorta stuff, most always special seals or orings or gaskets, try your dealer parts department first.