majordan

Today I was trying to get my hand inside my high power steering hose and i accidently broke the top heater core extension that leads out of the firewall.
I lost some coolant but not much. It broke off inside the hose and there is barely enough left for me to work with. I removed the rubber insulator from the firewall and that gave me enough room slide the hose farther onto it. It is holding for now but the clamp on the hose can only go so far. Eventually it is going to leak because the part that broke off from the heater core was an inch or so in side the hose. I thought the core was metal but the ends were more like hard plastic that I removed from the hose. Is there a way I can extend the heater core pipe to make a more solid connection?

tks in adv

nismax1994

I recently noticed the same thing has happened to mine. I can only wonder where that broken piece is. It sounds like I have little more left than you do because I was able to keep a snug fit without removing the grommet on the firewall. No leaks so far and its been a month since I noticed it while trying to beat air out of the system (after a thermostat change) it popped loose. I don't know if I did it then or maybe the dealer did it when they changed my high pressure steering hose a few years ago. I squeezed the hose trying to feel out the broken piece but couldn't find it.

bvtran

iTrader: (3)

lol you're screwed, now you have to change the whole core. it ain't bad, just a pain in the nad trying to rip the dash open and then putting them back together is even more time consuming.

majordan

Mine broke off inside the hose. I used a screwdriver to dig it out, but it just shattered into pieces. I have about a half inch extending from the firewall to play with after I removed the black rubber insulator. There has to be away I can attach something to extend the inlet/outlet on the fire wall so I can re-attach the hose properly. It is hooked up now but the firewall is preventing the clamp to be pushed back farther in the firewall to tighten it better.

CapedCadaver

iTrader: (8)

congratulations! you get to do this!

bvtran

iTrader: (3)

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

Another one pwnd by heater core....






how to clean all your A/C ductwork...

Jameez

If I did that to my wifes dishwasher, She would knock me upside the head with that wok thats sitting there.

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

why? It's just dust and dirt. nothing worse than the food left on your dishes you put in there.

BenStoked

iTrader: (7)

do it while she is gone; give her $50 to go shopping, or something! (lol)

Augustus Maximus

iTrader: (6)

I wanted to swap my 92 SE heater core into my 90 shell today. It's getting late and I still haven't moved. If only I could clamp the larger hose onto the smaller pipes without leaks...hmmm.

Matt93SE

iTrader: (44)

That's what I did for ~6 months- just bypassed the heater core. I finally decided to replace it about November when I needed heat again.

And don't even think about reusing another 20 year old heater core in another car. a new one "only" about $100. Think of how much work you have to go through to do it. I will GLADLY pay an extra $100 to never have to do that job again.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Um if I remember right the VG cores are diff than the VE cores. Or the tubes are.

But yeah, been there and done that with the heator cores. I even cracked my windshield taking the front brace out.

I'd replace it with a new core with new tubes. That LAST thing you want to do is to do a heater core replacement TWICE.

Darkwing48

iTrader: (1)

I think I shat myself...

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Odd, I did't have to take out my door panels, back seats and carpet.

Augustus Maximus

iTrader: (6)

I ripped out the heater core (VE) today and it was still a pain in the arsehole with the car already in bits and pieces. Thought about it then lubed up the smaller hoses and forced them onto the VE components, so I'm using the VG core.

Jameez

I know you know but!!!!!

Jameez

I tried that when I was baking my bikes gas tank in the oven after painting. She knew I did something with the oven, she just did'nt know what. Hey i tell her to stay out of the garage I guess she has the right to kick me out the kitchen.

CapedCadaver

iTrader: (8)

they were already out.. well, i took the carpet out to let it dry cuz of all the coolant that dripped on it. mine busted on the inside, not at the hose stub.

nitrous360

Yes this job is a pain. On my old 89 Max I bought it with a damaged dashboard so I went to the junkyard and ripped one out then swapped out the one in mine. 6 months later the heater core went and I had to do it all over again. I wanted to cry then punch myself in the face.

jonmandude

iTrader: (1)

Mine has the same issue, broken off core inlet. I have enough to attach the hose after removing the grommet. It has been that way for about 5 years. I have a new core on the shelf. But since it is a summer only car, I haven't needed to replace it.

I believe there are about 3 or 4 different heater core options for the 3rd gen. My dealer needed the VIN to make sure he ordered the correct one. I know VG auto and VG manual are different. I believe it is the same for VE.

majordan

Does anyone out there know the sizes of the heater core hoses? or the heater core inlet (top). I may be able to fix this problem with some PCV piping.

tks in adv,

jbbons25

iTrader: (2)

Mine is 5/8. But others I have seen are 3/4.

CapedCadaver

iTrader: (8)

i think it depends on either year or engine (which in itself partly depends on year). seems to be that greeny's heater core hose wouldn't work on my car cuz it was too big.