Heater Core?

[Bagged1984S10]

This morning driving to work I noticed liquid dripping on the floor from the passenger side dash. It was anti freeze and I could see smoke coming out a little bit. Is this the heater core that went bad? If so is it necessary to pull the entire dash out to get to this thing on a 1st gen s-10. I have only done one other heater core (in a camaro) and I didn't have to pull the dash out but it wasn't fun. I did search and found threads on 95+ heater core installs but can't find any for first gen.

[5timedime]

definitely sounds like your heater core sprang a leak. it's been about 8 or 9 years since i changed one, but i know the whole dash didn't have to come out. if i remember correctly, you get to some of the screws through the glovebox opening after you take the glove box apart.

[OneLowSdime]

dude its a pain in the ass lol

[83blazer28]

definitely the heater core
i did one in an 88' firebird once
it would be easier to take the dash out if you have the time
i just used lots of u-joints and wobbles to get to the hidden screws
pretty sure its not much different in the s10

[ironduke2.5]

Hey man its a PITA!! I had to change my heater core because it did the same thing that urs it doing, had a small drip drip. I didnt take out the dash and it was a BIG JOB! If u have the time i highly recommend that u take out the dash. I took out my dash to find a electrical problem and saw that i could have easliy take out my heater core with the dash out. Anyways good luck and be patience.

[Bagged1984S10]

Yea I will probably just pull the dash. Thanks for the info.

[bg's]

No, no, no..It's not that hard at all. Here is a
how to.Follow it and you'll be fine. I found jacking
up the ride on the right side at the door/ fender area
helps to get to the one screw on the far right side for
the ducting. Other than that, it should only take you
an hr or so to pull it WITHOUT removing the dash.

You have to take a few components off, but they
are very easy to get to. Here. Click pics to enlarge.
Thanks to Sy/Ty Archives for the great how to. >

http://www.sytyarchives.com/howto/vi...imate_controls

[Bagged1984S10]

http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...t=DSCI0385.flv


Here it is

[Bagged1984S10]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bagged1984S10

http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...t=DSCI0385.flv


Here it is doesn't look like its coming from the hoses outside the firewall.

To add insult to injury my motorcycle (only other form of transportation) always decided to quit on me today. Wheres a big bottle of Sailor Jerrys when you need one?

[Bagged1984S10]

Quote: Originally Posted by bg's

No, no, no..It's not that hard at all. Here is a
how to.Follow it and you'll be fine. I found jacking
up the ride on the right side at the door/ fender area
helps to get to the one screw on the far right side for
the ducting. Other than that, it should only take you
an hr or so to pull it WITHOUT removing the dash.

You have to take a few components off, but they
are very easy to get to. Here. Click pics to enlarge.
Thanks to Sy/Ty Archives for the great how to. >

http://www.sytyarchives.com/howto/vi...imate_controls

Wow thanks, doesn't look too bad. Nice write up!

[5timedime]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bagged1984S10

http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...t=DSCI0385.flv


Here it is

nice video. yeah, that's definitely what it looks like when your truck decides to piss on ya

g/l with the repair

[jtcfanof3]

You can always bypass it until you get more time..........
Ive done this on the 4x4 89 Blazer I just got,I'll just fix it later.

[SY2932]

Piece of cake to swap out. You can read my observations when I did mine here.

[redbaron]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bagged1984S10

http://s80.photobucket.com/albums/j1...t=DSCI0385.flv


Here it is

I saw, that the tube that goes from Engine to Heatercore isn't fixed where it goes inside.
Thats the cause why it is broken!
By driving with the truck, the engine moves a bit to the side. Then these tubes moves also, and the metal at the heatercore will brake after a time.
So after removing the core, fix them!!
Changing wasn't a problem for me, just 1 hour

[Bagged1984S10]

How is it supposed to be fixed?

[redbaron]

There is a small metal that fixed the two pipes of the heatercore to the side of the heating-case / ac-case.

It isn't easy to describe it, but i try to take a picture tomorrow.

[Bagged1984S10]

yea if you can that would be great

[redbaron]

Thats it.
It looks like a double U with a fixing screw between the U's.

[phantom_mia]

yea baron thats the heater core and they spring leeks every now and then either bypass it by running the pipe from the motor to the radiator(you'll hate yourself later) or replace it i think its only $30 at the zone

side note: you couldnt have spent 3 seconds of video time to reveal what was making all that noise under the hood!

[Bagged1984S10]

Why would I waste valuable video showing a stock 2.8 with a leaky carb gasket, hence why it idles like that.

[phantom_mia]

"valuable video" sorry i didnt realize video time cost anything

[Contradiction]

Quote: Originally Posted by phantom_mia

yea baron thats the heater core and they spring leeks every now and then either bypass it by running the pipe from the motor to the radiator(you'll hate yourself later) or replace it i think its only $30 at the zone

Could you tell me more about how I would bypass it?

Mine crapped out late last night, and I noticed the coolant on the way to work this morning. I plan to replace it myself, but I really don't have the time in this next week or so. I don't really feel like skipping my trip back home for Labor Day, or biking to work all week!

[Contradiction]

Okay, I looked under the hood more at lunch. From what I can tell, the two hoses that Red Baron showed in his pictures are the inlets for the Heater Core?

To bypass the heater, all I would need to do then is run a hose from the back of the intake manifold, and up to the radiator? I'd find something to plug the heater core hose inlets too of course.

I will end up replacing it, just not immediately.

[redbaron]

Yes, you can o this.
Or you just disconnect the two tubes and connect the two tubes that goes in the heatercore with a small pipe.
So the coolant will no more goes in the heatercore.

[phantom_mia]

yes contra forget blockking off the core just run from the intake to the radiator, i think one of the hoses is long enough. just replace them when you fix the core

[mxjunkie]

Quote: Originally Posted by Contradiction

Okay, I looked under the hood more at lunch. From what I can tell, the two hoses that Red Baron showed in his pictures are the inlets for the Heater Core?

To bypass the heater, all I would need to do then is run a hose from the back of the intake manifold, and up to the radiator? I'd find something to plug the heater core hose inlets too of course.

I will end up replacing it, just not immediately.

The only bad part is even though you by pass the heater core there is still a lot of fluid inside of it thats still going to drip into your carpet..

I just replaced the heater core in mine without taking the dash out of it, It's a pain in the arse but as long as you take the glove compartment out like noted in the thread it's a hell of a lot easier then taking out the dash!

[redbaron]

Quote: Originally Posted by mxjunkie

The only bad part is even though you by pass the heater core there is still a lot of fluid inside of it thats still going to drip into your carpet..

But you can make the fluid out by blowing inside one of the pipes to heatercore.... But don't look into the other

[Contradiction]

Quote: Originally Posted by redbaron

But you can make the fluid out by blowing inside one of the pipes to heatercore.... But don't look into the other

That's a good idea, I'll have to give it a shot.

Thanks for the info guys. This will atleast make 'er driveable til I have time to replace the core. Heat is kinda necessary in WI so it'll have to get done!