GMC Repair: Help My Heater!, 1996 chevrolet corsica, chevrolet corsica

Question
I just purchased a 1991 GMC Safari. Everything was going ok until my heater stopped working completely. We are expecting a big snow/ice storm and i could really use the heater as soon as possible. I do not have much money to spend right now. Any suggestions or ideas on what I can do?

Answer
check coolant level, replace thermostat just to be on the safe side. if it still does not work, look for the slightest smell of coolant in the interior of vehicle. If so, it is the heater core. This one repair that really sucks. Unfortunately, it is a common problem. It would appear they would fashion one out of more resilient material, like Titanium. If you do not want to spend the money. You can use a stop leak product. The only one I would even consider using is Prestone. I have used all the other products and they absolutely do NOT work. Do not waste you money. the Prestone is about 3.00-4.00 at Wal-Mart. Make sure you drain some coolant out and save it. You will need to let some out so the sealant can circulate and fix the problem. I would use and additional if you do not receive complete success. I have use this before on a heater core issue i had with a 1996 Chevrolet Corsica and it was still sealed when I sold the car. I had the car for about five years. After you add the sealant, drive around completing errands or whatever your routine or algorithms are. If it does not work, you will need to replace the heater core ONLY if the other solutions do not work.