QuestionQUESTION: 2003 s10 pick up v6 4.3l would like to know the best way to remove the heater core in the truck if you can do it from the firewall or have to remove the whole dash?
ANSWER: Hey Byron,
The heater core is located in teh HVAC box and needs to come out from the inside.
Wayne
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QUESTION: Thats what i thought so i have to remove the whole dash then to do this process. The reason i feel it is the core i'm getting a coolant smell when i first start up the truck and then smell goes away after about ten min and sometimes get the fog on the windows. A correct theory or No
ANSWER: Hey Byron,
You can get away without removing the whole dash and weasel the HVAC box out from the passengers side but you have to know where every screw is and what to take apart and what not to take apart.
You are probably right on the money with your diagnosis but make sure the heater core lines aren't leaking or loose at the firewall. Make sure there are no leaks in the engine compartment as well.
Over the years I have not been an advocate of stop leaks or engine additives. I never really felt there was a mechanic in a can but with the rising cost of automotive maintenance it has made me a bit of a realist. The reason you are smelling coolant is because most likely a joint or corrosion through contamination, coolant PH, or electrolysis has caused a very small amount of coolant to leak out of your core and coat the fins before you start it up.
It is very unsafe to have a foggy windshield so you have to do something about it. I might get a slap on the hands for recommending this on the forums but what I use for very small core leaks is an additive that is released from Subaru. Its basically called 'Subaru Cooling system Conditioner' and its functions include waterpump lubricant and ph stabilizer but it also has a stop leak in it that does not plug up components. Subaru's of some years have a problem with external head gasket seepage and this conditioner stops it dead flat.
Wayne
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QUESTION: The windshield does not happen all the time and if does its very minor and goes away when defrost gets applied. Never herd of the subaru fluid before. But thanks for the tip on that. The hoses can't really see them there is a huge box on the fire wall that has the ac lines covered and the blower motor is attached to it aswell. I would hope it will hold off till the spring when better weather comes but i don;t want it to let go and have a flood in the cab. Stuck between a heart and rock beat here. Thanks for the help so far.
AnswerHey,
In 20 years of doing this I have only seen a couple of heatercores totally rupture and it only seemed to happen on the inlet hose of 1992-1996 chev cavaliers and sunfires with the plastic molded heater core inlet hose. Try a mild stop leak and you may never have to worry about it again.
Wayne
