So, this heater core...

[Fk5]

How horrifying is this job? My car is spilling steam/vapor through the vents. Strange thing is that if I keep it on cold it does not. This is both with and without the fan on. I thought that coolant always flowed through the heater core?

Do I really have to discharge the a/c? That would suck since this a/c has been running strong with no maintenance for 14 years. Seems like a ton of stuff to be taken apart. Can I do it myself? How long will it take? How much if I farm it out?

I see Rob gave up on his car rather than tackle this job. I'm not at that point, but I am very close to hoping to wait out the cold weather and just looping the hoses. Then I would have until it gets cold again to do the job.

Driving it to NY again this weekend. <fingers crossed> Wish me luck.

[NitroPT]

By far as it is with many vehicles very easy to do and the part very inexpensive but this is the thing, it is the most labor intensive single part replacement job you can ever do. Expect long hours and have lots of patients from start to finish.

The Factory Service Manual should be reviewed for some technical issues you will run into.

You do need to disconnect AC lines.
The cabin temperature is regulated by doors.

You may consider first trying Moroso #35500 Ceramic Engine Seal (Before the core splits)

[LionPT]

[cfm56doc]

Took me about 6 hrs to do mine not including the a/c system service. Not hard, but you have to take dang near everything out of the dash area.

As posted I watched a video several times.

[magoo28630]

I ran across this and watched it. It will help alot if you have a 2Gen pt. listen to his advice.

[Fk5]

Cringe

So, I guess I will be budgeting myself a full weekend and maybe 12 hours of work. I base the 12 hour estimate on the fact that I am slow as can be and cfm56 said it took him 6. I usually double whatever estimate I get.

Any idea what a shop would charge?

I guess the blend doors are closed when I have it on cold, so the leak doesn't enter the cabin. It is quite spooky when it starts. Like a smoke show. Would have been good for Halloween. I don't plan to try the block seal because I am sure the hoses are gone it must be a mess in there. Is there a brand that is good? I do not want to do this job twice and if the radiators are any indicator, most of them are junk.

[rob302]

for my PT i was quoted 600. the shop seemed eager and said it would be no problem as his mechanic was very good at changing heater cores.

[rob302]

it's listed as a 6.8 hr job not including emptying and refilling the AC. the times listed are usually fairly accurate as far as my pace goes

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[Fk5]

I can't believe that I just liked a post that said that I would have to pay $600+ for a heater core!

[rckstein]

Originally Posted by Fk5

I can't believe that I just liked a post that said that I would have to pay $600+ for a heater core!

I think I would pay the $600, it's either that or you have your car torn apart, for who knows how long, and will you get everything hooked up and correctly, the 1st time